What’s the most important factor in buying a vehicle
#16
Lexus Champion
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You're an enthusiast.
Mazda, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen...
Its called a representative sample.
You are completely out of touch with ordinary people lol. To most Americans $200-$300 a month is a HUGE expense. I'm always astonished by how little rich people understand about what ordinary people go through with money.
Mazda, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen...
Its called a representative sample.
You are completely out of touch with ordinary people lol. To most Americans $200-$300 a month is a HUGE expense. I'm always astonished by how little rich people understand about what ordinary people go through with money.
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#17
Pole Position
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Last edited by swajames; 07-30-24 at 01:45 PM.
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#18
Lead Lap
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My personal chart is as well!
To a lot of people that is a big expense especially for a non-enthusiast that needs a car or doesn’t care about cars like my father. Take for example the thread about negotiating with dealers where the bank teller wouldn’t budge on price of a mid $20k car and while I’m sure he could afford more, he seemed to really not care to spend more.
I can at least try and understand that many people these days don’t make a ton of money while we spend what we do on cars. Plus many younger people these days, including ones I work with, are spending more money on experiences/vacations than on cars.
I can at least try and understand that many people these days don’t make a ton of money while we spend what we do on cars. Plus many younger people these days, including ones I work with, are spending more money on experiences/vacations than on cars.
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#19
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Tougher CAFE requirements aren't a bad thing. People absolutely do want economy and reduced emissions, but they also want better performance. So manufacturers have to deliver both to stay competitive, and the engines on the market today are generally better as a result. If we didn't have CAFE standards, you'd get the performance because that's relatively cheap and easy to deliver, but not the economy because that's more difficult and more expensive. And you wouldn't be paying any less than you do today for a vehicle that does a better job today at delivering both. So regulation isn't always bad. In this case I think it's helped to drive better overall outcomes for customers.
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#20
Lexus Champion
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My personal chart is as well!
To a lot of people that is a big expense especially for a non-enthusiast that needs a car or doesn’t care about cars like my father. Take for example the thread about negotiating with dealers where the bank teller wouldn’t budge on price of a mid $20k car and while I’m sure he could afford more, he seemed to really not care to spend more.
I can at least try and understand that many people these days don’t make a ton of money while we spend what we do on cars. Plus many younger people these days, including ones I work with, are spending more money on experiences/vacations than on cars.
To a lot of people that is a big expense especially for a non-enthusiast that needs a car or doesn’t care about cars like my father. Take for example the thread about negotiating with dealers where the bank teller wouldn’t budge on price of a mid $20k car and while I’m sure he could afford more, he seemed to really not care to spend more.
I can at least try and understand that many people these days don’t make a ton of money while we spend what we do on cars. Plus many younger people these days, including ones I work with, are spending more money on experiences/vacations than on cars.
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#21
Lexus Test Driver
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You're an enthusiast.
Mazda, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen...
Its called a representative sample.
You are completely out of touch with ordinary people lol. To most Americans $200-$300 a month is a HUGE expense. I'm always astonished by how little rich people understand about what ordinary people go through with money.
Mazda, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen...
Its called a representative sample.
You are completely out of touch with ordinary people lol. To most Americans $200-$300 a month is a HUGE expense. I'm always astonished by how little rich people understand about what ordinary people go through with money.
I only paid $30k OTD for my 540i, and I still hear a lot of "must be nice.....". If they knew I paid cash i think their minds would be completely blown.
Pretty much everybody on this forum is in the top 5-10% of income in the US(unless they're like me when i joined as a broke college student driving an LS400 at the time).
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#22
Lexus Test Driver
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I can't understand that trend with people my age, it's just throwing money away vs at least trying to buy things that will retain something.....or buying actual assets etc. I guess they just can't afford nice enough stuff to think it's worth buying much or something, that or they live in such a painfully average place/conditions they want to escape? I've gotten way way way more enjoyment out of my cars than the equivalent vacations would have given me.
It is fun to go see new places.
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#23
Lexus Fanatic
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I can't understand that trend with people my age, it's just throwing money away vs at least trying to buy things that will retain something.....or buying actual assets etc. I guess they just can't afford nice enough stuff to think it's worth buying much or something, that or they live in such a painfully average place/conditions they want to escape? I've gotten way way way more enjoyment out of my cars than the equivalent vacations would have given me.
I agree with Striker. To some extent, especially for single people like me, vacations aren't needed any more. IMHO, with the ton of images/information on the Internet and with Google Maps/street-views/close-ups, you can see just about anything on your computer screen today, free, without having to spend time and money to actually GO there.
For instance, in my youth (late 60s/early 70s), I drove down Skyline Drive in Shenandoah and hiked the trails a number times, but, with what is available in today's sites, there isn't much you could see and experience back then live (except the cold and wind) that you can't on your computer screen today.
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#25
Lexus Test Driver
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It's really not the same. A few years ago i visited the DC area and explored a bunch of historic sites from the revolutionary war and the civil war. Being on those battlefields makes it so much now tangible and real than looking at it on a computer screen.
I Recently visited Durango, Colorado and rode the old narrow gauge rail train up to Silverton and back. That was a wonderful time and the internet really doesn't do it justice.
Then there's international travel and experiencing other cultures and food. You're really missing out if you just stay home.
I Recently visited Durango, Colorado and rode the old narrow gauge rail train up to Silverton and back. That was a wonderful time and the internet really doesn't do it justice.
Then there's international travel and experiencing other cultures and food. You're really missing out if you just stay home.
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#26
Lexus Fanatic
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I agree with Striker. To some extent, especially for single people like me, vacations aren't needed any more. IMHO, with the ton of images/information on the Internet and with Google Maps/street-views/close-ups, you can see just about anything on your computer screen today, free, without having to spend time and money to actually GO there.
.
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My newer 4Runner is $3000 a year or $250 month. This is a huge expense for most people.
Rich people who originally had no money definitely understand.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 07-30-24 at 04:04 PM.
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#27
Lexus Champion
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I would agree if I haven't taken over 15 people on drives/let some of them drive it and how astounded they were. Half of them bought Audis afterwords
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#28
Lexus Champion
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It's really not the same. A few years ago i visited the DC area and explored a bunch of historic sites from the revolutionary war and the civil war. Being on those battlefields makes it so much now tangible and real than looking at it on a computer screen.
I Recently visited Durango, Colorado and rode the old narrow gauge rail train up to Silverton and back. That was a wonderful time and the internet really doesn't do it justice.
Then there's international travel and experiencing other cultures and food. You're really missing out if you just stay home.
I Recently visited Durango, Colorado and rode the old narrow gauge rail train up to Silverton and back. That was a wonderful time and the internet really doesn't do it justice.
Then there's international travel and experiencing other cultures and food. You're really missing out if you just stay home.
Food is a big thing but my family has always cooked so it takes a hell of a lot to impress me and it always fades when I see the price vs what it costs to just make it at home. Plus my wife got really really good and she can replicate near anything after trying it so it's "eh" for me.
I'm not saying trips aren't fun but I could just never pay $5-10k for that vs say buying a car and using it at mid Ohio as a track toy for the same overall costs
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#29
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
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I can't understand that trend with people my age, it's just throwing money away vs at least trying to buy things that will retain something.....or buying actual assets etc. I guess they just can't afford nice enough stuff to think it's worth buying much or something, that or they live in such a painfully average place/conditions they want to escape? I've gotten way way way more enjoyment out of my cars than the equivalent vacations would have given me.
I agree with Striker. To some extent, especially for single people like me, vacations aren't needed any more. IMHO, with the ton of images/information on the Internet and with Google Maps/street-views/close-ups, you can see just about anything on your computer screen today, free, without having to spend time and money to actually GO there.
For instance, in my youth (late 60s/early 70s), I drove down Skyline Drive in Shenandoah and hiked the trails a number times, but, with what is available in today's sites, there isn't much you could see and experience back then live (except the cold and wind) that you can't on your computer screen today.
For instance, in my youth (late 60s/early 70s), I drove down Skyline Drive in Shenandoah and hiked the trails a number times, but, with what is available in today's sites, there isn't much you could see and experience back then live (except the cold and wind) that you can't on your computer screen today.
Otherwise you just wind up like this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0wpthplvFlSjWE8t-GYp-aK2kTqq4tfhDunIkVbc28tiCjQqldHs5wFB9cqej_ANjSHbZw5UvW23-B2QOlE3RAcp0biDHQ7aQ06NtjbhlX-_On4K-dvf1pX23G5IuQO65OKxOA/s1600/Wall-E+obese+humans+-+cropped.jpg)
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#30
Lexus Champion
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If you have to decide between spending money on stuff vs experiences, spend money on experiences. Experiences enrich your life so much more than stuff. While you are young and have no kids and have the money to do so, you should be traveling and exploring the world. Once you have kids it becomes much harder to do that.
Thats ridiculous lol. Looking at pictures of things on a screen is not the same thing as going and experiencing those things for yourself. Travel and experiencing new places and seeing new things is really one of the best parts of life. Hiking and being out in nature are good for you.
Otherwise you just wind up like this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0wpthplvFlSjWE8t-GYp-aK2kTqq4tfhDunIkVbc28tiCjQqldHs5wFB9cqej_ANjSHbZw5UvW23-B2QOlE3RAcp0biDHQ7aQ06NtjbhlX-_On4K-dvf1pX23G5IuQO65OKxOA/s1600/Wall-E+obese+humans+-+cropped.jpg)
Thats ridiculous lol. Looking at pictures of things on a screen is not the same thing as going and experiencing those things for yourself. Travel and experiencing new places and seeing new things is really one of the best parts of life. Hiking and being out in nature are good for you.
Otherwise you just wind up like this:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0wpthplvFlSjWE8t-GYp-aK2kTqq4tfhDunIkVbc28tiCjQqldHs5wFB9cqej_ANjSHbZw5UvW23-B2QOlE3RAcp0biDHQ7aQ06NtjbhlX-_On4K-dvf1pX23G5IuQO65OKxOA/s1600/Wall-E+obese+humans+-+cropped.jpg)
Whereas most will never run a 4 car convoy with friends all in fast cars going 150+ with countermeasures and radios. That's a hell of lot more fun than some beach trip, or everyone going out at night on private land under night vis hunting hogs
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