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mayjohn
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« on: August 01, 2008, 03:21:53 PM » |
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I need intervention.
Talk money to me.
I drive a not attractive, 5 year-old 4-door Honda that refuses to break down and die...I have a little disposal income and I see the car ads these days and I am itching!
I can afford for example an extra $100 a month to get myself in a sexy SUV (see BMW X3). The difference in miles per gallon is about 10 extra miles per gallon (which I can afford) in favor (of course) of the Honda...
The funny part, I am more concerned about the impression and campus chatter I will generate by showing up in a luxury car rather than spending the money....
I know that I can save the money instead of spend it. I know that my Honda is a gem and makes financial sense...but I still want another car...I go back and forth between: "we only live once" and "it does not make financial sense"...
Heeeelp!
John
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zharkov
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« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2008, 03:23:51 PM » |
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What's the Beemer making up for?
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__________ Zharkov's Razor: Adapting Zharkov a bit to this situation, ignorance and confusion can explain a lot.
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mayjohn
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« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2008, 03:29:59 PM » |
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What's the Beemer making up for?
Poor upbringing, no car in high school, college or graduate school... John |
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malcha
Creepy Lit Critter, Undead Language Lover,
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,474
posting live from her FCFU
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« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2008, 03:32:05 PM » |
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Shame on you! All disposable income on the fora goes to luxury stationery goods. Get thee to the unnatural love thread. For the Beemer money, you could probably get fine parchment post-its with gilt edges. Go gilt, not guilt.
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ufo_tofu
Soy-based
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 1,909
Illegitimi non carborundum
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« Reply #4 on: August 01, 2008, 03:32:21 PM » |
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You should sell me your car and buy another. Seriously, if I had a reliable "won't give up and die" car, I wouldn't care what it looked like!
Think about what you can't buy/do if you buy the new car. If you can afford it and it's worth it to you, then buy a new car. It's all about priorities and no one knows your priorities but you.
But, no, I personally wouldn't spend money for a new car simply because I didn't like the way my old car looks.
I will totally buy your old car if you decide to buy a new one!
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Wash: Don't know. I'm starting to like this poetry thing. "Here lies my beloved Zoe, my autumn flower… somewhat less attractive now that she's all corpsified and gross-" [Zoe hits him with a pillow]
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offthemarket
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« Reply #5 on: August 01, 2008, 03:36:38 PM » |
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You can buy a Beamer SUV for 100 bucks a month?! Wow, I know SUVs were having it hard with the high energy costs, but wow, what a bargain.
I'm assuming you actually own your five year old car.
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mayjohn
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« Reply #6 on: August 01, 2008, 03:42:52 PM » |
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You can buy a Beamer SUV for 100 bucks a month?! Wow, I know SUVs were having it hard with the high energy costs, but wow, what a bargain.
I'm assuming you actually own your five year old car.
+$100 of the car payment I have now. You are right, I almost (~$600 away) own the Honda. John |
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mayjohn
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« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2008, 03:43:28 PM » |
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Shame on you! All disposable income on the fora goes to luxury stationery goods. Get thee to the unnatural love thread. For the Beemer money, you could probably get fine parchment post-its with gilt edges. Go gilt, not guilt.
Ay caramba! this is working!!!! :) |
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cranefly
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« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2008, 03:49:54 PM » |
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Oh man-- the SUV for $100 more-- plus the extra gas BUT gas will continue to go up a lot in the next five years while you drive that car, so you can expect the current extra gas cost will not remain at that! Plus, maintenance on BMWs is notoriously high-- your maintenance schedule is going to cost you a lot more than that extra $100 a month. And, it's going to depreciate faster than your Honda.
I know, sexy is... sexy. But you're going to waste a lot more cash than you think (a car is not an investment), and the excitement of driving the BM will wane after you've been key-scratched by people (check the statistics, trust me), and sworn at, victimized more often by road rage (statistically, people will hate you a LOT more on the road because with a BMW there's a "who does he think he is" attitude that goes with driving an expensive car.
And, it's just BAAAAAAD for the environment. Save your money. Go on a nice holiday instead. Take an early retirement. Buy a nice BMW motorcycle instead. Whatever, but I've gone the nice car route in the past, and it's NOT worth it.
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« Last Edit: August 01, 2008, 03:51:05 PM by cranefly »
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Oh yeah--Professor Sparkle Pony. "Follow your dreams, young genius, and you will meet with success!" Students eat that up.
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mignon
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« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2008, 03:58:17 PM » |
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Who thinks an SUV is sexy??
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kryptonite
Time flies and suddenly you're a
Senior member
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« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2008, 03:58:40 PM » |
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It's the subcompacts with good gas mileage that are hott right now. If you must get a luxury car, why not get a Prius?
Those guys still sheepishly driving around in SUVs are only doing so because they can't get anyone to buy them! When I see someone in an SUV, especially the huge ones like Expedition, Armada, etc., I think, "poor sucker".
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« Last Edit: August 01, 2008, 04:00:05 PM by kyanite »
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Formerly known as kyanite.
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offthemarket
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« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2008, 04:09:16 PM » |
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It's not 100 bucks a month, it's like, what, 500 bucks a month? Your other car is basically paid off.
So, you need to ask yourself, what would you do with 500 bucks a month? Or better yet, what would you do with 6 grand each year? I'd keep the Honda and have a couple awesome international vacations. Finish my attic. Put it into retirement and leave the university a couple years earlier. Invest in a patch of land in Alberta which'll be prime farmland in about 20 years.
Is this a lease or buying? Because leasing is for suckers - you pay a ton of cash and have zero equity. You own a car, it runs, it gets you places, it's doing its job. Oh - do you happen to care about carbon emissions? Or the slightly increased possibility that you might accidentally back up over a toddler with a wayward parent? An SUV? a car is a tool, you don't have to be one. (There, dissuaded yet or just feel insulted?)
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charlesr
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« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2008, 04:13:37 PM » |
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Cranefly mentions maintenance, but don't forget about insurance.
Also, you say that the payment for the BMW is only an extra $100 per month more than the Honda. But how long will you be paying on the BMW? When will the Honda be paid off? Your comparison is only valid if the two time periods are the same.
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mayjohn
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« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2008, 04:24:26 PM » |
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Folks, this is why I come here.
You are all right, it will cost too much, I can do much more than drive a piece of metal around, better to have fun with the money going on vacation, the fud will wane off...
Ahhhh OK, I have stopped rocking back and forth muttering "I want my beemer"...It worked!!!!!
Thank you all!
John
PS: A lot in Alberta? Hmmm, there is an idea I can waste the rest of my Friday afternoon on searching the web :)))))
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charlesr
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« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2008, 04:32:58 PM » |
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You're welcome. I am constantly talking myself out of buying a new car that we don't need. It is not always easy.
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