Why does Everyone think they deserve an Escalade

[surfinpure]

Again. Please move the discussion about cars down to City Cars - Would you drive one?

I want to get this back onto the question:

Is today’s materialistic society finally catching up with some?

If not, I will have this thread closed.

fearful trembling

Sorry, couldn’t resist. Seriously, I think that putting the Escalade into the title and condemning Escalade drivers across the board perhaps led to other discussions, such as why some of us prefer to drive larger vehicles (which is where I’m coming from).

 

[surfinpure]

Well, I drive a 2002 Ford Focus ZX3 (the little 2-door hatchback, seats four comfortably and has belts for five if necessary). My cousin’s wife was in a head-on collision in the same model of car and walked away from the totaled car with bruising and no major injuries. Good crumple zones in that car. I have no qualms about taking it on my 60 mile round-trip daily freeway commute, and the 30+ average mpg is quite nice too. Not all small cars fare badly safety-wise. As for rollovers, the higher the center of gravity, the more likely you are to roll over in an accident. That’s why SUVs have a disproportionately high incidence of rollovers (at least they used to, perhaps the auto makers have improved things). It’s entirely possible that the accident that flipped your minivan would have hit and spun a compact car but not flipped it over.

Now a Smart Car- I think I’ll pass. Those things have no crumple zones. If you’re in an accident, YOU are the crumple zone.

Good point about “crumple zones.” That neologism doesn’t often come to mind.

And while minivans have a low and heavy center of gravity, I do agree about SUVs, which is why I don’t want one. I don’t know if the small car who hit us would have flipped another small car, but I do know it likely would have killed my 13 month old daughter in the back seat. Honda Civics (what my husband drives) just don’t crumple well on the sides. Or perhaps anywhere.

 

[Lady_D_I]

Proclaiming someone else “Materialistic and Shallow” (upper case, no less) is just a tad presumptuous. I’m sure many people in the world could easily say the same about you and, in a relative sense, be correct using your approach.

Amen! I don’t assume anyone driving anything other than an Escalade or other luxury car is a bum (I cleaned up my original thoughts ). I make it a point not to make assumptions about people based on appearances.

Seriously, I think that putting the Escalade into the title and condemning Escalade drivers across the board perhaps led to other discussions, such as why some of us prefer to drive larger vehicles (which is where I’m coming from).

Exactly!

Why does everyone think they deserve an Escalade?

This thread seems proof that not everyone does.

**

Is today’s materialistic society finally catching up with some?

**

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The answer, IMO, is an obvious yes.

 

[stinkcat_14]

One problem here is that the type of car someone drives tells us very little about them. For example, I know a janitor who drives a hummer and I know millionaires who drive cars that look like they should have been junked years ago. And of course, there reverse is true as well. So if someone is driving an Escalade, we don’t know whether they are well off, or if they just have a lot of debt.

 

[aspawloski4th]

Im fine with my 86 k car.

 

[stinkcat_14]

Im fine with my 86 k car.

As in dollars or miles .

 

[yellowbird]

I think Escaades are beautiful and I would LOVE one… but I could never afford it. I don’t begrudge people who can. It’s none of my business how they choose to spend their own $. If they studied hard, worked hard, more power to 'em.

I’ve known people who have plenty (big house, expensive cars) who are so very generous with their treasure & talents and people who have very little who are stingy, materialistic and think only of themselves. And vise-versa. Good thing for us, God judges our hearts, not our mode of transportation.

 

[stinkcat_14]

I think Escaades are beautiful and I would LOVE one… but I could never afford it. I don’t begrudge people who can. It’s none of my business how they choose to spend their own $. If they studied hard, worked hard, more power to 'em.

While we do not have enough information to judge any one individual’s motives and behavior, I think asking the question generally is perfectly reasonable. For example, there are a number of motives that people have for buying an Esalade, some of them legitamite and some are not. I think the job of the Church is to help people sort out the legitamite motives from the illegitamite ones.

 

[yellowbird]

While we do not have enough information to judge any one individual’s motives and behavior, I think asking the question generally is perfectly reasonable. For example, there are a number of motives that people have for buying an Esalade, some of them legitamite and some are not. I think the job of the Church is to help people sort out the legitamite motives from the illegitamite ones.

Who’s to decide what’s ligitamite and what’s not? The Church? I don’t think so. Because honestly, nobody NEEDS to drive an Escalade… there are much cheaper vehicles that would get someone from point A to point B. Maybe the Escalade driver just really likes it? Just like the conertable Mustang owner really likes his car. Or the person with the $200 handbag really likes her purse? We all waste a portion of our income on things we WANT. There is nothing wrong with that. As I said, maybe the Escalade owner gives a higher % of his income than the person driving the Ford Focus.

The Church needs to continue to encourage us to think of the needs of the poor and do all we can to help - regardless of what we drive. I think some posters have decided that Escalade owners are bad because look at how obviously materialistic they are - and my point is it’s impossible to juge a person’s heart by what he drives.

Unless a person has taken a vow of poverty, I don’t think he has any room to talk.

 

[stinkcat_14]

Who’s to decide what’s ligitamite and what’s not? The Church? I don’t think so. Because honestly, nobody NEEDS to drive an Escalade…

We don’t need a lot of things and just because we don’t need something doesn’t make it either morally right or morally wrong. However, I would not be so quick to think that the Church has nothing to teach us about being stewards of God’s gifts to us.

there are much cheaper vehicles that would get someone from point A to point B. Maybe the Escalade driver just really likes it? Just like the conertable Mustang owner really likes his car. Or the person with the $200 handbag really likes her purse? We all waste a portion of our income on things we WANT.

We all waste money, but does that make wasting money right? If you just like an escalade, that by itself is not a bad motive for buying one. However, that doesn’t make it morally legitimate either. The buyer needs to ask himself, am I being a good steward of God’s resources by making this purchase. Are you going to argue that most people prayerfully consider whether or not they purchase the escalade?

There is nothing wrong with that. As I said, maybe the Escalade owner gives a higher % of his income than the person driving the Ford Focus.

Maybe, maybe not. We don’t really have any information here.

The Church needs to continue to encourage us to think of the needs of the poor and do all we can to help - regardless of what we drive. I think some posters have decided that Escalade owners are bad because look at how obviously materialistic they are - and my point is it’s impossible to juge a person’s heart by what he drives.

Being a good steward is about more than giving to the poor, as important as that is. Being a good steward is about purchasing the right things for the right reason. For example, one of the appeals to some of the escalade is that it is a status symbol. I cannot think of a legitimate reason why a Christian would need to flash his status as a wealthy person to others (or at least an indebted person). Now, I might be wrong, so if you have a counter argument, please give it.

Unless a person has taken a vow of poverty, I don’t think he has any room to talk.

I disagree.

 

[a_priori]

I don’t “need” my Gibson Les Paul either. Does that mean I’m materialistic?

 

[Lady_Bug]

You could drive a Chevy Avalanche or Suburban and save about 20 thousand dollars from an Escalade if you really want one of those thingies

(Ok maybe my reply didn’t help )

 

[yellowbird]

We don’t need a lot of things and just because we don’t need something doesn’t make it either morally right or morally wrong. However, I would not be so quick to think that the Church has nothing to teach us about being stewards of God’s gifts to us.

True. Probably all of us can become better stewards of what we have been given.

We all waste money, but does that make wasting money right? If you just like an escalade, that by itself is not a bad motive for buying one. However, that doesn’t make it morally legitimate either. The buyer needs to ask himself, am I being a good steward of God’s resources by making this purchase. Are you going to argue that most people prayerfully consider whether or not they purchase the escalade?

I would agrue that most people don’t prayerfully consider the majority of their purchases. I’m wondering why we’ve singled out people who drive Escalades? What about the guy who has saved up his money for a flat screen TV? Did he NEED that? Probaby not. Could he get by with a cheaper TV set? Sure. Do I think he prayed about which TV to buy? Doubt it. My point is, the Escalade probably makes ALOT of $ and can afford that honking huge vehicle - or doesn’t mind huge car payments… who am I to question his motives or assume he is materialistic because he went for that rather than a cheaper one? Just like I wouldn’t want somebody to question how much I spend on a pair of blue jeans at the mall ($35) when I probably could’ve gotten them much cheaper at Wal-Mart. It isn’t always about status… some people just like really nice things. If someone studies hard, and works hard, why would we judge him for his success? If the Escalade is symbolic of his hard work - good for him.

Being a good steward is about more than giving to the poor, as important as that is. Being a good steward is about purchasing the right things for the right reason. For example, one of the appeals to some of the escalade is that it is a status symbol. I cannot think of a legitimate reason why a Christian would need to flash his status as a wealthy person to others (or at least an indebted person). Now, I might be wrong, so if you have a counter argument, please give it.

How is the Escalade driver “flashing” his status? Just by driving it? I think unless the person is talking about how wealthy he is because look at the fancy Escalade I’m driving, we’d have to ASSUME he’s flashing his status - and that would be based on what?

Ditto with huge houses. I have no idea what people do to afford the MASSIVE houses they are building where I live… I’m thinking they must make a bundle. Now if their mortgage payments jump through the roof, I certainly don’t want the government to foot the bill - but so long as someone can afford it - it’s their own business and none of my concern.

.

 

[stinkcat_14]

It appears that Cadillac is using status as a marketing tool to get people to get people to buy the Escalade.

Here is a commercial for the SUV:

splendad.com/ads/show/2144-Cadillac-Graduate

Driving in an Escalade, the guy says “Life. You know what life is? Life is high school only with money.” As he’s saying this lights go flashing by, shining off the SUV.

He goes on to say how high school and life is a popularity contest about what the cool kids are doing. If you were never into all that, then there’s only one thing to do. Graduate.

Now, the question is, should Catholics be worried about what the cool kids are doing?

 

[yellowbird]

Now, the question is, should Catholics be worried about what the cool kids are doing?

Sounds like such a dumb commercial, doesn’t it? I would imagine that the deomgraphics for the average Escalade shopper is several decades OUT of high school…? Why tap into that? I suppose it’s an attempt at youthfulness as well?

But at any rate, I still maintain we cannot know the motives of another - cool kid or not. It’s between God & them. God told me not to judge and normally when someone tosses that out “don’t judge lest you be judged” I because typically it’s because someone don’t want to be confronted with obvious sin. In this case, I really think it applies because we cannot possibly know if someone is sinning (flaunting their status) by driving an Escalade. If I judge them… maybe I will be judged because I really like those fancy jeans I’m wearing, rather than the Walmart ones? Or the fact that I sometimes buy ridiculously overpriced coffee rather than making it at home. It’s the whole log in my own eye thing. That’s all I’m saying.

On the other hand, if the Escalade owner takes up TWO parking spaces… now THAT is just greedy & sinful!!!

 

[stinkcat_14]

Sounds like such a dumb commercial, doesn’t it? I would imagine that the deomgraphics for the average Escalade shopper is several decades OUT of high school…? Why tap into that? I suppose it’s an attempt at youthfulness as well?

But it is an attempt to on the part of Cadillac to connect with characteristics of individuals that are not virtues and I think the Church has the right and the obligation to warn us about these types of temptations.

But at any rate, I still maintain we cannot know the motives of another - cool kid or not. It’s between God & them. God told me not to judge and normally when someone tosses that out “don’t judge lest you be judged” I because typically it’s because someone don’t want to be confronted with obvious sin. In this case, I really think it applies because we cannot possibly know if someone is sinning (flaunting their status) by driving an Escalade. If I judge them… maybe I will be judged because I really like those fancy jeans I’m wearing, rather than the Walmart ones? Or the fact that I sometimes buy ridiculously overpriced coffee rather than making it at home. It’s the whole log in my own eye thing. That’s all I’m saying.

While we cannot judge individuals, I do think it is fair to point out the potential dangers. That is why I think that it is perfectly reasonable to debate the morality of owning an Escalade. I know very little about the vehicle, and what little I do know is that Cadillac thinks that if I buy one I can outdo the cool kids. From my limited information, it is hard to think of a good reason to own one.

 

[Al_Masetti]

Once upon a time, some folks preferred the Bentley over the regular Rolls Royce … because the Bentley was slightly understated.

 

[edwest2]

Each individual needs to ask themselves that question. Pride, ego, it’s all part of being human but, as Catholics, we are taught to bring every thought under submission to Christ.

After spending 48 years living in Detroit, all I saw were commercials telling people how big the engine was, how fast the car could go, how stylish it was, and, in some case, how much luxury was built into it. I spent most of the 1960s wondering what air-conditioned cars were like.

As Catholics, we need to be thankful. We need to say, “tomorrow, God willing, I’m going to do or buy this or that.” All we have is from God and an attitude of indifference or just, I deserve this, begins to creep in. There is no need for anyone to throw away the winning lottery ticket or get a lower paying job, but we should all be thankful for what we have, pray and ask God for the wisdom to make good decisions, and to pray for humility. God resists the proud and I don’t want Him to resist me. Sure, if you need something big to get the family around, by all means. God knows your heart and He loves you.

God bless,
Ed