Justifying the second / fun car
Discussion
My wife and I currently have an unremarkable fiesta (her car) and my 2003 330ci. I got it 10 years ago and it owes me nothing. It used to be my daily but now with home working it gets used weekly.
Considering lack of use I am thinking of replacing it with something more interesting and older (think 300zx or w124 coupe or maybe a mitsu station) with a cash budget of £20k. We own/mortgage our house and otherwise don't have debts. No kids and no plans in the immediate/ medium term future.
However I am very bad at spending money and simply can't seem to spend that much money, ranging from £6k for a w124 through to £10 - 15k+ for the others.
This month I've been diagnosed with multiple bilateral pulmonary embolisms at age 33 which is a life changing event, I'll probably be on blood thinners for life, and has given me a new perspective on life and yet I still can't bloody spend the money lol
It's always seems like a waste or it could go on the house or whatever, or be invested somewhere.
How did you justify or buying the second / fun car to yourself?
Wife is fine with it she just wants the bmw gone (not sure why she hates it it's not exactly a caterham)
Considering lack of use I am thinking of replacing it with something more interesting and older (think 300zx or w124 coupe or maybe a mitsu station) with a cash budget of £20k. We own/mortgage our house and otherwise don't have debts. No kids and no plans in the immediate/ medium term future.
However I am very bad at spending money and simply can't seem to spend that much money, ranging from £6k for a w124 through to £10 - 15k+ for the others.
This month I've been diagnosed with multiple bilateral pulmonary embolisms at age 33 which is a life changing event, I'll probably be on blood thinners for life, and has given me a new perspective on life and yet I still can't bloody spend the money lol
It's always seems like a waste or it could go on the house or whatever, or be invested somewhere.
How did you justify or buying the second / fun car to yourself?
Wife is fine with it she just wants the bmw gone (not sure why she hates it it's not exactly a caterham)
Thought this was simple case of tell wife its buggered but you can't justify to yourself ay?
Had my own circumstances go very bad recently so I sympathize.
1. Make the car an investment if possible, then you can't lose as have car and investment.
Failing that,
2. Seems like its not the second or fun car, it's your car as she has hers, so get car you want and can be happiest/most alive/mentally uplifted by within price bracket, try get one that won't lose price too much and your then into territory of calculating how little of the money you spend it will actually cost (with rest to come back if sell it). Makes deciding so much easier when you do that.
Had my own circumstances go very bad recently so I sympathize.
1. Make the car an investment if possible, then you can't lose as have car and investment.
Failing that,
2. Seems like its not the second or fun car, it's your car as she has hers, so get car you want and can be happiest/most alive/mentally uplifted by within price bracket, try get one that won't lose price too much and your then into territory of calculating how little of the money you spend it will actually cost (with rest to come back if sell it). Makes deciding so much easier when you do that.
Edited by NFT on Sunday 8th October 21:57
Krikkit said:
You can't take it with you, just spend the bloody money on something you want
CABC said:
A lot of great memories can be centred around cars and the journeys made with them. Priceless.
What they said.It's nice to be able to jump into a sports car and take her away to a country spa hotel for the weekend. Then enjoy exploring the countryside together, maybe find a nice traditional pub with a range of real ales, check out village shops or whatever unique local attraction there is. Makes for a relaxing and memorable weekend.
God, I sound old.
It doesn't have to be expensive either. We recently enjoyed a short break away in the Sheddy TT, which cost £1.5k (ok, I spent another £1k to get it through the MOT but that was what I was expecting). Ok, the TT isn't as sporty as a 911 GT3 but it's still a lot of fun driving down country lanes.
It's a bit of a Maslows Heirachy of Needs... Food, shelter, warmth, companionship, sports car, self awareness, another sports car, enlightenment. Or something like that 
But I had something fairly life changing, and whilst a bit of a mid life crisis, I did end up just thinking, I really don't care about others opinion, as for me, that was a big stopper... What's others opinions of me!?
Then getting something old enough that won't depreciate will help, and it's just the running costs that's the pain. But anything can throw out a big bill... So just see how it goes, and just enjoy.
But I had something fairly life changing, and whilst a bit of a mid life crisis, I did end up just thinking, I really don't care about others opinion, as for me, that was a big stopper... What's others opinions of me!?
Then getting something old enough that won't depreciate will help, and it's just the running costs that's the pain. But anything can throw out a big bill... So just see how it goes, and just enjoy.
First car is an Cupra estate which is pretty fun but also practical and quite comfortable for long distance touring.
Second is...a motorbike. Gets me to work, easy to get around the city on and also fun to take longer rides on. Travel card for me is £3k a year, bike was £5k so maybe 3 or 4 years to break even all costs included?
Make every journey fun, no point driving something boring when a more interesting vehicle could be had without spending much.
Second is...a motorbike. Gets me to work, easy to get around the city on and also fun to take longer rides on. Travel card for me is £3k a year, bike was £5k so maybe 3 or 4 years to break even all costs included?
Make every journey fun, no point driving something boring when a more interesting vehicle could be had without spending much.
Edited by Bryanwww on Sunday 8th October 23:14
Stewcumber said:
Hopefully when I'm feeling better and can travel I will just do it.
The caveats are that I don't have a garage but do have a driveway so any classic car or even modern car is likely to rust a bit. And it would be used weekly once I'm up and about again, including the winter...
My cars are on my drive. No covers either. The only annoying thing is one or more delivery people are dragging their bag down the side of my car and around the nose of one of my cars as they take a short cut to my door so there are light scuffs. The caveats are that I don't have a garage but do have a driveway so any classic car or even modern car is likely to rust a bit. And it would be used weekly once I'm up and about again, including the winter...
Stewcumber said:
.
This month I've been diagnosed with multiple bilateral pulmonary embolisms at age 33 which is a life changing event, I'll probably be on blood thinners for life, and has given me a new perspective on life and yet I still can't bloody spend the money lol
It's always seems like a waste or it could go on the house or whatever, or be invested somewhere.
How did you justify or buying the second / fun car to yourself?
Wife is fine with it she just wants the bmw gone (not sure why she hates it it's not exactly a caterham)
That's so sad at your age - I hope it can be managed well. This month I've been diagnosed with multiple bilateral pulmonary embolisms at age 33 which is a life changing event, I'll probably be on blood thinners for life, and has given me a new perspective on life and yet I still can't bloody spend the money lol
It's always seems like a waste or it could go on the house or whatever, or be invested somewhere.
How did you justify or buying the second / fun car to yourself?
Wife is fine with it she just wants the bmw gone (not sure why she hates it it's not exactly a caterham)
My dad could have retired at 60 but decided he'd go for a better pension. Then he had a cerebral Haemorrhage at 61, spent a week in a coma, and never walked again.
I had a TIA when I was 47 and experienced some of the same symptoms for about 12 hours, but long enough to make me change my perspective on life.
So when I got a lump sum from taking a work-place pension early I bought a BMW Z4 Coupe when I got to 55.
Then at 60 I got another work-place pension so I got a Z4M Coupe while I still could. (Get in and out of it)!
It sounds like your OH may not be a BMW fan, but my advice would be to get whatever you want and enjoy it as long as you can - YOLO!
Hoofy said:
It doesn't have to be expensive either. We recently enjoyed a short break away in the Sheddy TT, which cost £1.5k (ok, I spent another £1k to get it through the MOT but that was what I was expecting).
Bryanwww said:
Second is...a motorbike.
Many good thoughts in this thread and in particular the preceding two. Just my humble opinion of course.Get a shed-esque sporty thing as well as a motorbike. If you don't ride, it will be fun to learn. See if you can cut your budget in half and invest the remainder.
And to spice up those weekends in the countryside, buy a drone. Another fun thing to learn, and could make for some memorable photos.
Stew, assuming you are the same Stew I think you are, you’ve been talking about replacing that E46 for at least 5 years!
Just get it done. Spend the money, as has been said, you only live once, enjoy yourself before you can’t any longer.
Even if it proves to not live up to expectations, you can always sell on and recoup most of the outlay.
Just get it done. Spend the money, as has been said, you only live once, enjoy yourself before you can’t any longer.
Even if it proves to not live up to expectations, you can always sell on and recoup most of the outlay.
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