Author Topic: Personal Stuff  (Read 55707 times)

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Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1590 on: June 12, 2021, 10:05:32 am »
I have never understood wants an expensive car.

What percentage of your annual salary did your car cost?

Offline Squidward von Squidderson

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1591 on: June 12, 2021, 10:11:05 am »
I have never understood wants an expensive car.

What percentage of your annual salary did your car cost?

I never understood living in an expensive city….
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Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1592 on: June 12, 2021, 10:16:10 am »
I never understood living in an expensive city….

Not a lot of corporate computer work happening in... Owen Sound.  If you do take a job like that, say Ontario Lottery in Sault Ste Marie, you can't quit.  Nowhere else to work.

Of course, my Joan wouldn't leave anyway... She likes the city lights.

Offline wilber

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1593 on: June 12, 2021, 11:30:14 am »
I have never understood wants an expensive car.

What percentage of your annual salary did your car cost?

Why does anyone buy an expensive anything?
"Never trust a man without a single redeeming vice" WSC
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Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1594 on: June 12, 2021, 11:32:52 am »
Why does anyone buy an expensive anything?

I get t.  I might spend $100 on a vinyl LP once in a blue moon, and that's my thing. And I had a friend who didn't have a hell of a lot of money but once a year he'd buy a $500 bottle of Scotch.

But cars are something you pay for all the time every month or as a big one-time payment. People I work with were talking about where to get the best deals on new beamers, and I couldn't believe it. They made the same amount as me, and we didn't have a pension. I feel like I've saved hundreds of thousands.

And to answer my own question, I spend about 6% of a year salary on a vehicle once every 3 or 4 years.
« Last Edit: June 12, 2021, 12:20:44 pm by MH »

Offline wilber

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1595 on: June 12, 2021, 11:59:19 am »
Expensive cars are an indulgence like any other luxury good. People spend money on them because that's what they want to spend their money on. When I was working in Japan during the early 90's I couldn't believe all the expensive cars and well dressed people in designer clothes. I made the comment to a Japanese compatriot and he said that because even well paid people can't afford homes in Tokyo, that's what they spend their money on.

My Audi isn't particularly expensive but it wasn't cheap. My daughter has a top of the line Kia Sportage turbo which is about the same size as my Q5 with the same size engine. Really nice little SUV and a bargain at a good 20K less than a loaded Q5 Technik but it isn't the same car.
"Never trust a man without a single redeeming vice" WSC
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Offline wilber

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1596 on: June 12, 2021, 12:05:18 pm »
A buddy of mine has an Audi A3 S-line and his wife has the sporty Audi TT.  They love them.  Very solid little cars.  I wouldn’t call them luxurious, but they’re definitely a step up in terms of quality of interiors.  All wheel drive. 

However, there’s a few downsides to owning them…. Parts are expensive.  I’m not sure that they’re as reliable as say a Lexus.

The A3 and TT both come in RS models. 2.5L 5 cylinder engines 400 HP. Pocket super cars but the RS3 is over $65K and the TTRS over $75K.
"Never trust a man without a single redeeming vice" WSC

Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1597 on: June 12, 2021, 12:22:06 pm »
You see what I mean? Those numbers are insane to me.

I think I paid $7,000 for my last vehicle.

I would pay $60,000 for a vehicle if I made over 500K

Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1598 on: June 12, 2021, 12:54:38 pm »
I never understood living in an expensive city….

You burned Mikey hard.

I never understood either of them , unless you're rich.
« Last Edit: June 12, 2021, 12:57:08 pm by Gorgeous Graham »
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Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1599 on: June 12, 2021, 12:55:25 pm »
Why does anyone buy an expensive anything?

Some expensive things are good investments, others are money pits, like most cars.
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley

Offline wilber

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1600 on: June 12, 2021, 01:00:54 pm »
You see what I mean? Those numbers are insane to me.

I think I paid $7,000 for my last vehicle.

I would pay $60,000 for a vehicle if I made over 500K
\

Of course I see what you mean but if you want a little 4 door sedan that's built  like a Swiss watch, does 0-60 MPH in 3.6 seconds, has a governed top speed of 155 MPH. Probably closer to 180 ungoverned which you could never use of course and handles like a go kart.  If you love driving, it's what it is all about because a car like this doesn't look like it cost a small fortune, it just acts like one.
"Never trust a man without a single redeeming vice" WSC

Offline wilber

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1601 on: June 12, 2021, 01:02:32 pm »
Some expensive things are good investments, others are money pits, like most cars.

Cars aren't investments unless you are in the business. Neither are boats, airplanes or horses. I know.
"Never trust a man without a single redeeming vice" WSC

Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1602 on: June 12, 2021, 01:07:23 pm »
You see what I mean? Those numbers are insane to me.

I think I paid $7,000 for my last vehicle.

I would pay $60,000 for a vehicle if I made over 500K

I buy used cars in great shape coming off a 3-year lease from a dealership.  The most depreciation is gone.  I got my last car with 30,000 km on it and it still had new car smell, I saved about 1/3 off the new price.  A retired car dealer once told me it's the best bang for buck.

If I wanted a new luxury car i'd probably want to be earning at least 110k.  I'd also rather spend extra money on my house, which won't decrease in value, or just retire earlier.  A car that costs $75k vs $25k, that's literally a couple years early retirement if your house is paid off, maybe 3 years retirement if you buy used.  But to each their own.
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley

Offline waldo

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1603 on: June 12, 2021, 01:20:40 pm »
Q5 I’m afraid, an SUV.

Q5 is a smallish 'SUV'... in line with the BMW X3 SAV (a qualifier unique to BMW - Sports Activity Vehicle), or the Benz GLC, etc.. Of course you can save significant money by buying a 'certified used' vehicle from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc..

Offline BC_cheque

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #1604 on: June 12, 2021, 01:38:29 pm »
I have never understood wants an expensive car.

What percentage of your annual salary did your car cost?

I've thought that way all my life.  I've driven Hyundai, Mazda, Chevy, all the affordable makes.  Like I said, this is totally new to me, prompted really by where I am in life.  I don't really go out anymore and spend money.  I'm not into expensive clothes or jewelry.  Given the age gaps between my kids and my older one's hormones, family vacations are scarce.  My mortality is sinking in as I realise I am not that far off from the age where my dad started mental decline.  It feels like it's a perfect storm for a midlife crisis car.

Having said that, I'm still frugal.  I'm going to put maybe $20K down to keep my payments low and when I say 'expensive' it's relative to my previous cars.  There is no way I'm going to buy a car that's worth my mortgage.