I came across Mate's writing and thought I'd post just one paragraph in a whole book dedicated to "A Reasonable Life"
(title) in the country.

"In the country, on the other hand, the less flashy our car, the less stupid the neighbors tend to think us to be. A rusty, wired-together pick-up is the epitome of fashion. This at a blink can save you ten to twenty grand. Initially. For the city you are considered subversive unless you trade in, and up, every couple of years. With car payments, interest, maintenance, insurance, depreciation and the occasional fender-bender, city slickers can easily fritter away $5,000 a year just on the heap."

What about expected annual costs for the RX-8?
(to keep this under Gen. Disc.'s)

first off, you can (and a lot of people do) spend WAY MORE than $5000 a year to keep and maintain a city car. The RX-8 will cost about $6000 a year just in car payments. Imagine someone leasing a nice Mercedes or other $100k car.

Secondly, post where you are from. A reasonable life in the country of what country?

Also the perception that someone in the country having a truck is "the epitome is fashion" is not entirely correct. Rather, a truck is the epitome of functionality and reason. Ever drive around in the midwest? Everyone seems to drive a truck because of their livelihood. They use it to haul, tow, 4 wheel, etc. There isn't as much functional purpose to a truck in an urban area. And these trucks people are driving around aren't all junkers. We are talking about some Dodge RAMs starting over $40000 MSRP and the like as well as those 20 year old legacies.

Likewise, you could drive around in a city in a $22000 MINI and noone would criticize you for what you drive, based on the functionality.

The wealth of the US is also centralized around cities. Do you think the people driving around $80,000 cars in the city are compromising their lifestyles to drive the car they are in? Surely there are some that will do this, but the majority of the people driving these vehicles don't think twice about spending $20000+ a year on vehicles. With household incomes soaring past $250k a year, there is enough discretionary income to cover such luxuries.

Originally posted by pmacwill

Surely there are some that will do this, but the majority of the people driving these vehicles don't think twice about spending $20000+ a year on vehicles. With household incomes soaring past $250k a year, there is enough discretionary income to cover such luxuries.
This is not true my parents make way over 350,000 a year but with four kids, two cats and a dog. they still pay alot. They also pay for A 2002 bmw covertible, 2004 rx8 6 speed, Two 2003 dodge rams and owne a house over 650,000. There insurance alone is over 10,000 grand. Most people if they have money they just dont flaunt it around and buy eveything they see. Even rich people have responablitys to pay taxes, mortage, insurance , car payments and collage for there kids.To get to the point if someone has money they just dont go on shopping sprees , have you ever heard of that saying you work for what you get paid for my dad works at least 70 hours a week. He dosent come home and say lets buy out all of macys cloths or abercombie cloths. Rich people or poor people everyone has responablities first.

Originally posted by eclps0

This is not true my parents make way over 350,000 a year but with four kids

First off, you didn't have to say more. I don't factor kids into the equation.

Secondly, regardless of what you might say in your parents' defense, they DO drive nice cars, and you are getting rid of a 2001 eclipse and getting a 2004 RX-8 and you are 19. Case and point.

Originally posted by eclps0
they still pay alot... Most people if they have money they just dont flaunt it around and buy eveything they see... To get to the point if someone has money they just dont go on shopping sprees

Thats not what I was trying to say. Somehow they manage to have a 2002 bmw covertible, 2004 rx8 6 speed, 2 2003 dodge rams. That was exactly my point. I'm not saying they are 'flaunting' their money by having expensive or newer vehicles, I am just saying such things are within their means. From personal experience, those that are well off certainly do not spend recklessly. You make the money and you appreciate the work it takes to be successful. However, you can still indulge in the nicer things without it being a complete burden on your livelihood.


ps. its spelled 'clothes'

I just find it entertaining that a lot of people still continue to be spoiled and have their parents buy cars for them.

If I was a parent, no more than 5k for a car for my kids. Transportation for them, fun for me. When they get a job, they can buy one from their own hard work.

I hate handouts.

Originally posted by Hercules
I just find it entertaining that a lot of people still continue to be spoiled and have their parents buy cars for them.

And many of these kids, not knowing any other way of life, ever realize it.

Completely agree with you Herc - most kids in other countries don't get their own car until they can afford to buy one themselves (like I did after finishing university and getting a job). But then again without public transport cars are a necessity instead of a luxury in many parts of the USA.

My personal feeling and also my upbringing suggests that a safe/reliable $5k used vehicle is perfect for a new driver. But will I feel different in 17 years time, or will my little princess deserve the best new car I can afford in 2020? Now that I am a parent I find my principles changing a little every day. Place your bets...

Originally posted by eclps0
my parents make way over 350,000 a year but with four kids, two cats and a dog. they still pay alot.

*cough*

well, my pappy (with whom i still live and depend on) grosses about $110k CDN (!... that'd be about $80k US) yearly, with four kids, a dog, two cars, Canadian-sized taxes, (until recently) two mortgages, etc... if your family can afford 6 cars for all of its six members, which are all brand-spanking new every 2 years (your eclipse is only a 2001 model), i'd say that would fall into the "luxury" category of which pmacwill speaks.

...not that i'm jealous, envious, petty or even a little upset at you ;) good on ya.

Originally posted by pelucidor
Completely agree with you Herc - most kids in other countries don't get their own car until they can afford to buy one themselves (like I did after finishing university and getting a job). But then again without public transport cars are a necessity instead of a luxury in many parts of the USA.

My personal feeling and also my upbringing suggests that a safe/reliable $5k used vehicle is perfect for a new driver. But will I feel different in 17 years time, or will my little princess deserve the best new car I can afford in 2020? Now that I am a parent I find my principles changing a little every day. Place your bets... Don't give in :)

I think the responsible thing as a parent to do, is to get a car that your kid will LEARN on properly and graduate to a better car.

My parents haven't got extra cash for my sister to get a car in two years, so I think I'll likely volunteer the cash for that as I've no expenses at this point. I think a $5k Miata will be great for her to start out on. Manual, of course... everybody in our house can drive manual so she must also learn :)

This is not true my parents make way over 350,000 a year but with four kids, two cats and a dog. they still pay alot. They also pay for A 2002 bmw covertible, 2004 rx8 6 speed, Two 2003 dodge rams and owne a house over 650,000. There insurance alone is over 10,000 grand. Most people if they have money they just dont flaunt it around and buy eveything they see. Even rich people have responablitys to pay taxes, mortage, insurance , car payments and collage for there kids.


Good Gawd oh Molly!!!

With that much money I could take care of three families and send their kids to college (2 kids per family)

When I read your post I was thinking...man someone is living an easier life than mine. I know many families with an income of $60k or less with 2 to 3 kids that are living pretty comfortably and had sent their kids to college. No offense eclips0 but your parents does not know how to budget themselves. But that is none of my business.:o

i bought my 2001 eclipse with bonds that i had and money i saved up. Second im trading in the eclipse and putting that down as a payment and my parents are paying for the rest. Third i have 5 years to pay it off so im not getting the car handed to me. Im still working to pay the car off.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Y&Y



No offense eclips0 but your parents does not know how to budget themselves. But that is none of my business.:o [/QUOTE
on the contrary they do, My parent have enough money to buy things for themselves but they only go with what they need. They dont go overboard. Now with your parents to guys see them alot ? Well i dont my dad works over 70 hours and my mom works 40 hours + takes care of my little bro and my sister. So if they want to spoil themselves i think its fine they work very hard and maybe they want reward themselves once in a while.

My parents don't have quite the money that eclps0 says his parents do, but they still make a really good income. When I turned sixteen, I asked for a car, and straigt out got a no. No "WE will buy the car, then you pay us back," none of that. I felt mad at them at first cause I knew they had the cash to buy it, but now I realize why the hell should they? They do alot for me, why should I demand a car from them? I feel kinda bad actually . . . And with University this year, they said they would help me out with that, so i'm happy with taking the buses :)

Originally posted by eclps0
i bought my 2001 eclipse with bonds that i had and money i saved up. Second im trading in the eclipse and putting that down as a payment and my parents are paying for the rest. Third i have 5 years to pay it off so im not getting the car handed to me. Im still working to pay the car off. I take it you bought the Eclipse new?

And since the Eclipse runs to 20k.... I find it hard to swallow that you 'saved up' even near that. I can believe the part about the down payment from the Eclipse, but I'd sooner believe your folks will help out at least with paying for the car.

At 19 I worked my ass off and I wouldn't have been able to afford it. Now that I'm out of college and have a job however, I'll be able to buy it on my own. I paid for my first car on my own too, a lease payment of $229 a month on my Millenia which I later bought out with some savings I had. I'm still paying it off.

Originally posted by eclps0
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Y&Y
[B]


Well i dont my dad works over 70 hours and my mom works 40 hours + takes care of my little bro and my sister.

maybe you should take care of little bro and sister and give mom a break, sounds like she could use it. work a deal with them to pay for some of the car in return for you taking them to school and such since you have those extra seats and doors;)

i baby sit them 5 days a week and i pick my sister from her school and then i have to go pick up my brother.

Hercules



I take it you bought the Eclipse new?

And since the Eclipse runs to 20k.... I find it hard to swallow that you 'saved up' even near that. I can believe the part about the down payment from the Eclipse, but I'd sooner believe your folks will help out at least with paying for the car.

At 19 I worked my ass off and I wouldn't have been able to afford it. Now that I'm out of college and have a job however, I'll be able to buy it on my own. I paid for my first car on my own too, a lease payment of $229 a month on my Millenia which I later bought out with some savings I had. I'm still paying it off.

if you really want to how i got the money my grea grandmother had alot of stocks in bell alantic and every year she would put 1,000 in all of her grandson and dagters bankaccounts. and my uncle left my faimly money when he passed away.

i agree with pmacwill's posts. living in misery...i mean...missouri, i see my fair share of pick-up trucks. i'd say the ratio of fairly new (2000 and later) to older models is 60/40. and i definitely see more trucks where i work (30 miles outside of st. louis) than where i live (downtown). at the same time, location is just one of the MANY factors that come into play when making a car purchase. as pmac said, income and living within one's means are, i think, the biggest factors.

and i hate to join the "rag-on-eclps0-a-thon" that this thread has become...but i must add my $.02:

i'm glad your parents are "responably" springing for your "collage" education...hurry up and get there! ;)

jus playin' man, lighten up. :D

You know one time misspelling a word such as "responablitys" could be taken as a huge typo - but repeating it generall proves it's not!

I really wish it was just a scarce inabilitiy to spell in the American language that is still the 'national' language. It won't be long and it may change to Spanish. No joking. But while it's still English it seems imperative that our educational institutions get off their lackadaisical butts and teach our apathetic, misguided youth how to read, spell and write. Learning how to make change for a dollar would be a great minimal mathematical skill to learn by the time one receives even a G.E.D., much less a high school diploma. However it seems that even major publications, magazines and newspapers employ those who can't spell. I'm not picking on our bond-owning forum member who'll have his 2nd new car before turning 20. Family money is great, I hear. Even Mazda still has a typo (or error) on it's pdf spec sheet. If you don't believe me, find it! And Autoweek had a major error recently. I do have to say I'm impressed with many here who came from other countries where English is a 'second language' and now speak and even spell English better than many 3rd, 4th or 5th generation Americans! Something is wrong somewhere and it needs fixing. How is the big question! Video games aren't the answer. Good old book reading is possibility! Anyone else?

Im getting rid of my eclipse because its a lemon it had over 40 probs with it and the 36,000 mile marker ic comming very close and i dont want tp pay out of my pocket for a car to get fixed every month. Im at the dealer at least 3 times a month. The probs with the car are Tranny,engine mounths , sunroof, suspension, ect it goes on and on. Thease are the reasons why im getting the rx8 i need something that will last me when im in school. I also dont have the time to go back and fourth to dealers with my eclipse.

Originally posted by eclps0
Im getting rid of my eclipse because its a lemon it had over 40 probs with it and the 36,000 mile marker ic comming very close and i dont want tp pay out of my pocket for a car to get fixed every month. Im at the dealer at least 3 times a month. The probs with the car are Tranny,engine mounths , sunroof, suspension, ect it goes on and on. Thease are the reasons why im getting the rx8 i need something that will last me when im in school. I also dont have the time to go back and fourth to dealers with my eclipse. I never did like Mitsubishi....

Lots of people I know have had too many problems with near every car.. Evo's a great car but scary when you think of the Mitsu reliability... Mazda's reliablity is good, their SERVICE sucks, so I guess.... it's a matter of luck one way or another.

I don't know about the other 330 viewers, but I'm buying an old wired-together truck soon. (and finishing this guy's book).

gord boyd

I agree wholeheartedly, rx8daniel. I went to a very highly ranked and well respected college, and the majority of the students there were never able to write clear, grammatically correct and on topic papers. The worst part was that the most important portion of the application process was the essay section. I often wondered if students simply spent far more time on their applications than their schoolwork or if many of them had extra "assistance" with their essays. The thought of that is even more disturbing to me, although it's all too believable.

I'll refrain from commenting on the main path this thread has taken and return to the original topic.

What about expected annual costs for the RX-8?

That depends a great deal on the owner. For those who lease or purchase a new car within 4-5 years, the annual costs will probably be high, similar to any other $30,000 car. Those who keep their cars for 10 years or more will probably have a fairly low annual cost of ownership, so long as they perform the necessary maintenance.
I doubt it will be much different than any other car in its price range in this respect.

The general turn this topic has taken reminded me of a book review I recently read. It was about the way millionaires really live. The author interviewed a number of millionaires in the U.S. to see if they had any traits or habits that would help the rest of us. One of the interesting things that many of them had in common that the author felt was very telling was the way they purchased their shoes. A significant number of them purchased very expensive, high quality shoes, which isn't too surprising. He found that a significant number also kept those shoes for many, many years and had them re-soled when they wore out. I found this to be quite interesting, and somewhat related to the topic at hand.