The finer things in life

[coyotefreek]

I can appreciate the quality of a fine piece of furniture. I can appreciate the elegance of a fountain pen. I can appreciate a $30 dinner. If you own a BMW then you to probably appreciate the finer things in life. I am starting this thread to start a discussion about this; perhaps people can share any collections they have.

As for me I have a modest pen collection as well as a few other things. I own an Ipod and every time I use it I admire the quality put into it, something lost by many. I just moved into a new house and I have granite counter tops which I can appreciate all the time and effort put into them. BMWs and Mercedes are finely crafted and every time I look at one I am amazed at the quality and appreciate the cost of them over a ford.

Many people are happy with there fords and Ikea furniture but I strive for more. I don’t mind working extra hard just to drive a better car or sleep on a better bed.

 

[xLibelle]

i appreciate the time and thought spent on quality put into vehicles... i have to drive shit cars sometimes and cant help but wonder why companies would stop short of something better.

when ever i take my bimmer or mercedes for drives, i easily can tell where my money went.........

but is this being materialistic?

 

[MyHarley]

when ever i take my bimmer or mercedes for drives, i easily can tell where my money went.........but is this being materialistic?

There is nothing wrong with being materialistic as long as you remember your morals and ethics at the same time.........you can either make money and put it in the bank or you can spend the money and enjoy. Some items just speak to me and I hate to not be friendly and take home........

 

[Dave8812]

True that

 

[donmbmw]

We are all materialistic to one extent or another. You can be wealthy and still be miserable. But I'd rather suffer in a Bimmer than a dodge.

 

[MyHarley]

Chocolate, coffee and men.....the richer the better............

 

[codex57]

Well, our 03 Mercedes E320 has cheaper door handles than our $13000 when new Dodge Caravan. Gucci and Prada stuff is about the same quality stuff I see in Walmart.

My point is make sure you spend your hard earned money on actual quality items. Getting harder to do as we become more name brand conscious.

 

[bmw046series]

Here is a question, I myself am a Libra (Born Sept. 23rd – Oct. 23rd - Zodiac sign), if your one who follows this stuff, you might know what I’m talking about. Libra's are noted to appreciate "the finer things in life", how many of you find this true in yourself, and funny enough are Libras?

 

[CTBMW]

Why would you want to buy something that you wouldn't be proud of 40 years from now?
(Insert "years from now here__________" )
Maybe 40 is limiting/ I love antiques, delight in seeing a classic car, I could go on forever!
-M
Just as an aside... do you think a civic with a rear wing hitting telephone wires will be a classic even 10 years from now? If so I am losing touch. (MHO)

 

[xLibelle]

brotha, i know what ya mean.

 

[CosmosBlack]

I used to be brand-conscious for many years. Longines, Omega and Tag Heuer watches, $500 Dupont lighter, clothing must bear logos of Raulph Lauren, Stefanel, Benetton. Porsche Design and Gucci leather wallets. My wife has a whole line of Luis Vuitton leather accessories, Ebel and Tag Heuer watches.

Then, I grew wiser. Although I still appreciate the finer things in life, I suddenly realize that things that cost more need to actually be different and better in quality. I found cheaper clothing that were just as good as a Raulph Lauren! Cheaper watches that look good and tells the same time. Cheaper leather wallets that are just as soft and last as long. All those while, I had been paying for the brand names!

So, now, I only pay more money for things that are really worth the extra. Like cars, where you actually get a difference in quality, luxury and performance & handling. Or my Swarovski crystal collection, where you can see the quality difference compared to the others.

 

[MyHarley]

Here is a question, I myself am a Libra (Born Sept. 23rd – Oct. 23rd - Zodiac sign), if your one who follows this stuff, you might know what I’m talking about. Libra's are noted to appreciate "the finer things in life", how many of you find this true in yourself, and funny enough are Libras?

I'm a Scorpio, so I'm just plain selfish.......

Quality and price do not always go hand in hand..........but some things are just better if expensive and others are all about name.....we have to know the difference.....

 

[Ghost]

I don’t like things just because they’re expensive. Some things I like just happen to be expensive.
For as much as I love the U.S. I would never buy an American car. Ever since the time my friend (a mechanic that now owns his own business) showed me a Buick that had a timing chain made with PLASTIC teeth. He said they build it like that so that you have to take it back to the dealer for repair. I love BMWs because of their quality and attention to detail, like most things that I buy.

If you notice many brand name and low priced items are made in the same places i.e. third world countries. I like wearing Kenneth Cole, Armani and Canali but the Gap pullovers and my Carthart kept me warm when I was buying and moving the tile from Italy that I installed in my bathroom. I like being eclectic.

 

[Bryan330i]

I like nice things but I guess I am more into quality of life things. When I bought my BMW I could have very easily bought an M5, in fact I had 2 leases approved by BMW, not the I am bragging, there are a whole LOT of people can qualify for $1,000.00+++ in car payments, its really not that big of a deal.

I have this material thing limit that would prevent me from spending that kind of money for an M5 or so on. Why, because I love to travel and the more stars on the hotel review the better. So I like nice but would rather have a luxury cruise on even years and a resort somewhere on odd years. So for me I would rather drive my 330i and pump up my vacation by a few thousand, I guess materialistic in terms of entertainment and travel luxuries.

But don’t get me wrong, I would love a nice little vacation place in the Keys, oh, what the hell, Aruba. [fake]

 

[wileycoyote]

I'm a Scorpio, so I'm just plain selfish.......

Quality and price do not always go hand in hand..........but some things are just better if expensive and others are all about name.....we have to know the difference.....

My Birthday is 10/23, am I a Scorpio or a Libra (I've seen 10/23 listed as both)?

 

[M_Six]

This is probably the most original thread topic I've seen in a long time. Very cool.

I can go both ways. When it comes to cars, I like quality. I spend lots of time in my car so it has to be good. I drink Cafe Du Monde coffee because it's the best. Anything else seems weak and tasteless. I like good beer and hate cheap beer. But I can enjoy a cheap bottle of wine (Beringers, Almaden, etc) just as much as an expensive bottle; sometimes more so because I know I didn't spend a lot for it.

We have a very comfortable house that suits our needs. We could have gone bigger, but the extra space would have been just that, extra space. Wasted money IMHO. I shop for clothes at Men's Wearhouse because the quality is excellent and the service is unparalleled. You won't find better customer service anywhere. You can certainly pay more for your clothes, but again, it's wasted money.

I enjoy eating out at a really nice restaurant once in a while, but a pizza delivered to the door works for me, too.

The one time I HATE to skimp is on vacation. Every time I've tried to go cheap, I've regretted it. But there again, I say why spend $2,000 on a four day trip to Bermuda when you can have a week or more in Europe for the same $2k.

I guess what I'm getting at is, taste should dictate your spending, not image. Buy what you like, not what you think will impress others. Buy quality, not brandname. Go big where you care, go cheap where you don't.

 

[Bryan330i]

I guess what I'm getting at is, taste should dictate your spending, not image. Buy what you like, not what you think will impress others. Buy quality, not brandname. Go big where you care, go cheap where you don't.

I agree 100%

There was a time when I would spend $125.00 for a sweatshirt because it had a Polo crest, but I was 19-20-21 then. I would never do this now, not when I can spend $40.00 for a nice quality one.

I see people (work with some of them) that will spend 700-800 each for two cars yet live in a small apartment in not the best part of town. [???1] This confuses me but I guess this must correspond to their priorities.

 

[donmbmw]

Here is a question, I myself am a Libra (Born Sept. 23rd – Oct. 23rd - Zodiac sign), if your one who follows this stuff, you might know what I’m talking about. Libra's are noted to appreciate "the finer things in life", how many of you find this true in yourself, and funny enough are Libras?

I'm a Virgo. I don't know what that means exactly, I just know my sign so I have an answer for the hot women who are always trying to pick me up.

 

[codex57]

I'm a Libra. I like the finer things in life, but I don't think any more than most other people. I appreciate quality rather than name. Not sure how you define "finer things in life." For example, I'd much rather own a Coach wallet than a Gucci/Prada one b/c I can see/feel the quality. And I seem to enjoy the things I got great deals on or got for free much more than the stuff I got for regular price.