Originally Posted by Jeffblue

kenchan makes a really good point. To outsiders, having a nice car does give you the appearance of being well put-together and successful, but it doesn't necessarily mean you are. someone who owns their own home and drives a beater every day has accomplished more financially than someone who owns a nice car. and chances are, at 22, you don't own your own home and drive a sports car. not saying its impossible. but i'd be willing ti guess that most of the really young people on here owning a Z are living with parents.

I live at home, and i paid for my Z myself. but i dont try and pretend that i would have done it if i were living on my own. I definitely would not have. I would be spending money on mortgage, property taxes, home maintenance, utilities etc. But i don't have to do that because i'm living with my parents. and i have such a great appreciation for the fact that them still letting me live at home does allow me to treat myself to some nice things, like my Z, but my focus is on saving to buy a house not spend a ton of money on cars.

I made the decision to buy the Z knowing it might keep me at home for an extra year, which is fine with me. I'm living at home because it makes sense for me and it allows me to save most of the money i make and put it towards buying my own house etc. I dont live at home so i can spend all my money on cars or car parts. Does living at home allow me to spend more money on a car then i would have otherwise? yes, but it's not the reason i am living at home.

I know the wise thing to do would have been to hold on to my altima and save the 23k difference between what my altima was worth used, and what my z was going to cost me new. My dad, who is a big influence on me and my financial decision making and planning told me that if i really wanted the car, i should buy it. maybe it will set me back a few months living at home, but you have to live life, and you can't base every decision around what is the most financially viable choice.