Question: Do Friends Let Friends Buy "Undesirable Cars"?

[slow&rusty]

Scenario at work: I work for a small firm, and pretty much all of us are gearheads. One of the guys has been talking for months about buying a '87-'89 911 but once he saw how much they sell for combined with the fact that he does not fit in one (6'4" and 350+lbs) and his wife thinks they are ugly he then started looking at anything that might be considered sporty \ classy around $10K...anyway he decides to buy a Jaguar X-Type (!!!), which has been listed on Time Magazine one of the worst 50 cars ever made.

When he made the announcement yesterday we could not believe it, he is unaware that it is basically a Ford Contour and thinks he got a storming deal (paid $9,500 for a 2003 with 45K miles) and that he got a rare opportunity to own an incredible, rare, expensive car. The way he described the car you would think it was a E-Type or XJ220.

Now that the purchase is made and money spent, would you pony up and say to someone you know "That car you just bought is a hunk of $hit..for the following reasons...." or is ignorance bliss?
Yasin

[A930Rocket]

Ignorance is bliss. No need to pour salt in an open wound.

My .02

[VincentVega]

he got a rare opportunity to own an incredible, rare, expensive car. The way he described the car you would think it was a E-Type or XJ220

Let him enjoy it.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Ignorance is bliss. No need to pour salt in an open wound.

My .02

+10

He is happy with his decision right now. Anything you say will seem snide.

Years ago I worked with a guy that was all excited that he bought a "Porsh" 924. I just acted happy for his big score of a hot car.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

You simply have to out-do him.

Go find a Maserati Biturbo and buy THAT. He'll have nothin' on you.

[livi]

Each to his own. Who knows, he might even enjoy it. In any case, as he is stuck with it already, there is no need to knock it as long as he is happy with it. Unless one is eager to be able to say 'I told you so!'..

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

+10

He is happy with his decision right now. Anything you say will seem snide.

Years ago I worked with a guy that was all excited that he bought a "Porsh" 924. I just acted happy for his big score of a hot car.

+100
Sometimes a simple act of offering advice can backfire and make us look bad in the other's eyes.

[Steve Carlton]

Be nice about it and buy him a "My Other Car is a Cimmaron" license plate frame.

[stogie25]

A friend of mine bought one as a second car, and owned it a few years. It was actually a very fun car to drive. Let your friend enjoy his car.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Ignorance is bliss. No need to pour salt in an open wound.

My .02

Originally Posted by VincentVega

Let him enjoy it.

He's already got the thing. Your comment can't help now. Who knows, maybe he got a really good example. As long as he's happy....

[kaisen]

There are lots of cars that are thought of as bad cars that people own and enjoy, and never have problems.

There are lots of cars that are thought of as good cars that people don't like as much as the hype, and have nothing but problems.

Once they've made the decision and bought the car, there's nothing positive that can come from telling them they've made the wrong choice. It might just work out great.

[VincentVega]

there's nothing positive that can come from telling them they've made the wrong choice. It might just work out great.

Great advice, goes for a lot more than cars.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by kaisen

There are lots of cars that are thought of as bad cars that people own and enjoy, and never have problems.

There are lots of cars that are thought of as good cars that people don't like as much as the hype, and have nothing but problems.

Well put, there are people out there who think we are all nuts for driving a Porsche... and those that think a Mustang is the bees knees

The Jaguar X-Type is not an ugly car, interior looks nice (google imaged it) not my first choice in a Jag but if someone gave me one I would drive it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

It's bad for a Jaguar, but there are far worse cars. I thought you were going to say something really crappy, like a Cavalier or something.

[AFC-911]

For a second there, I thought this thread was about a friend buying a black Audi wagon.

[craigster59]

Yes, but is it a well setup X Type?

[Schumi]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

(6'4" and 350+lbs)

Tell him he's a fatass and deserves to drive a sh****y car.



p.s. I'm not great with people.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I thought you were going to say something really crappy, like a Cavalier or something.

I know I've mentioned it before, but I helped my sister out with a 2000 Cavalier about 4 years ago when it had 212K miles. She's since hit a bear and a deer, without fixing it. She commutes from her little horse farm to the hospital where she works. It's a 40 mile commute, one way. Still gets 35 mpg which is why she has it (other vehicles are nicer/newer but don't get mpg). She is approaching 300K miles and has not fixed one mechanical item in the time she's had it.

Yes, that's ~300K miles on the original engine and transmission

She loves it. She's happy with it. Go figure.

[1990C4S]

Suppose he was about to get married, and you thought the bride was a crazy ^%(!#.

Same answer.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Suppose he was about to get married, and you thought the bride was a crazy ^%(!#.

Same answer.

More like he was ALREADY married and you thought his WIFE was crazy. Better bite your tongue.