Speed_Racer

I went to the San Francisco Auto Show and was noticing how much most cars have risen in price. What would it take for you to be comfortable buying a $80,000+ car? $200,000+ per year annual salary? $100,000+ with no debt? Just curious because it seems like I could never justify paying more than $40,000.

Of course my favorite cars ended up being the S8, E63, RS4, CLS63 and the 335i.

hemants

I'm in that boat right now. Currently have a TLS and a Sienna minivan.

House is paid off, I've worked hard my whole life and never spent beyond my means, and now I'm turning 40.

I REALLY wanted to like the G35X but it was a good car if I NEEDED a car but I don't need a car, the TLS is fine. Next I tried the GS350AWD, great feeling interior but handling was very soft.

Next up was the A6 4.2...wow, everything I want a car to be. Interior is stunning, handles like a dream. So then I think, it's not much or a reach to get the new S6.

So now I'm going back and forth between the S6 and a used CLS55

derrick

^ Hemants ... No to the CLS55 ... Electronic gremlins ... but very

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

On a car like that I wouldn't buy it. I'd lease it. Really how many miles are you going to put on a $80K+ car? How often are you going to drive it? And what happens in 3 years when your car is now worth $60K?
I know well off people that have high $$ cars & they lease them. They can get them for $1500 or so a month.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

that is the main reason i don't buy brand new cars... i can't justify taking that big of a hit the first year i will have it... give me a 1-3 year old car with low miles and ill get an extended warranty and then drive it until i die... everyone knows cars are the worst investment...so give me a 5 yr old NSX for half the MSRP and low miles and technically i own a $80k+ car...

ludachrisvt

iTrader: (2)

you really can't get a cls63 for under 90k ... and then you dont have any real options on it

ludachrisvt

iTrader: (2)

PLZ GET 55!!!!!!

bgsm1th

My own personal rule of thumb is to never buy a car worth more than half a years salary.
I really don't have much basis for that statement, but it seems about right.
Of course, I'm not married and have no children, so that may change someday...

ZtotallynakedZ

I never want to be house or car poor. Until I can completely 100% comfortably afford something in that price range, without a loss in other things, I won't do it

Bdog

I'd have to make $200k+ for me to get an $80,000. Making $200k taking out the 30% in taxes you are bringing home $140k or $11.6k a month, and an $80k car payment for 60m is around $1600 a month. I personally don't want to have a $600 car payment no matter how much I make.

spdy0001

Only way would be if I won the lottery

I can't see my self paying more than 40K for a car if I worked for that money. Just not worth it. I have a few relatives well into the 6 figure salary's and they drive Ford Explorers and Honda accords.

Street Spirit

I'd never spend $80,000 on a car, regardless of income! In fact, I doubt I'd ever really consider anything over $35,000. I'm pretty happy with everything in that price range and wouldn't ever need (or really want) anything more. There are lots of better investments and things I'd rather do with that amount of money than buy a car.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

When you have $$ that thinking gets tossed.

Bdog

I'd say a lot of people you see driving high end cars own their own business. The don't have to be loaded, but you can buy a car and it's a tax right-off as a business expense. I have an Escalade and the CEO has a Jaguar XK8 and numerous other cars and they don't cost us anything. He actually has to buy a new car so ofter due to taxes or something. My Land Rover and Cadillac cost more than my house... I think my neighbors are like wtf! As in salary though, I can't justify spending that much on a car unless I get a big raise.

G

30%!! Ha, try more like 40-45%.

F23A4

The $33k we "paid" for our Murano made me want to .

The wife and I recently had a discussion about this. Even if wealthy, there are so many great new cars out there for sub $40k that spending $80k for one IMHO is ridiculous. Granted, one normally does not get exlusivity for <$40k but I do not care about exclusivity.

Street Spirit

It being a tax write-off means you still have to have the money to pay for it. It's not like getting a free car. Tax benefit or not, you still have to have the $80,000 to pay for it. $80,000 on a car is like money down the drain for me. The only thing it'll do is depreciate.

starsh0t

1/2 of my salary. If I was making 200k a year, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a 80-100k car.

Doobieman

To be honest, after going to the auto show in boston and personally checking out a lot of $70k cars, I was in fact VERY dissapointed. They offered nothing special that a $40k car doesn't except of a cool emblem. In fact, my FAVORITE cars were the TL-S, Infiniti M35/45, and the Audi A6.

Deity711

That's a great way to go about it. That's how I'd do it.


That said, I probably would "buy" a car as you normally would, meaning finance it and drive on a somewhat regular basis, for anything more than say $40-50K.

Once you get into the $80K range, seems like those types of cars are just toys for enjoyment, in which case, I would have the disposable cash on hand to get one.

Chief F1 Fan

I'll buy an 80K car--that's a year old and can be had for 45-50 (Audi A8).

bgsm1th

I'd be buying used cars even if I won the lottery...

synth19

I'm in the market for an RL, this car is a PERFECT example why you shouldn't buy used. A $50k+ car, 1 year old, low miles, can be picked up for 36-39k. How ridiculous is that?

Bdog

^

Should that be a PERFECT example why you shouldn't buy new?

synth19

I'm an idiot. Typo, but you guys know what I meant... SHOULDN'T BUY NEW. heh

Osamu

if i'm 50 and still single with no children (that mcdonalds money will have surely piled up by then)

JediMindTricks

i'd have to make $250,000+ to justify paying $80,000 for a car. i figure if i do make that much money, i'll probably also have a family and a house. so i don't think i'd spend that much on a car. maybe something like an RL or an infiniti m.

Chief F1 Fan

spend 5K more and get the A8-screw the RL.

synth19

It's not worth losing my mod status.

Moog-Type-S

A8 =

synth19

audi. meh. My next door neighbor has an A8. Not impressed. Besides, 5k more is out of reach as far as my budget goes.

Ken1997TL

Classic example of why not to buy new:

I found a 2004 RL with 23,000 miles in excellent condition. Dealer is asking only $22,000 and I'll probably do it after Turkey Day.

crazymjb

The 04RL is still the first gen, right? Personally I'd prefer a TL.

The 08 Audi R8 is so frickin' hot.

Now, realistically, if I was making enough money that after expenses I would still have enough to buy a new big screen TV everyday I would probably get one. It's always fun to have a new car. The thing that sucks is right when you finish paying it off something much nicer comes out that you MUST trade for.

Mike

Got_3.2?

iTrader: (2)

o definately me to.
just think of all that money down the drain after a yr or 2 from the depreciation. ill buy used so i can use the money i wouldve lost from depreciation and mod my new(used) car.. lol

Ken1997TL

Well Mike, I've had 3 TL's. One of each generation. The '04 RL is a better long distance hauler than all 3. Though the '03 TL-P and '97 TL-P come close. Quite frankly the '05 TL is disappointing. It has visibility issues, a choppy ride and it just doesnt feel like a Honda.

crazymjb

I agree with the visibility issues with the 05, and no it isn't a "cruiser" ride, but I don't mind it. Maybe you just aren't tough enough to take a few bumps

The one thing I do have a problem with in the TL is my wrists get sore over an extended period of time from the wheel, and I have tried it in many different positions.

Call me wasteful, but for just cruising around with no intention of playing I like being in something big. I love being in my truck driving back 45 minutes from work up on the North Shore (grandfathers in Beverly, MA).

This winter my father and I are driving down to DC, so hopefully by then we will have the MDX to take, otherwise it will be between the truck and the TL. Since we will probably be driving for 4-8 hours I will get a better sense than ever as to how that feels. My father complained the first summer on the drive up to Maine that he was uncomfortable after a few hours, but we'll see.

Mike

Sun Diego CL-S

there's a good chance that'll take more than $80k for me to buy a $80,000 car.

F23A4

...or the 06 GTO I mentioned in another thread yesterday, which is selling for ~$7k under MSRP w/only 3k on the odo.

Chief F1 Fan

oh yes it is!

Fibonacci

It's amazing how much experience you have behind the wheel of all these vehicles...