I’m never satisfied with what i’m driving. i change cars more than once a year. i always think that the next car is perfact, satisfies all my needs, then in 6mos I feel polar opposite.
is this common, diagnosable? it sure is an expensive ‘hobby’.
i must also note that I’m not a shopaholic nor do i show other signs of buying to avoid depression or any other such disorder.
If you buy a car more than once a year and you say it’s an expensive hobby, which it is, then isn’t that something like being a shopaholic?- no offense. That’s really all I can think of at this point. Maybe you should talk with someone more versed in this area.
By the way- no such thing as a dumb question. Good luck to you!
I feel the same way about cars and motorcycles too. We have three cars to choose from and I have two bikes and that keeps the boredom setting in when driving the same vehicle for too long.
Some men need a different wife now and then so feel fortunate or do you need that too?
I have never felt that way. Every car I have bought (I have been driving for 45 years) I have loved and hated to part with it. I don't think it is good or bad, but if you do change cars that often (sounds unlikely) and you can afford it, great. Have fun.I don’t know if it’s a problem, but it sounds like your cash/attention span ratio may be too high. For diagnosis purposes, how would you rate yourself on a scale of 1 -10 (1 = compulsive rare ferrari collector; 10 = anyone who has every considered shopping for a mini-van for more than 0.1 seconds)? The normal range is generally considered to be 2-9, if you are outside this range seek professional help immediately.
Note: Having kids is an effective way of significantly lowering the cash/attention span ratio (attention span is not affected).
Your question rings a bell. Years ago I had a boss like you; the joke was he traded cars when the ashtrays were full!. This person had a Corvette, Alfa Romeo, Mustang, Nissan Z300GT, Ford Probe, and Escort GT during the short time I worked for him. He had no children, and his wife had a good job.
I think you probably don’t analyze your needs and what you enjoy in a car. I would make a list of what is important to you: handling, noise level, good seats, smooth ride, cargo capacity, power, traction in snow, ease of parking, driving in the city, to name a few. With this type of list I would first read all the car magazine tests (not just Road & Track) and pick the car that most meets those needs. Only after that, go to a dealer and take an extended test while not listening to the salesman, or worrying about the price. Better yet, if the car can be rented, get one for the weekend and give it an extensive test.
Don’t buy right away yet. After doing this with several cars that meet the bill, then you can zero in on the one you remember best. This process is not too different from finding a mate, Swedish style. The divorce rate in Sweden is very low compared to the US.
I have found a car I liked (1965 Dodge Dart) without actually driving that exact model, but driving a dealer demo and then adding HD supension, bucket seats and a more powerful engine. I consulted Consumer Reports to confirm it was the most reliable compact that year.
Next year my wife needs a new car and she trusts me completely to find one with the things she likes in a car! She has made a long list of features so I have something to go by.
Of all the large number of rental cars I have driven in the last year, I remember the Chrysler Sebring as the most pleasant all-round vehicle, although I would not buy one because of the poor gas mileage and below average reliability.
Absolutely nothing wrong with you !
I’m looking for a good used car, less than a year old. Know where I can find one ?
It sounds like a personal problem. With all of the exotic cars in the market, there must be something that will keep you interested. What is your price range? If you can afford to change cars more than once a year, you must have massive debt or lots of money. If money is no object, you should look at exotic Italian brands like Ferarri and Lambroghini. I would also consider cars like the Dodge Viper and a Porche 911 Turbo. When you consider the cost of trading in cars as often as once a year, you are better off buying an expensive car and sticking with it. So finding something you can live with for at least five years makes financial sense, even if you have to spend more.
yeah. I’ve been married a couple of times too :(. Cell phones don’t last long with me either.
Sounds related or systemic?
My son is a teen ager now. When he was born my ex and I had no money, now I make decent money and spend it on cars. Not ferraris and porsches, but aftermarket turboed lexuses, rx8,350z,gto,amg mercedes, audi rs6,etc. I can’t afford to own multiple cars simultaneously.
I’m jealous of those easily satiated!!!
those are dream cars for me. I can’t spend more than 50k at a time. Sometimes I buy low and sell for about the same.
I did get a nismo 350z(2seatwr)… I plan to get a sensible sedan to go along with it. That may help. I need to sell my audi rs6 to get a cheaper sedan. Rs6=too expensive for me.
Haha
I appresh your reply! U make it sound logical. Some if my purchases are just because it was unusually cheap I feel I may get to sell it for more than I’d paid. Sometimes I’m just fooling myself.
Buy a '39 Dodge pickup with mechanical brakes and I’ll take it off your hands cheap.
I’ve thought about getting older cars. Their resale value has plateaued out.
“I’ve thought about getting older cars. Their resale value has plateaued out.”
They are also about 1000 times more interesting than the new ones.
Cars are seldom a good investment. Most people put much more into a car than they get back. It takes a very knowledgeable car buff to make money on a car. If you regard a car as a necssary expense, to be minimized through good selection and management, you can then concentrate on actually enjoying the ownership. A friend of mine had a very good job in the fifties, and bought a tuquoise 1957 Thunderbird (2 seater). He drove it daily and it soon started to rust, and he traded it. In retrospect, he shoud have garaged it, not driven it much and sold it later for a small fortune. “Investing” in cars makes sense to me only if you are Jay Leno, and cost is not an issue.
I can’t spend more than 50k at a time.
In that case, have you test driven a Corvette? Look at different vintages, especially if you can find an older Corvette Stingray. What about a Porche Boxter? It lists for $45,000. The Limited Edition Boxter lists for $49,900.
You don’t need a sensible sedan. You need something that will get your heart pumping!
Agreed, no-one makes money on cars unless they are very lucky. The point is to have the most fun for your dollar and try to minimize the cost of your hobby. If you buy decent old cars, you at least have a chance of getting your original money back. Of course you will usually spend a small fortune preserving them while you have them, but that’s part of the fun. At least they are interesting to own/drive/look at, and you can take them apart and play with them. Most new cars are just video games, not very interesting IMHO.
“In that case, have you test driven a Corvette? Look at different vintages, especially if you can find an older Corvette Stingray. What about a Porche Boxter? It lists for $45,000. The Limited Edition Boxter lists for $49,900.”
Better still, a pre-stingray vette or an original 930. If you are really prepared to write a $50K check (as opposed to financing), you don’t have to be stuck driving new cars.
As long as it isn’t causing budgetary problems or problems for somebody else, then I say “enjoy”. It isn’t cost effective, but the smokers and drinkers amoung us have far more serious (and expensive) addictions.
Don’t behave the way we say you should. As long as you’re hurting nobody, then enjoy life. Do it your own way.
Now, if I can only do something about MY bad habits…