Is it worth buying a nice car these days?
Discussion
It is not worth it no. But you could apply the same logic to many aspects of your life.
Some people work 50 hour weeks and their only vice is having a nice car. Some people will trudge through life being Mr Average driving their 16 year old Ashtray till it s
ts itself and tutting to themselves ferociously anytime anyone spends any money on anything that isn't a necessity.
If you want it, buy it. Don't overstretch yourself too much but at the same time live a little. bks to having regrets on your death bed. We're all PistonHeads because in one form or another we are willing to make little sacrifices or do that bit of overtime to have that car in the drive that we want. After some premature deaths and scares in the family I'll personally never be any other way.
Some people work 50 hour weeks and their only vice is having a nice car. Some people will trudge through life being Mr Average driving their 16 year old Ashtray till it s
ts itself and tutting to themselves ferociously anytime anyone spends any money on anything that isn't a necessity. If you want it, buy it. Don't overstretch yourself too much but at the same time live a little. b
ks to having regrets on your death bed. We're all PistonHeads because in one form or another we are willing to make little sacrifices or do that bit of overtime to have that car in the drive that we want. After some premature deaths and scares in the family I'll personally never be any other way. Devil2575 said:
pilchardthecat said:
Devil2575 said:
For me it's not so much 'Is it worth it' more 'can i afford it'. Prices of everything are rising and i can no longer justify spending money on a nice car as i'd have to start sacrificing other things, such as food 
This is OK when you're single, but when you have a family to support it's simply not an option.
Food, maybe, but i bet you aren't really at that stageThis is OK when you're single, but when you have a family to support it's simply not an option.
I have cancelled my Sky TV subscription (half a tank of petrol a month), and i would cancel mobile phone contracts (same again). I'd prefer to eat/drink out a bit less and cut down on a whole load of other non-essential spending before i'd consider getting rid of my car and replacing it with something soul destroying.
t the whole timeOr at least that's what i keep telling them
it's not good for them, all that tellyDevil2575 said:
The TV is mainly for the Mrs 
The you need a nice car for you.When I was in "economy mode" then we'd have a week in France in a mobile home for £200 and I ran a 10 yr old 328. Quality of life just as good as when we'd rent expensive cottages and I drove a 2 yr old Saab.
Colleague of my dad worked for 30+ years in a very well paying job. In that time, he saved almost everything he could, didn't go on foreign holidays, drove a cheap second hand car, didn't eat out much and had a single, fairly cheap vice - ham radio.
He retired at 65, too old and sick to enjoy the millions of pounds and excellent pension he'd saved/earned and subsequently died a few years later from cancer.
I refuse to spend the best 60 years of my life scrimping and saving for a future I might not have. That's not to say I advocate living in debt - my only debt is my mortgage - but I feel that as long as I'm saving for a rainy day and maintaining a good pension position, I should enjoy what I have.
He retired at 65, too old and sick to enjoy the millions of pounds and excellent pension he'd saved/earned and subsequently died a few years later from cancer.
I refuse to spend the best 60 years of my life scrimping and saving for a future I might not have. That's not to say I advocate living in debt - my only debt is my mortgage - but I feel that as long as I'm saving for a rainy day and maintaining a good pension position, I should enjoy what I have.
Jimmy No Hands said:
It is not worth it no. But you could apply the same logic to many aspects of your life... We're all PistonHeads because in one form or another we are willing to make little sacrifices or do that bit of overtime to have that car in the drive that we want.
+1I fear the day I will have to give up having a nice car, so I just got rid of my grey diesel econo-box, and am really enjoying having a proper car, paid for in full (cash + p/x). It's mine, ALL mine and I love it
I will now be saving up again for house/pension, but at least while I'm saving I can have some fun.RenesisEvo said:
Jimmy No Hands said:
It is not worth it no. But you could apply the same logic to many aspects of your life... We're all PistonHeads because in one form or another we are willing to make little sacrifices or do that bit of overtime to have that car in the drive that we want.
+1I fear the day I will have to give up having a nice car, so I just got rid of my grey diesel econo-box, and am really enjoying having a proper car, paid for in full (cash + p/x). It's mine, ALL mine and I love it
I will now be saving up again for house/pension, but at least while I'm saving I can have some fun.My normal answer would be of course it is. It will inevitably cost more money but will reward you with the pleasure you get from owning it. However, noticing yet another scratch/scuff on the XK that has occurred whilst parked, the latest I am guessing by a kid on a bike whilst it was on the drive. Multiple minor scuffs occurring on the family estate car bought with clean body work I am inclined to say not run an scruffy old banger you don't care about.
This doesn't mean it can't be fun but does mean you won't cringe when you see the toddlers going up the street on their trikes or when the school run mum parks her 4x4 a bit too close in the supermarket despite the fact that you have carefully chosen a spot in the furthest corner of the car park. Add to that the general state of our roads.
It would seem that society has no respect any more for other possessions and a nice car just seems to become a target. Rant over
This doesn't mean it can't be fun but does mean you won't cringe when you see the toddlers going up the street on their trikes or when the school run mum parks her 4x4 a bit too close in the supermarket despite the fact that you have carefully chosen a spot in the furthest corner of the car park. Add to that the general state of our roads.
It would seem that society has no respect any more for other possessions and a nice car just seems to become a target. Rant over
midiman said:
1. The depreciation of the vehicle.
2. The record prices of fuel and duty.
3. Road tax.
4. Congestion charges.
5. Criminal insurance premiums.
6. General running costs.
7. War on the motorist.
1. The Zed is about as cheap as it is going to really get now , even if the parts I have bolted on are basically a loss2. The record prices of fuel and duty.
3. Road tax.
4. Congestion charges.
5. Criminal insurance premiums.
6. General running costs.
7. War on the motorist.
2. Point, but who cares - I don't grumble too much about the cost of fuel because I enjoy burning it, as opposed to driving an econobox where I would be moaning at 1p extra on a litre.
3. Car is a 55, so not silly tax.
4. None of the places I drive have a congestion charge
5. 1100 for a 24 year old with no NCB - not bad on a 300bhp, 3.5l sportscar.
6. Being Japanese, nothing goes wrong. Unfortunately, bolting on new zorst, cats, ECU etc. isn't cheap, but that's kind of my choice and not really a running cost
7. No points and no fines in my 7+ years driving (touch wood
) - I usually can't hear the lentilists complaining about my car anyway - the Nismo pipes kind of drown anything them out So in summary, yes, if you are a petrolhead, it is worth buying a nice car - if it doesn't put a smile on your face at the end of the day, what is the point - then it is no longer a car, but just a means of getting from A to B.
I hate to say it, but I now own a heap. It isn't fast, it doesn't attract girls and it cost £400. I work on it myself when inclined and give the occasional wash inside an out. It has been the most liberating experience of my driving career. Other people would rather be nowhere near it, so get out of the way and avoid cutting me up. I can park wherever the hell I like. I leave it and don't think about it until I return. If alone on a windy B road I drive until the brakes burn and the suspension cries no more. If I crash, if it was stolen or terminally broke down my life would continue unhindered. I am not subject to depreciation, in some ways I have beaten the system. Vandals ignore it, as it does not convey any aspirational message.
I would like, and shall have soon, a classic car to roll around in at weekends. I have nothing against nice cars, but driving one every day? No thanks.
I would like, and shall have soon, a classic car to roll around in at weekends. I have nothing against nice cars, but driving one every day? No thanks.
I drive a Citroen C3 Hdi. For £3000 I couldn’t have got more of a car.
I can get 600miles out of a 45ltr tank of diesel and road tax is only £30.
It's not a ladys machine but who cares.
The heater works, it has air con, a nice radio, the interior is and inside it's almost like new.
Compare that with my old BMW 325ci sport convertible. When I purchased that it was only two years old, and it cost me around £20k. When I sold it two years later I got about £15k. I could only manage around 350 miles out of a tank and the tax was about £180.
After that I purchased a £700 Astra 1.7td. I kept that for four years and never even got it serviced!!!! I drove that car around everywhere without a care and it never let me down. It passed all of its MOTs and I sold it for £350!! By mistake I even filled it up with petrol and drove it home. I thought that was the end of it but I topped it back up with diesel and it went on.
This is what makes driving fun.
How can you call your expensive, luxurious motors fun? They are for your wannabes, like the Beckhams of Ripley. Living beyond their means on borrowed money.
People with money would be best served to stay away from anything that will make a loss.
Be wise and have fun with your cash. Don’t put it in the hands of people that don’t give a dam about your enjoyment.
sinizter said:
Fixed it for you.
Most of your post did not have anything 'fun' in it as far as I am concerned.
Different people, different choices.
The difference is I can probably afford the cars you pine over. Most of your post did not have anything 'fun' in it as far as I am concerned.
Different people, different choices.
That's also the fun part about it.
I'm happy to drive cars that enable me to maintain a positive cash flow.
A few sacrifices in life didn’t hurt anyone. In fact it can be very beneficial, you should try it.
midiman said:
sinizter said:
Fixed it for you.
Most of your post did not have anything 'fun' in it as far as I am concerned.
Different people, different choices.
The difference is I can probably afford the cars you pine over. Most of your post did not have anything 'fun' in it as far as I am concerned.
Different people, different choices.
That's also the fun part about it.
I'm happy to drive cars that enable me to maintain a positive cash flow.
A few sacrifices in life didn’t hurt anyone. In fact it can be very beneficial, you should try it.
You can be happy with your MPG, I can be happy with my shouty sidewaysmobile - can we not just all get along?
midiman said:
The difference is I can probably afford the cars you pine over.
That's also the fun part about it.
I'm happy to drive cars that enable me to maintain a positive cash flow.
A few sacrifices in life didn’t hurt anyone. In fact it can be very beneficial, you should try it.
You sound like you are still bitter about the sacrifices you made.That's also the fun part about it.
I'm happy to drive cars that enable me to maintain a positive cash flow.
A few sacrifices in life didn’t hurt anyone. In fact it can be very beneficial, you should try it.
Why do you find it so difficult to understand that other people might make different choices ?
Edited by sinizter on Monday 23 April 22:29
swerni said:
That's because you're tighter than a ducks arse
Correct. Problem?Just because somebody doesnt throw all of their money into a fantastic interesting car doesnt mean they dont love cars. After all, we can often lose sight of whats actually great about motoring. This evening for instance I drove home in the pouring rain, hailstones etc and its at that moment where you realise that any car is better than any alternative. With a car you are free to go where you want, when you want, you dont have to be dictated to by bus timetables or the weather. If it gets dark - turn your lights on. If it rains - put the wipers on. If its cold outside - make your own climate in the car.
The fact is most cars will achieve the same results for 98% of motorists in everyday driving. An £80,000 Merc wouldn't have fared any better than my Rover shed this evening in what I asked it to do. A Vauxhall Corsa will get you to work and keep you dry just like a Bentley will. We may have different views on how much money you should put to your interests and passions but I think we can all agree that having a car - irrespective of what it is - is better than not.
Unless its a VW Beetle.
.blue said:
Colonial said:
My life is empty, devoid of meaning and depressing, but at least I'm not wasting money on anything that could give me a minute amount of pleasure.
So unless you're spending money, you're life becomes empty, meaningless and depressing.That's a sad state of affairs.
Both options involve the expenditure of money. One just involves the expenditure of more money.
It might be getting less mpg, or less practicality, or having slightly more expensive parts. But that is the trade off you have for getting something that is enjoyable.
If you are happy with the bare minimum, carry on. Some of us aren't and work hard so we don't have to put up with that.
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