Two years ago, my wife thought she made a sound decision when she bought a 2012 Scion iQ. In her eyes, the iQ was cute and fun like my Smart Fortwos, but should be reliable because it’s a Toyota. Unfortunately, not only has the car been a reliability disaster, but it seems nobody else thinks the car is cute and fun. My mom just revealed that she thinks Sheryl’s car is a massive disappointment and disrespectful to her profession (she’s a lawyer). Now, my wife is looking for a new car that fits her career a little better. What should she buy?
If you’ve been in the car community for long enough, you’re probably well aware of the concept of buying a cheap car that makes you look like you have money. In theory, this is especially handy if you work in a profession where you need to project a certain image, but you might not have the dough to buy a new ride for that purpose. I didn’t subscribe to that idea for a long time. I thought that if you bought a 20-year-old Mercedes-Benz, you wouldn’t be fooling anyone. I thought that you didn’t have to be a car enthusiast to deduce that someone’s driving an old car, no matter the badge that’s on it.
Witnessing my wife’s experiences with her cars has taught me that the concept of “balling on a budget” is shockingly and confusingly accurate. When Sheryl drove a 2010 Toyota Prius, she was seen as a sort of environmentalist lawyer, and she got no complaints. Sheryl told me that she even blended in, as some lawyers do drive Prii and other hybrids because hybrids are green and trendy.
When Sheryl switched to the 2001 BMW 525iAT that we bought from our secret designer, the Bishop, her positive-image score spiked off the chart. Almost daily, she would get compliments about the BMW. There were several instances where guys offered her $5,000 on the spot for the wagon. It blew my mind because that BMW was a rustbucket that I had purchased for just $1,500 – but it did look really clean with tinted windows and fresh wax.
Everyone complimented the BMW, from Sheryl’s clients and opposing counsel to my family. Everyone sort of treated the BMW as a massive upgrade from the Prius. It was almost like Sheryl had won it big or something. Practically overnight, Sheryl was taken as seriously as those lawyers with the billboards and expensive suits, when all she had done was trade a decent hybrid for a cheap and rusty BMW. Clearly, people didn’t care. She really was balling on a budget.
Unfortunately, the BMW’s rust advanced to the point where the car’s jacking points could no longer be used. Worse, driving it 40,000 miles in a single year did a number on the BMW’s engine. So, she decided to pass it on. In hindsight, this was the wrong decision. We could have fixed Wanda the BMW. Even worse, the guy who bought it ended up committing a hit and run with the vehicle after failing to register it for months. Guess who had to mop up that mess? Oh, and then the friend that we loaned the Prius to managed to destroy the car by ramming a deer.
The Cute Mistake
Sheryl found herself in the car market again, and this time, she decided to get weird with it. She adored driving my Smarts, but I warned her that Smarts are way too finicky to drive 40,000 miles a year without major headaches. Sheryl chose the next best thing, the car that was more or less a Smart, but by Toyota.
At the time, I thought it was an okay decision. The example she chose appeared to be in great shape with tons of life left in it. While I didn’t think it was a “lawyer car,” I also knew that Sheryl typically enjoys being underestimated. She sort of plays a character not unlike Peter Falk’s Columbo, and it’s amazing how well it works in real life.
So, she got the iQ, and at first, things were great. The car scored 40 mpg, everyone thought it was oh so cute, and we got a decent deal on it. At first, the car didn’t even give us any issues. It started every single time without failure, even when my own cars failed me. We then drove the iQ most of the length of Route 66, and the car was an absolute joy on that monster of a road trip.
Then, the house of cards began falling apart. We installed an aftermarket cruise control system, which eventually grew a hunger for accelerator pedals. The cruise control managed to kill not just one, but two accelerator pedals over the course of just 10 months.
The problems only get more frustrating from there. The engine had a mystery issue of randomly sputtering and then shutting down while at idle. I replaced the spark plugs and coils, which fixed the issue. Now, the car has an intermittent rough idle. The engine stays running, but something is sometimes unhappy. I went through the work to put the old coils back in, and there was no change.
Update: The iQ has developed a new and fun problem. Last week, it blew both of its low-beam headlight bulbs at the same time. I replaced some somewhat crusty-ish headlight relays and the bulbs. Well, the bulbs just stopped working an hour ago, then came back to life 10 minutes ago. This is fine, totally fine.
As of a couple of weeks ago, gas pedal number three has intermittent failures. This is concerning since we did have the cruise control uninstalled. Previous diagnosis seemingly confirmed that the cruise control killed the gas pedal. But that’s no longer a factor. What’s going on now?
This morning, the iQ presented a new issue when the heater refused to blow warm for 30 minutes of Sheryl’s freezing morning commute. The coolant looks great. Maybe the blend door got stuck? There’s more, from the incessant whining of the CVT and the rust that’s appearing in strange places, to the fact that it occasionally throws traction control errors.
In fairness, the Scion didn’t get like this all on its own. Sheryl crashed the iQ during the summer, and then crashed it again only three weeks ago. Many of these recent issues cropped up after that second crash.
Everyone Hates The iQ
Yet, it wasn’t exactly the unreliability that soured Sheryl’s relationship with her car. Over the past two years, we’ve witnessed how people who used to think of the car as something cute and novel have turned on the vehicle.
The same people who complimented the car or expressed wonder two years ago now call the car a total piece of junk. Clients think Sheryl is a joke because of the car, and opposing counsel have gone from underestimating Sheryl to just openly mocking her. Somehow worse is that Sheryl seems to now have a negative reputation. I cannot begin to type out what these people are actually saying, but they’re calling her a type of transphobic slur who drives the tiny piece of garbage. [Ed note: What is wrong with people? Gee whiz. – Pete]
This negative reputation has reached the point where she lost a lucrative contract, largely because of the car. Her own clients have cursed Sheryl out over her car. Mind you, Sheryl’s law practice is unique in that the client names the price they pay for her work. Many of these people do not pay for her services at all, but demand that she drive a new luxury car. Basically, she’s no longer Columbo.
But the worst sting came from the inside. Not only does Sheryl’s best friend want to commit violence against the iQ, but my mom spent a great portion of Christmas dinner dressing down Sheryl in front of everyone about why she thinks Sheryl’s car sucks.
Seriously, this conversation went on for longer than an hour, and my mom went hard. She said that, by driving the iQ, not only is Sheryl insulting me, but she’s disrespecting the family and me as a whole. Mom also said that if Sheryl cared about me and actually respected me, she’d drive a real lawyer car and make more money. This conversation would normally be way too personal to publish, but it hit me like a ton of bricks because it came out of the blue and was weirdly harsh. Long story short is that, apparently, over the past two years, my mom has lost respect for my wife because of the iQ.
I defended Sheryl throughout this conversation. I have a fleet of crappy, weird cars. I am not disrespected by my wife choosing to drive a weird car. She’s a grown woman and can make her own choices with her own money. But Pandora’s box has been opened. The words that have been said cannot be taken back. It’s clear that everyone now hates the iQ.
Our conclusion is that the iQ is actively harming Sheryl on multiple fronts. She has been depressed about this, and I have been dealing with headache after headache. I honestly have never seen a car cause so much strife before. Yet, most people seem to agree that the iQ sucks. In fact, our very own readers have been saying it for over a year now.
We’ve made the decision to get a different car, but the question is: What car?
So Many Choices
When I posed this question to The Autopian‘s staff and contributors, I used the qualifier that it should be somewhat “lawyer-like.” Ideally, I’d love to pay cash for this car, but that would mean a budget under $10,000. Financing also works, but Sheryl’s not looking to get into a loan on a $40,000 car anytime soon.
First out of the gate was Jason Torchinsky, who recommended a Scion xB. Or, specifically, he said that we should buy a dirt-cheap first-generation xB, and then pay someone to make it the most luxurious xB in the world.
David Tracy was next, and his recommendation was a 1980 Subaru GL wagon. I’m not even sure what to do with this recommendation.
Matt Hardigree returned us to reality with the recommendation for a Lincoln Town Car, but specifically one that isn’t black. The idea there is that Sheryl won’t look like a livery driver. Also, I guess she’d get to say that she’s a Lincoln lawyer?
Stephen Walter Gossin recommended a 2000s Jaguar on the account that they look great, are plenty luxurious, and can be had for dirt-cheap.
My mom said Sheryl’s new car has to be high-end luxury. The wildcard is Sheryl’s best friend, a Honda fangirl, who recommended a mid-2010s Civic, an early 2010s Accord, or an Acura.
As far as Sheryl’s own picks, she wants something like a mid-2010s Subaru Legacy, an Infiniti G37, an Infiniti EX35, a Toyota Avalon, a Lexus LX470, a Lexus LS400, a mid-2010s Mazda3, a Hyundai Veloster, a Hyundai Genesis sedan, or another Toyota Prius. She also wants another BMW E39, but she’s reluctant since the last one didn’t go so well.
The good news is that Sheryl’s mileage has gone down over the past two years. As of now, she puts about 25,000 miles a year on her car, an improvement over her old mileage of 40,000 miles a year. Still, that’s nearly double the national average, so Sheryl needs something that’s at least somewhat durable.
I don’t think a Civic is a good pick. Civics are extremely hearty cars, but I’m not sure it would give Sheryl the image she’s looking for. Likewise, early 2010s Accords are often seen as great first cars, so I’m not sure that will also complete the mission as desired. I know Sheryl also loves the Hyundai Genesis, but will the Hyundai badge turn people off? I also adore Stephen’s suggestion for a highly depreciated Jaguar, but I’m positive my wife will get murdered by repair costs.
The Legacy, Veloster, and Mazda3 are Sheryl’s bucket list cars, so those would be considered in spite of how anyone feels about them.
Since we have direct access to the people who hate the iQ, we started polling them on my cars. I have like 13 crappy cars, so I can easily sell some or give one to Sheryl. Apparently, the most “lawyer” car in my fleet is the BMW E61 wagon that I bought from the Bishop, but that has over 180,000 miles and is already very finicky. I do not trust that BMW to take Sheryl’s beatings without breaking in a hilariously expensive way.
The three cars that both line up with the image goal and with Sheryl’s own desires are the BMW E39, a Lexus LX470, and a Lexus LS400. E39s are easy to find in decent condition for cheap enough. But Sheryl has deep concerns about long-term reliability, which is fair. The two Lexus (Lexi? Lexuses?) are great ideas, but I’ve been gobsmacked at old Lexus values.
Most of the Lexus in my local area have well over 100,000 miles, and their sellers are still demanding $7,000 to $8,000 for them. I could have sworn that these were $3,500 cars back in 2019.
Anyway, I have found some affordable Avalons, Priis, Camrys, and some newer Honda Accords. What’s stopping us from moving forward is just being unsure. I don’t want to blow a ton of cash on a car that fails at improving Sheryl’s image, or worse, is a car she ends up hating.
The shortlist for now is a Toyota Avalon, a BMW E39, a Toyota Prius, a Subaru Legacy, or a Honda Clarity. But we cannot seem to make a decision for fear of making the wrong decision. It’s funny because I’ve purchased cars entirely on impulse before. But that’s me. I can get away with buying a dumb car. My wife doesn’t have that luxury, so I want to get this right.
Whew, it sure took a long time to get here! Now I want to turn it over to you. What car should she buy? Should she just tell my mom and her haters to buzz off? What car would you expect someone who functions like a public defender to drive? Please help me, my brain is melting from the indecision.
Top graphic image: Mercedes Streeter
When you’re trans and your partners trans and your mom’s major concern is the looks of her car, that’s a win!
Honestly, so true!
I like the LS400 idea.
Considering she’s still doing 25k miles a year though, maybe a V8 is the wrong choice. I’d look for an ES Hybrid or Avalon Hybrid. If not that, just a standard ES300/350 or Avalon would be a great choice and more economical than the LS.
An Acura TSX would be a solid choice too. Or another Prius.
Acura TSX Wagon
solid, wagon, priced about right, unusual
(yes, I still regret selling mine)
Mine gets 28 – 30 mpg and Premium is recommended, 89 octane required. I would not recommend one for someone driving 25K to 40K miles per year.
Sheryl should be looking for a hybrid that runs on 87 octane. A ten year old Avalon Hybrid or EX350h is rated at 39 mpg highway. The regular 3.5L gas version only manages 30 mpg.
You want a car that says something, and the thing is, that message may not be lawyer, as long as it’s acceptable.
Prius says ‘concerned about the environment’, and that’s an acceptable face to show.
Subaru says either ‘old money’ in certain areas, or ‘athletic’
Toyota says ‘I own a car that is reliable’ but it says so very loudly.
(my knee-jerk instinct was Camry Hybrid – I had a V6 Camry that I used to eat Mustangs in.)
Lexus says ‘I own a classy reliable car’.
Allegedly “old money” folks drive Land Cruisers, and Mercedes-Benz and Volvo wagons, at least on the east coast.
Yes, Subaru is what they drive in Aspen, traditionally, but it’s been transitioning back east to where it’s a viable competitor. Not so much Volvo anymore, the 940 is finally aging out.
I’d say the lexus CT200h, which is basically the lexus version of the Prius. She drives a lot. Save gas. And it will most likely have cruise control
Oh this is a really good suggestion. Theyre smart looking too
And the Lexus version never got the stigma of the Prius
Yea absolutely. I saw a blue one the other day and forgot how good they looked
Awesome suggestion and can be had cheaper than many Lexuses
I would say the problem with the CH200h is it’s slower then a Prius and get worse gas mileage.
This just made me feel bad for Sheryl. It’s bad enough that clients and colleagues are judging her for her car but your mother? She doesn’t deserve this crap from anyone, let alone a relative who is supposed to love (or at least be civil to) her. Sheryl should get a new car because SHE wants one, everyone else can take their unsolicited opinions and get stuffed.
That being said… If she’s wants something eco conscious but also a little exotic, Fisker Karmas are cheaper than you might think! Not quite as low as your budget but if you can swing for $15-20k I found several low mileage examples within that range.
It’s bougie enough to impress even the most snobby clients or corporate lawyers, yet in a way it’s also not too ostentatious because a lot of people will have no idea what it even is. Perfect reliability won’t be its thing but hey, at least she’s used to quirky cars already!
As someone who also drives a ton every year, I would suggest a manufacturer that’s still in business.
*Scratches Studebaker off the list.*
And here I was going to suggest an Avanti or Wagonaire…
Alright so the first order of business is….what the fuck? We’ve all made plenty of jokes about people and their cars and stuff here but most of the time it’s playful. I cannot even begin to fathom insulting someone IRL for what they drive. Who the fuck cares? When I see professionals driving beaters my thought is always “they don’t have a car payment, good for them”.
Obviously there are exceptions, like my corporate attorney buddy with 718 GT4 RS who burns obscene amounts of money flaunting his wealth…but the vast majority of people I know that meet traditional standards of success (money, having happy families, being experts in their fields, etc) don’t waste their money on flashy cars.
My other high powered attorney friend who comes from a family with Texas oil money drives a 2010s Tiguan. My uncle who’s an anesthesiologist who owns his own medical practice drives a Santa Fe. The VP where I work has always driven Priuses. My father in law who’s a retired CFO has only ever driven Hondas and Toyotas. I could keep going.
I think people that haven’t ever been successful or been around successful people associate flashy cars with wealth. It’s a surface level understanding that comes from our hyper consumerist society. In reality the vast majority of the people you see driving $70,000 luxury cars aren’t actually successful. They’re regular folks like us that are over leveraging themselves financially and pissing money away on leasing.
I’m not even saying this to take digs at anyone necessarily, in fact I just kind of find it sad. It’s all an illusion and all you’re doing by taking on that $999 a month lease is funneling the money you do have upward. Real luxury and success is not having a car payment.
But anyway, to respond to the question at hand a used Lexus or Acura is probably the answer. They look nice, they are nice, and upkeep isn’t going to be too much trouble.
One of my best friends is a City Attorney in southern California, and he drives a Camry.
My old man owns and runs his own architecture firm and has for 20+ years. I’m not trying to brag or flex or anything (it’s his money not mine, and it’s not like he just gave his kids credit cards linked to the company coffers) but he’s done very, very well for himself and is about to enjoy a lavish retirement.
He didn’t buy a new luxury car for himself until 2023. Up until that point he mainly drove modestly spec’d Grand Cherokees and would occasionally buy a heavily depreciated luxury sedan for himself that he’d drive as a treat. Naturally he buys my mom whatever she wants, but up until 2023 he was almost always pulling a 2014 GC into his fancy parking space at work.
He finally caved and ordered an X5 50e that we poured over every detail on two years ago. He went back and forth about whether he deserved it for weeks and frequently moans about the depreciation. But anyway…my point stands. The vast majority of actual rich people don’t waste money on cars.
Not to brag or anything, but I could go out and finance an M3 or base Cayenne or something if I really wanted to. But why the fuck would I do that? It’s literally setting money on fire and I have an 18 month old to worry about and I drive 6,000 miles a year. I feel 0 shame in driving a farting Hyundai crossover that’s about to be paid off, and I’ll have no shame in continuing to drive it until it’s too small for us.
And then? I’m just gonna get a Honda Passport and drive it until I can hand it off to my kids to drive. Maybe at that point I’ll consider something fancier, but until then…why? I’d rather put the money I’d be burning into an IRA.
My Dad was the same way. Despite doing well enough to retire at 55 (which was in 2005!) he was driving a 2003 Grand Cherokee up until 2023… and the only reason he gave that up was it was 2wd from when he lived in California and repairs were starting to get too frequent. Even then he just bought a Honda Passport.
After a few years of leasing luxury cars and fancy things (being in the car business they like you to have big car payment’s) I followed his example this year and bought a 2022 Accord that I’m gonna drive into the ground.
That’s the difference between government attorney and private. But, I think Sheryl’s problem is she went too downmarket. For the image, she could go anything midsize and up (Camry/Accord) and it would have been fine, but going from a BMW (even older ones look good to many people, I know as I have two from the early 2000s) to an iQ probably seems like a big step backwards.
Accord Hybrid Touring would be a solid choice.
It would, but in a different post in this article my actual recommendation is an Avalon Hybrid. They fly under the radar when people are car shopping, and you can get one cheaper than an equivalent Camry or Accord, and they have been around longer than the Accord so you can again get one cheaper. Plus they tend to be driven by people who take care of their cars so they are in better condition.
It’s interesting right? My close friend is a finance exec at an international food distribution corp and comfortably makes nearly 7 figures a year and he drives a hail damaged taos
I worked for a school system for years and the principal where I worked, who’s a very big deal in the DC education scene, drove a freaking Malibu. I joked with him about it a couple times and he was like “it works, why should I waste money on something else?”.
Long term lurker, first commenter here. Also, I am an in-house legal counsel in the tech industry in NYC.
I drive a 2008 Corolla which I have had since high school. It is utterly reliable, fuel efficient, and even just only hit 100k miles. Had a few offers on it but I will never ever sell it. It will sail with me and my legal career to 200k and beyond.
As for the question, no way I’m buying a nicer car to satisfy the questionable whims of a mom or anyone else (even if this advice came from my own mom). Though if my Corolla broke down and I wanted to look more “professional,” maybe I’d be looking at the Mazda 3.
First I’d like to extend a heart-felt “SCREW YOU” to anyone and everyone who thinks they have the right to tell someone else that they’re “driving the wrong car“. Seriously.
Anyhow, I don’t think you can go wrong with a Lexus or the Avalon but I think the Legacy would be surprise hit. It’s rare enough that you don’t see them every day but still respectable.
Jesus Crimany what a bunch of shit to go through over a vehicle.
I completely understand though, I dealt with this a lot at my last job. I even got called into the office once, because I had taken my Rolex and slung it around the 4wd shifter in my shitty old Jeep.
People that judge one’s character based on outward appearances already piss me off, when they have the balls to comment on it to your Face?
Ugh. Dude I hate that for you so much.
But I know what it’s like, to have family, your flesh and blood, people that you KNOW to be amazing people who want what’s best for you, to have an opinion that just sucks.
It’s hard. I really think they’re wrong, but I understand the circumstances.
If she can forgive Toyota for their janky ass car, she should get a CT200H. For those in the know, it’s a fancy Prius. For those not, it’s a Lexus. I suggest that slutty shade of Dark red with a tan interior. I’m a hillbilly, and even I have to respect that color scheme as superior.
My personal pick though? If she wants to look “lawyerly” and still have a pretty fun rig that’s affordable, easy to work on, and just about invincible, go with an AWD Chrysler 300S.
I wouldn’t go with black, that’s trying to hard. Gunmetal gray, or that Slutty red again. This time over black interior though, Chrysler interiors are at their best in black.
Oooh, good advice all around – I LIKE you!
I believe the Cadillac DTS vehicles are getting cheaper by the day and if you can find a decent one they look quite lawyerly. And quite fun to drive saw one local at 120000 miles looked great
DTSs look a bit dowdy nowadays, like an elderly country doctor’s last car that they keep because they can’t justify the expense of something newer. If going cadillac the xts still looks reasonably modern, is a rebodied impala so mechanical parts are generally available, but could likely be within budget versus its ct6 successor.
I’d shop for a final-generation Lincoln Continental instead, though. It looks less showy while still having panache, and the 30-way seats are amazing for soaking up the miles.
Or, Cadillac ELR if you want a Volt in 2 door form? Looks like they range from around that $10k mark up to $25k depending on the example?
ELR is the best-looking cadillac coupe in decades. I despise the haptic feedback in the seats, though. If one had to get a gen-1 volt, the ELR is the best option. I would be wary about parts availability, though. We’ve had a few gen-1 volts in my shop in the last year, and there were quite a few “unobtanium” parts.
I was wondering what the availability of parts would be. The people I know who’ve had Volts loved them. Seems like GM really have that platform and the Bolt some extra love their normal offerings haven’t seen.
Pretty much since a few years after the gen-2s came out the gen-1 really fell by the wayside. Bolts we haven’t really seen much difficulty with aside from front license plate mounts, for some reason. Of course that also overlooks the fact that in today’s day and age with so many two-plate entities that they don’t just design cars with flat places on the front to mount plates to.
You are not wrong but a 10k budget does require some concessions
Indeed, though in my mind if going over the $10K there’d be a mix of down payment and some financing. Generally when I buy my own cars (which are in a similar $5-15K realm, usually) I pay about 2/3 of it upfront and finance the rest just to keep some activity on my credit.
Aaron Martin Cygnet
This would be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.
I mean, she could just buy the front bumper:
https://www.astonstore.co.uk/product-category/complete-catalogue-new/2001-2007/aston-martin-cygnet/body-and-glass-aston-martin-cygnet/front-bumper-assembly-body-and-glass-aston-martin-cygnet/
Ah, the malicious compliance answer. I won’t lie, I’ve considered it.
As well you should!
Or if you wan to go full send malicious compliance just put some tacky gold Lexus badges, center caps and a steering wheel ornament on the iQ and call it a day.
Beat me to it!
Oh my god this made me snort, I love it!
I was hoping someone would recommend this. Image problem solved!
Was going to suggest exactly this, what a power move.
Can you get those in the US? I don’t think they were sold here, and they’re still 11 years out from the 25-year rule.
IMHO… recommend A Toyota Camry Hybrid. Still a sure bet! Rented one on 2024. Was impressed with gas mileage, range, comfort, and even had good power. Well maintained ones go 200k with no major problems. Be a plus if you can find one private party and it comes with all maintenance records. I worked for Toyota Service twice for quite a few years. If I was looking for a dependable transportation appliance this would be my choice.
Good luck and Happy New Year!!
I’d like to recommend: Lexus RX400h or early RX450h. They have space, reliability, comfort and “lawyer” cachet, without the perceived pretention of a European car. Best of all, they tend to price around the mid-teens, at least in California
As a bonus, they get good MPG for its size class, somewhere in the mid 20s for the 400h and high 20s for the 450h, according to Fuelly data
Put Lexus back on list, I don’t care which.
“my wife is looking for a new car that fits her career a little better”
No offense intended Miss Merc, to you or your wife, but that seems like a silly reason to change cars (reliability issues on your iQ aside – I can understanding replacing it due to those)
I think everybody should just drive what they want if it makes them happy and other people’s thoughts be damned. Buying a fancier car won’t make your wife any better or worse at her job – she’s damn good at it already!
Honestly, I agree with you. However, it’s hard to ignore that the car has caused some material loss of income and reputation. She’s also quite depressed about the whole thing, especially that dinner.
Ideally, I think we can get a decent resolution. A bucket list car like an Avalon, which I think will also help with the other crap.
Avalons are good cars! One of my elderly clients for my side hustle of computer / tech help drives a dary gray metallic 3rd-gen Avalon with surprisingly sporty aftermarket BBS rims…looks pretty good to be honest!
But yes, I can completely understand her wanting a different car with the reliability concerns…..why not just get a classic FIAT 500 instead? Sure, ‘Fix it Again Tony’ but it’s simple enough to fix with a paper clip and a piece of string? Classic FIAT 500s are perfectly aligned with Midwest winter weather….right? 😛
Oh oh….new plan, import her a Toyota Alphard….some trims of those vans are crazy luxurious and look snazzy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCSfBq7ngr0
You’re welcome! 😛
In a perfect world but there is a reason very few CEOs have full facial tattoos
True, but to Frank C’s comment right below this one – it also has to do with logic. Miss Merc’s wife driving an iQ as a lawyer has ZERO bearing on her functioning in that position and everybody should know that (hence my comment…anybody’s vehicle has no bearing on their job unless they are a plumber trying to haul around their tools in a FIAT 500 which just makes no sense).
A person with a full-face tattoo that wants to be a CEO is completely different because a full-face tattoo DOES directly affect that job because they are the outward face of the company and the person who would want the tattoo would know that. You could drive any car and it wouldn’t affect your performance in the courtroom in any way.
Don’t see a connection between career and what you drive. Of course, I’ve always held one exception…if you’re in the construction trades or a rancher or farmer, I’d expect a truck. It’s logical.
My second exception is if your job involves driving clients from place to place. In that case, I think it’s necessary to have something they aren’t afraid to be seen in or afraid to ride in. It doesn’t have to be luxury, a Camry is fine.
Eh, when I was in nonprofit fundraising and looking at a pre-owned Jaguar, my boss flipped out and told me no effing way could I show up at an event in a Jag and ask people for money, even though it was half the price of his new Jeep, so I bought a new Mustang for more money instead and it was a non issue
Had a similar thing happen when I was a bank manager, heard second hand that one of my peers in the division thought it was inappropriate that I was driving a Chevy. It was a newer Camaro, the guy that came from drove a LaCrosse, some people are just dumb and not worth listening to
It really is disappointing that what you drive matters so much to your reputation. I have a fellow 50-year old friend I’ve known since high school who has ALWAYS been obsessed with Corvettes. He is now financially stable enough to own one, so after a lot of careful shopping he bought a dark red C7 Stingray that he adores. The problem is a significant number of people in his life just think it’s a midlife crisis and he’ll “get over it” and regret buying the car.
I suspect this is the real reason behind most “midlife crisis” car purchases – it’s the car they’ve wanted since they were a teenager, and now they can finally afford it.
That Seinfeld Cadillac episode is based on a true story, Larry David bought his father a new Lexus once the show became successful. He was the HOA president of his condo complex in Florida, and found that all the other residents started ostracizing him and spreading negative rumors, the elderly residents didn’t get the humor of Seinfeld and therefore couldn’t comprehend how David could possibly be making enough money to buy his father a luxury car, so embezzlement from the HOA was suspected. It is really weird what effects owning a certain car can have on other people
A built in legal assumption is whoever has more money is more trustworthy.
I’ve found the reverse is true more often.
Agreed, it’s one thing for assumptions based on career, but it’s another thing to use common sense and logic in decisions.
A truck or van makes sense for somebody in a trade or agriculture that would be hauling a lot of stuff.
Taken aback with how people would behave from just a car. If it weren’t you saying this I wouldn’t have believed it.
I’d say get a Lexus if image is so important, but if she ends up making it big in a firm, then get an iQ back and really rub in that its her car and that no one got to tell her what to do
Not good career advice. Maybe make it big and use the IQ as a weekend vehicle.
The newest and lowest mileage Lexus ES300/330/350 that fits within the budget. It does everything necessary in this case without spending more than you need.
As far as your editorial staff is concerned, ask them if their wives would let them hire a lawyer that drives what they suggest if it was their own freedom on the line…Sheesh.
Ha, yeah, you get it. Sheryl’s darn good at winning, but her clients get concerned once they see her car. It’s sort of tough to both be the state’s only free lawyer (regardless if you win or lose) but also be expected to drive a new car. But I also get it. Even if you aren’t paying, you want one of the lawyers from the television commercials and billboards.
Does the state pay her for probono work? And just when are the clients and other lawyers actually seeing her car?
Great question! The state pays for nothing. She’s a sole practitioner and is largely supported by the few clients that do pay, the handful of cases that do have payouts, a Patreon, a non-profit or two that she allies with, and sometimes me.
One of the hard parts about the kind of law she practices is that, often, winning a case means that someone keeps a roof over their head or does not go to jail. These are not cases that make money, but do good deeds.
Theres’s a minumum expectation that will pay off in respect and confidence but no need to go overboard. A used Lexus is in reality not very expensive. Sheryl likely could practice law in sweats and a pair of Crocs but likely already dresses more appropriately without being draped in Chanel. Same thing. It’ll cost less overall to spend a little more if that makes sense.
Exactly although I looked and I didn’t see any decent Lexus for under $10k.
It probably ultimately comes down to field of practice. My sister is an attorney focused on employment and immigration who offten was litigating against the eeoc who would bring up cars during depositions painting her as the rich firm corporate attorney. So everytime the client says she drives an old Honda she goes a buys a new crv and keeps the old one in their fleet.
I knew a defense attorney that went from a decent car in a 2 door first gen rav 4 to a string of the worse vehicles know to man. He also started started getting sanctioned while he was driving Altimas and quests then he got a Kia hybrid and things started going good for him then he bought an e39 off some lawyer friend and it left him stranded everywhere so he went back to kias.
So perhaps Prius, Avalon, mid 2000s lexas. Or Hyundai /Kia product of the last 15 years. Maybe a Genisus.
Wow! My first thought is to get another nicer iQ and fuck what anyone else thinks. Get a windshield banner that says “My Awesome Ride”
Ok I’ll try too be helpful. How about an Audi TT? Small, fun to drive, not that common.
First step, tell the haters exactly where and how far they can shove their opinions. After that, go get a nice Lexus.
Whatever happened to the million-mile LS400? it would be perfect
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Very cheap, reliable, and looks respectable.
We did peek at one of those! It does seemingly check every box.
With so much seat time, definitely check out one with the massage seats as they also have a ton of adjustment to be comfortable for anyone. The adaptive suspension and cruise are other features that are very nice to have. Most of the time I leave it in the comfort mode for that nice luxury car ride but sport is a few clicks away for when I’ve got a twisty road and want to have some fun. Lifetime MPG is right at 40.
She should buy whatever she wants to buy as it’s not your mom’s or anyone else’s business but her’s.
This.
/thread
Only actual real answer.
Prius or Avalon. Either will eat the miles will minimal headaches. The Clarity is just a bad Prius, and the BMW is a money pit. Legacy: solid maybe.
The one thing that would help us with the Legacy is the fact that my brother is a Subaru master tech, and is willing to spin wrenches on it when I can’t.
Currently, I’m leaning heavily toward Prius or Avalon. Our last Prius was darn near bulletproof and nobody complained about it.
It’s interesting how cars have reputations that can say something that overrides their numbers. A Prius can be more acceptable than a Lexus 200h
Wow a Prius isn’t a lawyer car it is a vehicle that says you have standards and principles not many other cars give you an out.
I’ve always had good luck with Subarus, but they do tend to resell higher than other brands and don’t do as well WRT gas mileage as a Toyota or Lexus would. Now that they’re owned by Toyota, they’re pretty bulletproof and you get AWD for the snow.
How does she feel about Eyesight/driver assist features?
As the proud owner of a Lexus ES300h, I recommend the Lexus ES300h. Mine is a 2014 at 206k miles and it still radiates “stealth wealth” while being a big fluffy couch that gets 34mpg. There’s a Lexus hybrid for every price point. The UX, CT, and even the HS are all great choices if she wants something smaller
I’ve been shopping the RX450h as a potential daily, myself. It’d be more comfortable in traffic than my 2007 Mazdaspeed3, have room for snowboarding and friends and get the same or better mpg than my MS3
Please post under $10k lexuses
Here’s a few > $10k Lexus just from my local CL:
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/d/san-jose-2006-lexus-400rx-4wd/7905191830.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/fremont-2006-lexus-rx400h-awd/7905493458.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/d/south-san-francisco-hybrid-lexus-hs250h/7905020799.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/d/san-jose-2012-lexus-ct-ct-200h-premium/7900816320.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/d/napa-lexus-hybrid-hs250h-black/7899506682.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/d/fremont-2014-lexus-es-hybrid/7905573545.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/d/san-jose-2011-lexus-rx-450h-backup/7904137732.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/d/santa-clara-2013-lexus-ct-200h-hybrid/7901417523.html
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/d/sunnyvale-lexus-ct-200h/7905568301.html
This is California so no rust (probably).
That is easy. Just search Craigslist for Lexus, max price 10,000, max mileage 150,000 (if you like)… I usually look for those sold by the owner, not a dealership. An ’04 SC430 with 131K for 9500 popped up, as well as a 2011 RX450H with 141K for 6,700, and an ’09 RX350 with 112K for 8950.
All are clean rust-free California cars. A 2011 CT200H with 96K asks 7400.
A Yugo GVX
Coming in with the chaos answer.
I wonder if Yugos have become old and weird enough to unironically be seen as something cool?
Honestly, people think they’re old Golfs till you tell ’em
I’m thinking you suggest a Yugo to the wife you will be having a long talk about why you hate her and don’t want her to succeed. Just my humble opinion
Yes, I think they have. Also, everbody needs a Yugo sometime