How daft am I? New Lexus versus old Jag
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I just did a similar thing.
I sold my 2006 Pontiac Vibe with 165,000 miles and bought a car I always wanted. A 93 Nissan 300zx. 81,000 miles southwest desert car. 1 owner (female) maintained by Nissan. Provided every service document since new. This car is pristine. She didn't even use the factory floor mats.
I did a complete timing belt service and the car now does my 60 mile commute. I love this car so much I asked the wife if I should sell the Corvette (only put 500 miles on it last year) She gave me a dirty look and said your NOT selling the Vette. She is different than most.
I sold my 2006 Pontiac Vibe with 165,000 miles and bought a car I always wanted. A 93 Nissan 300zx. 81,000 miles southwest desert car. 1 owner (female) maintained by Nissan. Provided every service document since new. This car is pristine. She didn't even use the factory floor mats.
I did a complete timing belt service and the car now does my 60 mile commute. I love this car so much I asked the wife if I should sell the Corvette (only put 500 miles on it last year) She gave me a dirty look and said your NOT selling the Vette. She is different than most.
Another car to throw out into consideration. There's a Nissan Z32 for sale by owner around the corner (at least there was a few days ago when I drove by). Looking into them now. Only thing is I'd have to sell my car private seller and I don't know if I have the time or energy to do that. Anybody sold a car on ebay before?
Originally Posted By: calvin1
On the upside it makes me smile driving it and right now in my life I need that. Life is too short to drive boring cars.
This can't be forgotten, IMO. Those who are finger wagging about a car being solely to impress others and satisfy fundamental character flaws need to step back.
There are actually people on this earth who ENJOY driving. They push their cars a little, and a properly oriented vehicle puts a smile on their face. They buy a car with some power and handling because THEY like it, not to impress the neighbours (although there are plenty of those around too).
While it's not smart to go deeply into debt just for a car, particularly when the sole intention is impress others, life *is* too short to deny yourself of everything. I can understand someone shopping for something which at least interests them in some way instead of looking at yet another 4cyl Camry which is "sensible and reliable".
If you don't actually get something out of driving and cars, then you'll never get it - it will sound to you like getting excited about a toaster. There are people out there who have a little more than the absolute minimum in a vehicle FOR THEMSELVES.
The OP should live within their means, but some people in this thread need to get off of their high horse(s) and cease preaching that everyone should drive boring cars because they are happy to do so. The OP should be able to find something that fits the budget and still has some interesting capabilities to stir the soul. There are some good suggestions here.
On the upside it makes me smile driving it and right now in my life I need that. Life is too short to drive boring cars.
This can't be forgotten, IMO. Those who are finger wagging about a car being solely to impress others and satisfy fundamental character flaws need to step back.
There are actually people on this earth who ENJOY driving. They push their cars a little, and a properly oriented vehicle puts a smile on their face. They buy a car with some power and handling because THEY like it, not to impress the neighbours (although there are plenty of those around too).
While it's not smart to go deeply into debt just for a car, particularly when the sole intention is impress others, life *is* too short to deny yourself of everything. I can understand someone shopping for something which at least interests them in some way instead of looking at yet another 4cyl Camry which is "sensible and reliable".
If you don't actually get something out of driving and cars, then you'll never get it - it will sound to you like getting excited about a toaster. There are people out there who have a little more than the absolute minimum in a vehicle FOR THEMSELVES.
The OP should live within their means, but some people in this thread need to get off of their high horse(s) and cease preaching that everyone should drive boring cars because they are happy to do so. The OP should be able to find something that fits the budget and still has some interesting capabilities to stir the soul. There are some good suggestions here.
There has been so much psychoanalysis going on of me in this thread (which my choice of title probably didn't help
) that I almost don't want to admit it but...
They're coming to take me away ha ha...
I did it. Looked around and didn't see many good 'appliance cars' in my price range. Got a very good price on my car and will pick up the Jag tomorrow.
Based my decision on the fact that:
1) I really liked the car
2) I don't have to rely on it as we have a second car and not much demands on our travel by car
3) My family loves to take rides on a nice sunny morning with the top down.
4) I will enjoy working on this car more than many others (which is probably a good thing)
Thanks for your input.
Oh as far as expensive cars in the military, on my block are a BMW convertible, a BMW sedan, a new Land Rover, a Lincoln Navigator, and a volvo convertible. Not trying to keep up with any of them, but I'm certainly not alone in enjoying cars.
They're coming to take me away ha ha...
I did it. Looked around and didn't see many good 'appliance cars' in my price range. Got a very good price on my car and will pick up the Jag tomorrow.
Based my decision on the fact that:
1) I really liked the car
2) I don't have to rely on it as we have a second car and not much demands on our travel by car
3) My family loves to take rides on a nice sunny morning with the top down.
4) I will enjoy working on this car more than many others (which is probably a good thing)
Thanks for your input.
Oh as far as expensive cars in the military, on my block are a BMW convertible, a BMW sedan, a new Land Rover, a Lincoln Navigator, and a volvo convertible. Not trying to keep up with any of them, but I'm certainly not alone in enjoying cars.
Originally Posted By: ffracer
Car that is an appliance is a simple definition:
one with no soul
A Toyota Camry, most Korean cars, and a Chevrolet Lumina are appliances. Cars for people who don't like driving.
An Alfa Romeo has soul. A Camaro has soul. A Jeep Wrangler has soul. A Honda S2000 has soul.
It is really that simple. Even econo cars have soul or are appliances: Yaris - appliance. Ford Fiesta/Mazda 2 - soul.
+1. Miata, S2000, MR2, Supra, Prelude, Monte Carlo of certain period, and all American muscle cars all have soul while Corolla and Camry are nothing more than a box with wheels. Too bad Japan are too greedy to realize that and discontinue great cars to carter to the stupid Ipod and texting mass.
Car that is an appliance is a simple definition:
one with no soul
A Toyota Camry, most Korean cars, and a Chevrolet Lumina are appliances. Cars for people who don't like driving.
An Alfa Romeo has soul. A Camaro has soul. A Jeep Wrangler has soul. A Honda S2000 has soul.
It is really that simple. Even econo cars have soul or are appliances: Yaris - appliance. Ford Fiesta/Mazda 2 - soul.
+1. Miata, S2000, MR2, Supra, Prelude, Monte Carlo of certain period, and all American muscle cars all have soul while Corolla and Camry are nothing more than a box with wheels. Too bad Japan are too greedy to realize that and discontinue great cars to carter to the stupid Ipod and texting mass.
^ Agreed.
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
+1. Miata, S2000, MR2, Supra, Prelude, Monte Carlo of certain period, and all American muscle cars all have soul while Corolla and Camry are nothing more than a box with wheels. Too bad Japan are too greedy to realize that and discontinue great cars to carter to the stupid Ipod and texting mass.
I don't go searching for a soul in an inanimate machine. I've had cars that were fun to own and drive, and cars that were bought solely to fulfill their primary role: transit from point A to point B.
I'm not part of the 'ipod and texting mass,' whatever that is. This car, among some of the others I've owned or leased, was picked to fulfill one function: reliably transport me from point A to point B with moderate utility, decent FE, and minimal excitement. As its my DD and only car, that means its been driven on days when I've had more excitement than I cared for at work and when the last thing I wanted was anymore on the commute home.
Excitement is a luxury I'm saving for an eventual second car for those times when I do want it, while having the no-fuss 'appliance' available for those times when I do not want it.
I neither need constant stimulation and excitement in life, nor in my transportation. Those were things that held much more appeal 20 years ago when I was 17. I've since grown up and over the course of that process, realized that excitement - like everything else - has its time and place and is anything but exciting during the times I do not desire it.
-Spyder
+1. Miata, S2000, MR2, Supra, Prelude, Monte Carlo of certain period, and all American muscle cars all have soul while Corolla and Camry are nothing more than a box with wheels. Too bad Japan are too greedy to realize that and discontinue great cars to carter to the stupid Ipod and texting mass.
I don't go searching for a soul in an inanimate machine. I've had cars that were fun to own and drive, and cars that were bought solely to fulfill their primary role: transit from point A to point B.
I'm not part of the 'ipod and texting mass,' whatever that is. This car, among some of the others I've owned or leased, was picked to fulfill one function: reliably transport me from point A to point B with moderate utility, decent FE, and minimal excitement. As its my DD and only car, that means its been driven on days when I've had more excitement than I cared for at work and when the last thing I wanted was anymore on the commute home.
Excitement is a luxury I'm saving for an eventual second car for those times when I do want it, while having the no-fuss 'appliance' available for those times when I do not want it.
I neither need constant stimulation and excitement in life, nor in my transportation. Those were things that held much more appeal 20 years ago when I was 17. I've since grown up and over the course of that process, realized that excitement - like everything else - has its time and place and is anything but exciting during the times I do not desire it.
-Spyder
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Quote:
Based my decision on the fact that:
1) I really liked the car
That's the main thing, it makes whatever you buy easier to live with.
Congrats! Enjoy your new ride.
Based my decision on the fact that:
1) I really liked the car
That's the main thing, it makes whatever you buy easier to live with.
Congrats! Enjoy your new ride.
This is one of the best articles I've seen on the topic of "appliance" vs. "exciting" cars.
Some quotes:
Quote:
The awful truth is that everything that makes a car great on a racetrack will make it horrible in the daily grind, and vice versa.
After driving a BMW 550i on GingerMan Raceway’s road course, my notes were filled with scathing comments about its open rear differential... Why, I asked, would BMW put an open diff in a car with 450 lb-ft of torque? Are its engineers insane? Don’t they know that people will drive these things on... the... on the track? And it dawned on me that nobody is ever going to drive a BMW 550i on a track. The most common gripe about the new 5-series — that it’s too refined — becomes an asset in the context of commuting...
While a lot of people bemoan the growing automation of the car, I’m all for it: Give me that Google self-driving car sooner rather than later, please. Let the car do the commuting, and I’ll be happy to do the driving.
Some quotes:
Quote:
The awful truth is that everything that makes a car great on a racetrack will make it horrible in the daily grind, and vice versa.
After driving a BMW 550i on GingerMan Raceway’s road course, my notes were filled with scathing comments about its open rear differential... Why, I asked, would BMW put an open diff in a car with 450 lb-ft of torque? Are its engineers insane? Don’t they know that people will drive these things on... the... on the track? And it dawned on me that nobody is ever going to drive a BMW 550i on a track. The most common gripe about the new 5-series — that it’s too refined — becomes an asset in the context of commuting...
While a lot of people bemoan the growing automation of the car, I’m all for it: Give me that Google self-driving car sooner rather than later, please. Let the car do the commuting, and I’ll be happy to do the driving.
Originally Posted By: Spyder7
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
+1. Miata, S2000, MR2, Supra, Prelude, Monte Carlo of certain period, and all American muscle cars all have soul while Corolla and Camry are nothing more than a box with wheels. Too bad Japan are too greedy to realize that and discontinue great cars to carter to the stupid Ipod and texting mass.
I don't go searching for a soul in an inanimate machine. I've had cars that were fun to own and drive, and cars that were bought solely to fulfill their primary role: transit from point A to point B.
I'm not part of the 'ipod and texting mass,' whatever that is. This car, among some of the others I've owned or leased, was picked to fulfill one function: reliably transport me from point A to point B with moderate utility, decent FE, and minimal excitement. As its my DD and only car, that means its been driven on days when I've had more excitement than I cared for at work and when the last thing I wanted was anymore on the commute home.
Excitement is a luxury I'm saving for an eventual second car for those times when I do want it, while having the no-fuss 'appliance' available for those times when I do not want it.
I neither need constant stimulation and excitement in life, nor in my transportation. Those were things that held much more appeal 20 years ago when I was 17. I've since grown up and over the course of that process, realized that excitement - like everything else - has its time and place and is anything but exciting during the times I do not desire it.
-Spyder
Considering that you spend much of your driving life commuting, wouldn't you want a DD to be sporty too?
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
+1. Miata, S2000, MR2, Supra, Prelude, Monte Carlo of certain period, and all American muscle cars all have soul while Corolla and Camry are nothing more than a box with wheels. Too bad Japan are too greedy to realize that and discontinue great cars to carter to the stupid Ipod and texting mass.
I don't go searching for a soul in an inanimate machine. I've had cars that were fun to own and drive, and cars that were bought solely to fulfill their primary role: transit from point A to point B.
I'm not part of the 'ipod and texting mass,' whatever that is. This car, among some of the others I've owned or leased, was picked to fulfill one function: reliably transport me from point A to point B with moderate utility, decent FE, and minimal excitement. As its my DD and only car, that means its been driven on days when I've had more excitement than I cared for at work and when the last thing I wanted was anymore on the commute home.
Excitement is a luxury I'm saving for an eventual second car for those times when I do want it, while having the no-fuss 'appliance' available for those times when I do not want it.
I neither need constant stimulation and excitement in life, nor in my transportation. Those were things that held much more appeal 20 years ago when I was 17. I've since grown up and over the course of that process, realized that excitement - like everything else - has its time and place and is anything but exciting during the times I do not desire it.
-Spyder
Considering that you spend much of your driving life commuting, wouldn't you want a DD to be sporty too?
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