I bought a new car (the "I wanna be like Gugs" thread)...

[General Zod]

Seriously eying a Mazda Speed3 for my next car. The 2011 edition should offer more than 300 HP.

 

[lurch70]

i am outgrowing the Clubman fast with the kid. will have to think of something new for 2011.

 

[Krilons Resa]

you guys switch cars like underwear.

 

[General Zod]

you guys switch cars like underwear.

I lease my cars. Leasing allows me to have a lower car payment than buying, and it allows me to always have a new car, which is completely under warranty. The way I see it, a car is not an investment, it is an expense. I've simply consigned myself to having a car payment for the rest of my days.

Zod

 

[dorian gray]

IIrc, Greg contracts for two-year leases.
Aurel on the other hand....haha!! What'll he be driving next?

edit: argh! Beat me to it, Greg!

 

[Krilons Resa]

I've consigned myself to never have a car payment. It's not worth it to me. Different strokes!

 

[General Zod]

I've consigned myself to never have a car payment. It's not worth it to me. Different strokes!

Understood. I just really enjoy cars. And for whatever reason, I get bored of them quickly. However, unlike some of my friends, I feel no desire to move up into the the $40K - $50K range. If anything, I've been going backwards price wise. I just have no desire to carry a large payment. I just want something new, that's fast and fun. The Speed3 is $22K.

Zod

 

[lurch70]

Climb Thar Hill just bought a new 3 as well .. not a Speed though.

how has the Jetta been treating you?

 

[dorian gray]

I love the 'speed3 in concept but I don't care for the new body style for some reason. They look great but something about them is....polarizing. Anyway, post pics when you get it Greg...preferrably taken at some illegal velocity.
Speaking of payments...it *is* nice not to have any. I enjoy doing all my own auto work though. There's always a compromise. In a couple years, I plan on getting something like this which will be around $30,000 *and* I'll still have to fix the fucker.

 

[Krilons Resa]

It looks like a Tiburon hatchback. I'd need more angles but I think it's pretty sexy.

 

[Reign in Acai]

Whenever I'm ready to upgrade from my 96' jalopy to a newer ride, I'm either sticking with the Civic or going with an Altima. I don't plan to spend a cent over 10k and I'll paying for it outright. Payments are for negars and armos.

 

[General Zod]

Whenever I'm ready to upgrade from my 96' jalopy to a newer ride, I'm either sticking with the Civic or going with an Altima. I don't plan to spend a cent over 10k and I'll paying for it outright.

Take it for what it's worth, as it was told to me by someone who works for Ford. Apparently Altimas are known for having one of the worst transmissions in the industry and they often require costly work.

Payments are for negars and armos.

Borrowing money is also for people who simply want to maximize their assets.

Let's say I want a $25K car and I have $25K sitting in my bank account. I can buy that car outright and not have a car payment. However, by doing this, I also won't have any money to invest. Conversely, I can borrow the bank's money at 2.9% and conservatively invest my money in a triple tax free bond account, that yields an equivalent of 7%. Comparing the two scenarios, I lost 4.1% by buying the car outright. I also could have invested in mutual funds, which conservatively, over time, return 10% on average, thereby losing 7.1% on my money.

Borrowing can be a useful tool when leveraged correctly.

 

[Reign in Acai]

Motherfucking shit was overheating today.There's no leaks, but all the coolant is being burned up. Taking it back to Con Stop in the morning. Once I get this overheating problem resolved, which these fucktards will fix gratis, it will be the last time I return to that underhanded shit hole. I'll be perusing for a newer vehicle soon. This car served me well (162k), but I think it's rounding the final stretch. I'm not putting another dime in to it aside from any minor repairs that may arise. I should have let the entire suspension go to shit, since none of the new parts improved the handling.

 

[lurch70]

continuous shit like this will make a monthly payment and piece of mind from a warranty seems like a Godsend ... especially when you have to rely on a car daily.

 

[Reign in Acai]

I'll probably end up pulling the trigger on a newer vehicle by year's end. Looking at used Honda Civics with less than 50k miles/ under 13k. I'll end up putting 50% down and financing the rest for 36months. I would pull the trigger sooner, but I paid for my auto insurance a year in advance 3months back. Let's see if this old girl has another 9 months left in her. The con shop which I took it to get repaired has a 24k warranty on all it's service, so this motherfucking problem better be resolved by week's end.

 

[Reign in Acai]

I just got back from the mechanic. It turns out that I now have a small leak in my engine gasket, hence why the coolant was disappearing without any visible leaks under the vehicle. Diz sheet is going to run me close to another thousand jew tokens, oy vey! Either I walk away burning 3k and getting nothing for my money, or I put in another k and hope my car runs in pristine condition. FUCKKKKK

The shop's 24K mile warranty and the owner's word is the only thing making me greenlight this investment.


STAY TUNED!

 

[Reign in Acai]

Another $1,100 later and my engine is purrrrrring like a kitten.

 

[Reign in Acai]

 

[Tide In Mind Out]

Youch

Not a fan of snakes at all but I feel bad for that fellow

 

[Plastic Nathrakh]

CHRIST! That's metal as fuck.