Stealth Wealth Moment

[Andre1969]

Was this by chance on Rte 198?

No, but it wasn't too far from it! The incident with the Infiniti happened on Route 176/Dorsey Road, just south of BWI Airport. The other time, with the 2001 Elantra, happened on Florida Avenue in DC, just northwest of New York Avenue.

The girl with the Infiniti was very apologetic. The one with the Elantra was nasty, wanted to know "Why did you stop at a green light?" Nevermind the fact that we were in a traffic jam...whatever color the light happened to be, a light that we were a good 5-6 car lengths back from, was totally irrelevant.

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

Note that the extreme example of this sort of thing was Sam Walton, who drove a beat up pickup around Bentonville. There are many stories of folks thinking he was a poor man.

Yep. The advantage of driving an old and dented pickup is that people will stay away from you in traffic. Plus, you save on insurance premiums, since you won't care about repairs!

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

The one with the Elantra was nasty, wanted to know "Why did you stop at a green light?" Nevermind the fact that we were in a traffic jam...whatever color the light happened to be, a light that we were a good 5-6 car lengths back from, was totally irrelevant.

You always stop at a green light if you can't get through the intersection safely (as they say in D.C. - "don't block the box").

 

[Hopeful]

All this talk of people lying and changing their stories after an accident scare me. Luckily, my wife and I don't have much experience with auto accidents. It got me to thinking, is it best to always call the police to file a police report? Do they not come out for minor accidents? I am guessing it probably depends on how big a city you live in?

 

[Andre1969]

You always stop at a green light if you can't get through the intersection safely (as they say in D.C. - "don't block the box").

Oh, the box was already blocked, and then some, in this incident, and I was about 5 or 6 cars back from the intersection. What happened was that the cars in front of me crept up a bit, so I let off the brake, let the truck idle forward a few feet, and then stopped. But, apparently the girl thought the lane to the left of me was going to move faster, so she tried to change lanes in this traffic jam, and I guess she saw a green light off in the distance, thought we were all moving forward, and simply mis-judged.

She simply didn't want to admit she was wrong. Funny thing is, she got on the phone with her mother, and her mother wanted to talk to me, and even her mother, who was not there, asked "why did you stop at a green light?" When I told her the whole story, that it was a traffic jam, her daughter mis-judged, cut it too close, and hit me, she simply said "Well, it looks like since we hit you, we're going to be held responsible." No apology, no nothing. Same holier-than-thou attitude as her daughter, so I can see where the daughter learned it from!

 

[Mulligan]

I never get mistaken for the help, and I don't get snubbed in stores. Even my small, cheap car doesn't seem to fool anybody.

I used to, though, when younger. In fact, when I was 20, a store owner accused me of stealing a sterling silver necklace I'd left with him on layaway (anyone remember layaway?) He reduced me to tears, and when he finally located the piece, which he'd naturally misplaced, he was so ashamed of himself (I think) that he wouldn't apologize.

Amethyst

Oh you were too kind and graceful to have let it end in that manner. I would have held him accountable with a string of expletive deletes that if the conversation was replayed on tv a listener would have no clue to what was going on because only about one word a sentence would not be beeped out. And at 20 I already knew how to do this!


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[calmloki]

My grandfather worked his way up from nothing to lawyer and eventually to judge. During their later, affluent years, my grandparents lived in a ritzy neighborhood, but my grandfather still drove a beater. A wealthier man in the neighborhood admonished him one day: "You aren't rich enough to drive that car."

So, even back in the 1930s, "stealth wealth" was sometimes known to be a "humble brag."

I like this. As for me, I am one of those BMW drivers. Just really enjoy the way it drives and the comfort/road connection. Now granted, my 5 series station wagon was bought at 248,000 miles, and with 312,000 I'm looking for a replacement, but damn - I look and feel good in that 14 year old car.

 

[Jackanory]

A good reason to move.

My first LOL of the day!

 

[MRG]

All this talk of people lying and changing their stories after an accident scare me. Luckily, my wife and I don't have much experience with auto accidents. It got me to thinking, is it best to always call the police to file a police report? Do they not come out for minor accidents? I am guessing it probably depends on how big a city you live in?

I do. In this area they will respond as long as; there's not a snow or ice emergency, if no injuries or alcohol just report to the police station the next day. They do not respond to accidents on private property(injury or alcohol may change the result).

I was recently involved in a private property accident in FL. The State Police were called, the trooper said they don't work accidents on private property. The other guy was in a county vehicle, me in a rental. We both asked for any form of documentation, the trooper obliged.

 

[AnIntentionalRoad]

My grandfather worked his way up from nothing to lawyer and eventually to judge. During their later, affluent years, my grandparents lived in a ritzy neighborhood, but my grandfather still drove a beater. A wealthier man in the neighborhood admonished him one day: "You aren't rich enough to drive that car."

So, even back in the 1930s, "stealth wealth" was sometimes known to be a "humble brag."

Great story!

 

[AnIntentionalRoad]

I do. In this area they will respond as long as; there's not a snow or ice emergency, if no injuries or alcohol just report to the police station the next day. They do not respond to accidents on private property(injury or alcohol may change the result).

I was recently involved in a private property accident in FL. The State Police were called, the trooper said they don't work accidents on private property. The other guy was in a county vehicle, me in a rental. We both asked for any form of documentation, the trooper obliged.

I went to the station the next day when I got sideswiped by the state's attorney. The cop at the station who took my report said it was a mistake because now it was my word against her's and she is a state's attorney

That mistake cost me half of a 4k repair bill to my BMW 5 Series because she later claimed it was my fault so the county claims department would only cover half the cost. A total scam.

 

[AnIntentionalRoad]

I drive a BMW 5 Series. I am not an a@@hole. But, yeah, I also have a low opinion of many of my fellow BMW owners. There's a high ratio of tools in that population.

When new in 2005 mine sold for 65k. I bought it at Carmax for 38k. It was 18 months old and had 6k miles. Had them remove the Carmax decals before driving it away--not into being a mobile billboard for them.

It is 9 years old. Looks great and I love driving it. Not even considering getting rid of it, as it only has 78k miles. I think my 14 yo DD will inherit it when she graduates from HS! Need to teach her to drive the 330 hp manual transmission.

 

[KingB]

The reward of doing a kind deed for somebody (even though financially, they might not have needed it) was probably worth far more to her than any payback.

Just pay it forward to somebody else you might see in need someday

+1

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

I went to the station the next day when I got sideswiped by the state's attorney. The cop at the station who took my report said it was a mistake because now it was my word against her's and she is a state's attorney

That mistake cost me half of a 4k repair bill to my BMW 5 Series because she later claimed it was my fault so the county claims department would only cover half the cost. A total scam.

I would have reported her to the State Bar Association ethics office (though I would have told her in advance that was what I was going to do if she continued to lie). It would be another hassle for her to deal with and if she was caught lying in any way, she would likely lose her bar license for 30-90 days. Under those circumstances, playing the "states attorney" card wouldn't get her very far - in fact, the Bar would likely hold her to a high standard and wonder why someone like you would go to the trouble of filing a bar complaint if there wasn't some truth to what you were saying.

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

I drive a BMW 5 Series. I am not an a@@hole. But, yeah, I also have a low opinion of many of my fellow BMW owners. There's a high ratio of tools in that population.

When new in 2005 mine sold for 65k. I bought it at Carmax for 38k. It was 18 months old and had 6k miles. Had them remove the Carmax decals before driving it away--not into being a mobile billboard for them.

It is 9 years old. Looks great and I love driving it. Not even considering getting rid of it, as it only has 78k miles. I think my 14 yo DD will inherit it when she graduates from HS! Need to teach her to drive the 330 hp manual transmission.

That's how you do it with luxury cars. Let someone else take the immediate depreciation hit (and the 12-month depreciation hit). German cars (BMWs, Mercedes and even VWs) have the well-deserved reputation of being drivable for decades if well maintained.

 

[eta2020]

That's how you do it with luxury cars. Let someone else take the immediate depreciation hit (and the 12-month depreciation hit). German cars (BMWs, Mercedes and even VWs) have the well-deserved reputation of being drivable for decades if well maintained.

16k Honda Civic or Toyota Yaris will be more reliable and will not require to be well maintained.

 

[Amethyst]

That way of handling things has its advantages, and certainly would have caused a sensation at the time. Odd as it is, I don't find yelling or swearing to be stress-releasers. In fact, I feel sick and worn out when I have to yell. I wouldn't have made a good drill sergeant, although it would be useful to have one around sometimes!

Oh you were too kind and graceful to have let it end in that manner. I would have held him accountable with a string of expletive deletes that if the conversation was replayed on tv a listener would have no clue to what was going on because only about one word a sentence would not be beeped out. And at 20 I already knew how to do this!


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[Keim]

I once made the mistake of assuming someone was poor. He wasn't.

I used to work for the Boy Scouts. Overtime I got to know one of the more eccentric local volunteers.

Morbidly obese, he always dressed in dirty coveralls. Unkempt hair. Smelly. He drove a rusty, badly dented mid 80s Toyota pick-up.

As I got to know him over time he gradually revealed that he owned some local property. He understated. He was a major local landlord, and had been approached about buying one of the local malls.

One of the most fascinating people I've ever met. Before landlording he'd had a varied career. Including a stint as a travelling puppeteer!

 

[marko]

I once made the mistake of assuming someone was poor. He wasn't.

I used to work for the Boy Scouts. Overtime I got to know one of the more eccentric local volunteers.

Morbidly obese, he always dressed in dirty coveralls. Unkempt hair. Smelly. He drove a rusty, badly dented mid 80s Toyota pick-up.

As I got to know him over time he gradually revealed that he owned some local property. He understated. He was a major local landlord, and had been approached about buying one of the local malls.

One of the most fascinating people I've ever met. Before landlording he'd had a varied career. Including a stint as a travelling puppeteer!

Reminds me of the story of the four Texans bragging about how many hundreds of acres of land they owned.

The last guy said that he only owned ten acres.....in downtown Houston.

 

[pb4uski]

.....But the highlight of my "stealth wealth" career was the day DS found out I was a millionaire. ....LBYM'ng and our effort to not spoil our only child, we have completely succeed in hiding our wealth (I mean a small one at that) from DS.

Similar here, but I suspect I will regret the day DW figures it out. She hasn't asked and I haven't told.

 

[pb4uski]

I went to the station the next day when I got sideswiped by the state's attorney. The cop at the station who took my report said it was a mistake because now it was my word against her's and she is a state's attorney

That mistake cost me half of a 4k repair bill to my BMW 5 Series because she later claimed it was my fault so the county claims department would only cover half the cost. A total scam.

Something like that would make it tempting to key her personal ride.

 

[eta2020]

My moment is actually about assuming that 75-80 year old guy walking around with cheap/old with video recorder is some retired tourist in Arenal Observatory Lodge Costa Rica.

I talked to him for few hours. Then I found out he is American Expat that owns this hotel with 100's of rooms, cottages etc. I would think hotel is worth 8 digit sum in USD.

Arenal Volcano Costa Rica Hotel | Arenal Observatory Lodge

Guy looked literally like a bum.....

 

[Keim]

My moment is actually about assuming that 75-80 year old guy walking around with cheap/old with video recorder is some retired tourist in Arenal Observatory Lodge Costa Rica.

I talked to him for few hours. Then I found out he is American Expat that owns this hotel with 100's of rooms, cottages etc. I would think hotel is worth 8 digit sum in USD.

Arenal Volcano Costa Rica Hotel | Arenal Observatory Lodge

Guy looked literally like a bum.....

That's how my friend looked, too. In fact-I've seen bums that looked and smelled considerably better. He just didn't care. He was happy.

 

[calmloki]

We used to volunteer at national oriental rug conferences. There were a few very important people there - in their own estimation anyway, but one of the most well respected, knowledgeable couples with a very deep collection of rugs was also quite unassuming. Just Normal Ned folks who happened to own a record label and chose to indulge their love for old rugs.

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

16k Honda Civic or Toyota Yaris will be more reliable and will not require to be well maintained.

Agreed, which is why I drive an 8-year old Honda Accord (22k OTD new). However, if you enjoy driving luxury cars, you probably want to maintain them properly.


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