Help Mike pick a car!

[Dave]

you've ridden in my car. Same engine, probably seems a bit slower, although I can't actually say this since I've never driven one. Doubt it handles as well as mine either in stock form, but that can always be adjusted. Still good cars and quite handsome as well.

[Mike]

hrm

dont forget the new Legacy GT.
new cars are nice.
boost is nice.

300hp with OEM parts.

don't wanna take a depreciation hit on a new car. i'll likely be unloading whatever i get in 3-4 years.

[Maengelito]

i like how you're so confident of whats gonna happen.... i remember thinking like you when i graduated

[Mike]

what were your plans if you don't mind me asking? i think my aspirations are pretty modest.

[Evan]

get one of the luxo's though, stitched leather doors (that don't fall apart like all the others), nicer trim everywhere, understated ground effects, nice stuff. :wink:

luxo? :thumbdown:

dont forget to get matching lipstick

[Mike]

Gawd, guy got on his G35 Coupe today as he passed me the opposite direction. Sounds soooo gooood!

[Maengelito]

nice... go G35! i still want you to hook that up.

sorry i never replied to your post about my plans mike, i guess i never saw it until now. anyhow, after graduating and starting up work, i had made myself a budget to get rid of credit card debt, student loan debt and to buy a house. i know govt pay isnt as high as private industry, but i get a substantial raise every year and i stand to nearly double my starting salary in about 2 more years (4 years from when i started). at the same time, houses in c'ville are a fraction of what its like up in nova despite what any stuck up c'villian tells you (aside from john and jess). i had tried to hammer out all my expenses and allot myself a certain beer/social fund. at the time, i felt like my budget was a good guess as to how much i'd spend on food, utilities, car stuff, etc. but i was way off. i had gotten a real estate agent to look at some houses, but there werent really any in my price range with all the things i wanted (there arent any cheap places with a garage in c'ville). i made myself a bunch of scenarios where i'd have a roommate, or i'd eat nothing but cereal and ramen, but the numbers just wouldnt add up. however, i still had my heart set on buying something substantial, and that was right about the time when evan was talking about i think the detroit auto show where the new STi was unveiled. well, and most of you know how it goes from there.

on the other hand, a guy from work who started around the same time as me went the opposite way and did buy a house. i dont know too many details right now, but i know he's got a roommate and he's still hurtin' from mortgage payments. yeah, my monthly rent is just money i'm flushing down the toilet, but i'm having fun with what i've got (i do remember kaan saying everytime he reads my away message, i'm out drinking beer). i'll consider the house again in a few years, but i'm not even sure if i'll want to stay with the govt in a few years. for now, i'll hit the gfcp, allow my brain to deteriorate from b00st rot and beer, and holla at stupid c'ville bitches that wont give me the time of day. phew! i need a beer.

-maeng

[Mike]

wow, good post. see, i don't want to rent and that is something i am adamant about. the way i need to look at it - 1000/mo mortgage + 800/mo car loan is really freakin' ugly. i make enough to cover that and have some play money, but i just don't think i'd be all that comfortable with it. i looked at financing and the m3 is a fraction of the G35. granted i'd be happier while i was in the g35 (i think, still havent done any test drives), but i'm out of my car more than i'm in it... know what i mean? i'd rather be happy out of the car :? and i'd still be perfectly pleased driving an m3 every day.

[JackoliciousLegs]

good logic mike... thumbs up.

PS. Stay at home as long as you can stand it. $1000/month saved really adds up.

[Mike]

hehe i can't wait for all the threads similar to this one to pop up around this time next year

[.RJ]

PS. Stay at home as long as you can stand it.

Yeah.....

Too bad finding a decent place to rent in NoVa is a fucking pain in the ass.

[Mike]

PS. Stay at home as long as you can stand it.

Yeah.....

Too bad finding a decent place to rent in NoVa is a fucking pain in the ass.

Or buy... Prices are outrageous. I'm gonna have to live in a shithole.

[Chris]

hehe i can't wait for all the threads similar to this one to pop up around this time next year

yeah don't remind me... the only good thing is hopefully having enough money for that 1st "real" car. (what I really want is a newer car, Tacoma, and a kart!)

[Maengelito]

if you're talkin rent in nova, then yeah $1k/month is about right, depending on where you live. if you're talkin mortgage, then you're short prolly around $500-$1k a month dpending on the house. but a car loan isnt $800/month unless you bought something very bling. i put almost nothing down and pay $530/month. the G35 shouldnt be too different.

[.RJ]

Prices are outrageous. I'm gonna have to live in a shithole.

Well where you work gives you the option of moving further away from the sprawl, but its not much better. If you dont mind a 30-40 minute commute, there's some pretty nice areas in loudon county that arent overdeveloped.

[Mike]

but a car loan isnt $800/month unless you bought something very bling. i put almost nothing down and pay $530/month. the G35 shouldnt be too different.

You're right, I was looking at 36/mo loans.

g35 - 35500, 60/mo loan, 4.5% APR, 5k down = 600/mo :?
m3 - 18000, 60/mo loan, 5% APR, 5k down = 260/mo

I really hate this. I think it will come down to test drives.

[Feersty]

Yeah the M3 will probably have 50,000 miles or so if it goes for $18,000.

[Mike]

:?:

[.RJ]

:?:

[Feersty]

That is what E36 M3s go for, there were a few in the Washington Post auto section today. I saw about 3 going for around $17,000 with 70,000 miles or so on them.