The only thing worse than buying a high priced car is buying it over time and paying interest. I learned long ago that installment plans were a legal form of robbery.
Want a car? Save up the $$$ till you can pay for it. You save money on finance charges and even better.....you negotiate for the purchase from a much more powerful position. People reliant on financing are at the mercy of slimy car salesman. People who can right a check and are willing to be hardnosed can get a vehicle for as much as 10-20% less than someone who has to finance...and that's off the purchase price.
Rule of life that allows me to live like a doctor is first... If you don't need it, don't buy it. Second...if you do need it...pay cash. And third....whatever it is buy the best quality you can so you don't have to buy it again when it breaks or wears out. And the best quality is not necessarily the more expensivie item.
"Having an extra car means paying liability insurance for a car that is parked." Yeah, but on a beater, it won't be much. Besides - if your other car goes down, you don't have to have it towed to the shop and fixed at obscene prices, you can fix it at your convenience (if you can manage it). And if you have a motorcycle, you might want a different vehicle (with four wheels) during rainy/snowy months - and for carrying lots of cargo.
Eric B - you are correct, but its a good idea if you drive beaters. When our beater breaks down and you have to get to work or fix it, its pretty hard to do without back up wheels. And if you are driving a true beater this will happen to you. - minuteman
As someone whose family has always owned car dealerships, and thus always had access to brand new cars... I gotta tell ya - the beaters were neater!
You didn't care about the mud and the dust, the cigarette burn in the seat, the beer stain on the floor...
I always drove a demo, but always owned my own beater for good times with the ladies... you mock, but it's true. It was the beater that bush bashed us to the skinny-dipping spots that scored the most points!
Having had access to all kinds of cars in my life, in retrospect, I got laid a lot more in beaters than in fancy cars.
1. I now live in snow country and 4wd matters... when going into remote country. Which I do -- hiking and photography.
2. I have two six foot sons. The Saab is too small.
3. When it costs $2000 for parts (second hand) when the thing breaks down, it hurts.
4. There is no rational use for a high performance car in a country with speed cameras and demerit points. (or: "I would lose my license in one day if I drove that car the way it is designed to be used")
Disagree on motorcycles... I call people after head injuries patients. (The unlucky ones -- the lucky ones were called donors).
It is much cooler to get a surfboard, some skis or a cross country bike and use a beat up old car to take your toys to the beach, ski field and hills. I would recommend buying as cheap as you can, and replacing it every two years... spending about 1K for a year's fun.
I could afford an exotic european. But I do not need one... I need a car that can get me to work when I am on call 24/7. And I am a 50 something Dad. I am not trying to be "trendy". Where I live (NZ) that means Japanese. I am aware Yr mileage may vary in the US.
Captain, I agree that it is pointless to buy a high(ish) end car to attract women but I disagree on the reason. For the most part women don't know cars, and they really can't tell much of a difference between a new Hyundai and a new BMW; and as a result they assume the value of your car based on the other signals you're sending them.
In other words, if you're a wealthy investment banker driving a nice $25,000 car the vast majority of women will assume that it is a high end luxury car; while if you're a security guard working the night shift and driving a $75,000 car the vast majority of women will assume that it is a pretty average car.
To make matters worse, most of the women who know and/or care about the car are really interested in the income it represents; and they will lose all interest in you the second they find out you don't have the income to back up the car.
Now, with that said there is a loophole in attracting women with cars. For the average woman style is far more important than anything else, and you're often far better spending your money on something that stands out than something that is new. Dollar for dollar the investment in a classic car is a far better investment in attracting women than a new car. For the most part, a $15,000 to $25,000 classic car will have woman constantly telling you how cool your car is; and in the $25,000 to $50,000 range your car will (probably) attract a crowd everywhere you go.
Liability insurance is usually much cheaper on a second car. They know you can only drive one at a time. Rotate their use so that they get equal use. When one breaks down, you can drive the other to work and to the car parts supplier to get parts to repair the broken one. It also takes the pressure off getting the broken one fixed right away.- minuteman
Grand Marquis! Or a used Crown Vic. Panther platform, can't go wrong. Cheap, reliable, easy to fix, and a tank. That's why it's the choice for cops and taxis...
What a luxuriant head of hair you have
ReplyDeleteGot into a similar argument over this very topic. Any suggestions for a decent beater?
ReplyDeleteI always try to find salvaged cars that some local shop put back together. I aslo spent a lot of time waiting to find a car.
ReplyDeleteHow can I do this?
Well, another bit of advice is to always own two cars. That way if one goes down, you are in no rush to replace it with something you can't afford.
Having an extra car means paying liability insurance for a car that is parked.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing worse than buying a
ReplyDeletehigh priced car is buying it over time and paying interest. I learned long ago that installment plans were a legal form of robbery.
Want a car? Save up the $$$ till you can pay for it. You save money on finance charges and even better.....you negotiate for the purchase from a much more powerful position. People reliant on financing are at the mercy of slimy car salesman. People who can
right a check and are willing to be hardnosed can get a vehicle for as much as 10-20% less than someone who has to finance...and that's off the purchase price.
Rule of life that allows me to live like a doctor is first...
If you don't need it, don't buy it.
Second...if you do need it...pay cash. And third....whatever it is buy the best quality you can so you don't have to buy it again when it breaks or wears out. And the best quality is not necessarily the more expensivie item.
"Having an extra car means paying liability insurance for a car that is parked."
ReplyDeleteYeah, but on a beater, it won't be much. Besides - if your other car goes down, you don't have to have it towed to the shop and fixed at obscene prices, you can fix it at your convenience (if you can manage it). And if you have a motorcycle, you might want a different vehicle (with four wheels) during rainy/snowy months - and for carrying lots of cargo.
Eric B - you are correct, but its a good idea if you drive beaters. When our beater breaks down and you have to get to work or fix it, its pretty hard to do without back up wheels. And if you are driving a true beater this will happen to you. - minuteman
ReplyDeleteBeaters are neater!
ReplyDeleteAs someone whose family has always owned car dealerships, and thus always had access to brand new cars... I gotta tell ya - the beaters were neater!
You didn't care about the mud and the dust, the cigarette burn in the seat, the beer stain on the floor...
I always drove a demo, but always owned my own beater for good times with the ladies... you mock, but it's true. It was the beater that bush bashed us to the skinny-dipping spots that scored the most points!
Having had access to all kinds of cars in my life, in retrospect, I got laid a lot more in beaters than in fancy cars.
Traded the Saab for a Mitsi. Three reasons.
ReplyDelete1. I now live in snow country and 4wd matters... when going into remote country. Which I do -- hiking and photography.
2. I have two six foot sons. The Saab is too small.
3. When it costs $2000 for parts (second hand) when the thing breaks down, it hurts.
4. There is no rational use for a high performance car in a country with speed cameras and demerit points. (or: "I would lose my license in one day if I drove that car the way it is designed to be used")
Disagree on motorcycles... I call people after head injuries patients. (The unlucky ones -- the lucky ones were called donors).
It is much cooler to get a surfboard, some skis or a cross country bike and use a beat up old car to take your toys to the beach, ski field and hills. I would recommend buying as cheap as you can, and replacing it every two years... spending about 1K for a year's fun.
I could afford an exotic european. But I do not need one... I need a car that can get me to work when I am on call 24/7. And I am a 50 something Dad. I am not trying to be "trendy". Where I live (NZ) that means Japanese. I am aware Yr mileage may vary in the US.
Oh, and always pay cash for a car. If you cannot pay cash, you cannot afford it.
ReplyDeleteCaptain, I agree that it is pointless to buy a high(ish) end car to attract women but I disagree on the reason. For the most part women don't know cars, and they really can't tell much of a difference between a new Hyundai and a new BMW; and as a result they assume the value of your car based on the other signals you're sending them.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, if you're a wealthy investment banker driving a nice $25,000 car the vast majority of women will assume that it is a high end luxury car; while if you're a security guard working the night shift and driving a $75,000 car the vast majority of women will assume that it is a pretty average car.
To make matters worse, most of the women who know and/or care about the car are really interested in the income it represents; and they will lose all interest in you the second they find out you don't have the income to back up the car.
Now, with that said there is a loophole in attracting women with cars. For the average woman style is far more important than anything else, and you're often far better spending your money on something that stands out than something that is new. Dollar for dollar the investment in a classic car is a far better investment in attracting women than a new car. For the most part, a $15,000 to $25,000 classic car will have woman constantly telling you how cool your car is; and in the $25,000 to $50,000 range your car will (probably) attract a crowd everywhere you go.
Great advice. But shouldn't they learn Game and Ballroom dancing as well? Or is that for a later post to help keep the video on topic?
ReplyDeleteMy 1998 Escort and I thank you for this message.
ReplyDeleteGenuine question: Why pay liability insurance for a parked car?
ReplyDeleteFollow-up: If it's a legal thing, isn't it better to just risk the ticket?
Liability insurance is usually much cheaper on a second car. They know you can only drive one at a time. Rotate their use so that they get equal use. When one breaks down, you can drive the other to work and to the car parts supplier to get parts to repair the broken one. It also takes the pressure off getting the broken one fixed right away.- minuteman
ReplyDeleteSo agree. My husband has always been a motorcycle guy and a used car guy. He's smart & awesome.
ReplyDeleteGrand Marquis! Or a used Crown Vic. Panther platform, can't go wrong.
ReplyDeleteCheap, reliable, easy to fix, and a tank. That's why it's the choice for cops and taxis...
Thanks minuteman. Guys like you make me wish I'd found the androsphere when I was 18.
ReplyDeleteMy father keeps two pick-up tricks and two firebirds he doesn't use parked in our drive way, and doesn't let anyone drive them.
ReplyDelete-David Enabulele