Car, lease or buy?

[cr]

Even with no student loans (loaded parents), living at home, free food, a gas card, and if your parents don’t claim you as a dependent, at age 24 you’d have to save ALL your money from your first job, and make $40, $50, and $60k/yr the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years out of college. Not impossible, but certainly not the norm.

That or you were a broker the last 3 years pulling $100k, in which case I’d recommend selling cars at this point. 🙂

I thought I would hear a lot more defense for leasing, but I’m glad there’s not.

BTW, sister has an AUDI TT with >30k miles. Needs a new clutch, and has taken 10 days and counting to repair.

Buy a used Toyota or a Honda for cash.

[Navydoc]

I solved the car lust problem by buying a car I intend to keep until the day I die. Before you laugh when you consider this, I bought a used '96 Porsche 911 cabriolet which has probably taken all the depreciation it is going to as long as I maintain it and keep the mileage down. I'm probably only a few years away from the car becoming an appreciating asset. Porsche will never make a car like this again, as it is the last generation with the air-cooled engine. The older the car gets the rarer and cooler it gets. Since I bought it I have not ever felt the desire to upgrade, and can seriously see being happy with this car forever. I might add I typically bike to work, and don't need to drive that much. If I was interested in a high-mileage car I would seriously be in the market for a few-year old VW diesel. They last forever and get great gas mileage, and pencil out even with diesel 10-15c/gallon more than gas. For the greenies out there that would criticise the pollution factor, the reality is modern diesels aren't nearly as dirty as they used to be, and in certain pollutants they are actually cleaner than a gas engine. For many people, myself included, a car purchase is so much more emotion than pure finances. Don't EVER think of a car as an investment no matter what the car guys say. It's an expense, albeit a necessary one. It all comes down to if you are a car-person or not. If you are, and want a shiny new toy every 2 years, the lease might make sense, but only in that case.

[Navydoc]

I solved the car lust problem by buying a car I intend to keep until the day I die. Before you laugh when you consider this, I bought a used '96 Porsche 911 cabriolet which has probably taken all the depreciation it is going to as long as I maintain it and keep the mileage down. I'm probably only a few years away from the car becoming an appreciating asset. Porsche will never make a car like this again, as it is the last generation with the air-cooled engine. The older the car gets the rarer and cooler it gets. Since I bought it I have not ever felt the desire to upgrade, and can seriously see being happy with this car forever. I might add I typically bike to work, and don't need to drive that much. If I was interested in a high-mileage car I would seriously be in the market for a few-year old VW diesel. They last forever and get great gas mileage, and pencil out even with diesel 10-15c/gallon more than gas. For the greenies out there that would criticise the pollution factor, the reality is modern diesels aren't nearly as dirty as they used to be, and in certain pollutants they are actually cleaner than a gas engine. For many people, myself included, a car purchase is so much more emotion than pure finances. Don't EVER think of a car as an investment no matter what the car guys say. It's an expense, albeit a necessary one. It all comes down to if you are a car-person or not. If you are, and want a shiny new toy every 2 years, the lease might make sense, but only in that case.

[Navydoc]

I solved the car lust problem by buying a car I intend to keep until the day I die. Before you laugh when you consider this, I bought a used '96 Porsche 911 cabriolet which has probably taken all the depreciation it is going to as long as I maintain it and keep the mileage down. I'm probably only a few years away from the car becoming an appreciating asset. Porsche will never make a car like this again, as it is the last generation with the air-cooled engine. The older the car gets the rarer and cooler it gets. Since I bought it I have not ever felt the desire to upgrade, and can seriously see being happy with this car forever. I might add I typically bike to work, and don't need to drive that much. If I was interested in a high-mileage car I would seriously be in the market for a few-year old VW diesel. They last forever and get great gas mileage, and pencil out even with diesel 10-15c/gallon more than gas. For the greenies out there that would criticise the pollution factor, the reality is modern diesels aren't nearly as dirty as they used to be, and in certain pollutants they are actually cleaner than a gas engine. For many people, myself included, a car purchase is so much more emotion than pure finances. Don't EVER think of a car as an investment no matter what the car guys say. It's an expense, albeit a necessary one. It all comes down to if you are a car-person or not. If you are, and want a shiny new toy every 2 years, the lease might make sense, but only in that case.

[Navydoc]

I solved the car lust problem by buying a car I intend to keep until the day I die. Before you laugh when you consider this, I bought a used '96 Porsche 911 cabriolet which has probably taken all the depreciation it is going to as long as I maintain it and keep the mileage down. I'm probably only a few years away from the car becoming an appreciating asset. Porsche will never make a car like this again, as it is the last generation with the air-cooled engine. The older the car gets the rarer and cooler it gets. Since I bought it I have not ever felt the desire to upgrade, and can seriously see being happy with this car forever. I might add I typically bike to work, and don't need to drive that much. If I was interested in a high-mileage car I would seriously be in the market for a few-year old VW diesel. They last forever and get great gas mileage, and pencil out even with diesel 10-15c/gallon more than gas. For the greenies out there that would criticise the pollution factor, the reality is modern diesels aren't nearly as dirty as they used to be, and in certain pollutants they are actually cleaner than a gas engine. For many people, myself included, a car purchase is so much more emotion than pure finances. Don't EVER think of a car as an investment no matter what the car guys say. It's an expense, albeit a necessary one. It all comes down to if you are a car-person or not. If you are, and want a shiny new toy every 2 years, the lease might make sense, but only in that case.

[Navydoc]

I solved the car lust problem by buying a car I intend to keep until the day I die. Before you laugh when you consider this, I bought a used '96 Porsche 911 cabriolet which has probably taken all the depreciation it is going to as long as I maintain it and keep the mileage down. I'm probably only a few years away from the car becoming an appreciating asset. Porsche will never make a car like this again, as it is the last generation with the air-cooled engine. The older the car gets the rarer and cooler it gets. Since I bought it I have not ever felt the desire to upgrade, and can seriously see being happy with this car forever. I might add I typically bike to work, and don't need to drive that much. If I was interested in a high-mileage car I would seriously be in the market for a few-year old VW diesel. They last forever and get great gas mileage, and pencil out even with diesel 10-15c/gallon more than gas. For the greenies out there that would criticise the pollution factor, the reality is modern diesels aren't nearly as dirty as they used to be, and in certain pollutants they are actually cleaner than a gas engine. For many people, myself included, a car purchase is so much more emotion than pure finances. Don't EVER think of a car as an investment no matter what the car guys say. It's an expense, albeit a necessary one. It all comes down to if you are a car-person or not. If you are, and want a shiny new toy every 2 years, the lease might make sense, but only in that case.

[Newblet]

I am very much a car person unfortunately. It used to be both my profession and main hobby (if you can call it a hobby). Went through lots of fast modified cars and a sportbike, street-raced quite a bit. Which brings me to the next reason I shouldn’t get an expensive fast car, I’ll race it. Those fines and penalties keep getting worse each year as well, not to mention the ethics of it.

While I’m driving my 108hp 98 civic I never race, go figure. So this vehicle downgrade for me is about more than just money. But I can’t last a year driving this civic as my only car, where the heck is the happy medium between money, liability, and car satisfaction!?

[Newblet]

I am very much a car person unfortunately. It used to be both my profession and main hobby (if you can call it a hobby). Went through lots of fast modified cars and a sportbike, street-raced quite a bit. Which brings me to the next reason I shouldn’t get an expensive fast car, I’ll race it. Those fines and penalties keep getting worse each year as well, not to mention the ethics of it.

While I’m driving my 108hp 98 civic I never race, go figure. So this vehicle downgrade for me is about more than just money. But I can’t last a year driving this civic as my only car, where the heck is the happy medium between money, liability, and car satisfaction!?

[Newblet]

I am very much a car person unfortunately. It used to be both my profession and main hobby (if you can call it a hobby). Went through lots of fast modified cars and a sportbike, street-raced quite a bit. Which brings me to the next reason I shouldn’t get an expensive fast car, I’ll race it. Those fines and penalties keep getting worse each year as well, not to mention the ethics of it.

While I’m driving my 108hp 98 civic I never race, go figure. So this vehicle downgrade for me is about more than just money. But I can’t last a year driving this civic as my only car, where the heck is the happy medium between money, liability, and car satisfaction!?

[Newblet]

I am very much a car person unfortunately. It used to be both my profession and main hobby (if you can call it a hobby). Went through lots of fast modified cars and a sportbike, street-raced quite a bit. Which brings me to the next reason I shouldn’t get an expensive fast car, I’ll race it. Those fines and penalties keep getting worse each year as well, not to mention the ethics of it.

While I’m driving my 108hp 98 civic I never race, go figure. So this vehicle downgrade for me is about more than just money. But I can’t last a year driving this civic as my only car, where the heck is the happy medium between money, liability, and car satisfaction!?

[Newblet]

I am very much a car person unfortunately. It used to be both my profession and main hobby (if you can call it a hobby). Went through lots of fast modified cars and a sportbike, street-raced quite a bit. Which brings me to the next reason I shouldn’t get an expensive fast car, I’ll race it. Those fines and penalties keep getting worse each year as well, not to mention the ethics of it.

While I’m driving my 108hp 98 civic I never race, go figure. So this vehicle downgrade for me is about more than just money. But I can’t last a year driving this civic as my only car, where the heck is the happy medium between money, liability, and car satisfaction!?

[Trojan4Life]

Alright, I have to throw my 2 cents in here as a car buff and I dare say addicted pigg.

Since 2000, I have gone through a Mazda Protege (new, paid cash), Nissan Quest (new, paid cash), Camaro Z28 (new, 0% financing), Ford Exploder (new, paid cash), Corvette (new, 0% financing) and now…gulp…a Toyota Prius.

As a guy who loves performance cars, I have to say I’m pretty happy I went to the Prius. It’s actually more expensive to insure up here in LA than the Corvette believe it or not, but I get ridiculous gas mileage and fill up every two weeks. My friends think it’s cool, my kids dig the gadgets on it, and I’m really happy with the performance. Do I miss 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds…sometimes. But I love $30 fill-ups more.

You’re young and I know image is important, but get comfortable in your own skin. It doesn’t matter what you drive. I finally figured that out.

[Trojan4Life]

Alright, I have to throw my 2 cents in here as a car buff and I dare say addicted pigg.

Since 2000, I have gone through a Mazda Protege (new, paid cash), Nissan Quest (new, paid cash), Camaro Z28 (new, 0% financing), Ford Exploder (new, paid cash), Corvette (new, 0% financing) and now…gulp…a Toyota Prius.

As a guy who loves performance cars, I have to say I’m pretty happy I went to the Prius. It’s actually more expensive to insure up here in LA than the Corvette believe it or not, but I get ridiculous gas mileage and fill up every two weeks. My friends think it’s cool, my kids dig the gadgets on it, and I’m really happy with the performance. Do I miss 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds…sometimes. But I love $30 fill-ups more.

You’re young and I know image is important, but get comfortable in your own skin. It doesn’t matter what you drive. I finally figured that out.

[Trojan4Life]

Alright, I have to throw my 2 cents in here as a car buff and I dare say addicted pigg.

Since 2000, I have gone through a Mazda Protege (new, paid cash), Nissan Quest (new, paid cash), Camaro Z28 (new, 0% financing), Ford Exploder (new, paid cash), Corvette (new, 0% financing) and now…gulp…a Toyota Prius.

As a guy who loves performance cars, I have to say I’m pretty happy I went to the Prius. It’s actually more expensive to insure up here in LA than the Corvette believe it or not, but I get ridiculous gas mileage and fill up every two weeks. My friends think it’s cool, my kids dig the gadgets on it, and I’m really happy with the performance. Do I miss 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds…sometimes. But I love $30 fill-ups more.

You’re young and I know image is important, but get comfortable in your own skin. It doesn’t matter what you drive. I finally figured that out.

[Trojan4Life]

Alright, I have to throw my 2 cents in here as a car buff and I dare say addicted pigg.

Since 2000, I have gone through a Mazda Protege (new, paid cash), Nissan Quest (new, paid cash), Camaro Z28 (new, 0% financing), Ford Exploder (new, paid cash), Corvette (new, 0% financing) and now…gulp…a Toyota Prius.

As a guy who loves performance cars, I have to say I’m pretty happy I went to the Prius. It’s actually more expensive to insure up here in LA than the Corvette believe it or not, but I get ridiculous gas mileage and fill up every two weeks. My friends think it’s cool, my kids dig the gadgets on it, and I’m really happy with the performance. Do I miss 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds…sometimes. But I love $30 fill-ups more.

You’re young and I know image is important, but get comfortable in your own skin. It doesn’t matter what you drive. I finally figured that out.

[Author]

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