What is your occupation/how do you afford the 3G TL? MERGED THREADS
#201
Mid 30s. Part owner of a small IT consulting company. That means I still get my hands dirty with customers.
Base salary way more then I though I would make to be happy. Hoping for more :toothless
Last few cars have been in the 10k - 20k range. Could buy a merc or other higher end car but why? I would have to agree with a previous post if you work with tech people or goverment best not to show to much of your money to the customer.
No desire to work till I am 60. Hoping to get enough money in the next few years to get out of this rat race and live on a nice large piece of land and teach at a University.
Base salary way more then I though I would make to be happy. Hoping for more :toothless
Last few cars have been in the 10k - 20k range. Could buy a merc or other higher end car but why? I would have to agree with a previous post if you work with tech people or goverment best not to show to much of your money to the customer.
No desire to work till I am 60. Hoping to get enough money in the next few years to get out of this rat race and live on a nice large piece of land and teach at a University.
#203
Team Nighthawk-C.M.A.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicagoland, IL
Age: 61
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by strashk
18 year old female, going out of state to college in fall. High school graduation gift with $10,000 of my own money to help pay for it.
#204
Originally Posted by berzerker
Not to be rude - but why is that ''very private'' ? Everyone else here is posting what they make, financial background, etc....I don't get it - why do people get so touchy about that kinda thing? Heck, we don't even know who you really are....why not tell us what you make?
i wouldnt mind if the company didnt mind. but they want us to keep it to ourselves.
#205
Advanced
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Age: 45
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How is it that almost every one I DID SAY ALMOST everyone one makes more then I do but complaining about a $500-$700 dollar car payment?? All you IT guys out there as well. I work for an IT company as well I make $90K a year and I have a house payment as well and also have a new baby and wife that doesn't work but we still have no PROBLEM with the payment. That is just FUNNY if you look at Average % of income in the United States ONLY ABOUT 8% break the 100K a year and it seems that the 8% all seem to OWN ACURA TL?? Just sort of funny how everyone if they really do make that MUCH are all in this FORUM.
#206
2nd Gear
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Dallas, Texas
Age: 45
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i was kinda thinking the same thing. just spent the last 15 minutes reading through this thread and i'm not sure how much of it i actually believe. oh well.
Originally Posted by 04TLBLack
How is it that almost every one I DID SAY ALMOST everyone one makes more then I do but complaining about a $500-$700 dollar car payment?? All you IT guys out there as well. I work for an IT company as well I make $90K a year and I have a house payment as well and also have a new baby and wife that doesn't work but we still have no PROBLEM with the payment. That is just FUNNY if you look at Average % of income in the United States ONLY ABOUT 8% break the 100K a year and it seems that the 8% all seem to OWN ACURA TL?? Just sort of funny how everyone if they really do make that MUCH are all in this FORUM.
#208
Team Camel Executive VP
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NY
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by 04TLBLack
That is just FUNNY if you look at Average % of income in the United States ONLY ABOUT 8% break the 100K a year and it seems that the 8% all seem to OWN ACURA TL?? Just sort of funny how everyone if they really do make that MUCH are all in this FORUM.
Acura is a *luxury* brand and the TL is their 'sporty' luxury car. It should be no surprise whatsoever that most of us are in the $100k to $200k range as that's where luxury car buyers are found, right?
I would venture to say that when I spend an hour on the interstate, I'll see 8 luxury cars for every 92 non-luxury cars on average. Think of all the Toyota's, Ford's, Chevy's, Honda's, Hyundai's, and Dodge's on the road for every Acura, Lexus, MB, BMW, Porsche you see. The stats would be no different in this forum.
BJ, Marketing VP w/Trophy VP Wife $320k + Options
#209
Advanced
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Age: 45
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IF its Luxury than it should mean you have money and not be so afraid of the payments. Luxury means you have CASH and you don't care what the car is worth you just BUY cuz it a LUXURY that you have.
#210
Luxury, Hah, if the TL is so luxury then why are they putting Bridgestone tires on such a luxury car ?
No BMW, Mercedes, Lexus or Audi runs on Bridgestone tires.
Lets face it the TL is just an Accord but with Bridgestone tires, oh wait the Accord comes with Bridgestone tires as well.
No BMW, Mercedes, Lexus or Audi runs on Bridgestone tires.
Lets face it the TL is just an Accord but with Bridgestone tires, oh wait the Accord comes with Bridgestone tires as well.
#211
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by 04TLBLack
IF its Luxury than it should mean you have money and not be so afraid of the payments. Luxury means you have CASH and you don't care what the car is worth you just BUY cuz it a LUXURY that you have.
Originally Posted by roadman
No BMW, Mercedes, Lexus or Audi runs on Bridgestone tires.
#215
BOOK EM
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Stamford CT.
Age: 66
Posts: 802
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I`m a 46 yo male. I am a retired NYC Police Officer. I am now a Executive Protection Specialist in a security firm. I protect the chairman and CEO of a major bank. This is a great job that pays 140k a year. Believe me, it`s more than being a "bodyguard". Were`re trained under Secret Service practices.
I have a wife and 2 kids, ages 10 and 12. Have a house and a mortgage,almost paid off (50k left). I took out a 15 yr. note because it was only 200.00 more a month. Best move I ever made.Then took out a home equity loan ,and paid off the mortgage, "lesser interest".
I`ve got the 04 WDP/ NAVI/ leased, since Oct., at 480.00 mo. w/ 2000 down /42mo.
I would just like to add that I have the greatest respect for all of our men and women in the military. Anybody who puts their life on the line should be paid alot more. I know I work for a CEO, but they make TOO much money, along with SPORTS PLAYERS, and these crybabies whine if they get less in their contract or bonus. I shake my head when I see a sports player on the front page of a newspaper and our troops are less important.
Pete Tillman, YOU are a true hero. Along with every military person out there.
THANK YOU
I have a wife and 2 kids, ages 10 and 12. Have a house and a mortgage,almost paid off (50k left). I took out a 15 yr. note because it was only 200.00 more a month. Best move I ever made.Then took out a home equity loan ,and paid off the mortgage, "lesser interest".
I`ve got the 04 WDP/ NAVI/ leased, since Oct., at 480.00 mo. w/ 2000 down /42mo.
I would just like to add that I have the greatest respect for all of our men and women in the military. Anybody who puts their life on the line should be paid alot more. I know I work for a CEO, but they make TOO much money, along with SPORTS PLAYERS, and these crybabies whine if they get less in their contract or bonus. I shake my head when I see a sports player on the front page of a newspaper and our troops are less important.
Pete Tillman, YOU are a true hero. Along with every military person out there.
THANK YOU
#216
Unshunned
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: da branch
Age: 50
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Willhaven - thanks for the answer Sounds like a pretty legit reason.
It's not how much a person or couple or family makes - it how you spend your other money - your debt to income ratio - and what you are willing to go without in order to have this car or anything for that matter.
Wife and I are 'dinks' as someone said earlier - dual income/no kids
we have a modest house payment and that's it. We qualified for a house twice as much as the one we're in - and were looking at house 100k more than the one we bought. However, like all of our friends in their 30's, we didn't want to be house-poor. We don't travel a whole bunch - we do travel, but not extravagantly. We don't buy tons of clothes or eat out at expensive restaurants. We are remodeling parts of our house, but I do all the work - Home Depot/Lowes gets the money! :toothless
It's not how much a person or couple or family makes - it how you spend your other money - your debt to income ratio - and what you are willing to go without in order to have this car or anything for that matter.
Wife and I are 'dinks' as someone said earlier - dual income/no kids
we have a modest house payment and that's it. We qualified for a house twice as much as the one we're in - and were looking at house 100k more than the one we bought. However, like all of our friends in their 30's, we didn't want to be house-poor. We don't travel a whole bunch - we do travel, but not extravagantly. We don't buy tons of clothes or eat out at expensive restaurants. We are remodeling parts of our house, but I do all the work - Home Depot/Lowes gets the money! :toothless
#217
Danno, I couldn't agree more with your sentiments about our servicemen and women. I was an Air Force Captain a long time ago and spent quite a bit of time with spec ops folks from all the services (I wasn't one of them). What an impressive bunch of people. From top to bottom just the finest men and women I have ever known. Of course that also applies to the rank and file servicepeople. We owe them a huge debt - one we can never repay. Having said that let's not get too hasty about that CEO salary stuff. I'd like to buy more TL's in the future.
#218
10th Gear
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Houston, Tx
Age: 45
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm 25, work at a Houston based travel agency named Vacations To Go. Find myself flirting with 65+ ladies to book cruises with me and make about 75k a year to support my horrible gas mileage for my 04 Diamond Pearl TL.
#222
Three Wheelin'
Originally Posted by vtechbrain
I sell pot on a corner, my GF turns tricks on the opposite corner. Were bringing down about 250. Not bad for a couple of HS dropouts, dig?
#223
Come on you live in Wausau! The pot must be flower pots and your GF must be doing card tricks on the corner. Wausau is a nice town but pot/tricks I don't think so - OK the pot sure but not the 'tricks'. Say it isn't so!
#224
Originally Posted by wonder
Come on you live in Wausau! The pot must be flower pots and your GF must be doing card tricks on the corner. Wausau is a nice town but pot/tricks I don't think so - OK the pot sure but not the 'tricks'. Say it isn't so!
You think Dayton is the only swinging town in the midwest? We do some tokin' and ho-ing in Wisconsin too! Where do you think our cheese's secret ingredient comes from? It's not happy cows,those are from Cali, its the fromunda! :toothless
#225
10th Gear
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Consulting Engineer
Our 2004 green TL with the navigation system is our fourth car (and I have a motorcycle). We also own a 1997 Acura NSX (my toy), a 2001 PT Cruiser (my wife's car), and a 1990 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4 (for our big dog). We paid cash for all of them.
The way we think, if you can't pay cash, you should just save until you can. Never go into debt for a new ride. It's a terrible investment, except perhaps for the NSX. It's still worth about what I paid for it 1 1/2 years ago. Buy a reliable car (honda or Toyota), then buy a house, then the new car. I see kids (including our own) spend a fortune on a new car or truck without any thought about the 5+ years of payments. It's sad ...
I own my own small engineering consulting business in Santa Barbara, CA. I get a write-off for the car (about 75%) with the business. My wife is a director at UCSB. We save our money and try to keep our cars for about 10 years before we replace them. We never trade them in at the dealers; we always sell them and then buy a new one.
- Russ
The way we think, if you can't pay cash, you should just save until you can. Never go into debt for a new ride. It's a terrible investment, except perhaps for the NSX. It's still worth about what I paid for it 1 1/2 years ago. Buy a reliable car (honda or Toyota), then buy a house, then the new car. I see kids (including our own) spend a fortune on a new car or truck without any thought about the 5+ years of payments. It's sad ...
I own my own small engineering consulting business in Santa Barbara, CA. I get a write-off for the car (about 75%) with the business. My wife is a director at UCSB. We save our money and try to keep our cars for about 10 years before we replace them. We never trade them in at the dealers; we always sell them and then buy a new one.
- Russ
#227
Unshunned
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: da branch
Age: 50
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by vtechbrain
You think Dayton is the only swinging town in the midwest? We do some tokin' and ho-ing in Wisconsin too! Where do you think our cheese's secret ingredient comes from? It's not happy cows,those are from Cali, its the fromunda! :toothless
Right on Vtechbrain!!! Right on!
Being originally from Wisconsin, but not the Wausau area, I'm going to tell you-that's how Wisconsin makes such good ''smoked'' cheddar :toothless
Not too mention, unless you were stoned 24/7....why else would you eat cheese curds!?!?!? :clown:
#228
Head a da Family
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Friggin Jerzy
Age: 69
Posts: 5,505
Received 561 Likes
on
393 Posts
Originally Posted by berzerker
Right on Vtechbrain!!! Right on!
Being originally from Wisconsin, but not the Wausau area, I'm going to tell you-that's how Wisconsin makes such good ''smoked'' cheddar :toothless
Not too mention, unless you were stoned 24/7....why else would you eat cheese curds!?!?!? :clown:
Being originally from Wisconsin, but not the Wausau area, I'm going to tell you-that's how Wisconsin makes such good ''smoked'' cheddar :toothless
Not too mention, unless you were stoned 24/7....why else would you eat cheese curds!?!?!? :clown:
WOW!! Turds of real cheese!!!
#229
Instructor
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Vestal, NY
Age: 60
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
39y, university researcher, $105 family income, will put $7k down and finance the rest for 5y. The TL will be my 1st new car and a major upgrade from my current car, which is a 1996 Ford Contour. I hope the car comes next week as it is supposed to. I hate this waiting ...
Future SSM/ebony/6sp.+navi owner
Future SSM/ebony/6sp.+navi owner
#230
For all the lawyers out there......
What do you call a thousand lawyers at the bottom of the ocean......
...
...
...
...
...
Dont peek!
....
....
....
....
....
...
It's not a good start, but you're close....
...
...
...
...
...
...
It's about time! The cat fish (the scum sucking bottom dwellers) were getting lonely!!!
What do you call a thousand lawyers at the bottom of the ocean......
...
...
...
...
...
Dont peek!
....
....
....
....
....
...
It's not a good start, but you're close....
...
...
...
...
...
...
It's about time! The cat fish (the scum sucking bottom dwellers) were getting lonely!!!
#231
Team Antracite Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Allentown, Pa
Age: 53
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by jp33
i was kinda thinking the same thing. just spent the last 15 minutes reading through this thread and i'm not sure how much of it i actually believe. oh well.
IMO anyone who puts down more than taxes and reg or pays their car off at anytime is throwing the money away.
----------------------------
Abyss Blue Pearl/Camel/Nav 2004 TL
2004 MDX On Order
2000 Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon
1969 AMX 390hp (Will destroy my TL and yours to)
#232
Instructor
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: kaneohe HI
Age: 39
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm 19 and i just got my new abyss blue pearl, A-spec 04, TL. I am a part time Air National Guardsman, and i'm also a bartender. I make out okay at about +/- 40k per year depending on how good tips are of course. I love acura so when i saw the new TL i just had to have it. THe TSX just didnt cut it. It feels great cruzin down the street with my TL. Ever since I got it I have been soaking up all the attention. i hope everyone else enjoys there TL as much as I do, cause if they dont there not worthy to drive it.
#233
Three Wheelin'
Originally Posted by 2004TL_believer
Love this TL so much just bought an MDX for the wife. With those two cars have a big chunk of payments. But I have a a car investment fund that makes the payments for me. Meaning the interest I generate makes my payments for me and the investments don't depreciate like the cars do. The only way to buy a new car and NOT loose.
IMO anyone who puts down more than taxes and reg or pays their car off at anytime is throwing the money away.
----------------------------
Abyss Blue Pearl/Camel/Nav 2004 TL
2004 MDX On Order
2000 Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon
1969 AMX 390hp (Will destroy my TL and yours to)
IMO anyone who puts down more than taxes and reg or pays their car off at anytime is throwing the money away.
----------------------------
Abyss Blue Pearl/Camel/Nav 2004 TL
2004 MDX On Order
2000 Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon
1969 AMX 390hp (Will destroy my TL and yours to)
#237
Instructor
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Age: 70
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From the looks of things............you could be right (except I also worked all through university). Yes, I'd walk 10 miles each way, in snow up to 3 feet high, bare foot, no breakfast......
Originally Posted by TLGator
Well it's your own fault for getting an education instead of going out there and earning a living in some vacuous, lucrative, but socially irrelevant line of work.
#238
Intermediate
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Central NJ
Age: 49
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by 2004TL_believer
IMO anyone who puts down more than taxes and reg or pays their car off at anytime is throwing the money away.
29, 115k, IT consulting, 60 month - 1.9% 04 6mt/navi
#239
Advanced
23 yr old mechanical engineer
I'm a 23 year old mechanical engineer. I graduated in May '03 and have never owned a car. My parents have let me drive their extra cars:
1990 Ford Tempo (Wrecked)
1991 Mitsubishi Galant (Brother blew out the engine and transmission)
1993 Mazda 323 (At 175,000 miles it gave out)
I FINALLY got a job (stupid economy) and they started me at 49k/yr. I will soon build water spheroids/tanks, vacuum chambers for aerospace reasons, and LNG tanks.
My '04 TL will be here in June.
Good things come to those who wait.
1990 Ford Tempo (Wrecked)
1991 Mitsubishi Galant (Brother blew out the engine and transmission)
1993 Mazda 323 (At 175,000 miles it gave out)
I FINALLY got a job (stupid economy) and they started me at 49k/yr. I will soon build water spheroids/tanks, vacuum chambers for aerospace reasons, and LNG tanks.
My '04 TL will be here in June.
Good things come to those who wait.
#240
8th Gear
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: montreal,Canada
Age: 64
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Holes in my soles, worn out knees in my jeans, kids education gonna have to wait, feel faint for lack of food,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but man i look good in my TL.