Would / Have you ever.....

Scotty1.7

Decided to buy your realistic dream car?

I put a post up a while back looking at Honda HRV's, and every one I found for my budget was either needing tax, MOT or was in poor order.

So I decided to sit down and flesh out my budget for the next 2 years in a rough guide and see what I could get.

I've always been a big rally fan, and of course that means a 4wd, turbo nutter car.

Plus sides I have for me, 1- I only have a 8 mile commutate to work, and having a work colleague who does the same sort of commutate in a 2005 WRX He uses about £35 a week of super unleaded Its about the sort of budget I have fuel each week + a little 'fun'. 2- My insurance is a reasonable amount in the modern world. 3- I have no dependants or partner etc. 4- I car share with 2 others so the extra space will be welcome and they contibute to fuel + work gives me secure parking.

So my question is - While I'm still under 30, single and able to would it be the right thing to do?

Its not a early mid life crisis or anything like that, but I just think that while I can its the right time.

I don't have my own home, I share a house with a friend that we rent, I do have a little debt, however come next year I will be free of most of it.

I'm comfortable cost wise and running cost wise - I was looking at spending about 4.5k for the car, with a further 1.5k for some work on it stright away.

Oh and car wise - Its either a WRX or a Evo.

Gloomendoom

Just do it.

forgotmyname

If you find the right car then no problem. But lots of them have been messed with.

Remapped for maximum performance. Then bolt on extra's to push some parts over their limits.
Parts then have a limited lifespan.

If you buy a wrong one, Servicing and parts may add a fair chunk to your budget.

Scotty1.7

Yeah I agree with that forgetmyname

I not going to start looking until I have that extra cash to cover any extra bits as I mentioned.

I don't mind something that has been lightly tweaked as long as its backed up by really really good, traceable and checkable history.

moses06

Do it - or you will always wonder what if!!

Keith

For a year before we had kids, our weekend toy was a 180bhp roll caged 2 seater 205, it was great fun.

Now with 1 kid and another due in 6 weeks we are driving a 5 door 1.6 Astra.

If you don't do it now when you can, it could be years until you can again.

TrickyWicky

Yes I've done it! Three times actually. They were / are all the same make and model and despite not being worth much it was a car I really wanted just for the hell of it.

The downside? I wanted it so much I couldn't let it go. I'm now out of work and have two of them sorn'd. One is on our parking space and the other is on someone elses who just moved in (though they say they're ok with it being there).

Buy it, enjoy it while you can but don't rag it / ruin it. Always be prepared to let it go or at least have somewhere to stash it so you can keep it sorn with a backup plan for transport should that happen.

The other thing I would recommend is that you do your homework on the car. It's easy to want one so much that you'll take the first one that comes up but you must resist. Find out about the cars weakpoints, the parts that fail the most, the cost of repairing them etc and then you have the questions to ask when you find one you like (if the fault list doesn't put you off and make you get something else!).

A few years ago I almost came home with one of these:


Stunning motor, every gadget you could want, a reasonable 0-60 time and above all I just thought it looked the dogs oh and it had a 3.6L V6 engine. I had the cash, I had the enthusiasm but also the wisdom. When I did my research I found the waterpumps were prone to failing very quickly and the thought of lifting out a V6, changing 2 cambelts, a waterpump etc every year made me shudder so i stuck with my current car(s) which I'm still more than happy with.

Rolandtheroadie

I've done it 4 times and still plan to have a Mini and a Capri at some point

Got myself a v8 Rover SD1 that I'd hankered after since school, closely followed by a 3.9 Range Rover (both under £700, didnt break the bank).

When we discovered the wife was pregnant for a third time, I'd bought a diesel mondeo. When we found out it was twins, I bought a Grand Voyager (always wanted a yank, not really what I had in mind though).

Final one to date was a Hayabusa. With the twins on the way, I realised it was now or never.

skivenov

Quite often. Luckily I have a strange taste in cars though, so they normally don't cost me much

Tiddlywinks

Life is short, so my philosophy is... if it's legal, you can afford it and it doesn't hurt anyone else then do it!

worried_jim

I've had a Celica followed by a Supra. Brilliant cars, I preferred the Celica as you could sling it into corners, topped 140mph in both. I shall probably have another one as they are dirt cheap st some point.- Had them both in my 20's.