How to justify buying the best.

[thollandpe]

Clearly for some people there must be some benefits to $80k cars that allow them to justify the purchase.

Solitaire Townshend does a marvelous job of explaining this. It's a treat to see someone with her talent explain the dark art of marketing, and use the gift for good and not evil.



She divides us into three groups, the Heathers, the Marthas, and the Joyces.

Most of us here are Joyces, devotees of the rational argument, and we spend way too much time preaching to the choir. We are so outnumbered by the Heathers and the Marthas, and they're simply immune to our logic.

Heathers are the biggest group, motivated by status and sex appeal, and they're buying the $80k cars. Di2 and thru axles and power meters and Strava and supplements and Vivax motor assist. Forget them, they'll never understand practicality. 105 is not an option. They drive the market.

Marthas are motivated by loyalty and ethics and trust. Convince them and you have a true blue ally, they are Shimano, SRAM, or Campagnolo and no mixing, no straying. Grant Petersen may have set the hook, they have cotton bar tape, steel frames, wide tires, and leather saddles.

[theflashunc]

Value isn't measured simply in rational or dollars amounts. There can be all sorts of benefits, some easy to quantify, others much harder and not necessarily in pure functional terms.

Why do some folks purchase $80k cars, when a $30k car can transport them just as reliably and in equal comfort?

Clearly for some people there must be some benefits to $80k cars that allow them to justify the purchase.

Value ain't in the ballpark when you're dropping $80k on, say, a Jaguar F-Type R. You're buying it for the exhaust note, the fact it goes like stink, and looks amazing.

Value? Value's the last thing on your mind.

[TMB]

Whether something is worth it or not is subjective to me. I pay a guy to take care of my lawn, it's somewhat large with lots of landscaping that came with the house. If I had designed the house, the yard would be astroturf. But, my engineering job works out around $45/hour. It would take me two hours a week to take care of my lawn, two hours that I don't get to ride, go to The Boy's cross country/swim/track meets, or watch Ancient Aliens. So I pay a guy $40 for each time he mows which is once a week May through October. It's worth it to me, and I have a much nicer lawn than any cyclist deserves.

I replaced my lawn with rock.

[Mabouya]

Value ain't in the ballpark when you're dropping $80k on, say, a Jaguar F-Type R. You're buying it for the exhaust note, the fact it goes like stink, and looks amazing.

Value? Value's the last thing on your mind.

We have different definitions of value.

Exhaust note adds to the value.

Horsepower adds to the value.

Sexy adds to the value.

So you buy it. (assuming you have the dough and don't need it for other stuff)

Sam Walton has the dough, but doesn't need / want the exhaust sound or the HP, so he doesn't buy it. Looking for different set of benefits.

But it all adds up to value. (for some people)

[bking]

Yes, it's always about value. I can't think that I do anything where I don't really consider the value of what I buy, eat, see or do. And each of us, otherwise how boring would this all be, have a differing, changing set of values.
From 2004 every bike I bought had Dura Ace, Red or Record; last two have been Force, and it's not for lack of money.

For me too often I've purchased what I thought was better value--the less expensive but really just as good model, then later had to fork out for what I'd wanted in the first place. For me the best is the one I want. I get that one, or I go without.

[TTX1]

Unless you don't want Dura Ace, in which case you buy something else that stimulates your pleasure/reward centers. None of this is particularly "useful" but it feels nice.

Campagnolo.

We’ve been over this before...

[Lionel]

Value ain't in the ballpark when you're dropping $80k on, say, a Jaguar F-Type R. You're buying it for the exhaust note, the fact it goes like stink, and looks amazing.

Value? Value's the last thing on your mind.

Agreed. Value does is not part of the equation on a $80K+ car.

[htwoopup]

In buying stuff one person's justification is another person's rationalization.

[vertical_doug]

When all my friends were buying new Ferraris, I bought a 20 yr old Aston Martin Vantage coach built. The ferraris are a lot faster but the reality is you can never drive them anywhere near potential unless you get a club and rent a circuit for an event. The old Aston was loud, and a ton of fun. It shaked, it rattled and it rolled in the turns. But whenever I turn the ignition, I smile like a little kid.

You know you bought quality if you ever sell. If you take a bath, you just bought hype.

[HorsCat]

My general rule - if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.