Buffet is obviously a decadent bastard... Jimmy Buffett drives a seaplane. But back to topic - can she drive a stick? (not that way dirty minds) 85-89 Carrera - Classic and reliable
Prius. Any wealthy eco-idiot spending more time in his private jet or less in his uless 90000 sqft property in a remote country you never heard of than you commuting has one. And you'll even look cool. Or maybe not.
I haven't seen anyone mention a Lotus Elise or Exige. The vast majority of the population will think you've got a six-figure exotic.
I think this'll do the trick. 1969 280SL. This particular one is $44k, but I believe you can get one for significantly less than that. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Benz SLC can get dirty deeds done dirt cheap - 107 chassis' 18 year production was longest run of any Benz chassis. Reliable, and not unusual to spot 1 or 2 owner SLC in ads. Some belittle it's length or form in comparison to an SL, but, if a convertible isn't a priority by any stretch, then you and your bride can *ahem* kill 2 birds with one stone (pun intended) by picking up an SLC and buying a ring from another store with the price difference between SL and SLC... then flaunt both to superficial saleslady who missed out on all the action.
Who cares what anyone "thinks" your worth? If some old hag in a jewlery store made a comment like that, I would say "see ya". As for what to drive, drive what makes YOU happy. If you need a car to step out of to shop the world something, you need a psycologist not another car. But it is really odd how stupid everyone is about cars. I went to a dinner part with an 1988 MB 300E. I didnt have beans into the car, it had a bazzilion miles on it. This women who had a new carreer in RE had just bought a brand new Lincoln Navigator, yet all the guys come out and are oowing and aahing the 300. I even said they should be looking at her new $40K truck, but they all kept ogling the old Mercedes. Pretty funny. And its fun to see how people suggest prices when they see what you drive. Many times the Mercedes spooks them and they think your a shrewed person, they drop the price even lower. The Ferrari has so far seemed to have the opposite effect.
My $20,000 1970 Lotus 7 draws a crowd anywhere I go. A percentage come to investigate its size, some gawk, a good number just wonder what it is. When I park next to a friend's Enzo, my crowd is about as large as his.
If you realy want to look like "old money" get one of these bady boys...for sure! Image Unavailable, Please Login
My brother has just bought a Sliver JZA80 Supra with a set of gold Enki RPF1 rims. People look at us when we go driving. I get the impression some think we have money. Some lady the other day gave us a look that said "what are you doing in a car like that, you've got too much money" Thing is, for the price she payed for her new honda accord she could quite easily afford the supra too
This makes no sense. You're paranoid about people seeing your cars, etc. and try to cover them up to make yourself seem less conspicuously welathy. Yet you are trying to look for a new car for your wife that exudes the most "moneyed" air for a low price? Huge contradiction here, and if you have the money you say you do, then just buy a new car. Ridiculous.
In my area anything over $15,000 pretty much makes you RICH not just look. But Chrysler 300's with 22" and chargers since alot of black people live here. They think they are $50,000 cars.
If you really want to look snobby just pick up one of these. They can be had fairly cheaply and people will never believe you paid under $100,000 for it, unless they really know cars. 1968 Rolls Royce Image Unavailable, Please Login
Move out of the town you practice in. When i lived in the town that my biz was in, it felt like i was always at work.