Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Why don't most people realize how much of a waste it is? Do they realize how much cars depreciate in value? What is the point of spending so much money on a flashy or fast car?

Do you need it to get girls? I can understand that, as sad as it may be.

I like a fast car too, but not enough to waste 10k-30k+ to make it accelerate to 60mph a few split seconds faster.

Most of the people buying these expensive cars can't afford them either. You put yourself into debt for this? Is a status symbol worth this much to you?

IMO, a car is for getting you from one location to another in comfort and safety. I would rate the most important factors in buying a car reliability and safety. Who gives a [censored] what your car looks like or how fast it is? Douchebags, no one I want anything to do with will judge me based on the car I drive.

FWIW, I make a decent amount of money and I drive a 1994 Nissan Altima. I bought it for $1500. I will drive it until it dies and then spend no more than 1% of my net worth on another used car.

EDIT: This wasn't meant to be an attack on people who do this. I'm not referring to car hobbyists and such. I honestly want to know why.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Why don't most people realize how much of a waste it is? Do they realize how much weed depreciates in value after smoking? What is the point of spending so much money on a flashy or fast vapo?

Do you need it to get girls? I can understand that, as sad as it may be.

I like a good bong rip too, but not enough to waste 1k+ a year to make it easier to get high buying expensive weed.

Most of the people buying these expensive drugs can't afford them either. You put yourself into debt for this? Is a status symbol worth this much to you?


You catch my drift? Its not all about penis size kurosh.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Are you stupid? It's because some people like them.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

I agree.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Do they realize how much cars depreciate in value?

[/ QUOTE ]

People do not purchase cars as an investment.

The rest of what you say isn't even worth commenting on.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

guids imo this is a horrible analogy. Compare it to a big screen tv if you wish, but comparign it to weed is ludicrous.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Possible Hijak: Why to people blow so much gambling? One answer that can work for both questions is: its something they like and becuase of that they choose to spend money on it.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
guids imo this is a horrible analogy. Compare it to a big screen tv if you wish, but comparign it to weed is ludicrous.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not really at all. As someone who loves both cars and weed, its all about enjoying it. I agree that a lot of people get cars etc to stroke their ego, but some of us just like the look of a cool car, off-roading, going 200mph etc

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Umm, it's called a hobby.

I was never much for cars growing up, but I'm 38 now and admittedly itching to build something. Thinking it's Cobra time sometime in the next few years...

I want to smoke the tires pulling 3rds and hear the chirp when I slam it to 4th. OK??

http://www.cobracountry.com/CCMkt-fo...away427-1b.jpg

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Why does Kurosh spend so much money on nice clothes, when he could just complete his whole wardrobe at Wal-Mart for a fraction of the price?

(ps. I know nothing of Kurosh's fashion and spending habits, just an example.)

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]

IMO, a car is for getting you from one location to another in comfort and safety. I would rate the most important factors in buying a car reliability and safety.

[/ QUOTE ]

That should have been at the top of your post. It explains why you sound like such a douche bag in the rest.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

I agree with you 99%. The only cars worth putting cash into are classics. I thought I read an article awhile back that said classic cars purchased years ago were one of the best performing investments.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

yeah have fun dying with a million dallars in your bank account and no fun in your life

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Not everyone thinks like you. They are not dumb because of this.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

As someone who makes money playing poker, why are you questioning someone's ability to spend money unwisely?

edited to add...because the people you are winning from are most assuredly spending their money just as unwisely as the ones you are attacking for buying nice cars...

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
yeah have fun dying with a million dallars in your bank account and no fun in your life

[/ QUOTE ]Because I don't want to spend a lot of money on cars, I will have no fun in my life?

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Not everyone thinks like you. They are not dumb because of this.

[/ QUOTE ]I understand that. I'm not saying they are dumb. I'm asking for an explanation.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Umm, it's called a hobby.

I was never much for cars growing up, but I'm 38 now and admittedly itching to build something. Thinking it's Cobra time sometime in the next few years...

I want to smoke the tires pulling 3rds and hear the chirp when I slam it to 4th. OK??

http://www.cobracountry.com/CCMkt-fo...away427-1b.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]I understand the car hobby aspect of it. Building cars, spending time working on them etc. It's the guy who spends half his net worth on a 30k car because he thinks it is cool I am mainly referring to.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

its mostly compulsive people.

there are many other people compulsive about other things like those guys who buy $100 jugs of protein powder instead of eating regular food, or run 10 miles a day religously, or people who vaccum the rug 4 times a day.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
yeah have fun dying with a million dallars in your bank account and no fun in your life

[/ QUOTE ]

have fun retiring at 85 while kurosh is sitting on the beach drinking margaritas at 45 [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

or people who buy $1000 vintage records or toys.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Hey, the 40 year old virgin made hundreds of thousands of dollars on his toys...

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Some of my friends give me a hard time because I have an expensive car.
Then, I point out all the expenses (and future expenses) they have because they have a wife and kids (i'm single).

When we tally the numbers, they get bummed out because in the end, even w/my car expenses, I still have more 'free cash' lying around than they do.

Neither my friends or myself are right or wrong. We just have different perspectives and priorites.

How do you spend your money? Unless everything you buy is the cheapest available, someone could point out that you're wasting your money buying more expensive products. Why focus on cars? What about housing, furnishing, clothing and food?

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Not everyone thinks like you. They are not dumb because of this.

[/ QUOTE ]I understand that. I'm not saying they are dumb. I'm asking for an explanation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe because:

A. They like to drive off road
http://www.advantagemotorsports.com/...ad%20Truck.jpg

B. Like to drive fast (like people who like roller coasters)
http://www.motorsportsimaging.com/SC...s/DSC_6023.jpg

C. Like showing how much money they have
http://www.edmunds.com/media/reviews...ley.gt.500.jpg

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I understand the car hobby aspect of it. Building cars, spending time working on them etc. It's the guy who spends half his net worth on a 30k car because he thinks it is cool I am mainly referring to.

[/ QUOTE ]

Kurosh,

This is the point you should have led with. People spend their money on loads of things others consider silly and/or wasteful. This is OK so long as they can afford it. The problem isn't the spending of loads of money on cars, it's spending loads of money one can't afford on cars. A guy with 100 grand in the bank spending 5 grand to modify his car in a silly way is just having fun. The guy with nothing in the bank and huge credit card debt doing the same thing is a moron.

An apt analogy here would be high-end computer equipment, which provides moderate performance increases over the midline components at double+ the price. Some people just get off on being the fastest.

==arbitrary

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Remember this

Most people are stupid.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
It's the guy who spends half his net worth on a 30k car because he thinks it is cool I am mainly referring to.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh...my ex-brother in law...Yeah, he's a [censored] tard piece of [censored] idiot.

I think you answered your own question though (thinks it is cool)...

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Remember this

Most people are stupid.

[/ QUOTE ]

I dont think most people are that stupid really. However all people will do stupid things, from time to time at least.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
its mostly compulsive people.

there are many other people compulsive about other things like those guys who buy $100 jugs of protein powder instead of eating regular food, or run 10 miles a day religously, or people who vaccum the rug 4 times a day.

[/ QUOTE ]

Buying an expensive car is not a sign of being compulsive. Where do you pull that [censored] from?

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Kurosh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdkEV-t9jg0

watch it

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

People spend all kinds of money getting laid (indirectly), getting high, to me a car that can pull a 3 second 0-60 easily beats both out in terms of the thrill and excitement. Unless you truly experience a 9 second quarter mile or going 160+mph you can't really comment on the worth of having a nice car. To me there is no bigger thril in life then speed, and its worth every penny I put into it.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Because you touch yourself.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

I can't think of anything else I would rather spend the money on. I love cars and driving fast, and would rather blow 20k on a nice car then a nicer house or appartment. Im 19 though, single, and happen to drive a 94 corolla because it happens to make sense right now. If I had 30K in the bank, I would gladly spend 10 of it on a car. If i had 100k, I'd spend 30.

Question on net worth % and cars . .
 

hey all,

what do you consider a high % of one's net work to spend on a single car?

what about if you are the head of a family, and your family has several cheap cars (10-20k) and you decide to buy a nice car for yourself? then what do you consider a high % of ones net work to spend on that single nice car?

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
This wasn't meant to be an attack on people who do this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure. That's why you called them douchebags.

Some people spend half their work day in their car, and would rather not spend that time in a POS.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Kurosh,

I know exactly the people you're talking about.

They are very common in Las Vegas. People like this couple I know:

He drives a SAAB and she drives an SUV. They both work two jobs to keep up with the payments. They sold their house rather than downgrade their cars. They now rent their house from the new owners (weird). He is addicted to video poker and won't bother to learn what machines he might actually have an advantage (or get comps).

They bounced a check to their kid's PTA and had to borrow $150 to cover it.

They like to *look* rich, but they can't keep up with the bills. They are horrible at money management. If you gave them a plan of how to get out of debt and stop working two jobs, but they'd have to drive a 5 year old Honda to do it, they'd freak out and wouldn't do it.

The poor kids (they have 4) are going to grow up feeling rich and used to the rich lifestyle. They won't have any money management skills and they will continue to cycle of debt because they won't know how to live without the luxuries they're used to. It's so sad...

Yeah, anyway, I know what you mean, Kurosh. I don't think you're talking about the people who are car fanciers and can afford it. You're talking about the people who want to keep up with the Jones. You're talking about the ones who finance their plastic surgery, the ones who spend half their income on watches and jewelry, the ones who make the American economy go 'round.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Because this is America and Americans are dumb and shallow.

I fully agree with you. Nothing dumber than financing a $70K Beamer and trading it in for $5K after driving it for 5 years and putting 100K miles on it.

This doesn't apply to people who purchase old beat up cars to fix up as investments. Those people are cool, and smart.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Because I like driving a nice car. It gives me joy. I do not find driving boring but maybe I would with a 94 accord.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

Elaine,

I think he is talking about people in thier late teens to mid 20s. Guys who have the money to potentially begin setting up good investments but the "hot" car is always the first thing on thier minds. I'm fresh out of college and know many people who decide to splurge on new cars instead of sensible things like paying off student loans or other debts. While they technically can afford it, they've just exponentially increased thier financial pressure instead of beginning to relieve it.

While I am far from a car lover, I can certainly appreciate the beauty/status of a nice car. I've only owned low level family sedans and driving around in my friends sports car is a bit of a high.

Re: Why do people spend so much time and money on cars?
 

[ QUOTE ]
IMO, a car is for getting you from one location to another in comfort and safety.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree...I just bought a new car...I could've pushed it to get a Mazda RX8 or a BMW 3 series, but decided against it and save myself 10-15K...

so instead of a 60 month car note at $550/month, it's only $245/month which I will be able to pay off in 3-4 years...

wow, I actually agree with kurosh on something this is crazy