Staying the course is a day-to-day struggle

[azanon]

I just got in my annual statement from my Mutual fund company. I'm showing 4K contributed to my wife's Roth, and 3150 to mine. This is in addition to 15% into my TSP from my federal job. So do I write that check now for $850 to cap off my IRA or does that money go in my Subaru WRX fund. Decisions like this haunt me, lol.

 

[HFWR]

As an old fuddy-duddy who drives a 6yo pickup, I vote Roth. YMMV!!

 

[Andre1969]

Heck, my pickup's 21 years old, so put me down for the Roth, too!

 

[kz]

Another vote for the Roth.

 

[MasterBlaster]

savings or spending, savings or spending, savings or spending, savings or spending,...
now or later, now or later, now or later, now or later, now or later, now or later,...

well you can save some and you can spend some. It's all up to you. My advice is to save all that you can untill you start to feel a bit deprived. Then let up a little and go spend some money.

My personal take...you won't regret saving money when you look back twenty years later. And that car of 20 years ago, now tell me again why I wanted it ?

 

[bow-tie]

Which pickup?  One or 'em is 29 yo and the other is 16 yo...

Write your little buddy Roth a check.  Its only 850 bones

Wait a little longer on the WRX and the depreciation will be 850 

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

Finish off your Roth. It will grow tax free, whereas your WRX won't.

 

[saluki9]

Split the difference.


I know everybody else is saying "you won't remember that car 20 years from now" total nonsense.

I have fond memories of every car I have ever owned. Having a fast, and well handling car is one of life's joys. Personally, I keep a second fund for my future Boxster S that I will buy in a few years.

 

[azanon]

I'm so close now, it makes it hard to delay.  This so called car fund is about 22.5K now ( I need ~ 26-27K, including tax for this car) so delayed gratification is becoming harder and harder.   Though i've posted this before, the car it will be replacing is a 95' 240sx, but with only 86K miles on it.

Incidentally enough, I admitted to my wife yesterday that our grand total of retirement savings for this past year (amount i put in, not the total amount I have) was just over 17K.   She looked at me like i'm crazy and said "I want some of that money back".  She was just joking, but i could tell if it was up to her, she wouldnt be joking.  She thinks i'm oversaving as it is.  If i do write the check for $850 to the Roth, I might not tell her, lol.

Azanon

 

[Texas Proud]

I vote for do BOTH... put $850 in Roth and $850 to WRX.... be a GOOD American!!!

 

[TargaDave]

I've got a 2002 WRX so I'm biased. If you go for the car join SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) and sign up for the closest Autocross Solo II events. It's parking lot racing around cones against the clock. Tons of fun, far cheaper than amateur road racing, and lots of challenge. You make lots of friends and learn how to drive your car 9 to 10/10ths (which you will never do on public roads) with no risk other than the occasional spinnout embarrassment. Nothing like spanking those M3's and Boxster S's at half the price. Of course there will be someone in a beat up modified lime colored Civic who will in turn humble you

Might as well make the most of your purchase. Otherwise keep the 240sx

 

[kat]

I just got in my annual statement from my Mutual fund company. I'm showing 4K contributed to my wife's Roth, and 3150 to mine. This is in addition to 15% into my TSP from my federal job. So do I write that check now for $850 to cap off my IRA or does that money go in my Subaru WRX fund. Decisions like this haunt me, lol.

Well, as a Subaru lover, tho a temporary owner of a Honda , I dutifully and eagerly tried to see what a WRX is. But with my dial-up connection I decided not to wait for the Subaru home page to load and said forget it.

Do what you think best and don't sweat it. You'll enjoy the WRX and you'll enjoy the Roth being paid up, and both will happen in due time.

 

[Marshac]

So do I write that check now for $850 to cap off my IRA or does that money go in my Subaru WRX fund.

WRX GAS fund.

I had a '04 Forester XT (same engine as the STi), and it would devour premium fuel. Best car I have ever owned, and was very fun to drive, but I had to fill up the tank every 2.5 days (the gas tank is way too small in the forester. You can barely get 300 miles on a tank. I filled up at 280).... so I got rid of it (only cost me $3k in depreciation for the 1.5 years I owned it) and bought a used Camry. I can go 450 miles on a tank of regular fuel. It's amazing. There are days that I miss the acceleration of the XT.... there was always something about being pressed into my seat and accelerating to 85 while still on the on-ramp just made me smile....

Despite the fuel bill, i'm sure you will love your WRX If you have never driven a car with a turbo before, make sure you get a boost gauge, it will really help you to learn how the engine behaves. It always seemed like the XT performance was erratic until I got a boost gauge installed- then it made sense why it drove as it did.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Just remember that subaru spelled backwards is "you are a bus"...

 

[Marshac]

Nothing like spanking those M3's and Boxster S's at half the price. 

I always got more enjoyment out of spanking the riced out civics. I suppose "riced" isn't a PC term, but that seems to be the term for civics with body kits, tachs with shift lights, clusters of worthless gauges, fake NOS buttons on the wheel, and a muffler that makes the engine sound like a sick duck. These same kids probably stuck playing cards into their bike spokes as kids

I think I had more fun in the XT with these kids than I would have had with a WRX- most people really don't know what the XT can do

Anyone here ever drive an Audi S4? Thoughts?

 

[haha]

I always got more enjoyment out of spanking the riced out civics. I suppose "riced" isn't a PC term, but that seems to be the term for civics with body kits, tachs with shift lights, clusters of worthless gauges, fake NOS buttons on the wheel, and a muffler that makes the engine sound like a sick duck. These same kids probably stuck playing cards into their bike spokes as kids

I think I had more fun in the XT with these kids than I would have had with a WRX- most people really don't know what the XT can do

Anyone here ever drive an Audi S4? Thoughts?

My DIL has one. Incredibly nice car. Beautiful interior, very nice handling, and very quick.

Ha

 

[azanon]

WRX GAS fund.

I only drive about 8K miles a year in my car, so it shouldnt be too bad. (judging by my 11 year old 240sx which has 86K)

 

[eridanus]

Do both. I don't regret my car purchase. It's smooth, can corner, and came stock with a sub-woofer.

I waited until next year's models were on the lot and negotiated a good deal.

 

[HFWR]

Audi - Accelerates under demonic influence...

 

[Eagle43]

FORD. Fix or Repair Daily. I know, it's old, but so am I.

 

[MasterBlaster]

ACURA:
Another Crummy, Useless, Rotten Automobile
Asia's Curse Upon Rural America

AUDI:
Awfully Unsafe Designs Implemented
Another Ugly Deutsche Invention
Always Undermining Deutsche Intelligence
Automobile Unsafe Designs, Inc.


HONDA:
Had One Never Did Again
Hang On, Not Done Accelerating

HYUNDAI: Hope You Understand Nothing's Driveable And Inexpensive

SAAB:
Swedish Automobiles Always Breakdown

TOYOTA:
Torturous On Your Old Tired Ass
The One You Ought To Avoid

VOLVO:
Very Odd Looking Vehicular Object

 

[FlowGirl]

I say that if you're feeling the least bit deprived then use the money for the car fund.  Saving up to pay cash for a car that you will enjoy is hardly the height of irresponsibility.

BTW, I use a combination of elaborate spreadsheets, hard savings goals, and automatic deductions to avoid this kind of dilemma.  If money actually makes it all the way to our checking account then we feel free to spend it.  

 

[Gone4Good]

Anyone here ever drive an Audi S4? Thoughts?

I have the six cylinder A4 and I love it - very fun to drive. The engine of the A4 may be a tad bit under powered but I imagine the larger engine in the S4 is sweet.

 

[HFWR]

FORD.  Fix or Repair Daily.    I know, it's old, but so am I.

Found on road dead...

 

[Honkie]

Put it towards the WRX!!

I don't know whether it is available in the US, but try to get the Works Team "555" World Rally Championship decals and colour scheme. Will make you stand out from the crowd.

I have to say I am glad not to have these car decisions anymore - no worries on depreciation, servicing and maintenance, fuel and insurance. I haven't owned a car for over 5 years and haven't even driven one for over 2 years. Don't miss it one bit.

Enjoy the WRX azanon!!!

Cheers

Honkie