The 3 series from BMW, the C series from Mercedes, and all those lower entry models are simply there to target that very profitable group because let's face it, not too many people can buy the high end versions.

I would probably agree with your husband though...no need for a loan :) How long can ahem Mrs. X hold out for another car though? That way you can raise the money. Even more ridiculous than the people who buy lower end luxury goods for the name (A/X :) ) is the people who not only live paycheck to paycheck but go into debt to create the image. Patience...patience I say.

-Rudey

Oh, I get it now. Get what makes you happy if you have the means. There is nothing wrong with financing a car especially if the interest rate is low.

I never saw the BMW as being a luxury car. Porsche, Jaguar, Rolls Royce, and Bentley are luxury cars to me. Is Mercedes Benz a luxury car? I guess so. I've been pretty spoiled. :)

yes people in their 30's drive 3 series-I have one. I guess I am the type of person that would say if it is your money then you should be able to get the car you want. If it is not then I guess MrX gets to make the decision. I am not married so I am the only income and can buy what I want, but if I do get married we will have our own separate bank accounts so I can do what I want with my $$$ and don't have to bother with MrX.

ETA: I love my 3 series. It is sporty, easy to handle and looks fantabulous when the top is down :).

Tom,

i actually got a 1.9% interest rate on my BMW (but paid for most of it with cash) and my insurance went up a small amount-but not too bad (and i have a convertible which is more expensive to insure)

Umm All of those are considered luxury cars with cars like the Rolls, the Bentley, the Mercedes Maybach, Volkswagen Phaeton, etc. considered extreme luxuries often had by people with money to pay for drivers.

Porsche makes a lower end boxster which is again, ridiculous. People buy it to say they have a Porsche but it's not what Porsche is. The same thing with the Jaguar X which starts out under 30.

And yes there is quite a bit wrong with financing something you don't need. Interest rates are not that low enough to justify it. It's the reason why so many Americans carry large levels of debt and live paycheck to paycheck. If you need a car, buy a car but if you want to be able to brag that you're part of a very select group of people make sure you really can afford it.

-Rudey
--I take public transport and the ladies love it.

Lol maybe so. But if both people are fair about where the money goes and don't put themselves in debt I don't think it would lead to divorce. But if one person is unfair and keeps being unfair I could see it as a possiblity.

Definitely is.

Working in the realm of family law, money (and where it goes) is a HUGE reason why many marriages don't work out. Working where I am will one day make me a very smart husband. It's like every day getting bombarded with what NOT to do in a relationship.

So what would be your solution? Let the wife get whatever she wants so there is no arguement about money? Even if it could lead to debt?

The husband obviously has no clue how to attack the situation. I would buy her a 10,000 dollar piece of jewelry from say tiffany. She would get all teary eyed and wouldn't know what was up. Then I would buy a small little car a day later that would cost say 10,000. Total that is 20,000 and is less than a BMW 5 series. She can't flip out because I got the necklace. I haven't tried this out and it could be a very costly mistake but I am thinking it's brilliant.

-Rudey

lol.

I like it. Sounds like a good idea to me.

that's pretty much what my boss did when he bought his boat.

It's not a question of "letting" me, um, I mean Mrs X have her 530i. Her name is on everything so if she wanted to she could access the money set aside for her new car, sell some stock or cash in a CD, be bop down to the BMW dealer and have her new baby in the driveway before Mr. X got home from work.

I think Mrs. X is looking at this from a "Is it worth it for me to keep nagging him to agree that we should get the 530 now? Or should I wait a year or so when we have the money in the car fund? Or should I just suck it up and get the 330 or something else in the 330 price range because I'm sick of the mom mobile I'm driving now? At least that's what Mrs. X tells me :)

AggieAXO, convertibles are cool no matter how much they cost!

Depends on the financial situation.

I'd go for a used one or we'd decide that we'd keep the car for a longer period of time than usual (like 6+ years).

The trouble I've seen is when neither party is willing to give any ground.

Well it all comes down to Mrs. X's vanity. If her life will be so bad to wait til the car fund built up or getting the 300 series now then go ahead and get it. I guess it would be better than spending 10,000 with a shrink to help Mrs. X not having the 500 series. How did Mrs. X get by all these years without one? :p

Nagging is never a good thing. If the old mom mobile still safe and working, I think that you could drive it for a little while longer until you have the entire amount for the 500 series. Are the 2005 cars in yet? Maybe you can wait and buy a 2004 when the dealers need to make room for the 2005. I think that they lower the price.

So I was just outside for a little while and saw quite a few BMW 500 driving by. They looked nice, and I thought about you, KilarneyRose, I mean Mrs. X and her dilemma. My dilemma is that I don't have a car at all. BTW, does Mr. X have a brother? ;)


Rudey, I take public transportation also, and it's fine by me. Most places I want to go are a few minutes away. I see your point about financing something that you don't need. I thought that the interest rate was still low enough to justify it. I know a few people who own luxury cars. Most of them paid for them in full.