Lexus vs Ford

Lexus is a luxury car maker. They are currently running a series of ads with the byline:

If you want these features as standard...   the features being things like central locking, leather seats, windscreen wipers etc.

Now most car companies offer a basic stripped-down model, with options to upgrade and prices attached for each upgrade. A basic 2012 Ford Focus Sedan starts at $16,500, add $1,00 for 16" wheels (instead of 15") and keyless entry, another $1,095 for automatic transmission (most Americans like this), and so forth. What you end up with is a range of vehicles, all called the Ford Focus, but with prices anything between $16,500  and $25,000 (a guesstimate). Most people don't want the most basic model, but it's there if you don't want all the knobs and whistles.

So if the Lexus comes with everything as standard at $25,000, and the Ford with everything added is $25,000, how is the Lexus better than the Ford?

I guess it has to be because when you see a Lexus you know the owner paid $25,000 for it, but if you see the Ford it might be the bare bones $16,500 version, i.e. they're cheapskates.

So it comes down to snobbery.

By the way, most new cars aren't paid for outright but paid in installments, so that Lexus driver is just paying a bigger monthly installment for his shinier car.

Embarrassment, Stupidity, Irritation

Three forms of comedy that don't amuse me.

Irritation: The Big Bang Theory. The central character is an annoyance to all his friends and the audience. Not funny.

Stupidity. Dumb & Dumber. Just doesn't amuse me.

Embarrassment. The Office. Worse, that one camne to the US from the UK, and I didn't like the UK version either.

While I'm on it, badly dubbed canned laughter is a form of irritation. The episode of The Big Bang Theory which I had the misfortune to watch half of last night had the worst canned laughter since Blackadder Goes Forth.