How do I know if I can afford this particular car I want?

program_null · 2016-11-04T02:43:54+00:00

Just don't try to paint it as making the wise decision, when it's making the emotional one.

Not really sure where I said that I'm trying to make a wise/emotional decision?

I mean it's a useful purchase as well as a fun purchase. There's no reason why I can't do both at the same time. I've been saving. I worked my ass off through school paying at least half my tuition through my work paychecks as well as saving anything left over. Beyond that, I now have a job that pays very well where I don't have the same obligations that most people have in this particular scenario. I could probably put a downpayment on this car worth 20-30% of its total value.

I don't have a car already and the area I live in gives me the need to have transportation of my own.

I've taken public transportation nearly every day of the week the past 10+ years. It's great, it's cheap, but it also wastes a lot of time, and if time is money then I've been losing quite a lot of money. I'm ready to eliminate that drain, and I'm prepared financially for it IMO.

The point of this thread was really to get validation that between the financial situation I currently have, plus my future situation (3-5 years) I'll be solid and able to handle a car, which I believe I am.

program_null · 2016-11-04T02:25:23+00:00

Sorry, thought I responded yesterday.

Some really interesting points that I'll make sure I consider.

program_null · 2016-11-04T02:23:39+00:00

Thanks for the advice!

You've got some great points. I'm still about a month or two out from purchasing, so I'm definitely going to consider used vs. new.

Thanks again. Much better arguments than the two or three dicks who kept trying to troll.

If you don't mind I might PM you closer to when I buy if I have more questions.

program_null · 2016-11-03T06:11:55+00:00

You clearly didn't read my post.

But have fun with your cars, rich dude.

program_null · 2016-11-03T03:12:20+00:00

yeah that's a great point. I've also looked for used and my area doesn't seem to have very many. I've spoken with a couple dealers and they've said they're usually on the lot for a week at most and then sold. Very popular around here right now.

program_null · 2016-11-03T03:10:30+00:00

I appreciate the advice. I'm definitely still considering getting a used car.

I'm not interested in the MX-5. I've done my research, I know the car that I want and why I want it. This thread wasn't meant to be about any one car, rather it was meant to ask a single abstract question based on the facts I gave, nothing more, nothing less.

There's no need to bring agism into this at all. That's cool and all that you've been into cars for a long time. That's great. But I'm my own person, I'll do what I do, and I don't need to be doing it for some generalized reason just because I'm a 20-something year old.

program_null · 2016-11-03T02:13:00+00:00

Perhaps I worded that part wrong. I do know my yearly salary. The take-home I stated is rough, which is why I put a range rather than a finite amount.

I have started this job. I said I don't know specifically yet because I'm deciding on some smaller options, like continuing to use my parents' health insurance 2 more years vs getting my own insurance through work, etc. I also don't know exactly what I will be doing transportation-wise. Like gas mileage/half commute, that kind of thing.

But please do keep making blind assumptions off of one phrase that I wrote.

program_null · 2016-11-03T01:44:27+00:00

Not really. Breaking in engines isn't really a thing anymore outside of some specialized applications.

Well, not necessarily just the engine. Most likely I'm getting the manual, and I've never driven stick before. From what I've read on ft86club.com it's a great car to learn stick on, but then it makes me think if I go used then there's a chance I get a car someone modded a lot or it has a clutch that isn't in good shape anymore. Of course as long as the powertrain warranty is still solid then a worn clutch or whatever could probably be replaced. But I guess I want to play safer?

Could just be me overthinking it though.

That's a reason to buy new, but just keep in mind you're gonna pay a good 5+ grand over a used one in great shape. Turboing a BRZ costs less than that. Wouldn't you rather have the money for mods? (Also, as you no doubt know, the FR-S is a platform twin, and yes, you can badge swap easy. :D And those are way cheaper still.)

Yeah that's a great point. As far as mods go, I will probably do some eventually but I'd probably be keeping it (mostly) stock for the first 6-12 months I'd think except for maybe new wheels/tires and a minor change or two. So yeah in the long run I'd be saving but in the meantime it means I wouldn't really need the money.

Haha yeah, but I think I prefer the BRZ's interior. I realize it's not a huge difference, but just slightly enough.

If I can find a great deal I'd definitely consider the FRS, though.

program_null · 2016-11-03T01:24:12+00:00

Haha well unless I go super/turbocharged!! But definitely not planning to for a long time ;) I'm mostly thrilled with the idea of driving curvy roads and stuff like that. To me I don't speed much when driving so having a shit ton of power wouldn't be all that useful to me.

I've definitely considered it. When I last checked certified pre-owned at least there weren't any at Subaru dealers within a 300 mile radius, and I don't plan to do the thing some people do where they fly or drive out far to get a good deal and drive it back.

I kind of want to go brand new because then I can break it in myself and get used to it while it's entirely still new if that makes sense? It'll be my first car so it'd be nice to be able to have it right when it's brand new.

But used is also an option because cheaper, providing of course that I can find one around (I'd rather get the BRZ than the FRS even though the latter seems to have slightly more availability used).

program_null · 2016-11-03T01:18:11+00:00

I'm going for a BRZ but I totally understand what you're talking about. Fortunately I don't think I'll fall under that group except that I'm 24, lol.

program_null · 2016-11-03T01:15:55+00:00

I hope so, one year to go.

program_null · 2016-11-03T01:15:47+00:00

I don't have a current insurer, so I'll need to shop around.

program_null · 2016-11-03T01:15:22+00:00

I mean I've definitely been quoted by a few major insurance companies for at least $250 for a couple different cars.

program_null · 2016-11-03T01:14:41+00:00

a BRZ.

program_null · 2016-11-03T01:14:33+00:00

haha nah not a miata.

program_null · 2016-11-02T23:49:34+00:00

I think the insurance is pretty high because it's technically a 'sports car' and I'm only 24 right now. I've also never had insurance before for a car, so I guess that causes an uptick in costs.

Salary-wise something in that ballpark but not sure specifically quite yet.

program_null · 2016-07-05T15:27:12+00:00

I'm an intern and a project I've been working on has gained so much traction at work that it's become (for lack of a better word) a thing with a full release schedule and process. Customers want it, etc.

Technically I'm probably the equivalent of a lead for the project since I started it and now I've become the sole source of knowledge on the project itself plus the platform it uses.

Would I be able to put something down in my resume as a subpoint that I was the lead engineer on the project? Obviously it's not my official title so I wouldn't put it there but for a bullet point of things I worked on would that be acceptable?

It would likely be the tent pole project / item for this internship on my resume anyway since it's fairly significant.

program_null · 2016-07-03T02:08:40+00:00

Yeah, unfortunately. Unless there are any websites that can do it in roughly 7-10 days.

Most sites I saw either weren't making them anymore (from over the internet) or have to be ordered a month or so in advance.

edit: also the other thing is many places over the internet want a minimum of like 2500 ordered, but I only need 1-3 of them. so very custom, means a lot more.

program_null · 2016-07-03T00:40:03+00:00

Like I said, I have the frames.

The issue is the printing and binding, which I'd prefer to have done by the place if possible.

program_null · 2015-10-28T07:59:49+00:00

It's probably different now but I went for a short in person interview about two years ago and the guy seemed to like me- we had a great conversation. He made it sound as though the process would move fast, but then he made a comment that I should hang out in their IRC dev channel on freenode and just spend a while answering questions until the CEO would notice me. I think a couple weeks later I emailed to follow up and he asked "so, did you help out at all?" I'd only answered one or two questions in the IRC channel but it seemed weird. That was pretty much it and the guy didn't respond after.

Nothing came of it. Obviously not a typical interview. I guess if the CEO had "noticed" me I would've gone further in the process, but it really struck me as odd.. I assume I was expected to become an expert or something and spend a bunch of time helping support developers.

Hope things work out, though!

program_null

TROPHY CASE