Owning a new car is still seen as a powerful status symbol for many Australians, but it can actually reveal quite the opposite about their financial reality.

While a flashy car in your neighbour’s driveway might provoke a twinge of envy, a new study suggests an unexpectedly high proportion of people can’t truly afford their new vehicles.

This revelation comes via a Finder survey, which asked than a thousand Australians how many brand new cars they’d purchased in their lifetime, then compared the figures with their income, savings and financial stress levels.

Surprisingly, Aussies earning minimum wage – less than $49,999 a year – were just as likely to have bought multiple new cars as those earning higher salaries in the $100,000-$250,000 bracket.

a و new و in – تفاصيل مهمة

Even unexpected: one in five Aussies who currently have less than $1,000 in savings have purchased four or new cars in their life.

Further , 45 per cent of people who’d bought four or new cars admitted they were currently financially stressed.

In other words, owning several new cars isn’t a reliable indicator of being financially well off.

Personal finance expert Sarah Megginson from Finder even went so far as to suggest that owning new cars is sometimes a sign of someone who is pretending to be rich, when in reality they may be struggling to make ends meet.

of و new و cars – تفاصيل مهمة

‘Plenty of people earn good incomes, but they have no budget to guide their spending, no savings or investments – simply because they’re spending than they earn,’ Sarah explained.

‘They’re driving luxury cars, but there’s nothing left at the end of their pay cheque.’

in و their و the – تفاصيل مهمة

Sarah continued: ‘It’s an easy trap to fall into, but cars are depreciating assets – they don’t build wealth and they don’t improve your financial position.’

The finance expert said that, in most cases, buying a brand new car brings no benefits for your financial wellbeing.

‘Realistically, you could buy a model that’s just a couple of years old for 20-30 per cent less, and then you’d have breathing room to build a safety net, rather than taking out a car loan you can’t afford just to keep up appearances,’ she said.

For Aussies considering splashing out on a new car, Sarah urges buyers to check they’ll still have a healthy savings account after the purchase.

a و to و new – تفاصيل مهمة

The expert also warns that the expense doesn’t end at the dealership – because expensive cars also usually mean hefty insurance and maintenance costs.

‘It’s ideal if you can save first, and only spend what’s left or what’s affordable as a loan,’ she advised. ‘If there’s nothing left, now’s not the right time to head into the dealership.’

The research highlighting new cars as unreliable indicators of wealth reflects recent wider conversations about the signs of true wealth in Australia in 2025.

the و in و what’s – تفاصيل مهمة

Namely, that it’s often signalled by subtle cues – not a flashy ride parked outside a restaurant.

This topic was recently discussed on a popular finance forum after one community member asked: How can you tell if someone is ‘quite wealthy but not showing it’?

‘I lived next door to someone with a multi-property portfolio, but they drove an average car and dressed the same. You’d never guess it,’ they wrote.

And this seemed to be the common thread, with many believing Australians have a ‘unique dislike’ for ostentatious wealth, while ‘glorifying the rich who act poor’.

a و the و someone – تفاصيل مهمة

Forum members identified five common signs that someone is ‘rich’ – without flaunting it:

They don’t mention bills or ‘cost of living’

Truly wealthy people rarely discuss being worried about money.

‘My well-off friends never talk about the cost of living, or what they’re paid at work. For the rest of us, moaning about money is half our personalities these days,’ one confessed.

of و about و or – تفاصيل مهمة

‘My ex-girlfriend came from old money, and unless you visited her home or looked closely at her clothes, you wouldn’t know,’ another said.

‘The clue was that, whenever we did anything involving money, like shopping or dining out, she genuinely didn’t care about the prices.’

Casual clothes and humble possessions

or و about و the – تفاصيل مهمة

Many agreed those with ‘real wealth’ hide it behind a humble look and quiet confidence.

‘My dad was a multi-millionaire when that meant something. He always wore daggy stubbies and a short-sleeved shirt. He haggled a lot,’ one man wrote.

‘He thought dressing up and talking big just got you charged . He died rich.’

Someone else, citing regional Queensland, agreed: ‘You’ll find plenty of these sorts -average house, daggy clothes, scruffy, but net worth in the tens of millions and no need to work if they don’t want to.’

a و He و and – تفاصيل مهمة

‘Money talks, wealth whispers,’ summarised another reply.

They take their time

‘Truly wealthy people stop and smell the roses. They linger over the paper at a café and stroll, rather than race,’ one person noted. Another added that a sign of wealth is ‘valuing time over the cost of things’.

They don’t handle everyday tasks

‘I’ve dealt with some very rich and influential people in Australia. For me, one telltale sign is not dealing with things themselves,’ said one contributor.

Another agreed, sharing that his wife arranged the entire purchase of a BMW 8 series for her boss: ‘All he did was sign the lease. Never went down there, didn’t pick it up, didn’t choose the options, didn’t deal with the sales people. He just went to work one morning with his old car, and went home in his new one. He doesn’t like it though, because it’s not black like his old one.’

They are savvy, not ‘cheap’

with و his و the – تفاصيل مهمة

‘They maximise every dollar,’ one person commented. ‘Bills get paid promptly unless they need to be negotiated. They own lovely things, but they value quality and utility over brands and marketing.’

‘They drive what they want, not flashy but not basic either,’ agreed another. ‘They’re confident at work because they don’t need the pay cheque – ironically, this often puts them in higher earning jobs anyway.’

So, in Australia, genuine wealth isn’t defined by price tags or parking spots out front -it is shown in restraint.

Ultimately, the quiet luxury of time, space and choice outweighs any logo or status symbol.

in و they و not – تفاصيل مهمة