balasr, in pure financial sense, yes, it would make more sense to buy a $15k civic. It would make even more sense to buy a $3k used civic. It would also make a lot more financial sense to live in Texas than San Diego as well since houses there are 1/3 the price if not a lot more. The reason why I buy a G35 is the same reason why I want to live in San Diego. I want the best for myself/family for the price I can afford. With that said, I want to live in San Diego and want to drive a sport car because that’s what I want in my life. So I’ll pay a premium for it. But that doesn’t mean I want to pay more for a 330Ci while I can get something cheaper and be 95% just as good. That’s the same as buying a track house that have less option or different options that have less premium.
sdrealtor, my oil change cost me $15 every 3 month or 3000 miles. Sorry but I don’t drive a Ferrari. In regards to fast depreciating asset, I don’t intend to sell this car until it break down 10-15 years from now, so depreciation means nothing to me. I highly doubt cars are the fastest depreciating asset by any stretch of imagination. I can guarantee you the electronics in your house depreciate so much more faster than the fastest depreciating car. To you, $10k-$20k might be small, but to me, it is not. If I think $10-$20k is small, I would have just bought the 300Ci or M3 already. To me, it also doesn’t matter if it’s $5 or $5000, if I can save $5, I would do everything I can to get that discount. Bottom line is, I don’t like to over pay or anything. That doesn’t mean I don’t want nice things, I just want nice things at the best price. We’re also assuming that the owner who has the nicer house would not go lower than the one w/ less attractive house. That might not always be the case.
PerryChase, that’s exactly what I’m saying. I don’t know about others, but the house I can afford to buy are tract homes. So the difference is very small. So I rather save $10k-$20k and do my own remodeling to my own taste rather than pay it up front for upgrades I might not like 100%.
