My cars, that is. I really really really mean it. This is a long time coming, I think…
Cars aren’t necessarily expensive!!!
Okay, I was a bit provoked by another comment on a different blog about, once again, cars being too expensive and flash only for impressing other people and therefore a waste of funds.
I read things like that quite often, written by people who aren’t car people. People who don’t understand how some of us who are car people live.
Me, not you.
My cars are for me, not for you…. Seriously. I’m not “wasting” a bunch of money on my cars to “impress” everyone else. I’m not that into everyone… Sheesh.
I’ve built my cars for my enjoyment. Because I like them this way. Because I use them this way.
I couldn’t care less if they impressed one person or one thousand people. Funny enough, my cars manage to impress people as they are… Without me trying to. That’s the best part, I think.
Get the facts straight, maybe?
What irks me, really, is when I get treated like I’m some sort of lucky rich snob who’s never worked for the stuff I have. I’m ticked off because I’m confused as to where people come up with this crap….
Our most expensive car is a 2001 Honda, and she cost us like $16,000. Is that expensive? Really?
My Miata was $5,000, blue book value for her condition at the time of purchase. And in summer, no less! So I was happy with that deal. Our 240SX was $2,000 for my lovely project car… And a chance to build up credit by working with a very manageable car loan.
Or here: Ask!!
I just hate snap judgements, period. I know I do it too, I’m human after all… We’re so used to doing it, which is sad. But I’m working on it, so can everyone else try, too?
But if you have to know, like you just have to know… Ask me. I’m hardly going to get mad over it, because I love talking about my cars.
So how do I do it?
Cars are my priority, pretty much my highest priority after basics.
I’m not rich, I don’t have a ton of disposable income and I have yet to win the lottery or even get an inheritance. I work, I delegate where my money’s best suited to go and I work with it that way.
Spending money on my cars makes me insanely happy. Even if I don’t drive on any particular day, I can look outside and see my darling girls sitting there all pretty. (And just about paid off, too.) I have access to a culture that’s great, and I have so many awesome friends who are into this too. It’s my hobby, really my only hobby that costs me a lot of money…
So please, don’t think I’m rich just because I have three cars. I don’t think I’m better than you because I drive sports cars. Really, unless you claim to be into cars and obviously aren’t, I couldn’t care less about you or your car.
Now, if ya wanna talk cars with me… I am all game. I’m just well sorted out priorities-wise!
No related posts.
I couldn’t agree with this post more. People who think that cars, tuning, and motorsports are a waste of money fail to forget one very basic thing. That very basic thing is interest. What is the difference between a person who loves their car and spends money and time researching things for it and messing with it out of love, passion, and interest and a person who is into building computers, home improvement, arts and crafts, a person who collects something, being a music producer with no interest of becoming famous, etc. Its like what Michael Jordan always said…”its for the love of the game”. Dont let hating idiots who make broad generalizations get you worked up.
I had to comment. Yes your blog is one of the few blogs I see that has barely any pictures and more insight. I really appreciate that I think the people Should at LEAST VOICE THERE OPINIONS. Damn blog leechers! I’m gonna try to put a stat counter. Ones thoughts are very important, it gives us an insight and lets our minds perculate(Ohh big word haha). That was random but anyway,
I get stereotyped the same way by an acquaintances relatives. “Oh you drive a Lexus, you should be paying for us.” I think to my mind at my age they weren’t very motivated to do anything. I agree I’m not rich also but I worked hard and work hard to pay for my car. They assumed my parents bought my car for me when I paid every dime for that car. I do care about my car greatly its my best assest as a broke college student. It not only led me to photography but to the car world and my mighty blog haha. But people should just money manage. I remember this girl my age in the summer asked how I have a car and I wasent working for two months. She seemed angry at me but I told her just manage your money. I don’t think I can do that again it was really bad calculating every nickle and dime.
By the way which car is your husbands?
Thanks guys.
I’ve since come to adopt JDM Ego’s “I <3 Haters" sort of attitude, it seems to get them to leave me alone more if I say that, haha.
The first draft of this post was horrible mind dribble…. I was insanely pissed, so I had to edit it a couple of times to make it a bit less extreme. But writing it helped me feel better, though I think it still keeps it's snarky tone. (I couldn't help but be snarky about it!)
Hubby's car is the S2000. The 240SX is a joint project, but he's constantly referring to her as mine, so I've just stopped arguing. I guess I did win the debate about whether to build a Sil-Eighty or a Type-X 180, so….
My first car was a BMW (e30) people would automatically assume I was spoiled because they would see my keys on the table or knew that I was at the time a dishwasher and there was no way I could afford the car.
I just washed A LOT OF DISHES and learned to do some of my own wrenching.
Most ‘outside’ people don’t understand just how dedicated true car nuts are.
It irks me when people tell me I am wasting my money on my car… it brings me enjoyment how is that a waste?
I don’t work 40 hours a week to stock pile my money and smile at it lol.
I had a comment like that on my other blog that just got to me. I tend to leave a lot of comments on personal finance blogs, so sometimes I’m surprised I don’t get more near-sighted comments like that…
Anyhow, here’s part of what the guy said:
It’s safe to say that he missed the ENTIRE point of what I wrote, and my hobby/life in general. He went on to say that I’d find myself in too much debt, not happy, yadda yadda yadda. Never mind he got two major points wrong in his comment: 1, I don’t do “ground effects kits,” and 2, I don’t carry credit card debt. (Was in the rest of the comment.)
Honestly, sometimes it seems that there are people who will either A, try to take you down because they feel you’re better off than they are (like how you got treated for the e30 or Super Terrific gets treated for his Lexus) or B, just try to rain on your parade because you’re happy and content with what you have, aren’t chasing all this stuff and getting nowhere, or want a few things and have a plan to get them (like my SR20DET).
Now I wonder if that could be it’s own post….. Haha.
Great post Foxie.
I hate when people can’t ever look at things from another person’s point of view. Just because they can’t see any possible use or enjoyment to be had from a fun car doesn’t mean no one else can. If there weren’t so many people who enjoy fun cars, there wouldn’t be so many out there!
Also fun is to turn it around on them. Ask them what’s so great about their own car that they bought it. Personally, I can’t fathom why people willingly drive minivans. Where’s the appeal in that?
I have zero idea… And I knew a girl who swore her dream car was a minivan. (Uh, yeah, all she wanted was to be a mom… And was by like 18 I think. Crazy.)
Sometimes it’s just people who’re mad because we can afford to spend money on something we enjoy so much at such a young age, it seems. Heaven knows what they’d think if we had actually bought a Porsche by now… We could’ve had two by now, at least.