Anyone driving a cheap car while saving for something good?
Discussion
I am doing something different (for me). I decided not to go into debt to buy something but rather drive around in something that I could pay cash for so I could save up for something nice. So I am driving around in an 2000 Alfa Romeo 156 V6 (lovely engine but handling is a bit soft). I bought it with just 38000km (about 24000 miles) on the clock in perfect nick. It was litterally owned by an octogenerian who had it as his last car - I thought such cars were just myths or pub talk. The question is what am I saving for. I am wondering whether to go a classic and keep the 156 for every day driving or go for something new. Current thinking is if I go classic it will be a fully restored 1970s Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV (the 105 model). Yes I have an Alfa Romeo problem that therapy isn't dealing with. If I go new I am going to get a V8 Mustang probably in guard green (a bit like Highland Green - you know where I am going with this) with the Recaro seat option. It seems like I have a choice between appreciation and depreciation. Currently, I think I am leaning towards appreciation. I got burned by a fast depreciating BMW and vowed never to buy new again. I went to the Geneva Motorshow this year and with so many affordable performance cars got thinking about new cars again. What a great selection: Civic Type R (had a DC2 Integra which I am still in love with), Focus RS, Megane Trophy R, Mustang, Golf R etc. I think though if I go new I will buy a Mustang simply because it might be my last chance to buy a normally aspirated V8.
So votes for new Mustang V8 or restored Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV? Anyone else doing this and if so what are you saving for?
So votes for new Mustang V8 or restored Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV? Anyone else doing this and if so what are you saving for?
I have managed to avoid spending any money on further upgrades for my track AW11 (Mk1 MR2) while I save up for a Elise 111R or maybe an Exige 190. As much as I enjoy working on my own cars, I have ploughed large sums into modifications/upgrades before and got none of it back. I actually got as far as buying all the parts for a forged turbocharged engine for the MR2 before I realised it would be the same old story and stopped. I'm over halfway to my goal!
Hi Pjwind
i have only recently done exactly this
knew i wanted a 'good' car, so spent a year or two driving around in my 'crappy' 2002 vauxhall astra, whilst saving for the other one
eventually it payed off, im debt free, and got the car of my dreams !!
definatley worth doing, i found in the past owing money on a car often leads to many problems, e.g. not having the money to run it properly and it taking away from the enjoyment of actually 'owning' it ( i am quite young, so these are big factors for me)
and theres nothing better than achieving your goal & buying with cash
i have only recently done exactly this
knew i wanted a 'good' car, so spent a year or two driving around in my 'crappy' 2002 vauxhall astra, whilst saving for the other one
eventually it payed off, im debt free, and got the car of my dreams !!
definatley worth doing, i found in the past owing money on a car often leads to many problems, e.g. not having the money to run it properly and it taking away from the enjoyment of actually 'owning' it ( i am quite young, so these are big factors for me)
and theres nothing better than achieving your goal & buying with cash
MattHall91 said:
I'm considering doing this until after my wedding is all paid for next year.
If I can get enough together I would love to pay cash for something special
Mate I have bad news. Once the wedding is paid for there will be the saving for the house or the better house. Then the kitchen will need doing or the bathroom. One I have avoided is having the kid and needing to set up a nursery, and buy baby things but that happens to a lot of blokes. Before you sign on the dotted line at the church I suggest you go out and get a humungous lease on an AMG C63 or something. It is the only way you will be driving decent wheels for the next 10 years.If I can get enough together I would love to pay cash for something special
I'm currently driving around in an old golf. I had to sell my lovely, low mileage m3 when I lost my job last year. I had planned never to sell it. I'm so tempted to just take a loan out over a short period and get another nice car but I'm holding fire at the moment. If I can resist , I should have enough to buy something nice outright by the end of the year. Its hard going though! I'm almost constantly on auto trader and here looking at the classifieds!
pjwind said:
MattHall91 said:
I'm considering doing this until after my wedding is all paid for next year.
If I can get enough together I would love to pay cash for something special
Mate I have bad news. Once the wedding is paid for there will be the saving for the house or the better house. Then the kitchen will need doing or the bathroom. One I have avoided is having the kid and needing to set up a nursery, and buy baby things but that happens to a lot of blokes. Before you sign on the dotted line at the church I suggest you go out and get a humungous lease on an AMG C63 or something. It is the only way you will be driving decent wheels for the next 10 years.If I can get enough together I would love to pay cash for something special
I don't get this. There are plenty of great driving cars at all price levels and just because something is more expensive does not make it better. So I can say I am never saving for something "better" as I am always satisfied with the cars I buy at their respective price points.
Also I think 2 or 3 cheaper cars is more fun/interesting than one more expensive one as there is no car that can do it all.
All IMO of course.
Also I think 2 or 3 cheaper cars is more fun/interesting than one more expensive one as there is no car that can do it all.
All IMO of course.
Listen to this for proper mental.
I sold a 1 year old BMW at a loss, put myself in a 2003 xsara picasso hdi and bought my wife an almost new but rather dull Mercedes b class. Yeah, I know. What was I thinking.
That was almost a year ago and I'm still in the Picasso. I've bonded with it in a way that I thought no longer possible.
I had planned on buying an e92 m3 or a 997 but after driving a few I felt no spark so I stuck the wedge into savings and took one of those cheap golf r deals which is due any day now. Figure I'll see how long I can ride the cheap lease wave. Have always seen others doing it and been slightly jealous of the cheap, hassle free motoring they must enjoy.
I sold a 1 year old BMW at a loss, put myself in a 2003 xsara picasso hdi and bought my wife an almost new but rather dull Mercedes b class. Yeah, I know. What was I thinking.
That was almost a year ago and I'm still in the Picasso. I've bonded with it in a way that I thought no longer possible.
I had planned on buying an e92 m3 or a 997 but after driving a few I felt no spark so I stuck the wedge into savings and took one of those cheap golf r deals which is due any day now. Figure I'll see how long I can ride the cheap lease wave. Have always seen others doing it and been slightly jealous of the cheap, hassle free motoring they must enjoy.
SidewaysSi said:
I don't get this. There are plenty of great driving cars at all price levels and just because something is more expensive does not make it better. So I can say I am never saving for something "better" as I am always satisfied with the cars I buy at their respective price points.
Also I think 2 or 3 cheaper cars is more fun/interesting than one more expensive one as there is no car that can do it all.
All IMO of course.
Agreed, different steeds for different needs. Also I think 2 or 3 cheaper cars is more fun/interesting than one more expensive one as there is no car that can do it all.
All IMO of course.
MattHall91 said:
pjwind said:
MattHall91 said:
I'm considering doing this until after my wedding is all paid for next year.
If I can get enough together I would love to pay cash for something special
Mate I have bad news. Once the wedding is paid for there will be the saving for the house or the better house. Then the kitchen will need doing or the bathroom. One I have avoided is having the kid and needing to set up a nursery, and buy baby things but that happens to a lot of blokes. Before you sign on the dotted line at the church I suggest you go out and get a humungous lease on an AMG C63 or something. It is the only way you will be driving decent wheels for the next 10 years.If I can get enough together I would love to pay cash for something special
I'm doing this just now.
Just sold my 911 Turbo. Driving a 10yr old A4 Avant bought my girlfriend a SLK350.
Going to brave it out as long as I can and then get something decent once I've pAid off mortgage.
I thought this was just a result of being a bit more mature and not as rich as I hoped I'd be.
Just sold my 911 Turbo. Driving a 10yr old A4 Avant bought my girlfriend a SLK350.
Going to brave it out as long as I can and then get something decent once I've pAid off mortgage.
I thought this was just a result of being a bit more mature and not as rich as I hoped I'd be.
Yup, currently driving an 18 year old Corolla but am putting a bit aside with the intention of buying a Mustang at the end of next year when a big chunk of my savings mature. Only about five times as powerful and rwd, I'm sure it'll be fine.
Edit: that's not to say that the 'rolla isn't 'good', it cost f
k all and does what I need it to do with tedious reliability, but I really really like those new Mustangs!
Edit: that's not to say that the 'rolla isn't 'good', it cost f
k all and does what I need it to do with tedious reliability, but I really really like those new Mustangs!Edited by Roger Irrelevant on Tuesday 31st March 20:45
Quite content with my £1700 Jaguar XJ. It's a fantastic car for day to day use. The cash is being saved for a motorbike, which is where the fun is. For a relatively small amount of money on a bike, you get a much better bang to buck than you do with cars.
The bike will be something like:
The bike will be something like:
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