Quinn is considering buying a Bentley

While driving on the highway recently I noticed the vehicle in front of us was a Bentley – an SUV no less. My immediate thought was that this SUV would never be part of an off road adventure – neither are most SUVs for that matter.

I had another thought too. Why would you spend that kind of money on a depreciating asset that costs a fortune to maintain? The price tag is about $279,000. That’s a lot of cash to get from A to B even in comfort.

Connie had another thought. How much money do you need, what income level is necessary to afford such a car? 

I did a little research on who buys a Bentley. The information varies and who knows how reliable, but it seems the age group of buyers is 35-55. Buyers typically have an income in excess of $1 million a year and a net worth well above $5 million. They also own several other vehicles. Maybe they only drive the Bentley to church each week. 

I don’t meet any of the indicated criteria, but I could buy a Bentley – if I was willing to see a whopping decline in my net worth – not sure the ongoing insurance premiums and maintenance would be feasible though. 

Are there folks who would use a chunk of their assets to feel wealthier than they are, to impress? I’m sure there are, but in my case driving a Bentley to the local county public golf course might get me pulled over by the police. 

Actually I would be embarrassed, I would feel guilty, I couldn’t explain it to our children. Heck, I can’t even come to a decision whether to replace my ten year old Mercedes. 

The question remains, why would anyone spend over a quarter million dollars on an SUV? Just imagine the cost of getting the mud off with weekly detailing. 😎