Wisdom with Age
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Wisdom with Age
Just read the thread "Just Realized I'm Lucky" and a few people came to mind. When you consider that most of our members own cars in the $7k - $20k range those with 10 yr old cars or older seem obsolete but wisdom does come with age...
The *very sucessful* mechanic that lives up the road from me was at one point a head mechanic for Porsche then VW, now independent. He never buys a car for more than $700 and drops minimal money into it. When one dies he picks up a new one for $700 or less... Usually they last years, so in 10 years this guy has probably spent less than $3,500 on his vehicles.
My uncle (53) never buys a car for more then $2,000 and drives it into the ground. He's owned a number of cars with 250K+ miles on them and spent no more than $4,000 in 10 years. Another successful business owner perfectly happy with life.
Kind of makes spending any more than 10K on a car look ridiculous.
Just something to think about when lusting for that $20K car you plan on financing and losing another $3k on... or dropping large sums of money into cars that will definitely become obsolete (as any new object does) within months. We should be happy with what we have not what we don't, and perhaps examine the cultural messages we are fed regarding monetary responsibility.
With this said, to each their own. Everyone should do what makes them happy, just be sure to use your head while doing it.
-A-
The *very sucessful* mechanic that lives up the road from me was at one point a head mechanic for Porsche then VW, now independent. He never buys a car for more than $700 and drops minimal money into it. When one dies he picks up a new one for $700 or less... Usually they last years, so in 10 years this guy has probably spent less than $3,500 on his vehicles.
My uncle (53) never buys a car for more then $2,000 and drives it into the ground. He's owned a number of cars with 250K+ miles on them and spent no more than $4,000 in 10 years. Another successful business owner perfectly happy with life.
Kind of makes spending any more than 10K on a car look ridiculous.
Just something to think about when lusting for that $20K car you plan on financing and losing another $3k on... or dropping large sums of money into cars that will definitely become obsolete (as any new object does) within months. We should be happy with what we have not what we don't, and perhaps examine the cultural messages we are fed regarding monetary responsibility.
With this said, to each their own. Everyone should do what makes them happy, just be sure to use your head while doing it.
-A-
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 194
From: Seattle, WA
Car Info: '03 Impreza WRX
True but on the other hand, you only live once... (unless of course you believe in reincarnation 
)
I drove an '89 Honda Civic for the past six years - great little car, still going strong - I just got to the point where I wanted something newer and faster. Got my own place, no other major debts, 401k accumulating nicely and no family to worry about yet, so why shouldn't I treat myself to a new car?
*shrug*
)I drove an '89 Honda Civic for the past six years - great little car, still going strong - I just got to the point where I wanted something newer and faster. Got my own place, no other major debts, 401k accumulating nicely and no family to worry about yet, so why shouldn't I treat myself to a new car?
*shrug*
General Pimpin'
iTrader: (7)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,019
From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
it's a good plan for some.
For me...no way. I drive 25k a year and spend time in the snow.....would need a truck. Any truck for that little money would break down all the dang time and I don't have the know how or the time to fix the entire car so it would cost a ton....plus I like cars...it's the one excentric thing I have in my life and I love it.
So yeah...for some people it's the perfect plan...those with the know how...those that don't need to travel long distances or drive frequently....retired folks...and what not.
I also know a head mechanic that does similar things.....but he also is looking into buying a some what newer car that he doesn't have to work on...when you work on cars all day you don't want to do it on the weekends....kind of like me...I work on computers all day...I don't eve want to look at the one on my desk at home. He is a 5 star head mechanic..formerly for dodge/chrystler now for honda I think. Or VW? can't remember..just know he knows his junk...he wanted to move and called the local dealership he wanted to work at...they said how much you want and when can you start. Must be nice.
For me...no way. I drive 25k a year and spend time in the snow.....would need a truck. Any truck for that little money would break down all the dang time and I don't have the know how or the time to fix the entire car so it would cost a ton....plus I like cars...it's the one excentric thing I have in my life and I love it.
So yeah...for some people it's the perfect plan...those with the know how...those that don't need to travel long distances or drive frequently....retired folks...and what not.
I also know a head mechanic that does similar things.....but he also is looking into buying a some what newer car that he doesn't have to work on...when you work on cars all day you don't want to do it on the weekends....kind of like me...I work on computers all day...I don't eve want to look at the one on my desk at home. He is a 5 star head mechanic..formerly for dodge/chrystler now for honda I think. Or VW? can't remember..just know he knows his junk...he wanted to move and called the local dealership he wanted to work at...they said how much you want and when can you start. Must be nice.
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Posts: n/a
i bought my WRX so i could keep the miles down on my jeep, and that thing cost me twice as much as my WRX.......and on weekends i beat the crap out of it in the rocks!!!! i still have not been able to make sense of what i'm doing.....i spend more and more money on that thing and i try to kill it on weekends...my welder gets less sleep than me 
but it's sooooooo much fun!!!!! like you said......it's all about having fun and doing what you want
later, riggs
but it's sooooooo much fun!!!!! like you said......it's all about having fun and doing what you want later, riggs
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 157
From: Lincoln, NE
Car Info: 1993 Impreza L sedan
I bought my 93 Impreza for 400 dollars, since then I've put another around 300 dollars into her and I've driven her for almost 2 years now. Her name is Suzy and I have a couple pics of her up in the gallery. I do things the way that VW mechanic does.
J
J
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 204
From: New England
Car Info: '03 Black Sedan
A good way to threaten somebody is to light a stick of dynamite. Then you call the guy and hold the burning fuse up to the phone. "Hear that?" you say. "That's dynamite, baby."
Last edited by rhk118; Sep 4, 2003 at 08:58 PM.
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