Middle class guilt: Should I buy the Toyota Fortuner

The only car which has made an impression on me in the current lot due to multiple reasons is the Toyota Fortuner.

BHPian poloman recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My Polo has completed 12 years now. It is high time an upgrade is due. I am highly emotionally attached to my possessions.

So selling is not an option and Polo will stay with me. The car has served me well with zero breakdowns or major issues. Again I am very much choosy and has very strong likes and dislikes. The only car which has made an impression on me in the current lot due to multiple reasons is the Toyota Fortuner. I know the car is over priced. Still I love the car. Resources are not a problem for me and I can even make an all cash purchase.

Now come, my dilemma. I will call this the 'great Indian middle class guilt or remorse' when one spent huge amounts on depreciating assets.

I am sure many of us who have come from modest back grounds but risen well only due to our parents focus on education will feel this. 45-50L is a huge amount. So, am I doing the right thing by spending such a huge amount on a car which may be higher than what you spend on your child education. You can do so many great things with that kind of money. Also the huge carbon foot print of a massive diesel SUV worries me. Sadly no other current car excites me or I don't consider those upgrades worthy.

Shall I wait for a better EV option or listen to heart and buy the Fortuner?

I am thoroughly confused on the road ahead. Hope to get some advice from fellow members.

Here's what BHPian vaibhav_a_a had to say on the matter:

For what its worth, you're not the only one. I still have my 15 year old Wagon R - I don't drive it much but the car is mechanically very sound. I'm now contemplating an XUV700 - a five fold jump in sticker price. Similar thoughts as yours had drifted in my mind and I ended up driving many other CSUVs and even a crossover (middle class, hence Maruti). Having said that in my case, my parents said, you'll keep it for 10+ years, so might as well buy what you enjoy. If you don't have an immediate financial problem, I'd say go for it. Later you never know what plans the hon'ble FM has.

Here's what BHPian One had to say on the matter:

The only car which has made an impression on me in the current lots due to multiple reasons is Toyota Fortuner.

Excellent beginnings, the Fortuner is a good choice due to all those multiple reasons.

Now come, my dilemma. I will call this the 'great Indian middle class guilt or remorse' when one spent huge amounts on depreciating assets.

I am sure many of us who have come from modest back grounds but risen well only due to our parents focus on
education will feel this. 45-50L is a huge amount.
...........
I know the car is over priced.

If you are applying middle class mentality, might as well apply it fully. So here are the reasons:

• Right upfront, it is not overpriced as compared to all those 5-7 seater cars in the market which don't have the "multiple reasons" of this car.
• You are probably going to be able to sell it close to cost price if you don't like it after the first couple of years. How many cars fit this?
• You are probably going to spend as much money as a car priced half of that if you keep the car for long term, the half priced car and this would have roughly costed the same in "absolute money" terms.

Resources are not a problem for me and I can even make an all cash purchase.

Good solid mentality which spans across classes.

....You can do so many great things with that kind of money.

Logical aspect: You can do greater things already with less money and your time. The community around needs us and there are avenues which just need our skills and time.

Automotive aspect: Also you can create priceless memories with this vehicle for yourself and your family which are possible only with a vehicle of this type.

Also the huge carbon foot print of a massive diesel SUV worries me.

Shall I wait for a better EV option or listen to heart and buy the Fortuner?

This all depends on how much this topic means to you. I have certain emotion-based rules i stick to no matter what. And I pay more, choose inferior options etc to avoid violating them. So either something is a "hell yes, this topic means a lot to me to stand for them" or I don't delude myself. For example, I bathe using very less water, I don't use RO water filters but I don't consider myself to be a person making environmental friendly choices in my daily life. Otherwise I would have reduced all recreational air flights which contributes more to pollution than all my yearly activities.

If environment mattered to me the same way as those other principles I mentioned, I wouldn't even think of a large guzzling vehicle that I don't need as a choice. If it mattered slightly less, I might buy a second hand one (see what I did there).

To summarise, a Fortuner is actually a vehicle which fits a middle class mentality- provides long-term value (resale/ maintenance etc.), excellent attributes of a vehicle (for multiple reasons like someone mentioned) and more importantly, the finances are not stretched to avail the same. Get new/ almost new/ used as long as it doesn't violate your principles around environment because it actually doesn't violate our good old solid middle class principles.

Spread the joy with your values in the community and with travelogues in this forum which would otherwise not be possible without the Fortuner.

Here's what BHPian sunikkat had to say on the matter:

Well for buying a Fortuner you should not have that guilt. The way Fortuner prices are increasing every year both new and in used market, you never know it might turn out to be an investment giving you some profit.

On a serious note, go for it if your finance permits without a lot of stretch and keep the car for 10 years. After few months of ownership you wouldn’t have the guilt.

Here's what BHPian DicKy had to say on the matter:

Erm..

The Fortuner should be the last vehicle you should feel guilty over purchase. You are not buying a 3 door hatchback or a driver centric (poor rear seat) car. The Fortuner for all its attributes is as middle class as it can get. In my social circle (parents' gen), even if you buy a European car that is 20 lakhs cheaper than a Fortuner, you are splurging money. But a Fortuner? Respect, since you have made a wise decision, financially.

This is a family SUV, that is as practical as it gets. You drove a Polo for 12 years, you can happily look forward to atleast 20 years of usage with the Fortuner.

Somewhere else people are using so much energy that we can't even use in our lifetime, due to their climate. Somewhere else people are driving V8 petrol engined pickup trucks that dwarfs the Fortuner, yet won't see anything more than a grocery bag on its load bed. Closer home, a person might have bought three new cars in the same time period that you used your Polo, and might be buying their fourth one now.

And even after purchase you have middle class guilt ridden buyer's remorse. You can sell it without losing much money.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.