u/Brave_Business4687

Okay so I need a reality check from people who actually know cars.

I've owned a Lexus GS, a BMW 5 Series, and a Mercedes M-Class over the past 10 years. Never really thought twice about it - you pay for the badge, you get the experience, done.

But lately I've been down a rabbit hole on Chinese EVs. The specs are insane for the price. The interiors look like something out of a sci-fi movie. And the range is genuinely competitive now.

My brain keeps saying "but it's Chinese" and then I remember I said the same thing about Korean cars in 2005 and now I drive past Kia dealerships that look like Apple Stores.

Is this a legitimate upgrade path or am I about to make a very expensive mistake?

People who've made the switch - what actually surprised you? And people who haven't - what's your actual reason beyond the brand name?

I found my old iPhone 5s a few days ago and, for some reason, decided to put my SIM card in it. I honestly thought I’d use it for a few hours and then give up. It’s tiny. Like, really tiny. After using modern iPhones, the screen feels almost ridiculous. And it’s slow. You definitely notice it. But… I actually kind of like it. I can call people, send messages, listen to music, take photos and browse the web. For basic stuff, it still works. The annoying part is the apps. A lot of them won’t install because the phone is stuck on iOS 12. Some websites are also pretty painful to use. But there’s something nice about having a phone that doesn’t constantly throw things at you. No huge screen. No giant camera bump. No 50 notifications fighting for your attention. I even caught myself walking around with it without checking it every five minutes. Would I use it as my main phone forever? Absolutely not. I need modern apps, banking, maps, work stuff, etc. But for a few days? Honestly, it was refreshing. Now I’m looking at my current iPhone and thinking… maybe phones didn’t actually need to become this big and complicated. Or maybe I’m just getting nostalgic. Anyone else still using an old iPhone in 2026?

I've owned a Lexus, a Beemer and a Benz. Now I'm lowkey obsessed with Chinese EVs. What am I missing?

I’ve been using an iPhone 5s in 2026. It’s weirdly fun.