Insurance Agent Forum

[CT Insure Guy]

Certainly a few of us out there have been successful and must have rewarded ourselves with luxury/sports cars over the years. So, what are the last few cars you've owned and what's the current ride?

I currently have:

2002 BMW 330Ci

Used to own:

2004 Audi S4, 2002 BMW M3, 1997 BMW M3, 2001 Audi A6 4.2, 2000 Nissan Maxima.

Yes, I am car obsessed. I have sold the more expensive ones to try and save more $$ and be a little more practical but I am a HP junkie for sure. My vote for best car ever:

BMW E46 M3 (2002-2006).

The car handles like a freakin go cart for a moderatley heavy car, the inlike 6 in the most insanely smooth/powerful engine ever produced and it's sexier than Jessica Alba coming out of a pool topless in a G string!

OK, maybe not that sexy...

[salpro22]

I drive a 1995 Lincoln Towncar and have been for many years. I'm going to buy a S 500 next spring and then I'm going to Africa to kill a lion in the summer.

[Macdaddy]

2007 BMW 335i Coupe. It's a 0-60 in 4.8 second rocket! I have never had this much fun with a car in my life, nor have I ever caught myself driving 120 mph either.

[Newby]

Originally Posted by salpro22

I drive a 1995 Lincoln Towncar and have been for many years. I'm going to buy a S 500 next spring and then I'm going to Africa to kill a lion in the summer.

Damm Sal...I've got you beat (on model year anyway) 2001 Subaru Outback VDC. 182,000 miles and still just like new.

As someone who can easily afford any car I want I would give this advice to anyone who asks (quit reading here if you don't want my advice) control the urge to spend a lot of money you don't have on cars. If you are taking a loan out on a car (or leasing it) you can't afford it.

I was in vehicle sales management for 19-years and people piss away a lot of money they don't have on cars and motorcycles that are the latest and greatest today and yesterday's news in a year.

Buy 3-year old cars with 50,000 miles on them in great condition. They have never been out of warranty. You can find BARGINS. You can pay cash or take a 3-year loan.

I'm about building wealth. I want to be rich...not look rich.

Sorry about dumping on your thread. I like hot cars too. I just don't want to pay for them.

Originally Posted by salpro22

I drive a 1995 Lincoln Towncar and have been for many years. I'm going to buy a S 500 next spring and then I'm going to Africa to kill a lion in the summer.

lol...nice!

I drive a 1995 Mercury Sable with 60k miles on it and a large scrape on the passenger side door. I bought it off ebay for $1800. Man, I look good in it, too.

My wife gets the nice car which I sometimes get permission to drive. But with a baby on the way those privileges are gone too.

[TheSalesWolf]

I have a 2004 Dodge Ram truck, however I'm about to buy a small car for commuting. Just want something cheap that gets better gas mileage than 15 mpg.

[salpro22]

Damm Sal...I've got you beat (on model year anyway) 2001 Subaru Outback VDC. 182,000 miles and still just like new.

HaHa, you got me beat by about 30,000 miles. You're a smart man. I believe the insurance I have on the car adds up to about half the car's worth. Liability all the way!

I planned on dumping $25,000 into a newer car next year anyway so I might as well buy my dream car. Originally I was going to get a 1 year old Chevrolet Trailblazer until I saw how inexpensive I could buy a 2000-2002 S Class with low 6 figure miles on it. Finance that for the typical 4 year loan and I'm good. 33 IFP deals and the car is mine.

[salpro22]

Originally Posted by TheSalesWolf

I have a 2004 Dodge Ram truck, however I'm about to buy a small car for commuting. Just want something cheap that gets better gas mileage than 15 mpg.

I could have sworn I saw a Lincoln Navigator in your driveway. Maybe those myspace pictures deceived me.

[CT Insure Guy]

Originally Posted by Macdaddy

2007 BMW 335i Coupe. It's a 0-60 in 4.8 second rocket! I have never had this much fun with a car in my life, nor have I ever caught myself driving 120 mph either.

Yes, that's quite a car. About the same quickness-wise as the '02 M3 I had. With the Twin Turbos there is lots of aftermarket potential with chips, etc to make that car truly scream. I test drove one when it came out at New Country but I decided to scale back on cars for awhile and bought the used 330Ci.

I agree that it's not the best investment to be buying $50K + cars if you're on the road a lot selling, etc. Too much depreciation...but all the cars I have bought have been CPO cars with a minimum of 30K miles. Just bought the 330 with 50K miles on it.

Enjoy that TT 335...it'll burn a grin on to your face for life!

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

2006 AND 2004 GMC Envoy and Infiniti QX4. Love them both.

Used to drive Bimmers but no more. I won't dare ride with the family in anything but an SUV.

My all time favorite car was a bright orange 1975 BMW 325. My Dad let me drive it to college and keep it there.

[Macdaddy]

Originally Posted by CT Insure Guy

Yes, that's quite a car. About the same quickness-wise as the '02 M3 I had. With the Twin Turbos there is lots of aftermarket potential with chips, etc to make that car truly scream. I test drove one when it came out at New Country but I decided to scale back on cars for awhile and bought the used 330Ci.

I agree that it's not the best investment to be buying $50K + cars if you're on the road a lot selling, etc. Too much depreciation...but all the cars I have bought have been CPO cars with a minimum of 30K miles. Just bought the 330 with 50K miles on it.

Enjoy that TT 335...it'll burn a grin on to your face for life!

Trust me this car is fast enough. I sure as heck don't need any chips or mods! It is a ball to drive.

[Macdaddy]

Originally Posted by Newby

Damm Sal...I've got you beat (on model year anyway) 2001 Subaru Outback VDC. 182,000 miles and still just like new.

As someone who can easily afford any car I want I would give this advice to anyone who asks (quit reading here if you don't want my advice) control the urge to spend a lot of money you don't have on cars. If you are taking a loan out on a car (or leasing it) you can't afford it.

I was in vehicle sales management for 19-years and people piss away a lot of money they don't have on cars and motorcycles that are the latest and greatest today and yesterday's news in a year.

Buy 3-year old cars with 50,000 miles on them in great condition. They have never been out of warranty. You can find BARGINS. You can pay cash or take a 3-year loan.

I'm about building wealth. I want to be rich...not look rich.

Sorry about dumping on your thread. I like hot cars too. I just don't want to pay for them.

It is not about looking rich at all. For me is about having something fun to drive for a change. And if you do not have wealth, you should keep building.....but don't be presumptuous to think that some of us have not already done so and are enjoying at little of what we have built.

My other daily driver are a 2003 Honda Pilot with 165K miles.

[CT Insure Guy]

Originally Posted by Macdaddy

Trust me this car is fast enough. I sure as heck don't need any chips or mods! It is a ball to drive.

Yeah I know, for the average Joe the car is 100% of what they could want/need...truly an exceptional automobile(but I am probably the # 1 BMW worshipper in America!). Problem is I have pals who drive Merc SL55's and 911 TT's and once you get a taste it's hard to forget!

It truly is lunacy though because I mean, especially on public roads where I consider myself to be a very safe/sane driver, how fast can you really go and how much power is needed? I do a lot of stuff with Skip Barber schools, Autocrossing, etc so HP is just in my blood. I used to have a Suzuki Hayabusa a couple years back that would do like 0-100mph in less than 4 seconds and the rush was amazing...until I went to a bike meet in NJ and drove a Turbo 'Busa that a guy had just modified!

I think eventually cars/bikes will be so fast that we'll go backwards in time...cool.

[CT Insure Guy]

Originally Posted by Macdaddy

It is not about looking rich at all

I agree totally.

Anyone who knows me knows that I grew up basically a white-trasher and never had any money and the only reason I have spent $$ on cars is because I am real passionate about driving and love HP. There are plenty of guys I run into, however, that drive BMW's and Merc's simply for the "chick magnet effect" or because they feel like it's what they need to do to feel successful. I am married, happily (imagine that!), and could care less about that and no matter what I am driving there are still 10000 guys who have a more expensive/cooler car than me.

It's all about the love of the machine for me...f**k status symbols. I recently sold a large house and cut down to 2 vehicles from 4 because we wanted to scale back and really sock some $$ away for the eventual kids,etc. I still know guys who have 4-5 cars, a monstrous mortgage and 2 rugrats because they want everyone to worship them. Oh well, to each their own...

[TheSalesWolf]

Originally Posted by salpro22

I could have sworn I saw a Lincoln Navigator in your driveway. Maybe those myspace pictures deceived me.

The Navigator is the wife's.

[pfsthib]

1996 Nissan Maxima 160K miles

[GreenSky]

My favorite cars are my 2 motorcycles.

2003 Yamaha FZ1 that will smoke almost any car 0-100 and
A 2003 Honda ST-1300.

Since I'm not trying to impress my clients I still love my 2002 Honda Accord EX (5 speed). Has 65,000 miles on it now and paid $12,000 for it 2 1/2 years ago when it had 15,000 miles. Probably still worth 9-10K.

I fail to see the thrill of $400-500 a month car payments. Every car is a used car once it's driven off the lot.

Rick

[CT Insure Guy]

Originally Posted by GreenSky

I fail to see the thrill of $400-500 a month car payments. Every car is a used car once it's driven off the lot. Rick

It's all in what your passions are and/or what you can afford. Some folks will spend $250,000 on JEWELRY, which to me is sheer lunacy. My idiot father in Law has a $120K Mercedes SL55, an Audi A8 and a Limited Edition Harley Fat Boy but he couldn't drive his way around a parking lot. He just likes the toys to impress because he has the dough.

I love performance cars/bikes and have rationalized higher car payments n the past because of that love, but then again I did put a sizeable chunk down on each to eat at least some of that depreciation.

I have had a lot of bikes too...Yamaha YZF1000R(maybe my fave bike ever), a couple Kawi ZX-11's and a ZX-9 plus the Busa...just got tired of idiots pulling out in front of me, clueless. Sold the Busa last sumemr and I don't know if I'll ever go back...but that HD V Rod sure is puuurty.

[midwestbroker]

1999 Maxima that the wife normally drives.

Now, don't get jealous BMW people, but I cruise in a 1991 Mazda Protege. Prior to insurance, I had a company car for about 3 years. We got it for my wife who had a 4 mile round trip to work and back.

That is my smart car. Paid $1500 for it 3 years ago and saw one with more miles for sale not too long ago for $1200. Depreciation, about $200, and it still shines.

I plan on getting rid of it when the A/C goes out. So far though, she is blowing cold (knocking on wood).

[healthagent]

2000 Pontiac Grand Prix. When I have to get a tow truck to scrape it off the road I'll buy another car. There's not a bigger waste of money in the country then cars.