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S t r e t c h i n g To Buy More Than One Can Afford

95 messages,  Last post on Jun 13, 2013 at 7:12 AM

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What is this discussion about? Car Financing

Messages Page 5 of 10

#41 of 95 Pay cash, and no change by kernick

Nov 16, 2011 (2:27 pm)

I'm in my early 50's and really don't have any other expenses then the basic utilities, food, gas, and insurance ocntributions. I also contribute around 20% to my 401K. I help my stepsons and wife a little too.
 
My theory these days is my auto budget whether for a primary car or a primary and "fun" vehicle is that - I pay cash, and any extra $ to keep it on the road does not affect my lifestyle. That means the car does not affect if I go out to eat ... we do use coupons, wait for sales, and redeem all sorts of promotions. So there is no profligate spending.
 
But like I said - if it's even close to affecting my lifestyle, I don't buy it. So I've been putting off buying a "fun" 3rd vehicle for the family, and instead "invest" the tax and insurance savings in an extra cruise or vacation each year. I satisfy my car-art desire by looking at glossy photos and car shows. And I waxed my car on Sun. which I hadn't done for months, and I almost got that new car feel.

#43 of 95 I guess it's human nature by kiaram

Nov 19, 2011 (12:21 am)

I guess it's human nature to want for something more than what he/she can manage to sustain.

#46 of 95 Re: A4 [lemko] by andysd

Nov 25, 2011 (9:21 am)

Replying to: lemko (Sep 23, 2011 7:45 am)
I love that story. This is the only car forum thread I've seen where contributors play nice, so I had to join in. A couple of times I tried to add what I thought was an objective comment on other forums, only to be attacked tangentially.
 
I do know one individual who drives prestigious cars and isn't a phony. He's a movie actor who must receive a pretty good monthly check from the Actors Guild or some such. At 85, a year younger than I am, he still acts in movies sometimes. He's American, born in Mexico, and pretty well known in Latin America. Currently he has a red F430 he bought new. He also wanted an open car so he bought a '95 Ferrari cab, but I don't know the model, plus a new VW wagon. He drives with gloves and a Ferrari cap, still races a newish French racing sailboat. Since I've known him (he lives across the street), he's bought and sold a new yellow Ferrari Marinello, a Mercedes S, and two new Boxster S's.
 
Even if I could, I wouldn't drive an expensive car during a time when 46 million Americans live below the poverty line.
 
After reading of the Honda Fit's surprising performance in Car & Driver's emergency lane change test, I bought a red 2011 Fit Sport 5mt, put on some 17" Kosei Racing wheels with 215/45 Kumho SPT's that were sitting in my garage from an '04 Civic, and ride with his Ferraris on our East County San Diego twisty roads. I'll leave it you to guess which car is faster.
 
This was just some meandering no one will read.

#47 of 95 Re: There is a slightly different side to this [fintail] by nvbanker

Nov 28, 2011 (9:04 am)

Replying to: fintail (Nov 15, 2011 5:09 pm)
Amen, Fintail: I love cars. I have always loved cars. I love cars more than money. Therefore, I treat myself to nice cars. Not over the top supercars, just nice ones. Like my Lexus LS460. I don't consider that an extravagent car, when lots of folks spend much more than what it cost me for their tricked out 4 wheel drive F-350 Crew Cab, Powerstroke Diesel, Lariat, Amarillo edition truck. And they're everywhere in the west here. So I don't feel too badly. Doing so has never caused me to give up anything necessary, or even some things optional, so again, I don't feel too badly about it. My wife does not care what she drives, will only drive Fords, and so has had Explorers since 1994. In fact, she refuses to drive a luxury car of any sort, even a Lincoln. So I don't drive more than I can afford, but some would say I have wasted a fortune since 1990, driving unnecessary luxury cars. But, when I'm lying in a bed at the hospital dying, I'm sure I wouldn't be saying, "gee, I'm sure glad I drove a Focus all these years instead of a Lexus....it was sure worth it:! Funny, nobody ever criticizes a $72,000 pickup truck....

#48 of 95 Re: There is a slightly different side to this [nvbanker] by fintail

Nov 28, 2011 (11:17 am)

Replying to: nvbanker (Nov 28, 2011 9:04 am)
It's not hard to justify a nice car when one examines how others blow money. For example, I brown bag my lunch every day. I know many who spend $10+ a day on lunch. That alone is a lot more than it costs me to care for both of my cars. Done deal
 
And especially if you buy gently used, you can get a nice highline car for the price of a more "normal" car or some dumb truck like you mention. Probably for most who post here, driving is part of the "experience" of life, and is worth the price of admission. You're lucky to have such a reasonable wife too

#49 of 95 Re: There is a slightly different side to this [fintail] by nvbanker

Nov 28, 2011 (11:57 am)

Replying to: fintail (Nov 28, 2011 11:17 am)
I do buy my luxury cars used, 1 or 2 years, and save tens of thousands that way, making my luxury purchases not much more than a new Explorer Limited. It helps justify my lust. I have a good friend with far more money and net worth than I who drives an 02 F-150 with 140,000 miles on it, and his wife has a 99 Camry with similar miles, and that's his obsession. Saving money. Probably why he's richer than I am. He thinks I'm crazy, and I think he's crazy, and we argue about it. Whatever floats your boat though, you should do. That's how I feel. A Lexus floats mine.

#50 of 95 Re: There is a slightly different side to this [nvbanker] by lemko

Nov 28, 2011 (12:45 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (Nov 28, 2011 11:57 am)
I've seen guys like that before. They make their widows very happy! I just hope he doesn't have any ne'er-do-well kids who will blow the fortune he had amassed.

Messages Page 5 of 10

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