A nice daily driver for $22,500

[pwd72s]

delete..sorry

[aschen]

I keep sorta bragging about it because I think its a screaming deal right now

But I got a brand new 2018 Focus ST for 19.1k. That wasnt with heavy negotiation. There were/are widespread heavy discounts. Pretty much identical performance to a 4.6 L GT.

Give up RWD but get 30 MPG and a warantee

of course in the like for like category 22.5 buys a very nice c5 z06 or regular c6

[Tervuren]

IMHO, unless you are doing track days and want the factory brake cooling vents of the C5 Z06, get a C5 Coupe instead and cam it.

The C5 coupe is the superior daily driver, easier suspension, has a feel of more space.

I got the Z06 because I like the fixed roof body style when I'm walking around outside the car.

For a daily driver, it is what its like in the seatl that matters. The C5 Coupe, especially with the adaptive shocks equipped will be much better.

Plus you can take the roof off on nice days.

[tabs]

My Dad grew up in Detroit, worked for Packard and had a thing for cars. That is until he went to an auto auction and saw them sold off like cattle. After that the luster was worn off. They are a commodity. One whose function is to provide transportation. Given that reality reliability, low cost of operation and depreciation followed by a certain level of comfort are of paramount importance in a daily driver. You don't need a BMW as a grocery getter. Practicality should be the watchword.

You Boyz have gotten used to a certain level of being extravagant in your life styles. Suffice it to say your aberational mindsets are beginning to haunt you. You have chosen luxury over prudence in all aspects of national life. I am sorry and I pray for you.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by tabs

You Boyz have gotten used to a certain level of being extravagant in your life styles. Suffice it to say your aberational mindsets are beginning to haunt you. You have chosen luxury over prudence in all aspects of national life. I am sorry and I pray for you.

Come on out to my farm, and i'll show you how "Extravagant" we live. 15 year old daily drivers, and no A/C in the house, wood heat in the Winter. Not everyone lives in a HOA gated community in SoCal.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Come on out to my farm, and i'll show you how "Extravagant" we live. 15 year old daily drivers, and no A/C in the house, wood heat in the Winter. Not everyone lives in a HOA gated community in SoCal.

Wow..You have 15 year olds dd's..man you must be rich...mine is 20 years old.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by tabs

Wow..You have 15 year olds dd's..man you must be rich...mine is 20 years old.

Unknowing people seem to think so. We have 5 cars/trucks of various ages sitting around the place including 2 BMWs, and a Porsche. What most don't understand, is that for $22,500, you could buy all 5 of mine.....far less than a brand new one.

[sammyg2]

My DD has just over 2000 miles on it. It's really nice, I enjoy driving it.
I will never apologize for my success or the benefits that come from it.

[The Synergizer]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

so where is the sweet spot for trading? mine is 5 years old now with 72k. needs new tires, but nothing else (touch wood). Get a new one before things go wrong, or when they start to go wrong?

While I'm not particularly attached to the car, owning a newer, fancier one would not make me feel better or more successful.

I always read that the "sweet spot" for a trade is two years. I also was told that up to 60,000 miles is OK, but after that, they're going to wholesale it out...

The bell curve of aging...

"My 20 year old suits are fine..."
"So, my shirts are missing a button or two, no one notices..."
"I used to mow the lawn weekly, now its twice in a summer..."
"Paint the house? Waste of time, money, and energy..."

[aschen]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

so where is the sweet spot for trading? mine is 5 years old now with 72k. needs new tires, but nothing else (touch wood). Get a new one before things go wrong, or when they start to go wrong?

While I'm not particularly attached to the car, owning a newer, fancier one would not make me feel better or more successful.

I think the sweet spot for trading in a car financially is way past 72k miles these days. I got the new focus because my wrx was start to me very minor troubles at 12YO and 130k miles. Was trouble free until then and probably should have driven it a few more years.

Every additional mile you get out of a car is a win in my book. I dont think there is a case where a car you have had for a while depreciates more in an incremental mile than a new car would in an incremental mile. Barring foreseen catastrophic failures of course

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by tabs

Wow..You have 15 year olds dd's..man you must be rich...mine is 20 years old.

You're both fancy and highfalutin compared to me! Sometimes I have to drive around in a car built in 1985!

[Tervuren]

I did a 1984 as my primary transport for most of my driving life.

Then in 2015 needed to take some stress off. I got a comfy British Grand Touring 2+2 Coupe from 2009. It worked wonders. Time spent in traffic just disappeared easily. The car was also more noticeable, and I stopped having SUV's and lifted pick ups merging on top of me like I wasn't there.

At this point I could go back to just the older cars, but I enjoy them all.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by cabmando

You're both fancy and highfalutin compared to me! Sometimes I have to drive around in a car built in 1985!

My other two cars are each 49 years old.