[Mason Hatcher]

Lol, all that over what some stranger allegedly said.

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by MUFCbmwbear

Excommunicate those type of people from your life.

This. F people like that.

I guess I'm gay when I am out with the Miata, but I'm if I am in the Hellcat.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by ByronWalter

Your in-laws might consider a little self-reflection. Right now I'm self-reflecting too. Have I used too many hyphens?... If so, I apologize.

That's a non-problem.

[Maynard]

It got you hot enough to post on it - must be pushing some subconscious buttons. Time for some self-reflection. Sell that materialistic ride and go into deep meditation mode.

And next time, get a REAL BMW - a 2 series.

[bimmer pleaser V2]

I knew a guy who (IIRC) owned a mall, a freaking mall! And he drove old beaters in his mechanic shop (another business he owned). His wife was a doctor with management position in a hospital and she drove a Dodge. People who judge others by what drive are morons. Just about any schmuck with a job and few thousands down payment can walk into a used dealership and pick up a M4.

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by Maynard

It got you hot enough to post on it - must be pushing some subconscious buttons. Time for some self-reflection. Sell that materialistic ride and go into deep meditation mode.

And next time, get a REAL BMW - a 2 series.

I have to agree with this. The comment allegedly made by the in-laws "friend" subconsciously struck a chord with the OP, otherwise he wouldn't have made this post. I've owned 2 BMW's, both were a 3 series and I loved them. However, I do have my experiences in dealing with some people that drive BMW's and while asking about their cars, they only know that it has a BMW emblem on it. In my experiences with these people, they drive 330i's and 328i's because they were on the lower end of the price spectrum. They saw the roundel and saw that it was cheap/affordable, then in the back of their mind the spark ignited "people will think I have money."

Case in point, one of my boss's just bought a 2019 330i in the past two weeks. He also tells everyone that it's a 340i, that it's a 2020, a I6 with twin turbos etc. It just isn't any of these things. It is in fact a 2019 base model 330i. Sure, he's proud of it and brags to everyone about it, but to be honest; it seems like an entry level BMW - as is my Lexus IS350. I love my car, but it isn't an RC or LC, it's what I could afford and I'm happy with it. That's all that matters. At the end of the day, you're splitting hairs over luxury cars.

OP, either be proud of what you have and pay no attention to the opinions of others OR sell the BMW and buy an SUV big enough for your son to sit comfortably in. I won't lie, the fact that your wife has a 370z and you had to buy the 4 door car seems a little suspect. OP also mentioned the smaller size of the 3 series; the new 3 series is the same size as the older 5 series it seems. The boss's new 330i is parked next to my Lexus this morning and his car is way bigger than mine. Now if I can only get him to race me....

[RickFLM4]

Your in-laws are fucking with you. It worked.

[NewM3driver]

1) Why would you care what anyone else thinks? Fuck um.

2) Your father in law has no class. Why would he even relay that conversation to you and his daughter? The fact that he considers those buffoons 'friends' speaks volumes. A real friend wouldn't diss your kids.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by youthsonic

Anyway, it came up in discussion that I was shopping for a new BMW, and this friend was asking my father in law, "Ooh, which one?!?" so he found my FB post about getting a new 330i xDrive and showed it to this person. Their response? "Oh, that's just the low end model. Guess he couldn't afford a real one."

Translation:

"Hi!! I'm incredibly insecure!"

Blow it off and move on with your life. Good luck with your car.

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

2) Your father in law has no class. Why would he even relay that conversation to you and his daughter? The fact that he considers those buffoons 'friends' speaks volumes. A real friend wouldn't diss your kids.

This. ......and a real parent wouldn't share such a conversation. Real parents empower, not demean; even if it's something as simple as not sharing conversations with assholes.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

1) Why would you care what anyone else thinks? Fuck um.

2) Your father in law has no class. Why would he even relay that conversation to you and his daughter? The fact that he calls those buffoons his 'friends' speaks volumes. A real friend wouldn't diss your kids.

This 100%.

I'm in an interesting scenario because of my age and where I live. I get it from both sides. I get the people who assume my daddy bought me the "fancy" car, and I get the folks who say "anyone who drives a BMW more than 3 years old is a poor poser". Buy something real like a new 5 series.

Nope. I bought the car because it's fun to drive, I could care less about the age of it or the prestige. In fact I prefer buying older cars I can fix up and drive, it's a hobby. It's not that I can't afford a newer one, it's that I prefer older cars with character that are more fun. My other vehicle is a 22 year old Jeep Wrangler that I restored. Things like a well built and super clean E30 or E46 ZHP appeal to me more than newer more boring cookie cutter cars.

Bottom line is most people are judgmental when they know nothing about you, and do it just to get a reaction or to make themselves feel better. If they owned my car and it broke they wouldn't have the first clue WTF to do. I'm not sure why your father in law would even mention this to you unless he was trying to do the same. I always laugh when people brag about having a brand new car. They either A. Don't own it (if making payments, the bank does ) or B. If they bought it outright make poor financial decisions with depreciating assets.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

This 100%.

I'm in an interesting scenario because of my age and where I live. I get it from both sides. I get the people who assume my daddy bought me the "fancy" car, and I get the folks who say "anyone who drives a BMW more than 3 years old is a poor poser". Buy something real like a new 5 series.

Nope. I bought the car because it's fun to drive, I could care less about the age of it or the prestige. In fact I prefer buying older cars I can fix up and drive, it's a hobby. It's not that I can't afford a newer one, it's that I prefer older cars with character that are more fun. My other vehicle is a 22 year old Jeep Wrangler that I restored. Things like a well built and super clean E30 or E46 ZHP appeal to me more than newer more boring cookie cutter cars.

Bottom line is most people are judgmental when they know nothing about you, and do it just to get a reaction or to make themselves feel better. If they owned my car and it broke they wouldn't have the first clue WTF to do. I'm not sure why your father in law would even mention this to you unless he was trying to do the same. I always laugh when people brag about having a brand new car. They either A. Don't own it (if making payments, the bank does ) or B. If they bought it outright make poor financial decisions with depreciating assets.

Over the weekend, I noticed a neighbor a few houses up outside cleaning his new to him E46 330 CI Coupe. It reminded me of my old one.

Such a good looking car.

[cooolone2]

Why do your care what other people think? Do you get validation from their approval? If not... Then shrug, smile and keep moving on! Live your life how you want, do what you want, have fun and place little value in the approval or appreciation of others.

Too much today is "judgemental" behavior considered a normal and accepted trait. Just don't participate! And I agree, could be the FIL throwing it out there to break balls... Either way, laugh and move on, don't let it bother you. Shallow people will be what they are. Same happened here with some thread talking about "real" M class cars and not just "M" badged and what is real, better, best... Lmao

[Ngilbe36]

Originally Posted by youthsonic

Hey everyone!
"Oh, that's just the low end model. Guess he couldn't afford a real one."

I would understand this quote a little more (still rude) if he has an M, but he has an SUV...wtf guy.

[MKSixer]

Just be glad you aren't him.

The 3 series is the most important vehicle BMW sells. We've had/have 4 and will always keep one.

Only an idiot would make a statement like that about the car that is the most iconic vehicle in the BMW fleet. It's not the i8, the M8 or any SUV. BMW is about how the 3-series perform in all aspects of it's existence.

[aozer]

i just went from a BMW to a toyota tacoma lol. the funny thing is that i actually paid more for the tacoma than i did for the m235i, but most people will perceive it as some kind of downgrade.

it is best to not let people like that get under your skin. just realize that by not needing validation from random dipshits around you are most likely living a much happier and fulfilling life than they ever could.

[PoorLurker]

Sounds like you are slightly insecure about your financial position.

[PoorLurker]

Also, create a blog thread about your European delivery! I always love looking at those.

Judging people's finances on a couple brush strokes never makes for a great picture.

From looking at this full size truck that costs tens of thousands, his awesome guitar, leather boots and designer leather pants, one would think he has it all going for him

[ky0u]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Just be glad you aren't him.

The 3 series is the most important vehicle BMW sells. We've had/have 4 and will always keep one.

Only an idiot would make a statement like that about the car that is the most iconic vehicle in the BMW fleet. It's not the i8, the M8 or any SUV. BMW is about how the 3-series perform in all aspects of it's existence.

Seems par for the course for the type of person who buys a vehicle just for the badge and/or the price tag

[David70]

If you get sucked into forever trying to match some level of stuff that others have it will cause you a lot of problems long term. It obviously bothered you when you in laws told you this, maybe they were joking but I would tell them in a nice way that you find it really shallow and prefer to not hear more about it. If I had a son in law I would worry more about him spending too much than to little, an older Honda Civic and paying all his bills would be great in my book.

I drive a 2013 ATS, I like it, I have friends that drive much nicer cars and that is also great for them. I am 50 and hope to be able to retire in the next couple of years (want to be able to, not sure I want to) and new BMW's and my financial plans don't mix. I try to avoid people that are trying to impress me with what they own as I find we really have little in common. I also warned some much younger friends that as they get more money it can be difficult to accidentally be seen as jerks to friends that have less so try to stay away from pointing out the great things you purchase or great vacations.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Just be glad you aren't him.

The 3 series is the most important vehicle BMW sells. We've had/have 4 and will always keep one.

Only an idiot would make a statement like that about the car that is the most iconic vehicle in the BMW fleet. It's not the i8, the M8 or any SUV. BMW is about how the 3-series perform in all aspects of it's existence.

According to sales figures and what dealers actually stock now the X2, X3 and X5 are now the most important vehicles for BMW unfortunately.

The 3 is the most iconic though.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by minn19

According to sales figures and what dealers actually stock now the X2, X3 and X5 are now the most important vehicles for BMW unfortunately.

The 3 is the most iconic though.

I was paraphrasing a quote I heard from Chris Bangle...
Definitely out of time but probably still matters because the 3 is still the entry point in may ways.