At what age will you (or did you) 'reward' yourself with a pricy car?

[PeeluckyDuckee]

23-24. Bought a 2yr old 2001 $22000 Prelude instead of a 90s $7000 Accord. Looking back, if I bought the junker back then I'd be payment free today. With my wage back then, it was definitely considered a pricey car. I didn't know what affordability meant back then.

 

[NanoStuff]

Originally posted by: Conky
The fact that you are willing to settle for a generic foreign car or whatever your $15K car represents to you is ok too but why must you bring people down to your level of disappointment with life?

Life is too short. You gotta live it once in a while before you go.

I don't have a car. I take city transport, but most often a bike. I admit, it's a nice bike, but not too nice. It's one of those bikes with pedals on it in case there's any confusion.

I'm not disappointed with life, the opposite entirely. I'm optimistic about my situation, and the situation as a whole. I would even go as far as to say my satisfaction with life is derived from the same source that quenches most of my desire for fancy cars and big houses. Keep in mind that I don't make the absurd amount of money you might think, it's my lack of spending the said money that allows me to use it in untraditional ways.

Perhaps the life is too short mentally is what drives our possessive nature. What if life was no longer too short? Maybe we should do something about that.

 

[PAB]

Originally posted by: jinduy
just curious. base it on your current situation.

i'm in my mid 20s, been driving my 02 civic and i realy have little desire to get a nice new car in the $30k and up range... i'm thinking some time when i'm in my late 20s to (most likely) early 30s ill get something spiffy.

when i mean nice car, i dont mean a brand new civic (no offense, it's a nice car and i love them personally, but i already have an 02)...

to be honest it could be never and i might just settle for something like an accord or camry when my civic kicks the bucket (knock on wood)

23, and I've rewarded myself plenty, thx.

http://pics.apartment808.com/users/dukeofurl/IMG_7863.JPG

 

[Aikouka]

22 (just about a week ago actually).. bought a 35k 2007 Nissan Altima 3.5SL. I'm happy with it, although it's no GT-R .

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

25. I totalled my Ford F150, and the air bag didn't go off, so I decided to get a safe car. 2005 Toyota Camry with side air bags, etc.

May not be in your definition of "nice", but I didn't get me another toy...

 

[hjo3]

Never? I always buy older, reliable, used vehicles. The only way I'd change that habit is if I won a ridiculous amount of money in a lottery or something. And maybe not even then. (I've never played the lottery anyway.)

 

[frostedflakes]

Yeah I don't see myself ever buying a new car, even if I end up being pretty well off financially. They just depreciate so much as soon as you drive them off the lot. Once I get out of school I'll probably pick up something a few years old to replace my current car w/paint falling off. Would like something fuel efficient and that will last a long ass time, maybe a Civic.

 

[TheCrackedJack]

Originally posted by: hjo3
Never? I always buy older, reliable, used vehicles. The only way I'd change that habit is if I won a ridiculous amount of money in a lottery or something. And maybe not even then. (I've never played the lottery anyway.)

I agree with never as well. I love cars, but it's a waste for me when I'd rather spend the money on travel.

 

[Fenixgoon]

<---- poor college student, so not yet.

however, my gameplan so far is this: ninja250R or suzuki gs500 and a used 2006-2007 audi A8L. Right now, 2004 A8's are ~30k, so i'm hoping that by the time i get out of college (2010), the 2007's will be at a similar price

 

[AMCRambler]

When I was 24. Previously my cars had been alright, not terrific. Started with a 1966 AMC Rambler which wasn't exactly mint and required a lot of work to get it on the road, but it was cool because it was different. Then I inherited my mom's 1991 Honda Accord when she got a new car in 2000. After graduating from college I decided to get the car I'd been eyeing for a while in 2004. 2000 Ford Contour SVT. Most people say whatever it's a Ford Contour, but I think it looks pretty sporty for a four door sedan, and the SVT modifications make the 2.5 v6 in it pretty quick. Definitely fun to drive. I considered it a reward because that was the first time I've ever spent 10grand on myself besides college tuition. Maybe it's not a dream car, but cars are just too damn expensive lately.
I think my next car will be a 2005/2006 GTO. Their resale value is pretty bad so I should be able to pick one up with low miles for cheap. Not to mention the 6.0L 400hp LS2 motor. Talk about power for the money!

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: jinduy
just curious. base it on your current situation.

i'm in my mid 20s, been driving my 02 civic and i realy have little desire to get a nice new car in the $30k and up range... i'm thinking some time when i'm in my late 20s to (most likely) early 30s ill get something spiffy.

when i mean nice car, i dont mean a brand new civic (no offense, it's a nice car and i love them personally, but i already have an 02)...

to be honest it could be never and i might just settle for something like an accord or camry when my civic kicks the bucket (knock on wood)

If you're not feelin' it, leave it alone. I've thought about a nicer car for a while. I have a 91 Supra with a lot of miles (body and interior look great still). Going to work, people getting new cars, etc can put a little bit of peer pressure. Bottom line is this: Do you really need to spend 30-40G on something that's going to get you to work in 20 minutes then sit in the parking lot for 8 hours? I don't think most of us have enough free time to enjoy a nice car.

On the other hand, if that's what you're into, its your money. I want to enjoy what I drive, but only to a certain (financial) extent.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

As soon as I get my loans paid off after college. It's probably going to take a while, but until then most of my extra funds will go to paying them off

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I'm quite far away from a nice car... test driven just about anything I can get my hands on. One thing I will say: No turbo, no care.

The next car I buy, will be turboed.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: jinduy
just curious. base it on your current situation.

i'm in my mid 20s, been driving my 02 civic and i realy have little desire to get a nice new car in the $30k and up range... i'm thinking some time when i'm in my late 20s to (most likely) early 30s ill get something spiffy.

when i mean nice car, i dont mean a brand new civic (no offense, it's a nice car and i love them personally, but i already have an 02)...

to be honest it could be never and i might just settle for something like an accord or camry when my civic kicks the bucket (knock on wood)

how about when you can afford it? no wonder people are so much in debt.

"I make $15k a year but when i turn 30, i'm buying a $40k car to treat myself!" wtf????

 

[meltdown75]

You know what, I don't think I will. I drive a 1996 car right now with over 200,000 kms on it. It is paid for though

My wife owns a newer car, but when I finally drive mine into the ground I am going to buy something economical but hopefully visually pleasing as well. It probably won't have a base price over $30K!! lol

 

[Kelemvor]

Bought my '99 Grand Am new in November of '98. Was around $20k I think. I was 24.
Bought a new 02 Durango in August of '02. That was over $30k. I was 27.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: jinduy
just curious. base it on your current situation.

i'm in my mid 20s, been driving my 02 civic and i realy have little desire to get a nice new car in the $30k and up range... i'm thinking some time when i'm in my late 20s to (most likely) early 30s ill get something spiffy.

when i mean nice car, i dont mean a brand new civic (no offense, it's a nice car and i love them personally, but i already have an 02)...

to be honest it could be never and i might just settle for something like an accord or camry when my civic kicks the bucket (knock on wood)

how about when you can afford it? no wonder people are so much in debt.

"I make $15k a year but when i turn 30, i'm buying a $40k car to treat myself!" wtf????

I'm going to assume that the OP isn't basing his choice on age alone. He did say, "base it on your current situation," and so I don't think it's something solely regulated by age.

 

[PricklyPete]

I bought myself a "nice" car when I was 23...a 2002 Yukon Denali. I say "nice" as I'm sure some of you wouldn't consider it nice. It was enjoyable...especially when I was single. Became a little impractical when I ended up having a long commute and I turned it in for a used car until my commute shortened. Once my commute came back to reality...I went and got a Toyota Tacoma. My priorities had changed slightly and having a truck was desireable for my hobbies/lifestyle.

Now that I've settled down, bought a house, etc...I don't see me getting rid of my Tacoma until the engine dies...and I can't revive it. That being said...I'll be buying my wife a "nice" car in a few years. Her 04 Civic will technically last forever...but I'd like to get her into something a little bigger/safer and with 4 doors for future family plans (she has a Civic Coupe). Current ideas:

Audi A3 or A4
Lexus IS250/350
BMW 3 series
Infiniti G35
Pontiac G8

Honestly, of those cars, I really want the G8 or the A3...but we'll see how the G8 really pans out and what her preferences end up being. An A3 with the 2.0T and DSG transmission is also really tempting for all around utility, fuel economy, and fun. A good car to take on trips (I love nothing more than a fun road-trip...half of my college experience was taking mindless road trips with no specific plans).

 

[Koing]

23, whenever I have 2 houses and quite a lot of cash in investments etc.

I love cares but want to be more settled and have more money saved up then plough it in to a car. But having said that I was doing to get an 03/04 M3 last year but I got another job and now I ride my bike to work instead . I dont' drive much so I don't really need a nice car. My £600 goes about well enough.

Koing

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Koing
23, whenever I have 2 houses and quite a lot of cash in investments etc.

I love cares but want to be more settled and have more money saved up then plough it in to a car. But having said that I was doing to get an 03/04 M3 last year but I got another job and now I ride my bike to work instead . I dont' drive much so I don't really need a nice car. My £600 goes about well enough.

Koing

Don't let this one get stolen

 

[multiband8303]

Please do tell how you pay insurance, actually more then likely your unsurable and the vehicle is listed on your dad's name.

Anyways as for myself - I bought my first nice car when I was 23 - WRX

I just turned 24 yesterday - and yesterday I purchased 2006 Cadillac Escalade. No more speed for me (WRX was only stage 2, but enough to start hurting my insurance rates after a few moving violations)

 

[Linflas]

By the time I got to the point in life where I could 'reward' myself with an expensive car I no longer really cared about cars other than as a means to get from A to B so I never did. I bought a pickup truck instead since it makes it easy to haul stuff around.

 

[Kaieye]

I just want a quiet. inexpensive, reliable set of wheels to get me from point A to point B. I rather spend the $$ to take the family traveling around the world as frequently as possible.

When I am gone, hopefully the family will remember the good times that we have cherished. I am not sure if anyone in my family cares what kind of car I drive eventhough they know that I can afford many luxury vehicles.

The day will come when I will probably buy a pricey car but that won't be until my kids graduate from college and it won't be no American or European POS. Lexus or Accura for me, buddy...

 

[Abel007]

25, wasn't stupid expensive but its the most I really want to ever pay for a car.

 

[dyna]

24, 30k car