Second Car - Help Needed!
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 182
From: Los Angeles, CA
Just from an outside observer what Im seeing is you're restraining yourself to buy cars that are less than what you really want and thats causing you to get dissatisfied with them and trade out of them after a short time. The net cost of this is HUGE, and you could drive a much more expensive car that you would be satisfied with for longer. My advice would be, bite the bullet and get what you want.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,483
Likes: 3,995
From: Maryland
Its not financial advice, its car advice. The reason youre in this position is because you're limiting yourself to cars you don't really want because of a self imposed set of restrictions that are counter-productive to your desire to limit the amount of money you're spending on cars. With your outlay here having traded cars so early you could be driving a $100,000 car.
My advice is, stretch some and get the car you really want, even if its $30k more than what you're looking at its going to be cheaper than doing this again in 6 months. If thats an S4, then great.
For instance, this is why I just went for it and got an S Class. Thats what I really wanted, and anything else would just be a cheaper substitute I would be driving still wanting an S Class.
My advice is, stretch some and get the car you really want, even if its $30k more than what you're looking at its going to be cheaper than doing this again in 6 months. If thats an S4, then great.
For instance, this is why I just went for it and got an S Class. Thats what I really wanted, and anything else would just be a cheaper substitute I would be driving still wanting an S Class.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 182
From: Los Angeles, CA
so the options in front of me today are after discussing with my spouse:
1. i keep the m35i
2. spouse keeps the m35i and pays it off completely, leaving leftover money for me to purchase the s4 without even touching my own funds due to the gift that his parents gave
it makes sense to keep the m35i in the household, just depends on who keeps it. my SO doesn't care one way or the other.
i have to drive the s4 of course today to decide upon these two. my SO doesn't care much about cars as long as the car isn't a mainstream marque.
what a nightmare having to buy a second car. i thought it would be fun, but after a week of negotiating online which damn takes forever, it's been draining. today is the day!
1. i keep the m35i
2. spouse keeps the m35i and pays it off completely, leaving leftover money for me to purchase the s4 without even touching my own funds due to the gift that his parents gave
it makes sense to keep the m35i in the household, just depends on who keeps it. my SO doesn't care one way or the other.
i have to drive the s4 of course today to decide upon these two. my SO doesn't care much about cars as long as the car isn't a mainstream marque.
what a nightmare having to buy a second car. i thought it would be fun, but after a week of negotiating online which damn takes forever, it's been draining. today is the day!
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,483
Likes: 3,995
From: Maryland
Does she REALLY not care to keep the M35i? Or are we going to be back in this position again with her car in 6 months? LOL
You're a car guy, if you don't like the car get rid of it and get two cars you like.
You're a car guy, if you don't like the car get rid of it and get two cars you like.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 182
From: Los Angeles, CA
Its not financial advice, its car advice. The reason youre in this position is because you're limiting yourself to cars you don't really want because of a self imposed set of restrictions that are counter-productive to your desire to limit the amount of money you're spending on cars. With your outlay here having traded cars so early you could be driving a $100,000 car.
My advice is, stretch some and get the car you really want, even if its $30k more than what you're looking at its going to be cheaper than doing this again in 6 months. If thats an S4, then great.
For instance, this is why I just went for it and got an S Class. Thats what I really wanted, and anything else would just be a cheaper substitute I would be driving still wanting an S Class.
My advice is, stretch some and get the car you really want, even if its $30k more than what you're looking at its going to be cheaper than doing this again in 6 months. If thats an S4, then great.
For instance, this is why I just went for it and got an S Class. Thats what I really wanted, and anything else would just be a cheaper substitute I would be driving still wanting an S Class.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,483
Likes: 3,995
From: Maryland
yeah, it's the s4, at least given what's on the market. only because i really love the compact luxury sports sedan segment. i wouldn't want an s6, for example, as the car is too large for me and my needs. the comparative options from mb and bmw aren't doing it for me, so i'm test driving today and then discussing what to do based on the post right above this one.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 182
From: Los Angeles, CA
okay, so with the m35i, it's not that i don't like it, i just don't think it's great. it's better than good, but not great, if that makes sense. the more we've talked it over, keeping it makes sense, it just depends on whether or not i buy the s4 or keep the m35i for a few years more and then dump it when the next gen s4 is released. and SO doesn't really care about cars -- not like i do, that's for sure. i dunno, it's a hard decision on my part because SO doesn't care, but i do, but i'm going to be very hesitant to sign on the dotted line because i don't want what i'd consider to be mediocrity. from everything that i've gathered about the s4, it's not mediocre, but others' opinions and mine differ of course at times. i do love the way it looks, which i know many find odd bc of audi's restrained styling, but i think it's a car that doesn't scream look at what i have!!! i happen to like that aesthetic and i also genuinely think it's a very good looking vehicle. the i6 seems to be such a great engine, too. so we'll see. the appointment today is at 2pm pacific.
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Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 512
Likes: 169
From: Alberta
Op. Have you considered a used LC500? The 18’s are getting close to $60k and are a whole lotta car.
great looks
comfort for commuting
Lexus reliability
many steps up fro the IS’s you owned
i didn’t see anywhere in the thread where you ruled out used so if you did disregard my post please
great looks
comfort for commuting
Lexus reliability
many steps up fro the IS’s you owned
i didn’t see anywhere in the thread where you ruled out used so if you did disregard my post please
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,343
Likes: 601
From: IL
what did i state very clearly prior? that i do NOT want financial advice. i know what i have in the bank, what i disposable income i have, what i have to allocate to keep the estate running and everything ancillary. i do not that i could have made it clearer. please do not offer any financial advice as that's not what i'm asking for and it's not polite when it's unsolicited. if i wanted to spend 10k on twinkies and i were able to, then so be it. you deal with your finances, which are clearly different than mine and i'll deal with my own.
If you consider re-affirming your impression that you'll get a better deal buying an Audi than leasing one as "financial advice", then for that I apologize.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 182
From: Los Angeles, CA
That was not financial advise. It was correcting an erroneous calculation of loss on a transaction, as being based solely on equity. What you choose do do with that information is up to you. At no time in that first paragraph did I tell you what do do about your purchase.
If you consider re-affirming your impression that you'll get a better deal buying an Audi than leasing one as "financial advice", then for that I apologize.
If you consider re-affirming your impression that you'll get a better deal buying an Audi than leasing one as "financial advice", then for that I apologize.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 182
From: Los Angeles, CA
Op. Have you considered a used LC500? The 18’s are getting close to $60k and are a whole lotta car.
great looks
comfort for commuting
Lexus reliability
many steps up fro the IS’s you owned
i didn’t see anywhere in the thread where you ruled out used so if you did disregard my post please
great looks
comfort for commuting
Lexus reliability
many steps up fro the IS’s you owned
i didn’t see anywhere in the thread where you ruled out used so if you did disregard my post please
it is something to think about in several more months if i happen to drive the s4 and not be as impressed as i think i'm gonna be and decide that me keeping the m35i is the best option for the moment.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 182
From: Los Angeles, CA
haha, i know, but i might wind up keeping it for maybe a year longer to see what else comes on the market because really the only option that i'm truly interested in is the s4 and there's no fun when there aren't more acceptable choices. i'd be waiting for the new c-class, the new s4, and perhaps something new that lexus releases or the lc as many have suggested. there's also that beautiful genesis g70 that's gonna be released at some point this year, but it's a genesis lol which is unfortunate. the x2 is tuned though, so it's making well over 300hp and lb ft of torque -- it's a little rocket and my friend's draggy recorded a 0-60 time of 4.2 seconds without launch control and 4.1 seconds with launch control. those are good numbers coming out of that high-output i4.
and you're absolutely right. i could drive a honda civic if i didn't care about cars - other people may make value judgements based on the vehicle, but if i were content with it, i wouldn't care. and that's where i find myself now -- trying to figure out if the s4 is worth it or if i should wait to see what new offerings come out within the year or even early next year.
p.s. i have my second moderna covid vaccine today at 11:30 pacific and i hear that the next day is brutal. my mom had hers yesterday and today she's feeling it pretty badly. hopefully i don't feel the effects today.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,992
Likes: 519
From: Maryland
this is actually a good suggestion, but there aren't very many in the socal area that are 70k or under and i don't want to increase the limit yet again.
it is something to think about in several more months if i happen to drive the s4 and not be as impressed as i think i'm gonna be and decide that me keeping the m35i is the best option for the moment.
it is something to think about in several more months if i happen to drive the s4 and not be as impressed as i think i'm gonna be and decide that me keeping the m35i is the best option for the moment.
Anyway, I'm excited to hear what you say after test driving the S4, it's a really nice car with best in class interior; however, based on what you have been saying I'm not sure it's going to scratch that itch for more than a short period of time and I can see you becoming bored of it and back in this same situation. I think you should just get whatever it is you really want like others have said above even if it means stretching the budget a bit.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 182
From: Los Angeles, CA
This is so confusing, you just said above you wouldn't buy a used LC500 and that it has to be new but now you are saying its a good suggestion?
Anyway, I'm excited to hear what you say after test driving the S4, it's a really nice car with best in class interior; however, based on what you have been saying I'm not sure it's going to scratch that itch for more than a short period of time and I can see you becoming bored of it and back in this same situation. I think you should just get whatever it is you really want like others have said above even if it means stretching the budget a bit.
Anyway, I'm excited to hear what you say after test driving the S4, it's a really nice car with best in class interior; however, based on what you have been saying I'm not sure it's going to scratch that itch for more than a short period of time and I can see you becoming bored of it and back in this same situation. I think you should just get whatever it is you really want like others have said above even if it means stretching the budget a bit.
i have the same concerns with the s4 so i might wind up keeping the m35i for a while longer because the s4 really is the only option right now in the compact luxury sports sedan segment that i find appealing and i'd like more options. we'll see, but if i wind up keeping the m35i for a year or so longer while my SO buys whatever, then that's an okay situation with me. definitely first world problem and not the end of the world.
some lexus dealership just contacted me about a 2021 RC350 F Sport which i hadn't really considered but if the deal is good enough i know that car will also last forever. i have never driven one and from reviews online there are some journalists who say it's a boat while others say it's heavy but handles well, it's just underpowered. the 2021 also gets apple carplay which is a huge deal for me. it kinda piqued my interest...kinda.