[Anonymous]

I’m mostly wondering about condition, but possibly certain types of vehicles as well. If you are part of an audit team and you need to travel to a client, does your employer care what you drive? Would your employer be hesitant to send you over there in your multi-colored, rusted, busted 1995 Civic? And what about the opposite end of the spectrum? Say you owned some kind of high-end flashy sports car. Is that sort of discouraged? Is a nice, but modest car really encouraged by your accounting firm if it’s likely that clients will see what you show up in?

[Anonymous]

Most days, I drive my 1998 Jeep Cherokee withe 250,000 miles on it. It still has the “Save a wave, ride a surfer” sticker on it (a leftover from my single days). It runs like a champ. I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything (well… maybe for a fully loaded F150 Raptor).

As far as workplace perceptions go- a peer tried to bust my chops about it once. I made a point of reminding her that she still lives at home, drives a $35,000 car, and complains about how she never has any money, whereas I just bought my first home for $430,000 with 20% down. Kind of a jerk move, but she opened the door.

I think we as a society tend to take for granted, the fact that a shiny new car is a luxury. A car doesn't define an individual. It sounds like your car gets you from point A to point B. As long as it does, feel free to spend your money however you deem fit- just spend it responsibly.

For full disclosure: I don't have to drive any clients in my car if I did, I'd most likely consider retiring my old gal.

[Anonymous]

As horrible as it may sound, so many things revolve around appearance, especially in the business world. I mean, there are entire studies revolving around appearance in the workplace and prettier people doing well. It's ridiculous but it's life..so I think that can transfer over to a car too. I got really lucky and got a brand new car for graduation ( a 2011 Subaru Forester). It's by NO means a Lexus or an Audi but it looks nice and it worked well when I was in public accounting and a manager or senior manager drove with me or when I had to drive to a client. That may sound shallow but I think it's just part of life…we're in an industry where appearances do matter. Why else would we have to wear suits to certain clients? 🙂

[Anonymous]

I worked as a controller for a private wealth management firm for 7 years before making a move to forensic accounting (and now I have to haul around a bankers box everyday). With that said, my little Honda S2000 can only fit one box in the passenger seat and none in the trunk. It's kind of my limit of how much work I can take home 🙂

But now, having to drive to attorneys' offices, I am looking at a Volvo S60 as my next car. It's sporty, yet conservative and they had a really good $0 down, $299/month with first 3 months being paid for lease deal. I'm waiting for that to come around again.

[lude4life13]

@Bennyhana21 s2k track car, sti hatch daily??? Just don't get world rally blue and it will be plenty conservative!

[Anonymous]

haha @lude4life13 I think my S is the only one available with a clean title.

[Author]

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