> where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest

To say that "the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest" by using Coke as an example is a significant oversimplification and is cherry picking examples to prove a point. The richest consumers buy plenty of consumer goods that the poorest cannot even dream of buying or even renting.

If there was a truffle-infused Coke with edible 24k gold flakes that cost 10x as much (and actually tasted good) you can be sure pretty much only the richest consumers would be drinking it, and that everyone who couldn't afford it would be doing everything in their power to keep up with the Joneses.

What percentage of "the poorest" own their own home or go on international trips more than once a year let alone owning multiple homes, luxury cars, and private jets?

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legitster 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Andy Warhol's quote is about aspiration and perceived attainment. The average person is not aspiring to drink a gold flake truffle-infused Coke.

The implication is the lack of a rigorous class hierarchy in America. Not that the rich don't live different lifestyles or consume more. But that niche luxury products were considered effete and un-American.

(Andy Warhol was almost certainly also being ironic - that the richest people in America publicly shared the same trashy taste as average Americans).

The closest analogue today might be an iPhone. Rich or poor, if you want the "best" phone you have an iPhone. Sure, there are gaudier and more expensive phones out there. But you're essentially using the same product as the richest Americans.

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giwook 3 hours ago | parent [-]

Fair point.

What about cars or houses?

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Petersipoi 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking

Doesn't the fact that the original quote literally acknowledges "bums on the corner" imply that he wasn't referring to housing at all?

	▲	trollbridge an hour ago \| parent [-]
		I have found the Coke machines at Costco to always have a perfect mixture.

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queuebert 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

A Tesla will out accelerate all but the most niche cars now. Even the cheapest cars can have giant screens and climate control. I don't think they are equal to a Rolls Royce, but extreme luxury has greater diminishing returns now than at any point in history.

Where I live pretty much all new houses are being built with granite counter tops and hardwood floors. Whether that's a good thing is a whole other topic ...

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jerlam an hour ago | parent | next [-]

> Where I live pretty much all new houses are being built with granite counter tops and hardwood floors. Whether that's a good thing is a whole other topic ...

When land and labor (and fees leveraged by the city, state, etc.) are extremely expensive, the additional cost for these "luxury" items is very low by comparison. The buyers for these homes are buying everything new and it makes little sense to save $10k or so on such a visible amenity that is expensive to retrofit afterwards, on a home that costs $500k.

It is the same reason why crank windows are gone from cars. They aren't really status symbols.

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malfist an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

A Tesla Model 3, dual motor has a 0 to 60 speed of 4.3 seconds. My F-150 lightening extended range can do that it 3.8 seconds.

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MarkusQ an hour ago | parent | next [-]

Tesla Model3 dual is 4.03 seconds, not 4.3 while the F-150 lightning standard range is 4.2.

The F-150 extended range is 3.8 as you state, but then the Tesla Model 3 performance comes in at 2.8.

https://www.0-60specs.com/tesla/model-3-0-60-times

https://www.fordoffeasterville.com/blogs/4896/ford-lightning...

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wing-_-nuts an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

I was sad to see it discontinued. I hope the slate truck is gonna be good when it's released, cause I dig their emphasis on customization and repairability.

	▲	malfist 10 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Me too, it's such a fantastic truck. Built like a tank, huge battery and insanely fast charging for a 400V architecture. The only thing that sucks about it is it's a bit bouncy, and the software can be stupid. But I love it.

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hn_acc1 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

>A Tesla will out accelerate all but the most niche cars now.

Claims presented without evidence. My slightly modified Subaru Wagon from '05 "out-accelerated" base Teslas - dead even in 1st gear, started pulling once the shift to 2nd happened. (Most) EVs cannot shift gears to get torque multiplication, so they start fast, but fall off as speeds get higher. My Kia gas car will outrun all but the model 3 performance - which the average person is NOT driving. Neither of those cars are "niche".

	▲	Kirby64 18 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		> My slightly modified Subaru Wagon from '05 "out-accelerated" base Teslas - dead even in 1st gear, started pulling once the shift to 2nd happened. Slightly modified is doing some heavy lifting there. No 2005 Subaru wagon in stock config is anywhere close to beating a Model 3. > (Most) EVs cannot shift gears to get torque multiplication, so they start fast, but fall off as speeds get higher. Pretty much irrelevant, because they’re still blisteringly fast up to 60 which is where most of the acceleration happens in day to day. Nobody really cares about 60-80 or 60-100. > My Kia gas car will outrun all but the model 3 performance - which the average person is NOT driving. What Kia is that? Even the stinger GT (which is definitely a niche car) is slower than a regular dual motor model 3.
	▲	queuebert 10 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		EV motors can rev insanely high, so they don't need to shift gears, while most gas engines are limited to 6-7k RPM from factory. Thus the gassers need gears that essentially torque divide to reduce RPMs. You are very confused.

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shaftway 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

That fancy Lamborghini is going to be sitting in the same traffic as my Honda.

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bartvk 23 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

You're equals in that regard, but try riding a motorcycle one day. I live in a country where lanesplitting is legal. There's nothing quite like getting passed by an extremely expensive car, and then at the traffic lights, cut in front of it.

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skeeter2020 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

no - it will be getting very expensive servicing while you're enjoying 200K+ trouble-free miles

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Our_Benefactors 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Which is of course entirely besides the point. While it’s receiving service the owner will be in their Honda accord (they drive it daily), but they will always have the top trim and will probably get a new one once it’s out of warranty and needs its first “real entropy” repair.

Being rich is better than being poor. The Warhol quote has nothing to do with that fact.

	▲	wing-_-nuts an hour ago \| parent [-]
		>Being rich is better than being poor. As someone who started out very poor, and is now ~ 30x above that. I strongly subscribe to the idea that happiness from income is very logarithmic. The first 2-3x income was life changing. I'm talking going from eating pasta, rice and beans for most meals to fresh fruit and veg, lean cuts of meat. From renting a room in a noisy apartment with 4 other people to having my own place that was both safe and quiet. My reading list was suddenly more constrained by time instead of price or library backlog. I suppose it's down to my starting position, a content disposition and a boring lack of imagination, but my expenses have now ~ 5x'd what they were when I was on the strugglebus, but still very modest, and I honestly can't identify any spending that would make my life better or make me happier long term.

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msla 21 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

It's close to true about personal computers. The poorest can't afford Apple computers, but you don't need to be that rich to buy Apple hardware and what's up from that in terms of mainstream status? Nothing, as far as I can see. Specific groups might want a Framework laptop or System76, but those brands are invisible to most people, including, it seems, most rich people.

(And for servers and other business machines, well, other criteria apply, but owning something in the Top500 has to count for something in terms of prestige.)