Justifying an "expensive" car purchase...
Discussion
Debaser said:
I'm just saying you need to get a good idea of what your new car will cost to run and make sure you're happy with the costs.
I think many people are in denial about what it costs to run a medium age car - the reality is they still depreciate and if you're unlucky you can get one big bill after another.With the latest tightening of the MOT rules these cars are going to be worthless if the airbag light etc comes on.
FLGirl said:
He doesn't have a house 
But your last point is most salient. If you're comfortable with the monthly payments but it still feels like a 'spend', I'd hazard a guess that any big bills (hello Porsche...!) will start to become a burden. You sound a bit like me in terms of research and thinking things through, and what marred my ownership experience of a relatively expensive sports car (yes, you, Porsche, again!) was the nagging worry in my mind of something going wrong.
I hated parking in public places, potholed roads, being asked to drive through heavy traffic to give lifts etc... It was my only car, ergo very fun but impractical and eventually I began to resent running it.
Now I own 2 cars worth around 15% of what I spent on the expensive car, but I have at least 100% more fun! Ironically I now have the income to justify a much more expensive car, but it doesn't appeal in the slightest.
I don't regret it for a second, but my petrolhead lust is more than sated at the moment. You could buy a really fun car that you never have to worry about for less than £4k. If you need practical, buy a snotter for £500 and rag it around. Added bonus = some savings for the (eventual) mortgage and no need to "justify" your choices. More is not always better.
That said - early 996s are well within your budget and I'd (almost) recommend one
Yes! This is definitely something that would play on my mind. I've only ever owned cheap cars (sub-£3k) and so have never been particularly bothered when something goes wrong because it's not usually that expensive to fix. And then there's the fact that I now live in Bristol. Travelling around a city is a completely different kettle of fish to when I used to live in the countryside. Just last week some idiot drove straight into the back of my MR" and smashed the bumper up. I thought to myself; "Imagine if that'd been a Porsche?". I just think that the fear factor of driving an far more expensive care around this poorly-planned city, increased fuel, servicing and maitencance costs, it's going to be more hassle and worry than it's worth. Perhaps I'll never own the car of my dreams, but at least I won't being worrying about it everywhere I drive!But your last point is most salient. If you're comfortable with the monthly payments but it still feels like a 'spend', I'd hazard a guess that any big bills (hello Porsche...!) will start to become a burden. You sound a bit like me in terms of research and thinking things through, and what marred my ownership experience of a relatively expensive sports car (yes, you, Porsche, again!) was the nagging worry in my mind of something going wrong.
I hated parking in public places, potholed roads, being asked to drive through heavy traffic to give lifts etc... It was my only car, ergo very fun but impractical and eventually I began to resent running it.
Now I own 2 cars worth around 15% of what I spent on the expensive car, but I have at least 100% more fun! Ironically I now have the income to justify a much more expensive car, but it doesn't appeal in the slightest.
I don't regret it for a second, but my petrolhead lust is more than sated at the moment. You could buy a really fun car that you never have to worry about for less than £4k. If you need practical, buy a snotter for £500 and rag it around. Added bonus = some savings for the (eventual) mortgage and no need to "justify" your choices. More is not always better.
That said - early 996s are well within your budget and I'd (almost) recommend one
Having said that, I do pine after a Lotus Elise or Porsche Boxster all the same. And the sound of a BMW straight six is just magnificent... !
Debaser said:
Biccaroo said:
Debaser said:
I owned a 986S for 18 months, when I got it it was about 6 years old. Adding up all costs (including petrol for 1000 miles a month) it cost me £18000 to run.
It's the running costs of older performance cars you need to consider.
£18,000 to run a 986 S over 18 months?? Are you kidding me?! That's got to be a joke. Also, I do nowhere near 1000 miles/month. 500 max.It's the running costs of older performance cars you need to consider.
You'll be able to run one for less than mine cost, especially if you're not too bothered about the quality of the parts you use (using cheaper tyres and brakes would have saved me a lot). I had a Porsche warranty on mine which probably cost about £1000 a year, but it meant I used main dealers for everything.
I decided to get rid when I took it in for a major service and the bill was a third of the value of the car.
- THE* biggest cost however was depreciation (9k), servicing was reasonable, tyres weren't too bad at about £150/corner. A set of brake pads and about 16l of oil was all.
You're young, no commitments, but as mentioned above borrowing to buy something that depreciates is a bad idea. Trick is to buy something that a - will depreciate as little as possible and b - not cost the earth to run.
Of your original selection the Elise probably fits those requirements the closest. Buy an S1 well and you may even make on it.
Of your original selection the Elise probably fits those requirements the closest. Buy an S1 well and you may even make on it.
Biccaroo said:
Yes! This is definitely something that would play on my mind. I've only ever owned cheap cars (sub-£3k) and so have never been particularly bothered when something goes wrong because it's not usually that expensive to fix. And then there's the fact that I now live in Bristol. Travelling around a city is a completely different kettle of fish to when I used to live in the countryside. Just last week some idiot drove straight into the back of my MR" and smashed the bumper up. I thought to myself; "Imagine if that'd been a Porsche?". I just think that the fear factor of driving an far more expensive care around this poorly-planned city, increased fuel, servicing and maitencance costs, it's going to be more hassle and worry than it's worth. Perhaps I'll never own the car of my dreams, but at least I won't being worrying about it everywhere I drive!
Having said that, I do pine after a Lotus Elise or Porsche Boxster all the same. And the sound of a BMW straight six is just magnificent... !
I live in Brighton, so same difference, and problems! Having said that, I do pine after a Lotus Elise or Porsche Boxster all the same. And the sound of a BMW straight six is just magnificent... !
If you lust after more power and a BMW straight 6, look in my garage
Less than £2k, RWD, hooligan-esque 2 seater sports car. Yes, they are slated for being 'soft', but unless you're majorly into track days I doubt it would really bother you. Maintenance = dirt cheap too. I drive it every day, I smile every single drive. It hasn't yet failed to impress me (2 hours plus in torrential rain ploughing through standing water yesterday, yet still handled it all superbly and with ease). Find one and have a go, I think you'd be very pleasantly surprised.Lotus - unquestionably an Elise (or Exige) is an absolutely astounding car. When you think an Elise is c.£9k I actually can't think of much more I'd want for that money. I don't have one as I simply don't want to drive one round the city, and presently I just couldn't give it the use, or abuse
, it deserves. An itch to scratch though, definitely.Boxster - not driven. But if it resembles my old 996 at all, apart from the running expense worry, I describe it as far too 'boringly competent' to justify its costs.
You WILL own the car of your dreams. But as you go through more cars, age, experience etc, you'll potentially find that those dreams are simpler than you thought.
If you must scratch the itch, then do it and don't look back. If you know you'll always be looking over your shoulder and worrying about bills, then wait. Life has a funny way of presenting opportune moments for these things. Maybe right now simply isn't it
Deva Link said:
I think many people are in denial about what it costs to run a medium age car - the reality is they still depreciate and if you're unlucky you can get one big bill after another.
With the latest tightening of the MOT rules these cars are going to be worthless if the airbag light etc comes on.
If he buys an Elise, it won't have an airbag light. With the latest tightening of the MOT rules these cars are going to be worthless if the airbag light etc comes on.
I bought one, did 30,000 miles over a couple of years, and sold it for the same price.
It wasn't a low mileage car either, and was used on track. I spent a lot modding it, but out of necessary costs, I could have got out of it spending under £1500.
Consider most people won't do a third of that mileage a year, and it's quite easy to run an Elise on a reasonable budget.
Deva Link said:
With the latest tightening of the MOT rules these cars are going to be worthless if the airbag light etc comes on.
But how likely is that really? My 14yo / 167k mondeo has no warning lights showing. The only time it did was because I had a bottle rattling round under the seats which dislodged the seatbelt pre-tensioners/seat airbag connector. Remove the bottle, disconnect and reconnect and it went away never to return.Biccaroo said:
Okay, say I give the Boxster and the Elise a miss. What could I get that isn't an MR2 but is under £8000, as much fun too drive, reliable, cheap to run but more practical? There's nothing is there? What am I missing?
Cheap VX220's are changing hands for not much over £5k? Economical and simple to fix 2.2 engine from VX, good on insurance, mpg etc. Plus should be good on depreciation. Try vx220.org.uk for a well loved bargain Supercharged Mk1 Mx5. I had a 180bhp wide arched version. No more expensive to run than a standard car. Lose about 5-10mpg but gain BIG smiles and supercharger whine!! Hold there value very well. And can be had sub 3 grand....
Here's my old car to tempt you
Biccaroo said:
Okay, say I give the Boxster and the Elise a miss. What could I get that isn't an MR2 but is under £8000, as much fun too drive, reliable, cheap to run but more practical? There's nothing is there? What am I missing?
RX-8 and a 4k fighting fund. Well apart from in petrol.
I spent many years buying cars which were sensible, albeit with a couple that were slightly unsensible though not really convincingly so.
Then I got offered a TVR. At first I said no, I couldn't justify it. Then I thought about it a bit more and thought 'f
k it, I want a fun car'. I didn't need to commute in it, it was all my own money, the OH went mental at first (though he loves it now) so I bought it.
If you have the money for it and you want to do it then go for it. Life's too short.
Then I got offered a TVR. At first I said no, I couldn't justify it. Then I thought about it a bit more and thought 'f
k it, I want a fun car'. I didn't need to commute in it, it was all my own money, the OH went mental at first (though he loves it now) so I bought it.If you have the money for it and you want to do it then go for it. Life's too short.
Biccaroo said:
Fastdruid said:
RX-8 and a 4k fighting fund.
Well apart from in petrol.
Haha! Yes, I've heard the old rotary engine loves to drink copious amounts of fuel!Well apart from in petrol.
Thing is though that it always felt special to drive. The 6MPS we replaced the RX-8 with has more power (plus a turbo) and as it is only 0.4s slower round the top gear circuit obviously no slouch in the handling department but doesn't feel special.
Rosscow said:
I'm sorry but I would never, ever buy an Alfa! Silver said:
If you have the money for it and you want to do it then go for it. Life's too short.
Some would say you don't really have the money until you've bought (mortgaged) a house. If you're living with parents / in a shared house or even renting, then the house has to be no. 1 priority.Cars get cheaper... houses generally go up in price.
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