do you judge somone by what they drive

the_pen_turner

there is a debate in one of the construction groups on Facebook that it talking about work vans and whether it is better to rock up to a customers house to price a job in a clapped out van or a new van or somewhere in between

basically they are a few opinions.
old clapped out van ,some customer think that if you cant have a decent van then your not worth employing
middle of the road van.
new van. customer can think that you will charge too much

Your Face

I'd have reservations if a plumber arrived up in an ice cream van.

begbysback

I feel discriminated against because I drive a car

JimmyMcGill

Your Face wrote: »

I'd have reservations if a plumber arrived up in an ice cream van.

Agree,nothing worse than a curly sh1t blocking up the jacks.

entropi

Fully came in expecting a rant about BMW drivers :pac:

the_pen_turner

entropi wrote: »

Fully came in expecting a rant about BMW drivers :pac:

probably should have a flash car option too

retro:electro

A van is a van to me. I wouldn't have a monkeys if its new or old and could you be arsed looking at the reg to see the year.

mezzz

my current car is so embarrassing i won't name it,

i'm happy driving the ring out of it on back roads but it's pretty ffing embarrassing ,

genuinely one of the worst cars i've ever seen on irish roads

lazybones32

A new-ish clean van looks best imo. No UK reg though...when they pull in the yard, we rush to hunt them out.

SimpleDimples

WHAT they drive - no
HOW they drive - yes

Hande hoche!

entropi wrote: »

Fully came in expecting a rant about BMW drivers :pac:

It seems to be increasingly Audi drivers nowadays.

Capt'n Midnight

Your Face wrote: »

I'd have reservations if a plumber arrived up in an ice cream van.

I couldn't help thinking of a Mario Brothers cross over

They're Justified, and they're Ancient and they drive ...

Mountainsandh

Don't care much, but now that you mention it, if a tradesman or builder turns up with one of these gleaming American pick up trucks, I'll think that a) they're loaded, not good news for me as a customer, b) they're young and don't spend their money very wisely, which doesn't bode well for my low budget target.(ie. They'll try and convince me to opt for the most fancy options when I'm looking for something cheap and cheerful)

The Backwards Man

The best builders live in shîtholes.

Pero_Bueno

Jesus christ the boom is back!
If my builder doesn't arrive in a gold and diamond encrusted hummer I tell him to f*ck off he's a waste of space, and fire bottles of Dom Perignon 52 rare at him untill he f*cks off away from my 50 foot tall golden eagles on the pillars of my mansion.

jamesbere

You lost me at Facebook

Are Am Eye

Do you judge somebody by what they drive?

No.


That'd be like something you'd expect from those fjcking Audi Drivers.

Negative_G

The only time I become concerned at the sight of a van near my property is when I realise its occupants are members of our very own ethnic minority community.

Generally, there is an occruance of theft, intimidation, attempted fraud or illegal dumping in the vacinity shortly after.

As for tradesmen. It wouldn't bother me what they were driving. Most come recommended so you know what you're getting.

Del2005

the_pen_turner wrote: »

there is a debate in one of the construction groups on Facebook that it talking about work vans and whether it is better to rock up to a customers house to price a job in a clapped out van or a new van or somewhere in between

basically they are a few opinions.
old clapped out van ,some customer think that if you cant have a decent van then your not worth employing
middle of the road van.
new van. customer can think that you will charge too much

They'd better never need a mechanic because they drive some of the biggests heaps on the road, not a generalisation as I know plenty of mechanics along with several plumbers who have had leaking taps in their home for years!

Noveight

Nope. The most gifted stonemason I know drives a clapped out '93 Carina. His drives are short and his tools are relatively light, so I'm sure he sees little reason to upgrade.

the_pen_turner

Del2005 wrote: »

They'd better never need a mechanic because they drive some of the biggests heaps on the road, not a generalisation as I know plenty of mechanics along with several plumbers who have had leaking taps in their home for years!

that's the joys of being a tradesman . your a bit sick of it when you get home and don't want to get your tools out again

Arghus

Not at all.

beauf

If someone drives a new van I think they must charge accordingly. If its a middle aged van but well looked after I think there's someone who is skillful, and careful, and professional.

Canis Lupus

Interesting question. I'd probably say:

An aul clapped out piece of crap and I'd probably be wary I suppose. I'd potentially think to myself he mustn't be making a lot of money and why is that? Is he a chancer/not very good etc etc.

Anything else though I probably wouldn't bat an eyelid at and if said tradesman came with recommendations from friends then I wouldn't care what kind of vehicle he rocked up in. Back home in Kerry the local fellas could arrive on a tractor for all I'd care because you'd know who they were and their reputation for the work they do would be well known already.

ChikiChiki

I hate our registration plate system. Gives some people an air of smugness to have a brand bew car in the driveway every year. Makes others feel inadequate. Sad but true that people take the year of the car as an indicator of wealth which leads to more unsustainable borrowing and it should be done away with.

In other wealthy first world countries people drive 20 year well maintained cars and no such smugness exists.

freshpopcorn

Not really to be honest. Not every vehicle/colour would be to my taste. I don't care about the year or a few scratches once it's in good mechanical working order.
One thing I would slightly judge on is when people buy a new car every year with zero spec just so they can say they've a new car!

Outkast_IRE

Year wouldn't matter to me , once it was kept somewhat clean and tidy.

Also when you see a tonne of invoices, empty coffee cups and general piles of ****e all over the dash and stuck in all the door pockets then you know you need to keep a close eye on this guy for costs and invoices cause he certainly ain't staying on top of it in any decent fashion. Big red flag

lazybones32

freshpopcorn wrote: »

One thing I would slightly judge on is when people buy a new car every year with zero spec just so they can say they've a new car!

There is a degree of sense to doing this though. Resale value is high; no servicing or repair work required and you can get a new car every year for a couple of grand. Change your car every year for, say €3k or buy one every 5 years for €15k. I know one who does this. She does it for status but is also very shrewd with money. It works in her situation but maybe not for others.

freshpopcorn

lazybones32 wrote: »

There is a degree of sense to doing this though. Resale value is high; no servicing or repair work required and you can get a new car every year for a couple of grand. Change your car every year for, say €3k or buy one every 5 years for €15k. I know one who does this. She does it for status but is also very shrewd with money. It works in her situation but maybe not for others.

Lots of car companies now offer free servicing/warranties(For a good few years) when purchasing new cars. I've no issue with people buying new cars every year but I do judge people a little when they buy a car with zero spec, steel wheels, poor trims, basic dull coulour choice, cheapest engines(Which sometimes cost them more to run) just so they can have a new number plate.

SEPT 23 1989

Its better to be driving a new van for tax purposes if you can afford to do so

jimgoose

Has to be a 1983 GMC Vandura driven by a large, grumpy-looking mohawked black man. Accept no substitutes.

lazybones32

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Lots of car companies now offer free servicing/warranties(For a good few years) when purchasing new cars. I've no issue with people buying new cars every year but I do judge people a little when they buy a car with zero spec, steel wheels, poor trims, basic dull coulour choice, cheapest engines(Which sometimes cost them more to run) just so they can have a new number plate.

Imo, if a number plate is a cherry to some people, then knock yourself out. It's only if the 172 is being used to show that the owner is somehow 'better' than an 06 owner, that i'd consider them to be a turd.
Cars, numberplates and status symbols were never appealing to me but some people like having them. Nothing wrong with that.

fancy pigeon

If they don't arrive in a commercial vehicle like this one, they ain't welcome to do any nixers or odd jobs for me

donegaLroad

I know a senior atourney in Toronto who drives an 04 Toyota Corolla. He prefers to spend his money on other things.. plus there is no point in owning a car in Toronto if you live down town.

bear1

I'm contemplating buying myself a 159 and the looks I'm getting at work when they ask me what I'm planning on getting.
Asking me to show them the link of the one I'm interested in and then criticizing it non stop.
I can just see that if I do get it I'll be forever mocked for it... could I give a ****e? Nope

Wibbs

ChikiChiki wrote: »

I hate our registration plate system. Gives some people an air of smugness to have a brand bew car in the driveway every year. Makes others feel inadequate. Sad but true that people take the year of the car as an indicator of wealth which leads to more unsustainable borrowing and it should be done away with.

Which is precisely why it was brought in. It drives car sales up, which the dealers are happy with, as are the lending institutions and car manufacturers aren't exactly agin the idea. "going up the numbers" plugs into our need to keep up with the consumerist society we've built. The more recent personal finance plans where the manufacturers act as lenders drives this even more. Tell people they're safer, greener(hahaha, oh wait they're serious) and give them that dopamine hit from fitting in and going up in the world(for this year anyway) and you have the happy buyer. And monumental waste and depletion of natural resources of course.

Alun

If we're talking about tradesmen, then it matters not to me what they drive or how old it is, but the general state of the vehicle both inside and out will give lots of clues about how careful they might end up being with my property when they're working in my house.

Spider Web

ChikiChiki wrote: »

I hate our registration plate system. Gives some people an air of smugness to have a brand bew car in the driveway every year. Makes others feel inadequate. Sad but true that people take the year of the car as an indicator of wealth which leads to more unsustainable borrowing and it should be done away with.

In other wealthy first world countries people drive 20 year well maintained cars and no such smugness exists.

Silly of anyone to feel inadequate about a car's year (my car is nearly seven years old so I'm not coming from a particular bias).

And of course there is such smugness in other countries. More of the "Something that could happen anywhere only happens in Ireland" stuff.

Plenty of well maintained 1997 cars here too.

Mint Sauce

My car is not a hairdressers one!

donegaLroad

Alun wrote: »

If we're talking about tradesmen, then it matters not to me what they drive or how old it is, but the general state of the vehicle both inside and out will give lots of clues about how careful they might end up being with my property when they're working in my house.

I remember a bank manager from the north saying that when he received an application for a bank loan, he would drive by the person's house that evening and have a quick look. Tidy house = tidy mind = tidy business.

The state of the house gave him a measure of the person's character.

LordSutch

lazybones32 wrote: »

A new-ish clean van looks best imo. No UK reg though...when they pull in the yard, we rush to hunt them out.

Because they might be travellers I presume?

HalloweenJack

Couldn't give a crap what they drive as long as they get the job done.

dudara

Tradesmen's vehicles can be on building sites or other places where damage can be done easily. They're often broken into by thieves trying to steal tools. It's not fair to judge them on that. I suppose I'd want a tradesman who does a tidy job, minds his tools and manages his site well. That would be reflected in their van, even if it was an old one.

freshpopcorn

lazybones32 wrote: »

A new-ish clean van looks best imo. No UK reg though...when they pull in the yard, we rush to hunt them out.

ChikiChiki

Spider Web wrote: »

Silly of anyone to feel inadequate about a car's year (my car is nearly seven years old so I'm not coming from a particular bias).

And of course there is such smugness in other countries. More of the "Something that could happen anywhere only happens in Ireland" stuff.

Plenty of well maintained 1997 cars here too.

I agree its silly but it exists and is much more prevalent with our number plate system. As another poster aluded to we have sadly built a consumerist society where ones wealth is measured on the assets they appear to own.

Also on the well maintained 1997 cars, many insurance companies are beginning to refuse to insure cars over 10 years.

Capt'n Midnight

ChikiChiki wrote: »

Also on the well maintained 1997 cars, many insurance companies are beginning to refuse to insure cars over 10 years.

If only there was some way to get people to have older cars tested annually ...