So is a Honda Accord vs. your TLX.

Pot kettle man!

so why do rich guys buy super cars?

What brand of car do you think wealthy people most often drive? Mercedes? BMW? Lexus?

If you answered any of those models, you’re only partially right. That’s because, according to a study done by researchers at Experian Automotive (and published on Forbes), 61% of wealthy people actually drive Hondas and Toyotas and Fords, just like all the rest of us.

What amount of income do they consider to be “wealthy”? The IRS says only 2% of American households make more than $250,000 a year, so that’s the dividing line.

These big-time earners—people who could easily afford a new Mercedes if they chose—drive Honda Accords or Toyota Camrys. That gives a whole new meaning to the idea of “the millionaire down the street,” doesn’t it?

The top 10 cars for $250,000-plus households include the Mercedes E-class, the Lexus RX 350 and the BMW 5 series and 3 series. Following those top four were three Hondas, a Toyota, an Acura and a Volkswagen.

Also, it’s sadly not surprising that 8% of people who make less than $100,000 own a luxury model car. If that isn’t an effort to keep up with the Joneses, then we don’t know what is. You make $50,000 a year and you own a $60,000 car? That’s insane.

Dave talks all the time about how down-to-earth the “average” millionaire actually is. Only 2 in 10 millionaires are actually retired. Most of them still go to work every day and continue to generate income and save for their family’s future.

This picture of a low-profile millionaire driving a Honda to work every day doesn’t fit our culture’s stereotype of the wealthy person, does it? The “evil one percent” might look just like you and me—the difference is that you don’t see him or her on reality television or in headlines because of some corporate scandal.

Someone making $250,000 a year could easily afford a nice Mercedes, but only 39% of them choose to drive that type of car. How interesting.

Maybe image isn’t worth as much as you think.

Acura RDX = luxury (slightly higher end) than a Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4

So based on your logic, why do you need to waste extra $6,000 if that money can go toward the downpayment of your future investment condo?

You are driving the car once every few weeks on 407 (carpool with your coworkers right?)

Just buy a basic Ford Edge (or Escape) for $30K and call it a day? Pretty sure the Ford SUV will do the same thing as an Acura SUV.

"useless exotic"! You and titty need to get that through your heads! Nice car != useless exotic!

My whole argument is around "useless exotics" !!!! And by "useless" I mean those that aren't a good investment (ie: making money).

I don't knock "nice cars", I knock "useless exotics".

Got it?

no because who's to determine what's an exotic to someone? to someone who makes more money that may be a lambo on a straight street, to others it may be a clean turbo EG hatch worth 5k. sorry i guess everyone should just live by the just a troll definitions to life.

Certain cars are great buys as they go up over time or just get to a value and just hold solid. Next car I buy I'm looking at one of these. They cost more up front but you can enjoy them and they just hold value. Or if you want to go crazy you can make money if you plan to hold on to some of the exotics for only a short time.

NSX would've been a great investment 10 or so years ago

yes and no. Any exotic that will go up in a very short time, good luck getting your hands on!
Most exotic cars (ferrari, lambo, mclaren, ect...) all drop with miles. Unless you can get approved to order something like a LaFerrari or long tail P1 you aint making money in the short term.

Porsche returns have far exceeded NSX returns.

I should have bought a Porsche

What about an Infiniti Q60?