How do you convince the wife on vehicle purchases?

ballmode

Lifer
Aug 17, 2005
10,246
2
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I want impractical car. No kids just married. How do I renew my man card?

UPDATE: Wife is ok with me selling/trading in WRX for me to get a car around 25-35k, so that might mean BMW 135i or new WRX whenever that gets released
 
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jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
The last time I mentioned finding a deal on another MR2 (two of them, actually...on top of the two I own), my SO said "so buy them."

So...I dunno. :p
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,136
622
126
You don't? Find a "compromise" the wife likes.

For example, for my wife a Miata is unacceptable. An S2000 is tolerable and a BRZ (hardtop or rumored convertible) is highly likely if we don't have kids. There's always a solution for every problem ;)
 

pauldun170

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2011
9,329
5,415
136
I want impractical car. No kids just married. How do I renew my man card?

I'm assuming she already has her own car.
If she has her own car....
Review car budget with wife.
Get approval for budget.
Go buy car that falls in that budget.

If you don't have kids, then what you drive shouldn't be an issue. Just the amount spent on it. If she gives you a 60K budget and then gives you hell for wanting to spend it on a penis shaped Ice Cream truck...you have bigger problems

If its a one car household then she has every right to help select vehicle.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
My last purchase was a 2 door F150 without a back seat. And my wife and I have a daughter so there was a lot of insisting that we need a 4 door.... I bought that truck to use as a truck, not a Family Truckster. To me, it's more impractical to spend another $8k on 2 more doors and a back seat....but my wife disagreed until I told her how it was. ;)
 

ballmode

Lifer
Aug 17, 2005
10,246
2
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Currently I got the WRX, and the wife has a Ford Fusion.

The plan was to get rid of the WRX and get a S2000/Beater/High miles crv/rav4/forester/escape

or... take the money I was going to spend on the S2000 and buy the wife a new small SUV and trade/sell Ford Fusion.

She doesn't want to get the SUV just yet, but she also doesn't want me to get two cars either...
 

Topweasel

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2000
5,437
1,659
136
My last purchase was a 2 door F150 without a back seat. And my wife and I have a daughter so there was a lot of insisting that we need a 4 door.... I bought that truck to use as a truck, not a Family Truckster. To me, it's more impractical to spend another $8k on 2 more doors and a back seat....but my wife disagreed until I told her how it was. ;)

This kids is exactly how you don't handle a vehicle purchase with a spouse.
 

Leymenaide

Senior member
Feb 16, 2010
752
368
136
I Fear you have forgotten your mantra.
"I want to be happy. I don't have to be right".
 

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
2,670
1
81
sounds like you could just get the s2000 and make it your fun car and daily driver. I think it gets about 25 mpg? not completely horrific for a sporty car.
 

ballmode

Lifer
Aug 17, 2005
10,246
2
0
I've done the math and the S2000 will eat rear tires as the camber is more agressive than the WRX. My WRX insurance is 40 bucks a month cheaper in insurance, but if I get a beater I would only partial cover it so having both cars would be about the same.

Gas is equal, both premium both 25-27ish
 

ballmode

Lifer
Aug 17, 2005
10,246
2
0
She thinks it will lead to more maintenance for vehicles that aren't driven. My arguement is dividing miles across cars and if one needs work or isn't available you can drive another in a pinch.
 

RKS

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,824
3
81
Tell her you want a motorcycle and let her suggest a new car instead?
 

OSULugan

Senior member
Feb 22, 2003
289
0
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Tell her you want a motorcycle and let her suggest a new car instead?

I started talking about getting a pilot's license and an airplane. Suddenly made a sports car purchase a lot easier to get approval on.
 

Drako

Lifer
Jun 9, 2007
10,697
161
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I don't have to convince her of anything. She knows me well enough to know that I never make bad decisions. :biggrin:
 

TDub

Senior member
Dec 31, 2005
284
0
0
What I do with my wife is say "Baby, Lets just go look."

So far it has lead to my Mustang (waiting for the 2015 before I do it again), Nissan Altima and a Ford Flex ECO Boost.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
This kids is exactly how you don't handle a vehicle purchase with a spouse.

Yeah, but she's driven my truck to work the days I'm driving daycare. I did take her to the dealership and let her see the truck before I made the final decision. I 100% value her opinion, but do not agree with markups for things you don't need on a work truck.
 

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,835
37
91
I just told mine one day, hey, i'm buying me a new car, you can have my old one. Stood firm, stood tall and let her know that's all there was to it.
 

sgrinavi

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2007
4,537
0
76
She thinks it will lead to more maintenance for vehicles that aren't driven. My arguement is dividing miles across cars and if one needs work or isn't available you can drive another in a pinch.

She's right to a certain extent. You have to register, insure , store , clean and some time based maintenance (batteries, oil)