what kind of car do you drive?

[laserbeam2016]

I graduated last year. My car is a toyota 2002, looking old but functioning fine now. I am drooling over those Acura or Lexus, but trying very hard to curb my enthusiasm as I have plenty of debts. Wondering what kind of cars do you guys drive so maybe to help me self-disciplined?

[asmallchild]

I have a rather snazzy 2013 Nissan that I plan on driving into the ground

The wife has the luxury vehicle: BMW suv

[ndayev6]

2011 Honda Fit

2009 Honda Civic (wife)

[nyu04]

laserbeam2016 wrote:

I graduated last year. My car is a toyota 2002, looking old but functioning fine now. I am drooling over those Acura or Lexus, but trying very hard to curb my enthusiasm as I have plenty of debts. Wondering what kind of cars do you guys drive so maybe to help me self-disciplined?

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I drive the car I had before I started residency - 2002 civic coupe with ~240k miles.  My wife drives a 10 year old toyota SUV we bought used with cash.

I am a huge car fanatic (esp fancy sports cars) so I feel your pain.  Hold tight for now, pay off some debt, then purchase what you want when you can pay for it with cash and/or are in a better financial situation.

After the first few years - it gets better and the urge subsides (to a manageable level).  Having said that, I still feel like a recovering addict every time I see a fancy sports car roll by

I will probably get something nice when my current car dies but for now, it's a game to me to see how long I can keep driving the car.

 

[SaintClive]

Any driving enthusiasts on the board?  It's one thing to like the look of a fancy sports car, but I think car people know that there are fun cars to drive in many different price ranges.  I drive a hatchback but it's a Golf R so it could thrash most cars on the road in a straight line, but more importantly its a blast to drive on twisty roads and I like that only car people really know the power behind what I'm driving.

[The White Coat Investor]

My partners and I have been drooling over the new Tesla SUV this week.

But I'm driving a 14 year old Durango. The "nice" car my wife drives is an 11 year old Sequoia I'll inherit when I get her a new one when the Durango dies.

If you're a "car guy" make it a priority when you get things under control. I saved up to buy an expensive boat. You can save up to buy an expensive car. Trust me when I say it's a lot more fun when you know it's paid for.

[E5797]

I graduated fellowship in 2008.  I have an 2008 Honda CR-V.  Paid off over three years with a 0% financing when I was starting out.  Prior to that I had an older Toyota Tercel, but was on its last legs and I need to replace a few months after graduation.

[Alan10km]

A little shy of my first year out.  Not really a car guy.  I just see it as a necessity to get from A to B and can think of a lot of things or trips I would like to spend my money on before a nicer car.

Me - 2007 Mercury Mariner 120k miles, plan to drive for a long while

Wife - 2013 Honda Odyssey.  We had to trade in the Honda civic when we went from 1 to 3 kids with twins.  Hopefully this will last a good long while as well.

Both cars paid off so hopefully no car payments for a while for this family.

[Dicast]

I always make a plug for my current car, a 2012 Hyundai Genesis. Luxury at a bargain cost if you buy used. I broke a rule around here and financed it at about 1.8% interest. Total cost $19k (taxes, everything) with 41000 miles on it used. The thing is crazy smooth on the highway, very quiet, and pretty quick with 330 hp all while getting around 28 mpg on the highway. I have zero regrets. They are pretty easy to find at rental car places, drive one for a couple days and see how you like it.

One of the things I never realized was that driving my 15 year old explorer 76 miles round trip every day was adding on so much stress from road noise that I actually felt better at work and home after switching to a quiet car.

While I did finance this car, I have so little left on it that I could erase the debt at any time...as opposed to driving the Mercedes S600 I saw in my physician's lot the other day...

[jhwkr542]

Finishing out my fellowship year in my 1999 Nissan altima. Never been a car guy but my new job gives me $750/month for a car lease. I can get it in cash if I don't use it but they pay for gas, maintenance, and insurance if I do. Can't pass it up I guess. Going to splurge on an Acura mdx I think.

[nyu04]

SaintClive wrote:

Any driving enthusiasts on the board?  It’s one thing to like the look of a fancy sports car, but I think car people know that there are fun cars to drive in many different price ranges.  I drive a hatchback but it’s a Golf R so it could thrash most cars on the road in a straight line, but more importantly its a blast to drive on twisty roads and I like that only car people really know the power behind what I’m driving.

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I agree with you that there are fun cars to drive in many prices ranges - I would consider myself a car enthusiast but definitely only an amateur driver.  In my life time, I have only tracked a MX5, M3, M5, R8, WRX/STI, GT2, and a GTR.  Took a track course a long time but never got back into it.

I really would love to own a GTR or a GT2 but I'd rather see that 100k in the investment portfolio instead.  Maybe one day though, who knows

 

Edit: oops - typo

[asmallchild]

SaintClive wrote:

Any driving enthusiasts on the board?  It’s one thing to like the look of a fancy sports car, but I think car people know that there are fun cars to drive in many different price ranges.  I drive a hatchback but it’s a Golf R so it could thrash most cars on the road in a straight line, but more importantly its a blast to drive on twisty roads and I like that only car people really know the power behind what I’m driving.

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Probably doesn't have as much power as your Golf but I've heard very nice things about the handling of the FRS/BRZ especially on twisty roads

[StatBariumEnema]

The White Coat Investor wrote:

My partners and I have been drooling over the new Tesla SUV this week.

But I’m driving a 14 year old Durango. The “nice” car my wife drives is an 11 year old Sequoia I’ll inherit when I get her a new one when the Durango dies.

If you’re a “car guy” make it a priority when you get things under control. I saved up to buy an expensive boat. You can save up to buy an expensive car. Trust me when I say it’s a lot more fun when you know it’s paid for.

Click to expand...

Don't you think there is a safety benefit with newer cars? When we started planning to have a child, we made sure we upgraded to new cars (2013 Hondas, CRV and Accord) because my wife and I place an extremely high value on our family's safety.

Just having blue tooth so we're less distracted if we have to be on the phone seems pretty important. I haven't done research on the specific benefits of some of these features (10 airbags vs 2), latest car seat attachments, collision mitigation systems, but they all seem to improve safety to at least some extent. Having a rearview camera is pretty awesome, not to mention I think it keeps me safer. I would think the advancements in the build of the car also make a difference

Also, older cars are more prone to breaking down and the last place I want to be is stuck on the side of the highway.

Given car accidents are the leading or one of the top causes of mortality in those 25-45, I would rather decrease my risk as much as possible. While we're mostly smart enough to not drink and drive, physicians often have to drive during primetime drunk driving hours, coming off a late shift or being called in the middle of the night.

Of course, we don't need to buy a Tesla or X5 or whatever, although there may be an incremental improvement in safety I think, I can't imagine making a physician's salary, having a very nice nest egg, having tons of disability/ life insurance, and increasing my and my family's risk of harm with an old car.

I did finance at less than 2%, which is pretty easy to get. I'm fine with paying the 1k in finance charges or whatever it is over the 5.5 years.

[NaOH]

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[DoubleMDs]

Just upgraded from a two door Honda Accord (was 14 yrs old and transmission finally went) we originally bought used to a basic four door Honda Accord. Really went all out. Ha. Planning on driving it another 14 years.