Biggest sacrifice to own your dream car
Discussion
Whilst lusting after the some expensive metal in the time warp 930 turbo thread, I thought I could buy one...if I sold my house and lived in a tent.
Which got me wondering, has anyone made a semi-reckless/irresponsible/legendary dream car purchase they really couldn't afford but made it happen with some big sacrifices to financial stability and/or day to day living.
I don't mean, I downgraded my skiing holidays for a few years PH reckless. I mean I sold all my possessions to buy a V12 type thing.
Which got me wondering, has anyone made a semi-reckless/irresponsible/legendary dream car purchase they really couldn't afford but made it happen with some big sacrifices to financial stability and/or day to day living.
I don't mean, I downgraded my skiing holidays for a few years PH reckless. I mean I sold all my possessions to buy a V12 type thing.
Not exactly dream car level, but I stretched myself a fair bit at 22 on apprentice wages to get an M4.
First year was tight until I finished my apprenticeship. Had to cut down the nights out with mates, seriously plan ahead for a holiday, be careful with weekly spending etc to make sure I had enough left over to run the thing.
I'd moved into my first house and some of it needed work (nothing major just some plastering, garden work etc) and I delayed it all until I graduated so that the car was serviced, detailed and generally looked after. I wouldn't say I was properly skint, but it was still painful at points having to turn down plans as I knew the money I had left had to go on fuel, servicing, or insurance.
Bit silly now looking back, but it worked out eventually and I don't think I'd do it differently if I was that age again now.
That being said, knowing I was "moving up" a year later made it more palatable skimping and saving for a year. I've never been good at saving up for things, life always gets in the way and I know fine well if I'd planned to save up for it over that year I'd have frittered the money away.
First year was tight until I finished my apprenticeship. Had to cut down the nights out with mates, seriously plan ahead for a holiday, be careful with weekly spending etc to make sure I had enough left over to run the thing.
I'd moved into my first house and some of it needed work (nothing major just some plastering, garden work etc) and I delayed it all until I graduated so that the car was serviced, detailed and generally looked after. I wouldn't say I was properly skint, but it was still painful at points having to turn down plans as I knew the money I had left had to go on fuel, servicing, or insurance.
Bit silly now looking back, but it worked out eventually and I don't think I'd do it differently if I was that age again now.
That being said, knowing I was "moving up" a year later made it more palatable skimping and saving for a year. I've never been good at saving up for things, life always gets in the way and I know fine well if I'd planned to save up for it over that year I'd have frittered the money away.
I did the opposite, stopped spending on expensive sports cars and classics and retired early instead. Much nicer not having to work for a living and my pair of very ordinary 10 year old cars manage to cover the same distance in the same time as those expensive sports cars did.
After all whatever car you have it's only going as fast as the car in front, as most roads are too busy to overtake.
After all whatever car you have it's only going as fast as the car in front, as most roads are too busy to overtake.
ARH said:
I did the opposite, stopped spending on expensive sports cars and classics and retired early instead. Much nicer not having to work for a living and my pair of very ordinary 10 year old cars manage to cover the same distance in the same time as those expensive sports cars did.
After all whatever car you have it's only going as fast as the car in front, as most roads are too busy to overtake.
Are you on the right website? After all whatever car you have it's only going as fast as the car in front, as most roads are too busy to overtake.
Had a VX220T when it was worth more than my salary as an apprentice. Similar to the poster above with his M4 I suppose. Had to plan for things. But I don’t regret it at that age. I do regret only having it for 6 weeks before putting it through a garden wall though…
My fear of debt exceeds my love of dream cars. I have missed some incredible cars at times due to not wanting to have too much tied up in toys. I have some good enough cars but in an ideal world I would have bought a Gullwing or a Carrera GT at a time before they went stratospheric.
I did not see retirement and cars as mutually exclusive however
I did not see retirement and cars as mutually exclusive however
Not living in a tent, but back in the late 80's a guy lived in a very ordinary terraced house near to us, but had a Ferrari 308 on the drive. Story was he had a great job and a decent house, but downsized to buy the 308.
A quick google tells me the 308 would have cost about the same as his house.
It was definitely the real thing rather than a kit car.
A quick google tells me the 308 would have cost about the same as his house.
It was definitely the real thing rather than a kit car.
Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 27th May 10:33
I really stretched myself to buy a MK1 Focus RS when I was 19. I took out a loan to pay for part of it which took a chunk out of my monthly budget, then running the thing took the rest. At one point the Turbo blew up which was £700 I absolutely did not have. Kept it 12 months and then sold it as I just couldn't afford to fuel it.
It was great for the first month but after that the stress of it breaking or getting damaged meant I was scared to drive it, along with the financial stress of trying to find the money to fill the tank the following week.
I was young and living at home with no other major outgoings, how people do it with a mortgage and family to feed I've no idea.
Definitely wouldn't do it again.
It was great for the first month but after that the stress of it breaking or getting damaged meant I was scared to drive it, along with the financial stress of trying to find the money to fill the tank the following week.
I was young and living at home with no other major outgoings, how people do it with a mortgage and family to feed I've no idea.
Definitely wouldn't do it again.
I bought a 7 year old 996 (2004 model) in my early thirties
Was earning decent money and had no ties but each service would pop up with a huge bill like 3/4k. Fuel a joke - something like 16mpg around town.
Insurance was actually ok.
30k, borrowed 20k but paid it off quickly.
it seemed like a rocket ship at the time, now would probably be slower than my 540.
Was earning decent money and had no ties but each service would pop up with a huge bill like 3/4k. Fuel a joke - something like 16mpg around town.
Insurance was actually ok.
30k, borrowed 20k but paid it off quickly.
it seemed like a rocket ship at the time, now would probably be slower than my 540.
98elise said:
Not living in a tent, but back in the late 80's a guy lived in a very ordinary terraced house near to us, but had a Ferrari 308 on the drive. Story was he had a great job and a decent house, but downsized to buy the 308.
A quick google tells me the 308 would have cost about the same as his house.
It was definitely the real thing rather than a kit car.
That makes me think of this chap. Houses down this road must be £150k at the most, even today, but this is unceremoniously dumped outside.A quick google tells me the 308 would have cost about the same as his house.
It was definitely the real thing rather than a kit car.
Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 27th May 10:33
The long expired MOT suggests he may have over extended himself.
I'd wanted an Aston for years.
Said I'd have one by the time I was 30 but ended up buying a house and getting married.
Said I'd have one by the time I was 40 but my outlook had changed and I didn't want to finance one. I also didn't want to sell any of my other 8 cars.
In October we sold our family home but hadn't found anything we wanted to buy so we moved back in with my folks for a bit. In November I got made redundant so figured that until I got another job we couldn't buy a house till I had a job and a few months payslips so I squirreled all the money from the house sale out of the way and took my redundancy cheque and went to buy an Aston.
Wife wasn’t amused that with no job and no house I’d bought an Aston, our 3 year old was over the moon though as he’s a right little petrol head and loves the noise.
Working again now, still living at home though but at least I have my Aston without finance on it and the other 8 cars are still here too
Said I'd have one by the time I was 30 but ended up buying a house and getting married.
Said I'd have one by the time I was 40 but my outlook had changed and I didn't want to finance one. I also didn't want to sell any of my other 8 cars.
In October we sold our family home but hadn't found anything we wanted to buy so we moved back in with my folks for a bit. In November I got made redundant so figured that until I got another job we couldn't buy a house till I had a job and a few months payslips so I squirreled all the money from the house sale out of the way and took my redundancy cheque and went to buy an Aston.
Wife wasn’t amused that with no job and no house I’d bought an Aston, our 3 year old was over the moon though as he’s a right little petrol head and loves the noise.
Working again now, still living at home though but at least I have my Aston without finance on it and the other 8 cars are still here too
Edited by dhallworth on Wednesday 27th May 11:45
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