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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 Does a car become less "special" if everyone has it? |
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09-28-2022, 06:46 PM | #1 |
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Does a car become less "special" if everyone has it?
So hear me out..
I live in an area that is overwhelmed with Teslas. They are literally everywhere. The other day I drove 3 miles back home, and my girlfriend and I were able to count over 23 different Teslas driving between 4 traffic lights. Today I was getting new tires, and as I looked at the appointment sheet I noticed there was 8 different Teslas getting tires. I saw 2 BMWs, 3 Toyotas, A mustang and a few others.. But 8 Teslas. Obviously it's silly worry about what other people have, I get that. I personally enjoy when I see someone else on the road with my same car.. But do I want to pull into a parking lot full of my exact same model/car every time I go out? Idk.. We all like to have fun and see how BMW stacks up against other competitors, which drives the question... Does a car become less "special" to you if everyone has it? |
09-28-2022, 06:56 PM | #2 |
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The short answer is yes.
When I bought my first sports car in 1991, it seemed like everyone that wanted a sports car drove an IROC or Mustang 5.0. They were not special, and they did not get looks or much interest. It's not to say they were crap cars, they were just common. |
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09-28-2022, 07:51 PM | #3 |
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No, it doesn’t. even if a hundred thousand people own a Miata, it doesn’t change its driving dynamics or how you feel when you get in it. Unless you specifically mean “unique” when you say “special”.
Btw you didn’t pick a great example to illustrate your point. Can’t think of any car less special than a Tesla… |
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09-28-2022, 07:59 PM | #4 |
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The answer is yes, a car is less special if everyone has it. Most cars aren’t special even though we want them to be / think they are. There are very few truly special cars. A car can be special to you (and that’s awesome btw) but, objectively, that doesn’t make it special.
An example, back in 2003 I bought a Nissan 350Z and I loved it (I was young - heck I still have a soft spot for Zs though). At the time, that car was extremely special TO ME. Was it a special car? Hell no…
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09-28-2022, 08:24 PM | #5 |
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Yes. Attraction to scarce objects and resources is something we're hardwired for. Conspicuous consumption is a thing.
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09-28-2022, 08:31 PM | #6 |
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I would say yes, absolutely. Its part of the reason I chose to purchase an M2, its a unique and special car that is fairly rare, ive only seen 2-3 others in person around where i live.
Here in the midwest, everyone and their moms are driving 5.0 Mustangs. Theyre amazing performance cars unfortunately made much less cool/special by everyone having one.
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09-28-2022, 08:37 PM | #7 |
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When I saw the Challenger refresh online in early 2014, I had to have it. I took delivery of my Scat Pack in August - one of the first of the refreshes and even more unique as a Scat Pack model - the first dropping of a 392 into non SRT branded vehicle.
Fast forward to today and you can't go through an intersection without seeing a Challenger, and lucky if it's not some asshole looking for a race, or checkerboarding lane changes at speed with no signal. So sick of Challengers .. I can't stand them anymore - but it was one of the most enjoyable and comfortable cruising cars I've owned.
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09-28-2022, 08:57 PM | #8 |
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All Tesla are ugly. Close thread...
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09-28-2022, 10:58 PM | #11 |
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Absolutely. People who view cars are appliances are content with driving the same thing everybody else does. Enthusiasts are enthusiasts for a reason, they want to see passion in a product. Products rooted in passion are not engineered for the masses, they are engineered for a certain niche consumer.
Save for some M division products I wouldn't get any other BMW. They are simply too common and too played out.
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09-28-2022, 11:24 PM | #12 |
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09-28-2022, 11:27 PM | #13 |
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People weirdly still view them as status symbols, despite them being everywhere. I get why people buy them, but I just don't get how people think they've made it in life by getting one lolll.
In the region my parents live, it's the official techie car. Talk about sex appeal.
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09-29-2022, 12:41 AM | #15 |
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The real question is, what makes it special?
If it's getting the most cash when you sell on BAT, then low volume cars, rare colors, etc are def worth more and thus more special If it's your first car ( shit box or not) in which you made memories (e.g got laid, outran the cops, etc) then it's priceless and probably even more special. Whatever floats your boat. |
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09-29-2022, 02:26 AM | #16 |
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Yes.
I’ve always had a G Wagen since 2005. Got rid of the new one early this year and don’t care to replace it. As much as I enjoy them, they are unbelievably common in LA. |
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09-29-2022, 05:42 AM | #17 |
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If you want a “special” car you might look at a well-maintained classic vehicle.
I use to drive a black 2005 Mustang GT convertible that looked very sharp, and I also drove a 1975 GMC K25 pickup that was restored to near original condition. The Mustang just blended into the car landscape. However, I still get people stopping me to talk about the GMC whenever I drive it. Everybody seems to have a high school buddy, grandpa, brother or other person who “used to have a truck like this”. My truck is special vehicle based on age, but also unique because it really has the classic 4WD look, and appears to be mostly original. There is no jacked up suspension or big tires; just a truck that looks like you can still put it to work and use it. And it actually is ready to work, with more load capacity than most trucks you see in your neighborhood. Of course the gas mileage is a whole other story.�� |
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09-29-2022, 07:10 AM | #18 |
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In my office carpark of 200+ cars there are maybe 2 E90s, and none same as mine (2007 330i). I think it says a lot about what you value in a vehicle as an enthusiast, like some comments above. Cars used to be status symbols but recently I see anyone leasing mega bling SUVs so it doesn't even symbolise that anymore. I think it's nice when people ask me why I specify chose THAT car even though it's old and I can afford something way newer/bigger/fancier. Answer: the last NA 3l straight 6 in a timeless body. I like that! But as you all day, each to their own
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09-29-2022, 07:22 AM | #19 |
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You should have started a poll.
Personally, IDGAF what other people have, I buy what I like to drive and what suits me, doesn't make it any more or less special. My eyes do appreciate rarity though, for sure. The other day I saw an '86 MR-2 that looked brand new. I could hardly stop staring at it (I used to have one). Of course, I'm driving an M2, and have an Exige sitting at home, but still I was staring. So if the point is to enjoy the drive, and enjoy what you own for YOU, then buy what does that. If the point is to make people stare at you because you're different, then buy what does that. |
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09-29-2022, 08:00 AM | #20 |
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I wouldn't have used a Tesla as an example as it's literally the most boring vanilla car on the road these days.
They are today's vehicular equivalent to suburban tract housing. |
09-29-2022, 08:13 AM | #21 |
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I think rarity and availability is what makes a car special, but rarity is tied to location. For example, seeing any Ferrari where I live would make it a special car because they are very rare. People would lined up just to see it. Seeing a Ferrari in Los Angeles...not so much...depending on the model. It's like going to the local Beverly Hills Starbucks and seeing 3 Ferrari's in the parking lot. Now if you had a 1967 275 GTB four-cam...now that's a special Ferrari.
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09-29-2022, 08:19 AM | #22 |
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What other people may have doesn't diminish what I personally would like.
I don't think a Tesla is a good example anyways, not for me at least, because the cars are not desirable in any way in the first place. You may as well have used a Honda Civic as an example. What if the GT3 RS was extremely prevalent... would it be less special? Absolutely not to me. Not even if my neighbors on both sides had one. I think this depends a lot on how much a person cares about appearances or what others have. It's weak minded shit really. |
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