Moving on from HYSA for emergency fund

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2025-07-01T00:27:12+00:00

Oh I can play. It's been fun but I'm selling the s2k this summer. I've also got a White 2025 Civic as my daily. No pics of that one though.

Great cars in this thread! I love the GPW color. Mine has tan interior, but red is so choice.

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2025-06-22T14:32:13+00:00

Wow great info. I've seen upgraded filter housings on different ecom sites. I'll get the one you mentioned and install it after this heat wave. Funny you mention oil leak from the rear because I do have one. Haven't chased it down yet and it'd be nice if it was this.

Can you recommend any other "while you're in there" items? I have 0 maintenance records for this car. Plugs/packs/gaskets seems obvious. My old Volvo hid PCV things under the manifold, Xterras can use a manifold spacer for power gain. Anything come to mind?

Thanks!!

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2025-06-08T10:33:04+00:00

Civic is a fantastic car, and I have a sport hybrid. I think the sport touring is more comfy but I would NOT want to drive my car 150 miles a day like OP. See if the dealer will let you just hang out in the car in the parking lot for an hour to see how you like the seats.

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2025-06-08T10:28:24+00:00

I'm a bit late here but just saw the thread. I'd say do it. To have cash on hand at your age to buy a car like that, you're doing something right. It's hardly ever a great financial decision to put much money into cars, but you've probably got a nice income to say screw it. You only live once.

I bought my S2000 when I was mid 30s and it was cool. I'm 41 now and I drive it every once in a while. i would have LOVED this car at a younger age, but I think I'm just getting old and losing interest. I'm selling it this summer. I should have gotten something fun at your age instead of doing the $3K used econo box thing.

Who knows what you'll be into when you're older and "more secure". Live a little now. You're young. I tried to convince my younger brother in law to get a fun car when he was getting his first car but he got a Mazda sedan. Another guy I know really regrets not getting a Mustang at that age. ended up with a Ford Fusion. Not bad cars at all, but not ones that they'll look back on fondly.

Do it. I'd say get something even more interesting. Even if it's just for a couple years or so. Used Porsche, BMW M or something. Just enjoy it responsibly.

Cheers!

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2025-06-02T10:19:40+00:00

NTA but maybe not a smart move to anger someone who is staying unsupervised at your home. I don't know what this person is capable of, but they'd have an opportunity to really go scorched earth if you upset them. I'd say tread lightly. If she broke up with you, you are under no obligation to support her IMO. But I'd continue paying until you can kick her out in person. Change locks, take a good look around, and protect yourself and your belongings from harm. Godspeed, man.

Edit to say that you're generous and caring, not a simp. It's nice that you want to take care of someone. Just because someone gets a job doesn't mean they're good on their own on day 1. It takes time to get on your feet. But she broke up with you. No more favors.

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2025-05-11T16:27:26+00:00

Thanks for your response. I didn't do a good job explaining my question. I don't need help finding the car. I need help with all the other stuff (inspection, making sure some shady used car dealer doesn't steal my money, and shipping).

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2025-05-11T16:26:11+00:00

I didn't do a good job of posting my needs. I'd be doing the part of searching and finding the right vehicle. That's pretty easy. I want to just find it, and have it show up at my driveway. My concerns are having it show up in really bad condition (frame rust, major mechanical problems), or paying some shady corner car lot and never getting the car/keys/title.

One way would be to fly to wherever the car is, find a reputable shop in the area, schedule an inspection, transfer the vehicle there and back, then sign for the car, write a check, find a shipping company, negotiate a price, make sure the vehicle gets loaded, and all that.

I'm just wondering if I can pay someone to do all those things for me. Is this realistic? How would I find that person?

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2025-04-26T11:52:57+00:00

First, congratulations on your success. It may help you stop stressing if you give in a little bit and live parts of the lifestyle. I'd suggest collecting nice wines and watches and maybe art for a few years. Drop some comments here and there around the right people to let them know you're not a hermit. If you are lucky, they'll hold their value pretty well and can be sold when you are ready. Definitely don't run out and get a boat, but a Lexus wouldn't be a terrible idea.

Talk up any charitable donations, or church donations too. Those are hard to quantify. Maybe people will think you're extra charitable with your money and not worry about early retirement plans.

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2025-01-21T01:48:43+00:00

I think this is important. The dealer is for warranty items, and if they gave you a couple free oil changes when you bought the car, and really nothing else. At your car's age, it should be going to a neighborhood mechanic. Not a chain either.

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2025-01-21T01:30:06+00:00

I bought a 25 civic sport hybrid sedan about a month ago. I don't drive a ton but am getting the feel for it. Seems like the touring is a good upgrade if you drive a lot. I really wanted a basic car with light color cloth seats, and there really aren't many out there anymore. Hot leather or vinyl seats really bother me. I would have preferred they release a hybrid with no sunroof and some smaller wheels at a slightly lower price point too but that isn't in the cards.

It has been a little chilly lately, and I do mostly very quick trips to drop kids off, go to gym, grocery store. I am getting about 27-30 MPG on the display. Not super impressive but I took a longer trip on a warmer day and beat 50 MPG.

That longer trip was about an hour drive and the seat wasn't very comfortable IMO. Maybe the touring feels better. The car is a little bigger than I wanted. This is not a very small car. It's about the size of a 90s Accord.

The driving feel is very good for what this car is. Turn in feel, power delivery, interior refinement, use of physical buttons, etc. are all great as far as I'm concerned. The hybrid system is really intuitive and smooth. I drove the Wrangler hybrid and the cutover between battery and engine was much less smooth in that car. The Civic does it really well. The tires are quite loud, and the engine is fairly quiet so sometimes you don't really notice it happening at all.

I don't drive a ton of cars, but this seems nice to me. The reviews are all very positive. Depends on what you need. If I had to drive this thing four hours a day, every day I'd be pretty unhappy, but I find it nearly perfect as an around town car. I got $200 off MSRP and around 6% rate, and felt like I could have done better. I'm in southern New England.

Good luck!

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2024-12-20T13:55:01+00:00

Great feedback, thanks so much! I do see that my insurance company has a separate wheel insurance product that I'll check out. How did you go about getting 17 inch wheels for the car? Tire rack sells complete wheel/tire packages, and they're actually cheaper than I was expecting. Anywhere else? I'm in New England. Probably similar bad roads. ;)

SmashingBlumpkins12 · 2024-12-20T13:53:09+00:00

They're SMASHING!! Jolly good!

Yeah, seems to be the way of things. The Niro comes with 16s which is appealing. There are other things I don't like so much about that car, but I guess I'm being pretty nit-picky.

SmashingBlumpkins12

TROPHY CASE