The car you drive/own/lease is a reflection of how others perceive you as a coin collector and coin

oreville

Heck, I drive a 1997 Olds Silhouette Van that is now over 10 years old and over 130,000 miles on it. I was never into having the newest and the latest in cars.

I was discussing with a PCGS board member that when he visits PCGS every so often, he sees coin dealers driving VERY expensive cars such as Bentleys, high end BMW's, etc.

Is this just a southern California phenomen and not anywhere else?

What do coin dealers and coin collectors think of others and the cars they drive/own/lease?

Do coin collectors take money out of their pocket (meaning their coin budget) to buy nice expensive cars or is that something that coin collectors cannot tolerate coin budget-wise?

ahooka454

I drive a 1994 Jeep Wrangler. with the big tires, and it loud. I also have a Buick Custume Lesber. If some guy wants to judge me by my car, they can kiss my money and business goodbye. the only reason i would need a Bently is to maybe pick up Lindsay Lohan.


Neither of which i will see in my life time.

i judge someone by them. thats it.

MidLifeCrisis

I think it would be more important for a dealer to not draw attention to themselves. I don't think serious collectors would be influenced either way by the car a dealer drives...they only care about the coins.

Speaking as a collector...I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a red Mustang Convertible (hence my forum handle). You have to splurge sometimes and treat yourself...but mainly focus on value for the money when it comes to cars. If I were still in Europe, I might drive a BMW just to "fit in", but it's not really practical where I live now.

roadrunner

I don't see many dealers on this coast driving cars like that. If anything most try to keep a lower profile. I guess in LA "everyone" drives something fancy. Most of the shows I go to no one sees the dealers coming and going from the parking lot and therefore would have little clue as to what they are driving. Low profile is the key.
We aren't selling homes or real estate where perception means something to the customer....that is unless you are selling $100K coins to your clients.

Heck, I drive a '97 Lincoln with 194,000 miles (trouble free since I got it at 29,000 miles in 2001). Paid $5,000 for it. To me that sure beats any Bently. When this one goes I have no clue what's next, but it's not going to be less than 3-4 years old.

roadrunner

cmerlo1

I traded in my Nissan 350z for a Fronteir crew cab- we're planning on starting a family and needed the extra room...although I must admit- I miss my Z!

Edited to add:

Apologies to ibzman!!! I like the Frontier, but it's certainly no Z!

Lakesammman

I got a 3 pack of nice wine this Xmas from a dealer and it made me think I was spending too much.

If he was driving a Bentley, I'd be REAL nervous.

rkfish

I drive a Ford F-150 4WD Truck.......

bottleguy

Need I say more??



Rick

jdimmick

I drive a toyota camry, and not brand new, but year or two old. Great on gas, low service costs, good durability. Also, dont have worry with car payments either.

jim

UtahCoin

I have several, but my favorite is my 1989 Toyota 4WD Pick-Up I drove off the show room floor in mar of 1989. 250,000 miles and going strong!

BBQnBLUES

Well, I like to drive "Land Yachts"

'66 230S & '92 DeVille

Both gas hogs, but built to last.

BBN

I hope not! I drive a 2001 Chevy Cavalier with 140,000/mi that I paid $2700 cash for back in May. The guy next to me at the red light may laugh at me, but I laughback him him and his $600/mo payment . A new vehicle has always been one of those things that I firmly believe in not dropping a ton of cash in. Let someone else pay new price and take the hit.

Musky1011

I drive over Econoboxes
1994 Ford Bronco

AUandAG

I drive a 2004, Chevy Z10, 4x4 PU. It replaced my 1979, Chevy, 4x4 PU. First car lasted 25 years with
only one motor change. Odometer broke in about 85 at 195,000. I think it had triple that at the end
and was still my daily driver. Hope the new Chevy lasts as long!
bob

oxy8890

I may help if you need a tow!

coinsarefun

<< <i>Well, I like to drive "Land Yachts"

'66 230S & '92 DeVille

Both gas hogs, but built to last. >>






me too 2006 DTS

tightbudget

In the NY metro area, I almost always see at least one fancy car (Bentley, RR, etc.) at any larger show. I recall seeing a Rolls at the last Parsippany show I went to, and two Bentleys at Coinfest.

As for me, I have no wheels

wondercoin

I traded away my Landcruiser for a PCGS-MS69 Ike.

Wondercoin

BAJJERFAN

I got a 2004 Chevy Cavalier. When I went to the ANA money show in Milwaukee in August it took less than a tank of gas. When money is tight its a shameful waste to blow it on fancy cars which just depreciate. I guess your car can project an aire of success or tell the world that you are living above your means. If money was no object I'd have a nice one for sure.

cmerlo1

<< <i>I may help if you need a tow!





>>




Isn't that lead paint?

ajia

I live in So Cal.
So, the wife gets the 2005 Toyota Hylander, my son has the 2000 Mustang (V6 Auto, no Rouch or GT) and I get the 1990 Mazda Miata!
It may be old, but a blast to drive.

But I do believe cars in So. Cal. are a status symbol here. People think nice car = success.
Can't business write off the payments on their taxes if the business leases the car?
I always figured Real Estate agents drove nice cars for the same reason.

pf70collector

1994 Firebird with 200 K on its second engine. I could buy a BMW or Cadiallac if I wanted. I don't have to or want to keep up with the Joneses.

ArgentumRex

Well, I think Bentleys are grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat! I love the Continental GT. If my coin dealer weren't driving a Bentley, I'd start to wonder what he was doing wrong, and if, perhaps, I shouldn't dump him for a more Bentlified dealer.

BONGOBONGO

BONGO DRIVE 1984 LINCOLN THAT LOOKS LIKE OLD COIN DUG FROM GROUND

EX MRS BONGO LEAVE BONGO IN PERILOUS FINANCIAL POSITION

BONGO SMALL POMME DE TERRE ALSO NEED REDECORATION

BONGO HAS SECRET THINGS THAT EX MRS BONGO COVETS

ahooka454

BONGOS secret things are really starting to scarey and bewilder me...

Deadhorse

Sheesh!

I don't see any correlation at all.

I've always had an affinity for high end sports cars and it has nothing to do with coins.

I've got four of them along with a big old Ford Truck in the driveway and I'm not saddled with any payments either.

I generally drive a Porsche 911 Carrera, a purple one no less. It's a great ride and fun to boot.

I could care less what anyone else drives, I don't judge anyone by their vehicle.

Apparently some of you would judge me, though.

slipgate

Why criticise someone for being successful? Cars are status symbols everywhere. That is the point of capitalism, to BE the Jones'!

If you can afford a Ferrari, or the payments, why not drive one? Do what makes you happy. Those that are proud to drive a POS, that's great, but don't criticise those that choose not to!

coinkat

I lived in SC back in the old days and had afew land yachts as well... I had the coolest 1959 Olds 2 door 98 that made the Batmobile look as if it was made before man invented chrome.

SC was the place for vintage cars... Tbirds, 55-57 Chevys and not to mention other cars from the late 1940's and 50's could be seen frequently...

Keep the BMW or Bentley... anyone with $$$ can get one... not everyone can find a 59 El Dorado Convertible...

But I have not owned a land yacht in over 20 years so I can talk with Al when he knocks at the door

DMWJR

<< <i>I got a 3 pack of nice wine this Xmas from a dealer and it made me think I was spending too much.

If he was driving a Bentley, I'd be REAL nervous. >>





Me too. I would certainly start sharpening my pencil!

savoyspecial

i gotta say i've got the best of both worlds here.....i work at a car dealership and i've been there long enough that they now provide me with a demo......this translates to: i get to drive a nice, new vehicle (switching out every few days or as inclement weather dictates) and have NO car payment (even insurance is provided by the dealership)

eat your heart out!! this just means more money for coins!!

greg

HighRelief

Built Chevy tough and still tickin.

BONGOBONGO

BONGO REFUSE TO BE DRAWN INTO DISCUSSION OF CAR VALUE - BONGO FEEL THAT VALUE IS AN ABSTRACT INTANGIBLE THESIS, BASED ON CONFUSING COMBINATION OF PUSH AND PULL FORCES OF INTERNAL DESIRE AND SOMETIMES IRRATIONAL EXTERNAL INFLUENCES.

BONGO DOES NOT FEEL NEED TO FILL THE BIG HOLE IN HIS LIFE WITH TRINKETS THAT OTHERS COVET.

CarsonCityGold

Daily driver is a Dodge 1 ton Dually Diesel. My other current cars are 84 Mustang GT Convertible (bought new and has only 1700 miles on it), 93 Yellow 5.0 Mustang Convertible, 93 Cobra Mustang and a 32 For Hiboy Roadster.

Here's a couple of them. Hmmmmmmmm. I wonder what the relationship between Ford and CC coins is??

Longacre

Growing up, I was not from a family of means so we drove a 1972 powder blue Plymouth Duster that my parents got from my grandmother. The car was rusted and had one gray door. So cars don't impress me.

I currently drive an old jalopy-- a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder with 110,000 miles on it.

MrEureka

The car you drive/own/lease is a reflection of how others perceive you as a coin collector and coin dealer??

I don't know. Never thought to ask anyone. Probably never will.

BlindedByEgo

I think that anyone who spends beyond their means for appearances' sake is either a fool or a real estate agent.

OTOH, if one can afford a nice ride and desires to have one, they should by all means feel free to do so.

For security reasons, I cannot divulge what I drive - but it is clean, comfortable, safe, and I like it.

TexasNationals

I drive an armored Tahoe, for many reasons. I have a company gas card so screw it.

WTCG

There are more than a few Southern California dealers I know of who drive very expensive cars. Although most of them deserve the expensive cars that they drive, there are a few who should have spent their money on something else.

I believe that the car you drive should to an extent represent your personality and preferences. It's the same for coin dealers and collectors as well. With that reasoning in mind I tend to stay away from "super generic" car models.

In my area we tend to have a higher percentage of foreign brand vehicles on the roads compared to other areas of the country. Despite that at local coin shows I do notice a higher percentage of American brands than what I typically see.

Where I currently live holds a constant reminder of how I need to keep up with my neighbors. A yellow Lamborghini Diablo resides in the parking space directly next to mine. In the past a Porshe 911 Turbo would chronically be illegally parked in one of my parking spaces. The owner found another place to park after repeated threats of towing.

Similar to others here I also belong to the 100,000 mile club. Of the two cars I own, one of them has an odometer that reads well into the six figures (the other car has 19,000 miles on it). I am currently in the market for a new car and once that new car gets delivered the high miler is scheduled to be retired.

notwilight

I live in Southern California and I drive a Focus. I thought it would be indiscreet but now I realize I stand out because I'm NOT in a Lexus, BMW or Mercedes. I think I'll get one of those and pretend to be a real estate agent. --jerry

JSsson

I would imagine that just like realtors, coin dealers need to make public presentation important to their advertising and promotion. In order to do that I would think that driving a nice car couldn't hurt their image. On the other hand I haven't noticed cars parked at coin shows or coin shops to be on the whole more expensive than what you would see anywhere else.

alpha480v

If I wanted a new car, I could afford to pay cash for one. I choose not to. I drive a 2002 dodge neon. Not great on looks, but great on gas. It saves me money on insurance and gas. I could care less what people think about it. Or me for that matter.

It gets me to where I need to go. I put the money I save driving this car into things that make me money.

darktone

I usually drive around in a rusty 91 Dodge Shadow- I paid a $100 for it about ten years ago with a blown head gasket- I drive this one to coin shows. It gets 33MPH and the air works. It's cheap and easy to fix. Also I have a 74 Roadrunner that I drive in the summer time, a 93 Dodge Daytona Iroc R/T and I am driving a 91 chevy 4x4 in the snowy months.

gtstang

ricko

Ridiculous... to judge a person by their car tells more about the individual making the judgement than the person driving the car. I suppose these would be the same people who buy wine according to the attractiveness of the label or the name on the bottle. Ridiculous. Cheers, RickO

fc

gosh ricko. i agree with you so often.

oh btw, my coin is bigger then your coin! :-P

RYK

<< <i>Ridiculous... to judge a person by their car tells more about the individual making the judgement than the person driving the car. I suppose these would be the same people who buy wine according to the attractiveness of the label or the name on the bottle. Ridiculous. Cheers, RickO >>



Well said. Over the years, some of the wealthiest people I have known were often the ones driving the least pretentious automobiles, and the biggest posers I have known were typically the ones with the most expensive cars.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>Ridiculous... to judge a person by their car tells more about the individual making the judgement than the person driving the car. I suppose these would be the same people who buy wine according to the attractiveness of the label or the name on the bottle. Ridiculous. Cheers, RickO >>



Well the cops do. Drive around in an old jalopy and you will be profiled as a person of poor means and therefore more probable of doing/dealing drugs or other related crime and therefore more likely to be pulled over. Or at the other extreme be a young black man in an expensive car and yer just askin to be stopped.

sweetwilliet

1995 Ford Bronco with big BF Goodrich Mud Terrains, 150k+ miles, still running, taxes are embarrassingly low, gotta love it!

JZrarities

Well, my daily driver is a '93 Explorer (and the driver door handle just broke)

But, I still like my classic '59 Vette...

slipgate

EXTRA sweet!



<< <i>Well, my daily driver is a '93 Explorer (and the driver door handle just broke)

But, I still like my classic '59 Vette...

>>

direwolf1972

Not sure if anyone perceives me as anything but weird to those that have met me.

Posted this pic in another thread a while back but it is more suited in this thread. My SS was bought by my father when I was 15 as my first car. It's been through 4 engines due to my leadfoot. Still have the matching numbers engine put up on blocks so it doesnt get hurt. In the process of putting the 5th motor in 20 years together for it now.



Older pics one before and one after vinyl top installation.