Another, ANOTHER, another, what car post

Two questions a few others touched upon:

Is it already too late to impress them with your car? If it isn't, how about a short term lease? Lease a super nice whatever for like one year. After that go back to driving a beat up Gremlin or whatever you really want.

With Japanese it is a time thing and the number at my company is 3 years. Till then you are a "short timer" They look for you to grow into what they want. So going from my Maxima to a "manager" car is an expected progression.

All about the ritual.

How dare you compare the Maxima to a Gremlin!!! The Maxima is not a RWD

I like the TSX and the TL type S

I didn't think of the Jag even though one of the really higher ups in the company has mentioned it.

Doncha just love interoffice politics? A leased Jag might be just the ticket, eh?

The first car I thought of was TSX. I'd avoid older german autos as it's really easy for that to be construed as "Broke but trying to look baller".
(I drive older german cars, but not for status or appearance).

E39 m5. Shame on all of you for not suggesting it earlier.

go to an i30! or a q45/m45 depending on your definition of cheap.

pres589 wrote: Hey I have this crazy idea, it's called "Do whatever the Bezerkley You Want" and it goes something like this; You figure out what you want to do, and then you do it, and the Japanese dudes you work with can go suck eggs.

I like this answer. You might not get the promotion, but you can get a new job! Sorry, but like pres (apparently), I'm not a kiss ass.

I'll second the TSX or (previous) TL-S. Both are pretty fun as dailies, especially for fwd cars.

I like the E39 M5 even better.

What about a 9-5? They can be had cheap and the body did not really change the whole modle run so an older one will look alot like a newer one. I also think they do not have the "snob" factor that a BMW or Benz would have.

With that being said I do have a soft spot for the S class shown above.

In reply to bravenrace:

It's not about arse kissing it is about appearance. You dress for the job you want not the job you have.

Have you driven an LS400? The 1998-2000 models are pretty ridiculously fast for their size, effortlessly so, makes them a blast to drive in a "daily grind" type commute. No, they're not corner carvers, but they don't try to be.

A TL, and by extension I suspect a TSX, is by no means a luxury car. It's only a step up from "penalty box" for the back seat passengers. If you're potentially transporting executives in this car, I wouldn't suggest it. Anything with sporting pretensions (and be honest, it's only pretensions if it's got a decent back seat) is not going to be comfortable, in the sense that an executive defines comfort, for the back seat passengers.

Rat-rod Q45?

And this isn't arse kissing, it's more shallow than that.

pres589 wrote: Rat-rod Q45? And this isn't arse kissing, it's more shallow than that.

It is absolutely arse kissing - not that it's a terribly bad idea, but it is.

pres589 wrote: Rat-rod Q45? And this isn't arse kissing, it's more shallow than that.

Frankly, I disagree. Fact is, rightly or wrongly, the first impression and professional appearance matters. I won't send one of my co-ops to a customer unless he understands that there is a certain behaviour that is expected of him: neat, professional, polite and respectful of customers. Yeah, he could choose to act "however he wants, berkeley the man". But I won't promote or re-hire him. Buying a career appropriate car (in some cases) is as important as wearing the right clothes for the position.

NJ

Audi

and not just because I drive one.

find an A8 or an R8, still fun to drive. If that is too big then find an A6 bi-turbo.

+1 for the TSX. My dad has one, and I would use it when he borrowed my truck. It was a very nice car.

Oh, I just thought of an "under the radar" one... Mitsubishi Diamante. I know a wealthy guy who was into race cars (Rx7's IRRC) that thought very highly of them. Looks classy, but the Mitsu name might hurt it a little. No idea of reliability, etc.

In reply to njansenv:

I never said he shouldn't dress well or act rudely. I don't. I do understand and agree with (reluctantly) the old adage, "dress for the job you want". If I was shuttling customers around I'd want a company car if it happened very often at all. If it's just penil-wagging in the parking lot I'd get something with a V8 and add Flowmasters.

On the Diamante bent- How about a Mazda Millenia? Comfy as hell, reliable enough, and kinda quick with the Miller cycle supercharged.

mndsm wrote: On the Diamante bent- How about a Mazda Millenia? Comfy as hell, reliable enough, and kinda quick with the Miller cycle supercharged.

Or a 929.

A clean black Millenia on some tasteful rims dropped an inch with nice tint would definitely give the right impression, and probably only set you back $5k total.

A late VR-X diamante is a very decent car, my dad has one.

BUT they are and old ~'95 design and look it. Everyone will know you picked it up for $4k because thats what it looks like it's worth.

ANY 929 is WAAAY too old and ugly to even be considered here.

The volvo s80 is a good option imo because it looks AMAZING in certain colors/trims, has a very stately demeanor with great interior room for shuttling people, etc, and it has aged very well imo. I found my mom an 03 for $5k and after a year when i look at that thing i still cant believe it only cost $5k. It looks fancier than it costs. Its almost ten years old and she looks like the queen of Sweden going down the street.

A last-gen millenia seems decent. They have a lot more visual panache than the Maxima and TL of the same years.

Oh and whatever you say, it IS sucking up. Keep in mind that some people get through the world without begging their opportunities off those 'above' them. You are playing their game, so how is it NOT sucking up? I cant remember the last time i gave a E36 M3 what anyone thought about what i drive, and i avg $40/hr as a self-employed grease monkey. Cant remember the last time i sucked up to anyone. I CAN remember the last several times i got fired for not sucking up and didnt give a E36 M3 because i make more money in my driveway anyway.

M35 or M45. The perfect car for people who are not tall, may be from Japan, are trying to look sortofupwardlymobileandcool and either are female or are trying to appeal to females. You're welcome.

Another question: Would the raise from a promotion actually cover the cost of buying a new luxury car every three years?

This can be something of a challenge - finding a car that looks like you have money to a non-car guy, and won't mark you as an eccentric. After all, it wouldn't do for them to think their new management is a closet bosozoku, which is the impression some cars mentioned here might give off.

And most of the impressive looking cars that don't depreciate that I can think of are two doors and often two seats (imagine the looks you'd get driving to work in a Lamborghini Jalpa...). And an older Rolls Royce might come across as pretentious. A semi-serious suggestion - how about a really old Chrysler Imperial?

On a more serious suggestion, possibly a newer Maxima?

sanman wrote: Okay, a crash course in Japanese politics. The key here is picking up a car that is nicer than those below you. However, it is also important not to pick up something nicer than those too far above you. you will want to look at what some of the newer managers or senior engineers drive. You also want to pick a car that is respected for solid engineering as this your field (Jags probably don't scream goof engineering). Cars that fit the bill nicely would be: Lexus IS or GS series, Infiniti G35,M45,I30, Acura TL type S or TSX, Volvo s40 (solid budget choice if you pick 2005+), BMW 3 series. You have a Maxima now? What year/trim model?

This sounds like really, really good advice. The IS looks to be a fun car. I like my G35. I've enjoyed driving the C240.