Can I afford to run these cars?
Discussion
supercommuter said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I don't think if I was earning £42k a year I would be looking at a car much over this budget. That is a hell of a lot of car for £12k!
boobles said:
rampageturke said:
boobles said:
If you have to ask then no.
Saying this is stupid, stop parroting itSurely if you have to ask if something is affordable then perhaps you can't afford it?
Just a thought.... Sorry if you find my question "annoying"
Hypothetical situation:
Q: How much does {insert good or service} cost?
Possible Answer 1: "£8000"
"That's too expensive, I can't afford it!"
Possible Answer 2: "£540"
"That's very reasonable, I can afford that."
In my own situation, I believe I can afford a £30k XKR but I don't think I can afford a £30k Maserati. Do you know how I worked (part of) that out? I went to a Jag garage and asked, "how much are major and minor services on an XKR?" One of the things they didn't respond with was, "sorry mate, if you have to ask you can't afford it."
So yes, more often than not the response above is bloody stupid.
Ranchitup said:
What are running costs usually like for a Porsche 997? Anything in particular I need to watch out for?
There are some really good looking examples on PH for decent mileage for around £20k odd. I can save up some money for a decent deposit to make use of the winter price drop.
I've just sold a 996 C4S. Not a perfect comparison but to give an idea... Using a good independent (I think you said earlier that you wouldn't be doing much yourself). I found that one year I'd have maintenance and service costs of circa £1000 and the next might be £4000, then back to £1000 again. This doesn't include insurance etc - purely the cash I spent with my local independent. Nothing major went wrong but I did replace clutch, several radiators / condensers, have a diff rebuilt, replace discs, loads of back tyres etc. I had the car 6 years and really enjoyed it. 997s will also be on a service every 2nd year. There are some really good looking examples on PH for decent mileage for around £20k odd. I can save up some money for a decent deposit to make use of the winter price drop.
Do a bit of research on the reliability questions over these engines (996 and Gen1 997 - Gen2 cars are more expensive 35K+) and have your eyes wide open. I know loads of people who have ran these cars with no issue, but there is clearly a slightly elevated risk of needing a major rebuild than on some other cars - its a case of either ensure you've a good warranty, keep a war chest and be prepared to use it, or be happy enough with the risk and deal with it if it happens.... They are fabulous cars.
R8Steve said:
supercommuter said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I don't think if I was earning £42k a year I would be looking at a car much over this budget. That is a hell of a lot of car for £12k!
I've not read the whole thread but what are you planning on using the car for?
There isn't too much space in the R8 (there's not a huge amount of room for you and the misses to go away for a long weekend). Obviously the Continental GT has oodles of "practicality" in that way. The 997 is also pretty good (with the rear seats folded down, it's amazing how much you can fit in a 911). What about a Cayman/Boxster (depending on your preference for cabriolet or otherwise)?
There isn't too much space in the R8 (there's not a huge amount of room for you and the misses to go away for a long weekend). Obviously the Continental GT has oodles of "practicality" in that way. The 997 is also pretty good (with the rear seats folded down, it's amazing how much you can fit in a 911). What about a Cayman/Boxster (depending on your preference for cabriolet or otherwise)?
xRIEx said:
boobles said:
rampageturke said:
boobles said:
If you have to ask then no.
Saying this is stupid, stop parroting itSurely if you have to ask if something is affordable then perhaps you can't afford it?
Just a thought.... Sorry if you find my question "annoying"
Hypothetical situation:
Q: How much does {insert good or service} cost?
Possible Answer 1: "£8000"
"That's too expensive, I can't afford it!"
Possible Answer 2: "£540"
"That's very reasonable, I can afford that."
In my own situation, I believe I can afford a £30k XKR but I don't think I can afford a £30k Maserati. Do you know how I worked (part of) that out? I went to a Jag garage and asked, "how much are major and minor services on an XKR?" One of the things they didn't respond with was, "sorry mate, if you have to ask you can't afford it."
So yes, more often than not the response above is bloody stupid.
boobles said:
xRIEx said:
boobles said:
rampageturke said:
boobles said:
If you have to ask then no.
Saying this is stupid, stop parroting itSurely if you have to ask if something is affordable then perhaps you can't afford it?
Just a thought.... Sorry if you find my question "annoying"
Hypothetical situation:
Q: How much does {insert good or service} cost?
Possible Answer 1: "£8000"
"That's too expensive, I can't afford it!"
Possible Answer 2: "£540"
"That's very reasonable, I can afford that."
In my own situation, I believe I can afford a £30k XKR but I don't think I can afford a £30k Maserati. Do you know how I worked (part of) that out? I went to a Jag garage and asked, "how much are major and minor services on an XKR?" One of the things they didn't respond with was, "sorry mate, if you have to ask you can't afford it."
So yes, more often than not the response above is bloody stupid.
£30k Jag is an ''expensive toy"
£30k Maserati is an "expensive toy"
He can afford the former, but not the latter. Worked out by calculating running costs.
Edited by supercommuter on Wednesday 3rd August 12:24
R8Steve said:
boobles said:
Don't buy expensive toys if you have to calculate annual costs etc. Simples.
Sorry, but only a complete idiot would do this. How exactly would you know if you could afford it without calculating annual costs?
boobles said:
Don't buy expensive toys if you have to calculate annual costs etc. Simples.
Well, you don't know if you can afford to own/run it without checking this information out?For example, if four new tyres are £300 this might be easy for many to afford, but if four boots are £1200...........
Hungrymc said:
I've just sold a 996 C4S. Not a perfect comparison but to give an idea... Using a good independent (I think you said earlier that you wouldn't be doing much yourself). I found that one year I'd have maintenance and service costs of circa £1000 and the next might be £4000, then back to £1000 again. This doesn't include insurance etc - purely the cash I spent with my local independent. Nothing major went wrong but I did replace clutch, several radiators / condensers, have a diff rebuilt, replace discs, loads of back tyres etc. I had the car 6 years and really enjoyed it. 997s will also be on a service every 2nd year.
Do a bit of research on the reliability questions over these engines (996 and Gen1 997 - Gen2 cars are more expensive 35K+) and have your eyes wide open. I know loads of people who have ran these cars with no issue, but there is clearly a slightly elevated risk of needing a major rebuild than on some other cars - its a case of either ensure you've a good warranty, keep a war chest and be prepared to use it, or be happy enough with the risk and deal with it if it happens.... They are fabulous cars.
Good post! And the sort of numbers I've used for keeping various BMW M and Audi RS cars running with limited use (I'm a believer more in the preventative maintenance approach rather than warranties myself)Do a bit of research on the reliability questions over these engines (996 and Gen1 997 - Gen2 cars are more expensive 35K+) and have your eyes wide open. I know loads of people who have ran these cars with no issue, but there is clearly a slightly elevated risk of needing a major rebuild than on some other cars - its a case of either ensure you've a good warranty, keep a war chest and be prepared to use it, or be happy enough with the risk and deal with it if it happens.... They are fabulous cars.
I do wonder if the likes of the Bentley or Maserati would be another level above in terms of running costs though. I must ask my neighbour actually as his GranTurismo seems to depart on a low-loader frequently!
Hungrymc said:
I've just sold a 996 C4S. Not a perfect comparison but to give an idea... Using a good independent (I think you said earlier that you wouldn't be doing much yourself). I found that one year I'd have maintenance and service costs of circa £1000 and the next might be £4000, then back to £1000 again. This doesn't include insurance etc - purely the cash I spent with my local independent. Nothing major went wrong but I did replace clutch, several radiators / condensers, have a diff rebuilt, replace discs, loads of back tyres etc. I had the car 6 years and really enjoyed it. 997s will also be on a service every 2nd year.
Do a bit of research on the reliability questions over these engines (996 and Gen1 997 - Gen2 cars are more expensive 35K+) and have your eyes wide open. I know loads of people who have ran these cars with no issue, but there is clearly a slightly elevated risk of needing a major rebuild than on some other cars - its a case of either ensure you've a good warranty, keep a war chest and be prepared to use it, or be happy enough with the risk and deal with it if it happens.... They are fabulous cars.
Ah thanks for this. So guidance figure of say £1k a year which isn't so bad on maintenance. Yeah I don't have the necessary know -how to fiddle with the car myself at all. Do a bit of research on the reliability questions over these engines (996 and Gen1 997 - Gen2 cars are more expensive 35K+) and have your eyes wide open. I know loads of people who have ran these cars with no issue, but there is clearly a slightly elevated risk of needing a major rebuild than on some other cars - its a case of either ensure you've a good warranty, keep a war chest and be prepared to use it, or be happy enough with the risk and deal with it if it happens.... They are fabulous cars.
I will deffo do more research now. Looking at 997's and they look really nice. Need to test drive one soonish!
The Moose said:
I've not read the whole thread but what are you planning on using the car for?
There isn't too much space in the R8 (there's not a huge amount of room for you and the misses to go away for a long weekend). Obviously the Continental GT has oodles of "practicality" in that way. The 997 is also pretty good (with the rear seats folded down, it's amazing how much you can fit in a 911). What about a Cayman/Boxster (depending on your preference for cabriolet or otherwise)?
Mostly for social use really. Maybe commute to work once a week, if that. I won't be doing long weekend drives etc. I don't really like the Cayman/Boxter look tbh. There isn't too much space in the R8 (there's not a huge amount of room for you and the misses to go away for a long weekend). Obviously the Continental GT has oodles of "practicality" in that way. The 997 is also pretty good (with the rear seats folded down, it's amazing how much you can fit in a 911). What about a Cayman/Boxster (depending on your preference for cabriolet or otherwise)?
C70R said:
R8Steve said:
boobles said:
Don't buy expensive toys if you have to calculate annual costs etc. Simples.
Sorry, but only a complete idiot would do this. How exactly would you know if you could afford it without calculating annual costs?
Ranchitup said:
Hungrymc said:
I've just sold a 996 C4S. Not a perfect comparison but to give an idea... Using a good independent (I think you said earlier that you wouldn't be doing much yourself). I found that one year I'd have maintenance and service costs of circa £1000 and the next might be £4000, then back to £1000 again. This doesn't include insurance etc - purely the cash I spent with my local independent. Nothing major went wrong but I did replace clutch, several radiators / condensers, have a diff rebuilt, replace discs, loads of back tyres etc. I had the car 6 years and really enjoyed it. 997s will also be on a service every 2nd year.
Do a bit of research on the reliability questions over these engines (996 and Gen1 997 - Gen2 cars are more expensive 35K+) and have your eyes wide open. I know loads of people who have ran these cars with no issue, but there is clearly a slightly elevated risk of needing a major rebuild than on some other cars - its a case of either ensure you've a good warranty, keep a war chest and be prepared to use it, or be happy enough with the risk and deal with it if it happens.... They are fabulous cars.
Ah thanks for this. So guidance figure of say £1k a year which isn't so bad on maintenance. Yeah I don't have the necessary know -how to fiddle with the car myself at all. Do a bit of research on the reliability questions over these engines (996 and Gen1 997 - Gen2 cars are more expensive 35K+) and have your eyes wide open. I know loads of people who have ran these cars with no issue, but there is clearly a slightly elevated risk of needing a major rebuild than on some other cars - its a case of either ensure you've a good warranty, keep a war chest and be prepared to use it, or be happy enough with the risk and deal with it if it happens.... They are fabulous cars.
I will deffo do more research now. Looking at 997's and they look really nice. Need to test drive one soonish!
R8Steve said:
C70R said:
R8Steve said:
boobles said:
Don't buy expensive toys if you have to calculate annual costs etc. Simples.
Sorry, but only a complete idiot would do this. How exactly would you know if you could afford it without calculating annual costs?
boobles said:
R8Steve said:
C70R said:
R8Steve said:
boobles said:
Don't buy expensive toys if you have to calculate annual costs etc. Simples.
Sorry, but only a complete idiot would do this. How exactly would you know if you could afford it without calculating annual costs?
boobles said:
R8Steve said:
C70R said:
R8Steve said:
boobles said:
Don't buy expensive toys if you have to calculate annual costs etc. Simples.
Sorry, but only a complete idiot would do this. How exactly would you know if you could afford it without calculating annual costs?
Wait, let's have a different situation:
Let's say I earn £90k per year and I want a £15k Focus, if I either ask the question "can I afford it?" on PH or even just out loud to myself, does that mean I automatically can't afford it just because I've asked the question? Does the verbalisation of four words in the form of a question immediately negate whatever income and savings assets I have, or is that just a completely f
king moronic point of view?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff