"I'm going to drive my 10-year-old car into the ground even though I can afford a new one — and I think anyone would be crazy not to"

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction) 08/10/2017 at 17:40 • Filed to: None

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“I have no emotional attachment to this car, and yet, I still don’t want to give her up.” So cold... And apparently most of us here are crazy. I completely get the financial side of it (very rational), but you can do all that with a car you actually like and enjoy driving, too.

I probably couldn’t love a G6, either.

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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 17:41

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Because Kinja: http://www.businessinsider.com/postpone-buying-a-new-car-2017-8

WilliamsSW > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 17:51

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I don’t like cars, therefore you shouldn’t either! !!

Why did he waste his money traveling to Nashville to eat chicken and drink beer? HE COULD HAVE STAYED HOME AND EATEN RAMEN NOODLES!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW 08/10/2017 at 17:53

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She. And her defense, I think the original title (from the link) was “postpone-buying-a-new-car”. Her editor may have thought it needed more punch for additional clicks.

Ilike_cougars > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 17:57

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Hmm.. “Cars arn’t Investments and will depreciate as soon as you drive off a lot” she says.. I kinda agree. But I think being an enthusiast, we tend to buy already depreciated used cars. And if you do is smartly you can get away with owning a pretty desirable car, and sell it off with a lower depreciation loss. Case and point my my 06 BMW MZ4. I bought it for $28K some time ago and the going rate right now is around 18-20K. Compared to a normal Z4 was around 22-25K at the time and will probably cost you around 9K now.

sony1492 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 17:59

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I wouldn’t buy a brand new car for the reason she outlined, debt. The only plus sides I see to new cars are safety and warranties.

WilliamsSW > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 18:03

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Oops - I saw the Britt (not Brittney) and read it as Brett (which could still be either...)

Yeah, it’s mostly the title that’s horrible. There’s good financial advice in there, but there’s a balance to be struck, too (granted, a lot of people are skewed too far toward instant gratification and need to be reeled in a bit...)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 18:07

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90% of people see their cars as an appliance.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > WilliamsSW 08/10/2017 at 18:14

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Maruchan or no man

XJDano > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 18:14

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Yeah, they are called beaters. I’ve had some. All require some sort of love hate relationship.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 18:14

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Wow, 10 years old?

OooooOooooOoooooOoooH

WilliamsSW > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 08/10/2017 at 18:15

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Much better then Nissin.

random001 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 18:24

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The title does suck, but she has some good points. Most people aren’t enthusiasts, they buy the car for status. This rarely works out in ones favor.

But for most of Oppo, we buy cars as a part of us, not just an accessory, so it really doesn’t apply here.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 18:47

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Good points with regard to not financing and driving the wheels off your car, but doesn’t mean it can’t be a fun car to boot. It rarely makes financial sense to buy a newer car, even if you’re dumping 1-2k a year in a car you own, you’re still ahead. I can attest to the beater piece of mind also though. When you have a beater you can park anywhere and not worry about it, it’s liberating, but I still prefer to drive a nice car, albeit a paid off one.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 18:51

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I have four cars, although only three are plated. They’re all more than 20 years old except the 16-year-old I got for $250.

What was she saying about her car being old?

Dru > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 19:00

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That article fills me with blind hatred.

TahoeSTi > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 19:04

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funny I think I would spend less money on cars if i just leased them....but i’d have none of the fun of modifying them....might also have to have fewer cars too for that to work....fewer and newer.

His Stigness > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 19:23

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What those type of people will never understand is that sometimes, to some people, buying a new car, or having a nice car is worth the added cost. My mom could have kept her Saturn at it would have been paid off years ago, be she hated it, and she adores her Golf almost as much as I do. Same goes for my car. Yes, I could save money (o everything) by buying a regular car, but I’d be effing miserable. The extra money I spend on gas, tires, and maintenance is worth it and I never regret it.

Tristan > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/10/2017 at 20:49

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My “new” car is 16 years old. The next newest is 20, and the third is 60... All are paid for. Yeah, a 3/4 ton suburban isn’t the most economical daily driver, but it does everything I could ever need a vehicle to do, insurance is cheap, and there’s no payment. Plus, it’ll last a really, really long time... I intend to have it for at least 10-15 years.

and 100 more > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 08/10/2017 at 21:27

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Top Ramen is the top level of hell.

Maruchan all the way.

pip bip - choose Corrour > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/11/2017 at 08:16

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i’m driving my 14 yr old Mitsubishi into the ground.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW 08/11/2017 at 09:06

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She’s not wrong that way too many people buy way too much car way too early.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > random001 08/11/2017 at 09:08

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She’s not wrong that way too many people buy way too much car way too early.

You almost need to file an Opponaut’s car purchase as one third transportation, one third recreation, and one third vacation. It’s so much more to us than a way to get from A to B.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Ilike_cougars 08/11/2017 at 09:10

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I bought my ‘08 E90 M3 four years used for $40k. I’ve got over 100k miles on it now, and plenty of rock chips from daily use, track work & backroadtrips, so hard to tell what I could get for it, but I plan on continuing to enjoy it for several years to come, and may hold onto it for the long haul.

WilliamsSW > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/11/2017 at 09:11

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For sure - from what I’ve seen, the people who do this tend to overspend on a lot of other things, too. The car is a symptom (and generally the biggest one) that someone isn’t managing their overall financial picture very well—

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > His Stigness 08/11/2017 at 09:11

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Most of us will spend at least an hour in our cars each day - might as well do what you can to make that hour a good one (if you can afford to)!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tristan 08/11/2017 at 09:12

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This is the OPPO answer!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 08/11/2017 at 09:13

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Hahaha! Love it.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 08/11/2017 at 09:13

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Sad!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc 08/11/2017 at 09:14

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If you buy a car that’s fun and that you like, you’ll most likely keep it longer (and save more money)!

random001 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/11/2017 at 09:24

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Sing it, brother!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW 08/11/2017 at 09:25

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Mrs. addiction and I have been very fortunate these past 10+ years in that we’ve been able to find and keep high-paying jobs. I’m very happy to say that today, at this minute, we’re completely debt free. We’re buying a new home next week, but are putting a very substantial amount down, and after sale of our existing home, hope to have the new one paid off in just a couple years. I have a nice car, but I waited until I was 34 and could truly afford it to buy it (and I still bought used - an ‘08 E90 M3 - previous car was an ‘05 Mazda 3s hatch that I drove for 7 years). Being able to delay gratification goes a long way to putting one’s financial life on a good path.

WilliamsSW > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/11/2017 at 09:37

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That’s awesome! And congrats on the new home!

My wife and I are lucky in that regard, as well - in my younger days, I overreached a bit, but learned quickly from it without killing my credit score, and have since limited debt to house and car only - - with the caveat that, for cars, it’s limited, and generally to take advantage of free money. My wife leases her car (ostensibly for business purposes), and I’ve actually leased my current DD - but that is *NOT* happening again. Currently I’m working on a plan to replace that with a 1-3 year old car that I can pay cash for, and keep for 10 years (I have 17 and 12 year old cars bought new already, so it’s not like I’m afraid of the commitment! :)).

For us, it’s not a matter of whether we can afford it or not - it’s a matter of saving a few more $$ so maybe I can retire 1 year earlier or whatever.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW 08/11/2017 at 09:42

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Thanks! We made our mistakes early as well (running up credit card debt). Paying cash for lightly used cars is where it’s at! Early(er) retirement is definitely our goal as well.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/11/2017 at 09:44

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True that. I’m thinking I finally got the car I’ve wanted for a while, and hopefully I’ll want to hang onto it for longer than my last one. Now my truck, I’ve had that thing for over 15 years and plan to keep it for another 15, but time will tell. It’s already worth next to nothing and I couldn’t come close to replacing it for what it’s worth and it in great shape for a ‘99. Granted almost all the suspension parts have been replaced twice over and the enigine finally got a timing set last summer (and water pump, and hoses, and belt, and.... ). But i still put less than 1k in it all last year, and this year it was plugs and wires, but the trans is shifting sloppy, so need to drop the pan and adjust the bands. But I’m hoping that’s it for this year. That’s still well below the $500 mark for the year. It’s fun to be able to keep the old girl on the road.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc 08/11/2017 at 09:47

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Nice! My daily will be ten years old soon with 100k miles, and my beater Pathfinder is an ‘03 with 160k. No plans to part with either of them soon!

WilliamsSW > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/11/2017 at 09:53

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Yeah, we have a little one, and may have another, so having a recent car with all the safety matters to both of us (as does having a fair amount of room). So buying a 10 year old car isn’t happening (I occasionally take him in the 17 year old car, but only for short trips/low speeds). But a good lightly used car with a warranty for a bit is right where my head is at for the spring.

Being able to pull the trigger at 59 is the goal for me - - only 10 years away, and sometimes it feels like it’s close, other days, not so much!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW 08/11/2017 at 10:03

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Kids are so much fun (and despite the work & cost, I’ve never heard someone say they wish they’d had fewer...). Ours are 10, 8 & 4.

I bet you’ll make it!

WilliamsSW > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/11/2017 at 10:07

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Thanks! I think you will, too - you’re clearly doing the right things.

We’re really in pretty good shape, I can’t complain. We have plenty already in tax-deferred savings, and the 59 (actually 59 1/2) is driven by when we can access that. Ideally, I’d like to be *able* to retire, but not necessarily do it- -if I’m enjoying what I do at that age.

Ours is just about to turn 1, so college is obviously a concern, too. :)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW 08/11/2017 at 10:21

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We’ll just be 40 next year, so hopefully we can keep our jobs and keep doing those right things! These days, I’m thinking about what 2nd career I might like to pursue in 5-10 years to carry me into retirement (once our long-term savings picture seems rock solid). Not sure if I see myself doing the same thing I’m doing now 10 years from now.

Hit that 529 early & often!

WilliamsSW > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/11/2017 at 10:27

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Now is a great time to think about that 2nd career! At my age, I would never be able to replicate my income doing anything else - so I would have to accept taking a step backwards. In a few years, I might just do that anyways, but not yet.

You know it on the 529- we max out every contribution we can, 529, 401k, IRA, etc.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WilliamsSW 08/11/2017 at 10:32

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Oh, I would most definitely be taking a pay cut at that time as well, but if I feel like we’ve saved enough for the long-term, I might be willing to trade the $$$ to do something more rewarding or creative. We’ll see.

Having solid savings sure does great for your peace of mind...

WilliamsSW > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/11/2017 at 10:46

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Yep - your thought process is pretty similar to mine!