Spending a lot on cars

We have a paid off ten year old Honda Civic. Love it to bits, it’s a practical beast. DH drops that he would love a Tesla every once in a while (we drove one on holiday a couple of times) but I am not paying for a new car when we don’t need one, Tesla or not.

I did say if he doubled his salary he could get one though. Hasn’t happened yet (mainly because he would never want the extra responsibility and work)!

Yanbu op.

Buy seven year old Honda or Toyota and be done with it.

People with 60k+ AMG mercs and M3’s on pcp still living with their parents or in a one bad rental flat is pretty sad let’s face it.

Just as well you don’t see our garage. 2 Porsches and 2 BMWs. All paid for.

We just had this thread yesterday. Honestly at least try to come up with new ideas
or wait a week before posting the same crap.

Sorry meant to add our cars are not showy at all. Stodgy is more like it!

This is exactly me

I love cars, I drive a classic Porsche 911 that I’ve wanted since I watched flash dance at 8 years old and I’ve spent my life wanting to own one and finally at 50 I bought one. I personally drive it and couldn’t care less if it was invisible, I don’t give a hoot what anyone thinks of me smiling like a looney with my roof off and the engine noise, she’s beautiful. 😍 and is a massive treat to me.. I’ve worked my entire arse off.

I also have a 70K company Landrover, it costs me £900 a month and is hybrid and I run it via the business to reduce my corporation tax, I have huge dogs, live in the country and again don’t care less if nobody ever knew what I drive or owned it’s just my car, I also only have it on lease for 3 years so will never pay £70k just renting it for a time.

I also drive cars form the 90s proper old bangers and over my life have owned Porsches, landies, lotus and raced on tracks.

if you met me for a wine and a whizz in the 911 you’d understand car people, what you are describing is maybe a car idiot like me or maybe someone who’s showing off but you’ll never know.

I get your confusion but people who don’t get cars don’t take up any of my headspace, so maybe free up your headspace. Maybe they have saved forever or maybe they are a show off. You’ll never know 😍

We didn’t spend 50K but it was not far off. We buy new and a particular make that we always have had good luck with. My last car of the same make I’d had for nine years and hadn’t been in the shop at all except for tires and oil changes!
We pay cash because every time we buy a vehicle we start saving for the next one out of every paycheck. We do make good money but we didn’t always, and we started doing this from day one, 25+ years ago.

I have a friend that is always buying American cars and I swear half the time they are in the shop and costing them big money to fix them. Our way saves us so much time and money!

Right, but you must be aware plenty of rich people do have cars which show they are wealthy. Your small sample size isn’t standard, it’s just a small sample.

Because maybe they’re not dropping £50k as you say. It’s all about appearances and so many people lease cars rather than buy these days

This is why I spend money on a nice car. I spend a fair chunk of time in one and can afford to do so in a fancy (to me!) car.

60k car here and probably fit the bill of your post. Would never buy it myself, other car is not desirable at all. It's a company car and company car allowance we used to get is awful now and car options currently brilliant. So we've got it for 4 years. Also great to not need to think about insurance, servicing, tyres etc as company sort it. So that's my reason....

We have to spend money on essentials, which include housing, food, taxes, utilities and other stuff. After that, we’re all free to spend anything left over on what is a priority for each family.

I know people who spend around £50k a year on holidays. I can’t comprehend that, but that doesn’t matter. I know people who spend 2K on a bag. I can’t comprehend that either, but again, that doesn’t matter. Some people will spend tens of thousands on new kitchens or bathrooms. That’s their priority.

Who is to say who is right or wrong.

People are weirdly judgemental about cars. I don’t understand it either. They can spend thousands on new clothes, beauty appointments, holidays etc, but cars? Nope.

Exactly. I’m a petrol head and love my Porsche

British old money for sure.

I had friends who would get a Range Rover but couldn’t afford the petrol. Some people feel the need to have flash things and they value them over other things like nice food and heating.

I drive a van that is so decrepit people point and laugh at it.

My other car is a bike my dad found in a hedge in the 80s which I've upgraded with a blue mushroom crate. Does this make me British old money aristo or one American oil money?

My car is my sanctuary, I spend a lot of time driving to and from work, I travel a lot to see parents and throw the dog in the back for muddy walks. I can sit in it a play loud music - it’s my space away from the work stress and family stress at times!! We don’t have a second car but will be buying a small older car when my youngest turns 17.

I’ve had old bangers, more than once broken down & costly repair bills, Now with my job I have a car allowance- I choose to spend that on a leased car. If I changed jobs I would need to reconsider but would buy something similar if finances allow.

I don’t judge others and what they choose to do it’s none of my business. Why would you judge me with choices I have made - if it doesn’t affect you?

As long as people aren't moaning about being 'broke' and not paying their way, and ensuring their children have everything they need, after that its their business. DH would love a nice SUV, but at the moment he gets it's not a priority for us, our house is, and paying for tutoring. My Dad was same, had very sensible cars until my brother and I through uni. Then he bought a top of the range land rover for about 50k, he had worked hard all his life, why not buy it if it .makes him happy, my mum likes it too as she feels safer in it.

Fast cars are fun to drive. I'd understand that better than somebody spending a few grand on a rug.

I've currently got a lease car, but it's a one-off treat and I will go back to buying cars and running them into the ground. My car is lovely, but it is very hard to justify the cost.

I used to live in a village with cute, but tiny terraced houses and quite a few had cars parked in front of them that seemed to be longer than the houses were wide. I found that puzzling, but I am not sure if it easier to get car finance than a bigger mortgage.

I'm not really into cars, they aren't something I notice I just want something safe and reliable. I do have other things I like and will probably spend £100's on skincare in the upcoming black sales.

I think most people who fall in this bracket lease them because it means you know exactly where you are financially for 3-4 years.
When we leased, we had one payment that covered the car, insurance, all maintenance & repairs. It came off my salary giving tax benefits and the only thing we needed to do was add petrol for 3 years.

I enjoy cars. I'm not really into fashion or makeup. I hardly ever drink and don’t smoke. It's been years since I went on holiday. I work full time and don't have any kids to support. So, that's how I spend my money, and I like it.

My friend has no interest in cars, but she buys new clothes all the time and enjoys travelling.

Everyone's different.