New Bedford, MA · Member since 2011 · 34 posts · 7 votes
15y
Originally posted by Tod Radford:
I was thinking about a similar topic inspired by the Millionaire Next Door thread. I was wondering what type of car and how long did you finance, or lease.
Years ago, I always felt the desire to have something "new". After reading The Millionaire Next Door, I completely changed my outlook on money. I became much more frugal and truly realized that wealth is not about what you spend, but what you accumulate. The last car I bought was a 2000 Acura 3.2 TL ... I purchased it in April '05, paid it off in August '09, and I plan on keeping it as long as possible (220K miles on it now).
Investor · Kalamazoo, MI · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 495 votes
15y
I drive a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport and a 2002 Honda CRV depending on what I am doing. The jeep is great for towing and can hold a lot of tools and materials inside where they are safe. The Honda gets much better gas mileage and is a real trooper even it it looks a little girly! Both vehicles handle well in Michigan Winters. I am starting to think about getting a little Summer beater like a VW or Toyota that does better on gas. Also-after driving 4 wheel drives for so long cars are a blast. I actually sold cars for 18 years and never had to own one as I was given a brand new demmo to drive every 6 months or so. To me a vehicle is just a necessary evil to get you from point A to point B. The thing I like the best about my current vehicles is that they are paid for!
Investor · Kalamazoo, MI · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 495 votes
15y
We bought a used Trailblazer for the baby mobile recently. I think it is an '04 model, but I honestly don't know. It is currently at around 140k miles. We traded my wife's '00 Civic for it for a net of -$3k or so.
You should have kept the Civic as it will do way better on gas and not need nearly as much up keep as the Trailblazer :wink:
Investor · corpus christi, TX · Member since 2010 · 9 posts · 6 votes
15y
topic is a bit old but hey..
i drive an 03 trailblazer paid cash.. nice to see other investors have the same ride.. want to get an 05 or newer frontier 4x4 for hauling and the beach, but can't find the price i like.. also ride an 07 kymco people S 250 scooter that gets 55-60mpg also paid in cash..
Flipper/Rehabber · Orlando, FL · Member since 2008 · 263 posts · 147 votes
15y
1989 Jaguar Vanden Plas (black with magnolia interior)
My first job in London was selling Jag's and I got married in 1989 - so when I saw this advertised I thought it would be fun. Plus it was the last year they were actually made in England. The only downside is that it get's vapor lock (known fault with the model year) when the outside temp goes above 90. So it stalls and I have to wait for the fuel to cool off! That can be frustratiing as I live in FL and it is 90+ for 30% of the year. We call it the Ice Princess - because on a trip to GA last summer it stalled and I stacked some ice against the fuel tank.. not in the driver's manual - but it worked.
I also have a Suburban and a Civic as a back up if it gets too hot outside. They're not as much fun to drive - but they are much more reliable - plus when I lived in Colorado the Suburban goes where no other SUV can go!
Contractor · Arcade, NY · Member since 2011 · 44 posts · 31 votes
15y
I started out driving mostly foreign cars, but I now seem to gravitate to fords. I have an 07 Taurus with 130k and a 2010 fusion. Both run great. I almost bought a BMW right before I settled on the fusion, but something about plunking down $40k on a car just didn't sit right.
It's not a car, but I also have an 83 Harley FLT for putting around.
Investor · Reston, VA · Member since 2011 · 683 posts · 191 votes
15y
2005 Mazda Tribute. Bought new and paid cash. Actually, they were offering 1K off if you financed it with them so I did. I got the coupon book a few weeks later and sent a check to pay the car off in full. My kid has my old car (2000 Mazda Tribute). Also have a 1998 Dodge Ram for business and a 1996 Jeep wrangler for fun. Haven't had a car payment since my late 20's. Don't ask me about my husband's 60K+ car....
Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2011 · 103 posts · 22 votes
15y
My baby is a 1979 Mercedes 450SL. Bought it from a lady after her father had passed, he was the first and only owner of the car. Apparently only drove it on weekends when it rained, so he never had to wash it.
It had sat without being touched for about six years, so it wouldn't start. She was convinced it was completely dead and worth nothing, even though it only had 65,000 miles on it! I bought it from her for $2,000, put another $3,000 worth of a battery, spark plugs, and some miscellaneous cleaning and tuning into it. Drives great, the thing is a boat.
It only gets eight miles per gallon, so I keep from driving it whenever possible, but there's some days (like today) that it's just perfect to put the top down and go for a cruise.
The thing is a tank. It has no airbags, and only meets requirements to be usable in a few states because of different emissions or safety laws, but its safe. If I get in a crash, I'm going straight through the other car.
I feel that there was a time in the mid-seventies where the Germans asked how they could make their cars better. The answer apparently was to make it heavier and more powerful.
Investor · Reston, VA · Member since 2011 · 683 posts · 191 votes
15y
Jon,
My husband's car is an infinity something. We've had the "discussion" for years. It's important to him to have a cool car and a new one every 2 yrs...it's all I can do to prevent another boat purchase!
Real Estate Investor · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2011 · 119 posts · 59 votes
15y
I notice a lot of you have a truck, I often wondered how useful a truck would be in this business but I can't justify the gas guzzling aspect, how useful is a truck for you who own one?
Rental Property Investor · Taylor Mill, KY · Member since 2011 · 105 posts · 24 votes
15y
I do the majority of my own rehab work, so my truck (07 GMC 2500 diesel, paid off) is a necessity. Always making a HD or Lowes trip for something. Besides, I need it to pull the camper and the boat.
Wife and I have '96 Civic with broken odometer and '05 Scion tC, both paid for. Looking to get a truck soon - cutting drywall in home depot parking lot so it will fit in Scion is getting a little old :). We also have a baby coming in November so will be looking to get her a 4 door (both are 2 doors).
Real Estate Investor · the villages, FL · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
15y
I don't think I have replied to this thread, so here goes.
09 Chrysler 300 hemi- Bought new WITH loan 4 addtl credit entry
98 Dodge v10 truck to pull 5th wheel-pd cash
94 Pontiac Firehawk with over 400 HP- pd cash
08 Kia sportage, wifes' daily driver-pd cash
05 Customized Dodge Viper convertible with Hennessey high performance package. Bought used with 800 miles, and the customization already completed. 200 mile per hour car.pd cash
I know. It's stupid to have 5 cars for 2 drivers. I've heard that from wifey for long time. Shipping 3 and driving 2 for the upcoming 2700 mile move. Yuk. Rich
Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2011 · 103 posts · 22 votes
15y
Originally posted by Jim Stardust:
I notice a lot of you have a truck, I often wondered how useful a truck would be in this business but I can't justify the gas guzzling aspect, how useful is a truck for you who own one?
Jim, New trucks these days are surprisingly fuel-efficient. Especially if you look into the new ones like the big Ford F150 Super-ultra-titanium-duty ones that have variable-cylinder engines and whatnot.
Investor · Little Rock, AR · Member since 2010 · 628 posts · 251 votes
15y
My wife and I enjoy a pair of Chevy LTZ's. One is a Tahoe the other is an extended cab. Both are 08's; the Tahoe was purchased new and the Pickup just a few months ago with 27k on the odometer. We Bought the Tahoe to keep from spending a lot of money on a Durango. We ended up selling the Durango to a freind and spent the money anyway. Being nice cost me about $50k. But, now the wife and her freind are happy. Both vehicles will be paid for in a couple of years.
We use them to pull our 24ft pontoon, the 16' fishing boat, and the 28' camper. Life would be complete with a couple of ATV 4x4.
We are thinking about doing the traveling thing when I hang up the 40 hr (recently 60 or more) gig. I might need a bigger camper and PU then.
Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2011 · 103 posts · 22 votes
15y
Originally posted by Don Hines:
My wife and I enjoy a pair of Chevy LTZ's. One is a Tahoe the other is an extended cab. Both are 08's; the Tahoe was purchased new and the Pickup just a few months ago with 27k on the odometer. We Bought the Tahoe to keep from spending a lot of money on a Durango. We ended up selling the Durango to a freind and spent the money anyway. Being nice cost me about $50k. But, now the wife and her freind are happy. Both vehicles will be paid for in a couple of years.
We use them to pull our 24ft pontoon, the 16' fishing boat, and the 28' camper. Life would be complete with a couple of ATV 4x4.
We are thinking about doing the traveling thing when I hang up the 40 hr (recently 60 or more) gig. I might need a bigger camper and PU then.
Don
I've always heard, "Happy wife, happy life!"
Hope that happiness is worth the 50k, that's a down payment or two depending on what you are looking for :wink:
Rental Property Investor · New York, NY · Member since 2011 · 956 posts · 510 votes
15y
Jeep Cherokee 2000----140,000miles ,runs like new, carries all my stuff to transport,including queen size futon. never worry about wheather,rain sleet snow, sun, all the same . Love it!