> it is the ultimate "achievement" (pun intended) to be able to afford a BMW


BMWs are nice, but IMHO far from being the "ultimate achievement" vehicle. I know people with $50,000 incomes that drive BMWs they bough as 3 year old used vehicles. Many people refer to the 7 series as the "mechanics car," as after the factory warranty runs out they are so expense to repair that mechanics often buy them really cheap when an owner finds-out how much it will cost to repair them and trades them in for a new car. You'd be surprised how many BMW mechanics drive 7 series BMWs.

Now, Ferrari's, Rolls, Bentley's Lambourghini's, etc, they are "ultimate achievement" vehicles. BMWs in the view of most people are lumped in with Lexus, Audi, Mercedes, and others of that ilk.

I like BMWs, owning one BMW 4-wheeler and five BMW motorcycles, but most non-automotive people probably see Mercedes as more of a "rich person's car" than BMW.