What big luxury GT? (What Car Thread)

HiTempguy wrote:

tuna55 wrote: OK, What do you guys do for a living? Seriously

I take it that he took the most of what the baby boomers generation afforded said generation and made out well. Congrats to him! Presumably at his age/married with no kid(s), he is avoiding (multiples of) $200k a pop not including education to raise said kid(s) to the age of 18.

Kids and debt are the big killers of income, motorcycle accident took away my choice on kids.

After that its just down to will power. If you save, and you invest, and you don't spend frivolously you will build a better life. I still shop at target and get my cloths at Kole's at discount even though I don't have too. Wearing five year old steel boots at the office right now. I negotiate everything down, insurance, rates, cars.

Then pick a percentage you want to put aside and keep doing it. Pay your bils and then what ever is left is for fun. IF you have X at the end of the month and you want something that is x+2 better save.

Additionally

I have seen so many people basically tell me that this is impossible but they are the same ones that already have the next raise spent.

I also have been part of three major company sales where I owed lets just say some granted stock.

Thanks gents for the last two posts.

Enjoying the debt free lifestyle, but losing patience when it comes to picking up 'better' toys without going into debt for them.

Back to tortoise mode I go... I heard he wins the race.

Now back to regularly scheduled programming.

espz28 wrote: Thanks gents for the last two posts. Enjoying the debt free lifestyle, but losing patience when it comes to picking up 'better' toys without going into debt for them.

Some debt is ok, say when MINI did 0.9% financing. Walked in completely ready to cut a check, negotiated like I was going to cut a check. But I walked out with a 60 month loan at under 1% which made more since. Now if you can just squeak the payment with 1% loan then your stretching, but no use being stupid with your money if someone else wants to be.

Back to cars

Made a couple calls on a BRG Vantages and a few others that caught my eye. Looks like a lot of people bought high for what I think the market is and they are not in the biz of taking a loss even if they made a mistake. No reserve sales are in the low to mid 50's. Which is a appealing place to be.

Now 9 months on the lot and your still paying the rent on the car and ins and advertisements might change their mind though. Every cheap R8 at least the good ones has sold quickly and efficiently so that is out unless I hit big finding a v8 coupe car.

Still thinking of the XLR-V. There is a 09 in red for sale in Vegas with ~20K miles for 53K, might sell below 50K, that's a lot of car for not a lot of cash, 07's even cheaper low 40's high 30's for good clean no story cars. 07, call D3 and boom big fast comfy screaming GT for ~20K less then I seem to be able to pickup a Vantage. Its a GM though and I am a little pissed at them, but I really like Cadillac.

To throw a curve ball in my wife is pushing for another Prowler, she likes then when I have one around. Plus I have made good cash on the last four out of five. Little out of the nomal discussion for a GT car, but would make SWMBO very happy.

wearymicrobe wrote: Kids and debt are the big killers of income, motorcycle accident took away my choice on kids.

I understand, and wasn't meaning to imply anything. I was just curious because my job isn't especially high paying. I have three very young kids, paying for my wife to go to grad school (she works as a part time teacher) and we still owe 100k on our house (although it will be paid in full in 13 years) and about 40k in student loans, so we're maxed out right now. Our household income is right at the price level of some of these used cars.

We're working on it.

I know that car from the POA, its not really good for resale, stock or maybe with fender removal kits are the best ones to get.

Also 01/02 had the better transmission and significantly softer front suspension which make them better daily drivers.

There is a Pearl Orange with trailer in Michigan for ~25K that I have been trying to snag for a while now but getting it back to California would be a endeavor with the trailer. Every time I ship one they get damaged.

tuna55 wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote: Kids and debt are the big killers of income, motorcycle accident took away my choice on kids.

I understand, and wasn't meaning to imply anything. I was just curious because my job isn't especially high paying. I have three very young kids, paying for my wife to go to grad school (she works as a part time teacher) and we still owe 100k on our house (although it will be paid in full in 13 years) and about 40k in student loans, so we're maxed out right now. Our household income is right at the price level of some of these used cars. We're working on it.

I did not mean that to be condescending, if it came out that way I am sorry. Kids complicate things, you are pushing off your ambitions and future in some ways for theirs. Its admirable.

wearymicrobe wrote:

tuna55 wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote: Kids and debt are the big killers of income, motorcycle accident took away my choice on kids.

I understand, and wasn't meaning to imply anything. I was just curious because my job isn't especially high paying. I have three very young kids, paying for my wife to go to grad school (she works as a part time teacher) and we still owe 100k on our house (although it will be paid in full in 13 years) and about 40k in student loans, so we're maxed out right now. Our household income is right at the price level of some of these used cars. We're working on it.

I did not mean that to be condescending, if it came out that way I am sorry. Kids complicate things, you are pushing off your ambitions and future in some ways for theirs. Its admirable.

Not at all, bud, just curious how to get to that level of disposable income... I'm not envious or jealous, just want to get there eventually...

Quick Update

Put a offer out on a 07 vantage with ~9K miles BRG/Saddle, failed the PPI inspection on the clutch and throwout bearings and a small cam leak. 5.2K for the clutch at the dealership and 2.4K for the cam leak.

Got the cash for the hotrod and a deposit on the Mini so I am seriously screwed come next weekend. Will have gone from 4 cars two months ago to none.

wearymicrobe wrote: Quick Update Put a offer out on a 07 vantage with ~9K miles BRG/Saddle, failed the PPI inspection on the clutch and throwout bearings and a small cam leak. 5.2K for the clutch at the dealership and 2.4K for the cam leak. Got the cash for the hotrod and a deposit on the Mini so I am seriously screwed come next weekend. Will have gone from 4 cars two months ago to none.

Just tell the guy to come down that car on the offer price?

tuna55 wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote: Quick Update Put a offer out on a 07 vantage with ~9K miles BRG/Saddle, failed the PPI inspection on the clutch and throwout bearings and a small cam leak. 5.2K for the clutch at the dealership and 2.4K for the cam leak. Got the cash for the hotrod and a deposit on the Mini so I am seriously screwed come next weekend. Will have gone from 4 cars two months ago to none.

Just tell the guy to come down that car on the offer price?

Price was pretty low to begin with.. I can do the clutch and seals for ~5K at the local independent or about 2-2.5K if I do it myself. But the car would be out of commission for a week or two and I would be carpooling with the wife.

You don't like car pooling with the wife ?

Jeff wrote: You don't like car pooling with the wife ?

My wife drives like a maniac. Its full attack mode all the time.

What's she drive?

Good luck with the purchase. As for the downtime for the repairs, there's always a cheap rental for a couple weeks.

nderwater wrote: What's she drive?

A stripped out Stage 1 JCW Mini cooper

wearymicrobe wrote:

nderwater wrote: What's she drive?

A stripped out Stage 1 JCW Mini cooper

Am I reading you right, this is being sold also, leaving you with 0 cars in the household? Or were you a two MINI house going down to one?

pigeon wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote:

nderwater wrote: What's she drive?

A stripped out Stage 1 JCW Mini cooper

Am I reading you right, this is being sold also, leaving you with 0 cars in the household? Or were you a two MINI house going down to one?

WE both have mini's right now.

Did you end up getting another car?

No I had two Aston that I liked, sent both in for dealer inspection and both had leaks and bad clutches. One had the factory repair for the leak which is some sort of goop that they slathered over the cam covers that had already started leaking again. Kind of giving up on the idea of actually driving something like this as a DD. Just so many headaches in buying one is giving me a bit of a bad feeling.

I did buy a 2005 XL F150 so I can get back and forth to work for a while and at least haul the kayak and surfboards out which means I can do something a little more esoteric and save it for say Friday through Sunday. Not real keen on the idea as I want to stay at a single car, but thats going to be hard if I want to keep surfing. I have a pad poured in the backyard so at least I can store the truck back there if I absolutely need to keep it.

Wife is pushing for another classic car with some more comfort. I did look at another 550 sypder replica a week back or so and it's worlds better then my Hot Rod was but still its low and not exactly safe. Also a Gen 1 corvette which I really liked but again lots of money for something that I might take out 20 times a year.

Also I keep looking at GT500 vert's. I really like the car but I feel like I would get tired of it like the Viper in 6 months and want out.

wearymicrobe wrote: Also I keep looking at GT500 vert's. I really like the car but I feel like I would get tired of it like the Viper in 6 months and want out.

so in 6 months you broom the GT500 and buy whatever is next on the list. we should all face such monumentally difficult decisions.

AngryCorvair wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote: Also I keep looking at GT500 vert's. I really like the car but I feel like I would get tired of it like the Viper in 6 months and want out.

so in 6 months you broom the GT500 and buy whatever is next on the list. we should all face such monumentally difficult decisions.

I am trying to get out of that.I really am, mainly for my wife, and so I can focus a bit more on my other hobbies as opposed to constantly selling and buying cars on the side.

I have been on a lucky streak for the last 6 cars or so. Buying cheap enough that I can get out at any time and well just enjoy them and not think about the depreciation. Lost a bit on the Mini though, it was a gamble ~2K total + taxes.

Deep down I know your right though. I should just buy it cheap PP and resell it after I get it out of my system. Its in my blood.