The New Car Bug

[ajskydiver]

Despite knowing that buying a new car isn't a good financial move, I've been bitten.

How do you guys deal with fighting the urge to get rid of your old car and get something new?

Right now, I'm rationalizing that I really shouldn't because...

- buying a house (once I remodel [one more bathroom and kitchen to go!] and sell my current place)
- haven't had a car payment for over 2 years
- total lack of need since current car is fine with no pending issues to worry about

It's strange because there's another part that is trying to talk myself into doing it! This happened about 2 years ago (right when I paid off my current car) and the thought of any payment helped deter me...but now, it's not helping nearly as much.

Let me hear it (either way)!

 

[evident]

think about how much those payments are gonna suck.

 

[ajskydiver]

Monthly car payments do suck...but right now, I have no debt other than my mortgage and could easily afford a payment. Plus, the tax incentives & car buying environment have never been better!

But you're 100% right, payments suck and can be pretty painful.

 

[franksta]

Refer to your own signature.

Debt is slavery.

 

[evident]

who cares, save up and accumulate wealth. go on a vacation or get some car stereo for your current car. i just paid off my car and i'm happy as hell. i'm saving up for a house though so i have a clear goal. im sure you can think of something else to spend your $$ on! i sure wouldn't mind having a 335i as a weekend car though.... hmmmmm

 

[StageLeft]

Deflationary depression is a good cureall for things like new cars.

But, realistically, telling myself I'm a grown adult and acting like one are too different things. You can tell yourself one, but if you're buying a car you don't need and are not at least to some extent awash with cash with a huge cushion, then it's merely words.

I have no debt other than my mortgage and could easily afford a payment.

Savings account FTW and buy with cash. I bet when you have to save up $15-30k in cash for a car outlay suddenly it will seem less of a fun thing to buy.

Refer to your own signature.

Owned by his own sig? Rare thing on the 'net, but I think it just happened.

 

[ajskydiver]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Deflationary depression is a good cureall for things like new cars.

But, realistically, telling myself I'm a grown adult and acting like one are too different things. You can tell yourself one, but if you're buying a car you don't need and are not at least to some extent awash with cash with a huge cushion, then it's merely words.

I have no debt other than my mortgage and could easily afford a payment.

Savings account FTW and buy with cash. I bet when you have to save up $15-30k in cash for a car outlay suddenly it will seem less of a fun thing to buy.

Refer to your own signature.

Owned by his own sig? Rare thing on the 'net, but I think it just happened.

I would agree if I went out and bought and financed a new car, but I haven't. I'm tempted due to the 0% offers, tax rebates, etc. And while I could pay cash for the cars I'm looking at, earning interest and profit taking from stocks is keeping me away from buying a car right now.

If I didn't have the money and couldn't afford it, things wouldn't be so tempting.

 

[vi edit]

My new car bug has an exterminator named "Mrs. Vi edit".

 

[ajskydiver]

And my signature is a self reminder...it's working, but I'm daydreaming of buying a new car for some unknown reason.

Which is why I requested to hear what you all do to talk yourselves out of buying items you don't need.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: ajskydiver
And my signature is a self reminder...it's working, but I'm daydreaming of buying a new car for some unknown reason.

Which is why I requested to hear what you all do to talk yourselves out of buying items you don't need.

on a smaller scale, i bought a PS3 at christmas for myself that i haven't turned on since. it's now a $400 ornament in my room. i'll be lucky if i break even if i try to sell it. while you may have some more fun with the car, its still a "shiny wow factor" thing and you'll get bored with it and be prepared for a huge loss if you sell it

 

[ajskydiver]

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: ajskydiver
And my signature is a self reminder...it's working, but I'm daydreaming of buying a new car for some unknown reason.

Which is why I requested to hear what you all do to talk yourselves out of buying items you don't need.

on a smaller scale, i bought a PS3 at christmas for myself that i haven't turned on since. it's now a $400 ornament in my room. i'll be lucky if i break even if i try to sell it. while you may have some more fun with the car, its still a "shiny wow factor" thing and you'll get bored with it and be prepared for a huge loss if you sell it

I'm right there with you. My GF bought a PS3 and we haven't used it in months and months...we watched Band of Brothers on it and that's it. The 360 gets all the use at my place.

If I didn't spend 2 hours/day in my car commuting, this would be easier to resist and much less tempting.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: ajskydiver

Originally posted by: evident

Originally posted by: ajskydiver
And my signature is a self reminder...it's working, but I'm daydreaming of buying a new car for some unknown reason.

Which is why I requested to hear what you all do to talk yourselves out of buying items you don't need.

on a smaller scale, i bought a PS3 at christmas for myself that i haven't turned on since. it's now a $400 ornament in my room. i'll be lucky if i break even if i try to sell it. while you may have some more fun with the car, its still a "shiny wow factor" thing and you'll get bored with it and be prepared for a huge loss if you sell it

I'm right there with you. My GF bought a PS3 and we haven't used it in months and months...we watched Band of Brothers on it and that's it. The 360 gets all the use at my place.

If I didn't spend 2 hours/day in my car commuting, this would be easier to resist and much less tempting.

i'm with you on the 2 hours/day commuting too. what car do you have now? i have an 07 accord coupe, i made sure mine was comfortable and had alot of creature comforts (leather, heated seats etc) i sacrificed horsepower for fuel economy and maintenance costs, but looking back getting the V6 wouldn't have broken the bank.

look into something that will make your ride more enjoyable to you during the commute (car stereo, etc.)

 

[jlee]

To avoid the new car bug, get a car that you love.

It worked for me.

 

[Zenmervolt]

The last time I wanted a "new" car, the cure was this. Effective, but not terribly practical.

ZV

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: ajskydiver

What's your cure?

Watch the news for 15 minutes.

 

[ajskydiver]

Thanks for the posts guys! Jules, I actually chuckled at yours.

Right now, I have a 2003 S2000 with 47K miles. Purchased certified used with approx 4K miles. It's a great car, I love it...and I've been thinking of replacing it with a 2008/09 S2000. Selling or trading mine in would allow me to get a new one without financing...but it's a LOT of cash to get rid of and as stated above, the more I've saved and invested, the harder it is to "waste" it.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: ajskydiver

What's your cure?

Watch the news for 15 minutes.

i don't get it

 

[PricklyPete]

I love my current vehicle...and plan on keeping it for a LONG time. That being said...I get the new car bug all the time (which I will get my wife a new car soon...but then keep that one for a while to). The way I get around the car bug is:

1) Remind myself of how much payments suck
2) Get some small accessory for my current car (head unit, seat covers, whatever), fix some nagging issue (noise or something), or just get it nicely detailed to remind me that it still looks good and drives like a new car.

I've got plenty of things I'd still like to do. Next on the list is installing a new bike mount...then a new head unit with nav/mp3 support, then an amp and new speakers (nothing crazy...just way better than stock). I also have a noise coming from one of the back shocks and eventually I'd like to get a custom tent/air mattress for the bed. By doing these incremental upgrades over the years...keeps the vehicle fresh and my mind off buying something new.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

An open on ramp.

Just going through the gears and feeling the rear end squirm brings back the smile every time.

 

[caspur]

Get a job driving new cars, such as working part time as a transporter. Basically you drive cars from the train yard/port to dealerships, fleet lots, etc. Private dealerships also employ porters to deliver cars and parts. You get some good exposure to new cars without owning any.

After just one year of driving hundreds of new cars from every make and model, you don't want to own one anymore. Because the only cars you can stand driving at that point cost six figures or more.

 

[chorb]

I've been bitten by the bug since I was 16 (9 years ago); but I guess logic and a whole shit-ton of self discipline have kept me from buying anything. I've always wanted to own a muscle car, so my plan is to buy a house within the next few years then buy a Factory5 kit car and build it in my garage. Having a dream and plan to look forward to helps me get through the times when the bug really bits hard.

 

[vshah]

take the bus for a week... you'll fall in love with your car all over again

 

[sjwaste]

I think about the payment, and also remind myself that no matter how cool something is, I tend to forget about it beyond its practical value in about 2 weeks.

That's what stopped me from getting a 335 last summer, and then stopped me again from getting a new CTS, and subsequently, a used CTS. I am daily driving my 91 Supra to class still, and I walk to work. Walking to work also mitigates the bug, especially since I finish school this year and will no longer be driving to evening classes.

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: ajskydiver

What's your cure?

Watch the news for 15 minutes.

i don't get it

Negative news about the economy.

 

[ponyo]

1) Avoid visiting car forums. They make the itch worse.
2) Freeze your credit and keep the codes in your safe so you can't make impulse purchase.
3) Stop saving so much money. I find the urge increasing when I have more play money.
4) Go drive the car you want. Sometimes this can actually help you as you find faults with the car you thought you wanted. It helped me yesterday.
5) Get married. I would be in so much trouble if not for the wife. She's good at saying "NO" and even better at spending my money so I don't have the number 3 problem.