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07-22-2010, 10:51 AM
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#81
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,082
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Everyone has something really important to them.
If it is cars, awesome, say go for it as long as you fully understand the finances and what they will mean to your other plans.
Personally, I am making a decision to splurge on an EV. Not because it will save me money, but because I have been dreaming of an EV for years. I want to help dispel some of the myths out there about EVs and support innovative companies that are bringing this technology to market (hopefully they 'stick' this time).
While ER is a great goal, you should allow yourself to live a little on your way there 
__________________
"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
(Ancient Indian Proverb)"
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07-22-2010, 01:01 PM
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#82
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,360
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrooge McDuck
Gas costs have been cut in half, as I now get 50+ mpg on regular unleaded versus about 25 on premium gas. (especially important given my 70+ mile daily commute)
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I have never understood why people purchase vehicles that require the use of premium gasoline (I would also say that I don't undertand why companies manufacture such cars in the first place, but apparently there is a market). It would appear to be a case of money going straight down the toilet, without any value received whatsoever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrooge McDuck
On the other side of the coin, though, I have to say the Merc was my "dream car" also, when I purchased it. And man, it WAS pretty gratifying. For me I loved the car's appearance, thought it was the best looking thing on the market, and it definitely made me feel good to be in that car, I admit it!
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The only problem is that such emotional gratification tends to be quite temporary. Many studies have shown that consumers quickly adapt to their purchases, take them for granted, and move on to their next search for a new toy ('gazingus pin'). See generally Danziger, Why People Buy Things They Don't Need: Understanding and Predicting Consumer Behaviour.
__________________
"To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive". Robert Louis Stevenson, An Inland Voyage (1878)
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07-23-2010, 10:47 AM
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#83
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Confused about dryer sheets
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5
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Yeah, definitely. The more focused I became on saving and FI, the more I grew to hate the "premium gas tax", as well as all the other "luxury taxes" as I referred to them--insurance premium tax, repair tax, etc. I'm not enough of a car guy to authoritatively deny that using premium gas over regular doesn't have some kind of benefit--maybe it makes the engine "smoother", or whatever. But you are right, from my perspective as a consumer, that extra money was literally going nowhere, getting sucked out of my bottom line but not appearing to benefit me (thus why I called them taxes  ). After paying such a hefty premium on the vehicle itself, I was sort of blind-sided by all the nickle-and-diming afterward. Should've known better, I guess, but now at least I get to warn others--that luxury car is way more expensive than just its price tag and monthly payment!
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07-23-2010, 10:52 AM
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#84
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,483
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If you want a luxury car, then Infiniti or Lexus or Acura is the way to go, their maintenance costs are MUCH LOWER than any Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche out there..........
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Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
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07-23-2010, 10:57 AM
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#85
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Collin County, TX
Posts: 9,296
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Wow...I didn't realize I have a luxury car....
__________________
There's no need to complicate, our time is short..
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07-23-2010, 11:24 AM
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#86
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,360
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As I understand it, "premium" gasoline is only required for engines with high compression ratios. The raison d'être of such engines is to offer (the possibility of) increased speed.
However, considering that speed limits effectively preclude any use of that potential, I don't see the point. 
__________________
"To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive". Robert Louis Stevenson, An Inland Voyage (1878)
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07-23-2010, 03:50 PM
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#87
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,190
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milton
As I understand it, "premium" gasoline is only required for engines with high compression ratios. The raison d'être of such engines is to offer (the possibility of) increased speed.
However, considering that speed limits effectively preclude any use of that potential, I don't see the point. |
I am a car guy first off. Currently own two BMWs, a Porsche 993 and a '67 Lotus Elan. And my experience with cars is either you get it or you don't. If you don't get it, God bless you, you'll save a lot of money. If you do get it, you'll have lots of fun everytime you get behind the wheel of your car.
Neither approach is better than the other except to the individual.
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07-23-2010, 06:27 PM
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#88
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LARS
I am a car guy first off. Currently own two BMWs, a Porsche 993 and a '67 Lotus Elan.
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If you really love cars, don't you feel like you are "cheating" on the car you love with all your other cars?  I guess I am one of those that just doesn't get it. I love my Venza and would never dream of owning another car at the same time. 
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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07-23-2010, 06:40 PM
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#89
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,190
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That’s an easy one… I learned long ago (and by example and not personal experience I hasten to add) that it’s far cheaper to cheat on any one of my cars than it is on my wife!
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07-23-2010, 06:41 PM
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#90
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Moscow
Posts: 1,572
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We car guys are polygamists, W2R. We have enough love to go 'round. Our mission is to have lots of cars, so that we can go to the never-ending celestial car show when we die.
__________________
You can't enlighten the unconscious.
But you can hit'em upside the head a few times to make sure they are really out...
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07-23-2010, 06:53 PM
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#91
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,500
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__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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07-25-2010, 12:20 PM
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#92
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,360
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LARS
my experience with cars is either you get it or you don't.... If you do get it, you'll have lots of fun everytime you get behind the wheel of your car.
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I don't share your interest in cars, but do understand it. It can be fun to own things like that.
What I don't understand is the desire for high compression engines, which offer no discernable advantage unless one is involved in track racing or other venues that permit the higher performance to be utilized. Due to legal restrictions, it is impossible for the owner of a fast car to have lots of fun every time they get behind the wheel.
__________________
"To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive". Robert Louis Stevenson, An Inland Voyage (1878)
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07-25-2010, 01:07 PM
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#93
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Palma de Mallorca
Posts: 1,419
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milton
Due to legal restrictions, it is impossible for the owner of a fast car to have lots of fun every time they get behind the wheel.
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There are few legal restrictions on how you get to the speed limit. 
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07-25-2010, 02:04 PM
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#94
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,190
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milton
What I don't understand is the desire for high compression engines, which offer no discernable advantage unless one is involved in track racing or other venues that permit the higher performance to be utilized. Due to legal restrictions, it is impossible for the owner of a fast car to have lots of fun every time they get behind the wheel.
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I could try to explain, but it falls into the category of "don't get it". Similar to a discussion of high end "complicated" watches (say a Patek Philippe) vs. a Timex... either you appreciate the beauty of it or you don't.
I will tell you from past ownership experience that there is nothing in this world like the sound of a Ferrari engine at full tilt... but there is also nothing like the sound of your whince when you get a service bill for engine work!
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07-25-2010, 02:38 PM
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#95
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 23,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LARS
I will tell you from past ownership experience that there is nothing in this world like the sound of a Ferrari engine at full tilt
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For your listening pleasure. If I could have any car in the world, this would be it.
__________________
Living an analog life in the Digital Age.
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07-25-2010, 02:42 PM
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#96
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,190
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gumby
For your listening pleasure. If I could have any car in the world, this would be it.
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If you're goin dream, dream BIG and a 250 GTO is about as big as you can!
Just to be different, I'd rather have a 250LM and a 275 GTB NART Spyder (which together probably cost about what a '60's GTO goes for)...
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07-25-2010, 02:45 PM
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#97
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,360
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Lars, since you appreciate engine noise here is another video clip you might enjoy: It features the sounds of a couple of (inverted) V12s: a 1,300 hp RR Merlin 224 and a 1,100 hp DB601A.
__________________
"To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive". Robert Louis Stevenson, An Inland Voyage (1878)
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07-25-2010, 02:55 PM
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#98
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Moscow
Posts: 1,572
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milton
Due to legal restrictions, it is impossible for the owner of a fast car to have lots of fun every time they get behind the wheel.
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And yet I do...
__________________
You can't enlighten the unconscious.
But you can hit'em upside the head a few times to make sure they are really out...
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07-25-2010, 02:55 PM
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#99
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 23,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LARS
Just to be different, I'd rather have a 250LM and a 275 GTB NART Spyder (which together probably cost about what a '60's GTO goes for)...
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Both of them are also beautiful cars.
__________________
Living an analog life in the Digital Age.
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07-25-2010, 03:05 PM
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#100
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,360
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Yes, I've heard about you Moscow drivers!
__________________
"To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive". Robert Louis Stevenson, An Inland Voyage (1878)
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