Driving a fancy car ...

[SauRoNZA]

I guess it comes down to being a petrolhead or not. Where some put their cash into cars, others would rather spend it on the latest mountain bike, or holidays ?

It doesn’t sound like you are petrolhead at all, but rather just like creature comforts.

You can happily have those on a second hand higher mileage car.

You sound rather like the type who always wants to buy new or near new for the flash factor.

What is the new car by the way?

*****

I drive an almost 10-year old car with almost 200,000km on and it does all the things that keeps me as a petrolhead happy.

And it was bought and paid for years ago so goes completely against your analogy.

Maybe you just bought a boring car?

If the Grand Cherokee ticked all the boxes why did you sell it? According to your post it was amazing so you could have just kept it and it would still have been as fancy as you illustrated.

That is really the secret right there. Not to sell something for keeping up with the Jones’ but just being content.

It doesn’t require downgrading to a piece of ****.

 

[SauRoNZA]

The notion these days of "live poor now and save for your old day" is over used by every second personal finance blogger trying to achieve FIRE.

Give me a break. Saving g and investing is important and should be done first, yes, but what's the point of working for 30+ years if you can enjoy yourself doing it.

I owned a paid of Elantra with all the bells and whistles, leather seats ...was a really nice car and a very nice place to sit in daily traffic. So one day I decided to trade it in and get a new Jazz: not expensive, easy on the pocket...I borderline hate it.

So I'm just waiting for the right time and buying a more upmarket sedan again. I'll probably pay double what I am now but FSCK it, my investments are in check and I'd hate to be a grumpy rich old fart one day.

The problem rather comes in with the mindset of someone trading in their BMW 320i for another BMW320i every 5 years not because it really does much differently but just because it’s new and everyone else can see it.

I agree on the savings part. You want to be comfortable and have features and things and so driving a baseline Opel Corsa when to can afford more is a bit silly.

But there is that diminishing returns factor and the social accepted norm of spending a large chunk of your salary on cars every month “just because” while getting very little actual benefit in return over your previous car.

 

[Venomous]

The notion these days of "live poor now and save for your old day" is over used by every second personal finance blogger trying to achieve FIRE.

Give me a break. Saving g and investing is important and should be done first, yes, but what's the point of working for 30+ years if you can enjoy yourself doing it.

I owned a paid of Elantra with all the bells and whistles, leather seats ...was a really nice car and a very nice place to sit in daily traffic. So one day I decided to trade it in and get a new Jazz: not expensive, easy on the pocket...I borderline hate it.

So I'm just waiting for the right time and buying a more upmarket sedan again. I'll probably pay double what I am now but FSCK it, my investments are in check and I'd hate to be a grumpy rich old fart one day.

Indeed.

I have a really comfy car. Bought it at 18months old. It barely had 28kKMs on the clock.
Leather seats, aircon, power steering. Steering controls for cruise control and radio, auto gears etc etc.
So I got comfort without the high price tag. I drive a lot so having the comfort helps a lot

 

[Splinter]

It doesn’t sound like you are petrolhead at all, but rather just like creature comforts.

You can happily have those on a second hand higher mileage car.

You sound rather like the type who always wants to buy new or near new for the flash factor.

What is the new car by the way?

*****

I drive an almost 10-year old car with almost 200,000km on and it does all the things that keeps me as a petrolhead happy.

And it was bought and paid for years ago so goes completely against your analogy.

Maybe you just bought a boring car?

If the Grand Cherokee ticked all the boxes why did you sell it? According to your post it was amazing so you could have just kept it and it would still have been as fancy as you illustrated.

That is really the secret right there. Not to sell something for keeping up with the Jones’ but just being content.

It doesn’t require downgrading to a piece of ****.

The fact that you jump into almost every thread of this type, continuously banging on about your old Gti, does make me think that subconsciously you are more trying to convince yourself than anyone else.

Let those who are willing and able to do so, to actually do so, without you always trying to downgrade/denigrate their needs or wants.

 

[VikashLurker]

Give me a break. Saving g and investing is important and should be done first, yes, but what's the point of working for 30+ years if you can enjoy yourself doing it.

....

So I'm just waiting for the right time and buying a more upmarket sedan again. I'll probably pay double what I am now but FSCK it, my investments are in check and I'd hate to be a grumpy rich old fart one day.

On point. Thats exactly how I feel, and until now, I always somehow felt guilty about splurging on my vehicles.

It doesn’t sound like you are petrolhead at all, but rather just like creature comforts.

....

You sound rather like the type who always wants to buy new or near new for the flash factor.

<snip>

^ Too many assumptions made... never mind.

The Honda maybe 15 years old, however me calling it a skedonk maybe disingenuous. Its a really honest car that is in superb condition. However it lacks character, a really good appliance if you like.

Anyways, I think the main point I want the highlight is the change in mindset right now. I've asked myself many times over the years whether spending that much my cars was worth it, whether I should be driving something to just get me between point A and B. Looking back, I have no regrets.

Echo'ing what many have already said, so long as you still living within your means and covering the essentials like RA's, investments etc. I think its okay to spoil yourself a bit IF you really are a petrolhead and not just keeping up with the Jone's.

 

[SauRoNZA]

On point. Thats exactly how I feel, and until now, I always somehow felt guilty about splurging on my vehicles.



^ Too many assumptions made... never mind.

The Honda maybe 15 years old, however me calling it a skedonk maybe disingenuous. Its a really honest car that is in superb condition. However it lacks character, a really good appliance if you like.

Anyways, I think the main point I want the highlight is the change in mindset right now. I've asked myself many times over the years whether spending that much my cars was worth it, whether I should be driving something to just get me between point A and B. Looking back, I have no regrets.

Echo'ing what many have already said, so long as you still living within your means and covering the essentials like RA's, investments etc. I think its okay to spoil yourself a bit IF you really are a petrolhead and not just keeping up with the Jone's.

Didn’t mean to assume but wouldn’t exactly qualify a Grand Cherokee as a petrol head car.

But yeah like I said it doesn’t need to be brand new to have all the creature comforts.

And there are some compromises to be made. Nothing wrong with having a sporty 4-door automatic or even an SUV for that matter.

It’s the 2-door roofless options as an only car that aren’t too clever.

I drive a Golf 5 GTI and I’m yet to be convinced that any new car would add real world value to my day to day use of it.

Would I like a newer car? Sure. Would I like to pay for one if I don’t need to? Not really.

If anything I would change it for an SUV type thing just because that would fit into my lifestyle better now.

That being said I have the options of a motorcycle to cover my deeper petrolhead yearnings. So a more sedate car would probably be just fine.

Maybe even a diesel.

We all also change over time. I’m sure none of us care for the cars we wanted in our early twenties any more.

 

[VikashLurker]

Didn’t mean to assume but wouldn’t exactly qualify a Grand Cherokee as a petrol head car.

But yeah like I said it doesn’t need to be brand new to have all the creature comforts.

And there are some compromises to be made. Nothing wrong with having a sporty 4-door automatic or even an SUV for that matter.

It’s the 2-door roofless options as an only car that aren’t too clever.

I drive a Golf 5 GTI and I’m yet to be convinced that any new car would add real world value to my day to day use of it.

Would I like a newer car? Sure. Would I like to pay for one if I don’t need to? Not really.

If anything I would change it for an SUV type thing just because that would fit into my lifestyle better now.

That being said I have the options of a motorcycle to cover my deeper petrolhead yearnings. So a more sedate car would probably be just fine.

Maybe even a diesel.

We all also change over time. I’m sure none of us care for the cars we wanted in our early twenties any more.

Okay fair enough, let me put into context.

I am a Petrolhead. My 2nd and 3rd cars were hot hatches. Spent plenty of weekends on breakfast runs and track days at Zwartkops and Kyalami. 4th car was E90 330I, and I only went for the 4 door sedan due to us having kids. And I was still able to do a track day or two with her. Traded in with 210k kms on the clock, and she was in pristine condition.
Upgraded to GrandCherokee for more space and I opted for proper 4x4 SUV as I thought I might as well do off roading if I am going the SUV route. So its weird that you would say GrandCherokee is not a petrolhead vehicle. Compared to other SUV's in its class I would rate it as the best bang for buck, and best of both worlds, OffRoad as well as Comfort, and Power!

The only reason for selling the Jeep was to get a run around while we wait on our Visa application. If we successful it would be much easier to dump the Honda, than it would be to dump a luxury SUV. So yeah, if given the choice I would still be driving the GrandCherokee.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Okay fair enough, let me put into context.

I am a Petrolhead. My 2nd and 3rd cars were hot hatches. Spent plenty of weekends on breakfast runs and track days at Zwartkops and Kyalami. 4th car was E90 330I, and I only went for the 4 door sedan due to us having kids. And I was still able to do a track day or two with her. Traded in with 210k kms on the clock, and she was in pristine condition.
Upgraded to GrandCherokee for more space and I opted for proper 4x4 SUV as I thought I might as well do off roading if I am going the SUV route. So its weird that you would say GrandCherokee is not a petrolhead vehicle. Compared to other SUV's in its class I would rate it as the best bang for buck, and best of both worlds, OffRoad as well as Comfort, and Power!

The only reason for selling the Jeep was to get a run around while we wait on our Visa application. If we successful it would be much easier to dump the Honda, than it would be to dump a luxury SUV. So yeah, if given the choice I would still be driving the GrandCherokee.

Nah just that I don’t really throw in the off-road crowd with the petrol head crowd but I can see why that would be confusing.

The first batch certainly does cover it along with the trackdays.

What Honda is it? CRV?

 

[ubercal]

I have always put allot of emphasis on driving nice cars. Something that I always felt that stretched my budget, but I did it anyway. I never drove a skedonk, from my first car to the car I have now.
Now I know all about a car being a depreciating asset, and that you should rather invest etc. And I must say I did feel guilty about splashing out on fancy cars. 2 months ago I sold my fancy Luxury SUV 4x4 and bought a cheap run around. And I thought I might share my musings with you. Granted, I know this is not a motoring forum, however I think that is what makes the feedback even more diverse.

I absolutely hate driving at the moment. It is the most mind numbing experience that I have ever felt. I literally understand the term of a car just being a means of getting from point A to B. That is all it has become. Jump in the vehicle, and I already can't wait to arrive at destination.

In my Grand Cherokee it was all about the drive. It was comfortable, the cabin was quiet, the sound system was out of this world (I've had custom sound in my 2.0T windgat days, and the 11 speaker Infinity system in the Jeep was just kickAss). It had plenty of power to cruise comfortably without having to think about hills and which gear I need to be in etc. So in short, I would say the journey was much more enjoyable. I would go as far as saying that I actually enjoyed roadtrips. Instead of flying JHB->CPT I always opted to drive. I did this 2 years in a row. I never felt tired after a straight 12 hour commute. In fact, we would get back home, and still find time to chill in front of the tv.

I totally get the money saving aspect of driving a car that is fully paid off and pumping money into investments etc. But on the other hand, I am so glad that I drove what I wanted when, because I got to experience so much more with the lifestyle vehicles. Be it on the racetrack in my early days or off road trails recently.

I guess it comes down to being a petrolhead or not. Where some put their cash into cars, others would rather spend it on the latest mountain bike, or holidays ?

Just because its a fancy car doesnt mean its an exciting car.In fact its most likely the exact opposite.Foot down and auto box equals snooze fest #justsaying

 

[VikashLurker]

What Honda is it? CRV?

https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/905462-Buying-a-cheap-run-around?highlight=

 

[SauRoNZA]

https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/905462-Buying-a-cheap-run-around?highlight=

Oh my bad for some reason I thought Supersunbird posted that as Tapatalk reformats it a bit.

They are a bit sterile I guess but surely can’t be too terrible? What is it that you particularly miss? Big power?

Or just the general lower end spec.

For a few months I guess it won’t be the end of the world, but sure for a longtermer I probably wouldn’t.

A newer Civic hatch would be a fine drive for me though.