More shake ups at the home garage...

[Raza]

The S2000 is supposed to have 8.

MSN Autos lists it as 5.  Ahead of the 350ZR (4.1) though.

[ifcar]

At that size level, how the space is shaped becomes more important than the numbers. At the very least, you might want to be looking at pictures of the trunks (widely available online) and probably should be looking at your favorites in person before making the decisions based on the specs.

[Lebowski]

For someone my age, I have a lot of savings, I think.  I could save it, but for what?  I mean, I would save it, but I can't think of any reason to go out of my way to save money.  I'm not getting married (I don't even have a serious girlfriend), and even if I do, I'm not having kids, so I don't have any expensive anchors weighing me down in the near future.  I could buy a house, but why tie myself to a mortgage and one place? 

I just don't have any reason to save a whole lot of money when I could take a small loan on a used sports car, pay it off in a year, and then own it for little running costs? 

A reason to save?  What?

You don't need a reason to save.  I'm in pretty much the same boat as you (no real "reason" to save money) but I do anyway.  I like managing my own investment portfolio, I like watching it get bigger, and I like the idea of financial independence - i.e. the day when I don't have to work unless I choose to.

Don't base your savings on comparisons to your peers.  Most people are complete idiots when it comes to money.  Just because you have a lot of savings compared to other people your age means nothing ... given the average American has a savings rate of about 0%, this should always be the case.


I'm not saying don't buy it, I'm just saying think long and hard before buying it.  An incremental dollar invested in your early 20s will be worth a hell of a lot more than an incremental dollar invested in, say, your 40s (when most people start thinking about saving). 

I've been kicking around the same decision (to get a second car) myself for awhile.  I may finally do it at the end of '08, but only if I'm in a position where I can pay cash for it out of my earnings this year and still have a very high savings rate for the year.

[Raza]

At that size level, how the space is shaped becomes more important than the numbers. At the very least, you might want to be looking at pictures of the trunks (widely available online) and probably should be looking at your favorites in person before making the decisions based on the specs.

Oh, of course.  Ultimately which one I like to drive the most will determine which one I buy (as well as condition and availability at the desired price), but things like cargo space and interior storage space (like the 350Z's idiot aft passenger glove compartment) just help to shape expectations and possibilities. 

[Raza]

A reason to save?  What?

You don't need a reason to save.  I'm in pretty much the same boat as you (no real "reason" to save money) but I do anyway.  I like managing my own investment portfolio, I like watching it get bigger, and I like the idea of financial independence - i.e. the day when I don't have to work unless I choose to.

Don't base your savings on comparisons to your peers.  Most people are complete idiots when it comes to money.  Just because you have a lot of savings compared to other people your age means nothing ... given the average American has a savings rate of about 0%, this should always be the case.


I'm not saying don't buy it, I'm just saying think long and hard before buying it.  An incremental dollar invested in your early 20s will be worth a hell of a lot more than an incremental dollar invested in, say, your 40s (when most people start thinking about saving). 

I've been kicking around the same decision (to get a second car) myself for awhile.  I may finally do it at the end of '08, but only if I'm in a position where I can pay cash for it out of my earnings this year and still have a very high savings rate for the year.

I guess you have a point.  My brother would make the same argument had I told him my plans, and while it makes sense, it's a bit rational for an argument about not spending money on one's passion. 

For some time, I was working a job equivalent to 50K a year, and I didn't have any expenses.  I didn't pay for my car, my gas, insurance, housing, clothes, food other than lunch (I bought my own lunch), so that allowed my saving to grow rapidly.  I'm practically in that same position now. 

When the time draws nearer I will definitely have to look at the numbers, as all my projections are for a time that's 12-24 months from now.  That's enough time to end up paying child support.

If that happens, then it's R32 brakes, upgraded suspension, and a second set of rims with race tires on the Wolf!

[Vinsanity]

They had to go find it, and it's got a few options combinations that you don't usually see, apparently, according to the dealer. 

Yes, it has the self park feature.  I haven't used it yet, and I told my dad never to use it. 

hey, might as well try it out just for shits and grins. Like if there's enough room on the street outside your house to position all 3 cars, that is.

[Raza]

My street slopes, and self park doesn't operate the brakes.  So it's a little risky.

Also, you can voice command anything in this car.

EXCEPT for what radio station you want.  My mom's car does that, and it's 6 years old, and an 8 year old design.  Come on, Lexus!  You act like you invented everything and you can't even mimic voice control as well as the people who implemented it?

Do you know how annoying it is to get from 93.3 to 104.5?

You're on 93.3
Push voice control
Wait
Hear message telling you to talk
Beep
Say "Seek up"
Wait
It goes up to the next frequency that's clear.
Repeat until you reach 104.5

The controls are a bit confusing, and unless you familiarize yourself with them before you drive off, you're not going to be able to figure out the aircon controls or radio on the move. 

It's a nice car, but over-teched, in my opinion.

[ifcar]

What was complicated about the climate and stereo controls? I don't remember having trouble figuring them out. You just push the little up or down arrows on the driver's side of the center stack to select a temperature, same as most auto climate control systems. And the radio faceplate is practically parts-bin its uniformity.

The voice-activation seems weird, though. But I assume it would let you select a preset through the voice controls, and you can always just spin the tuning knob.

[cawimmer430]

Porsche Boxster =     

Lexus LS460 =     

[CALL_911]

Porsche Boxster =     

My Jokes =     

Fixed.

Although I wholeheartedly agree about the Boxster. What a fucking amazing example of engineering.

[cawimmer430]

Fixed.

Although I wholeheartedly agree about the Boxster. What a fucking amazing example of engineering.

Don't get me wrong, the Lexus LS460 is probably my favorite Lexus but it is also so overrated in many regards. A great car, but I would rather get something with...

HISTORY AND HERITAGE! 


j/k 

[CALL_911]

Don't get me wrong, the Lexus LS460 is probably my favorite Lexus but it is also so overrated in many regards. A great car, but I would rather get something with...

HISTORY AND HERITAGE! 


j/k 

Don't worry, I don't love the LS460 either. I would much rather an S550 over it. So we agree there.

[Raza]

What was complicated about the climate and stereo controls? I don't remember having trouble figuring them out. You just push the little up or down arrows on the driver's side of the center stack to select a temperature, same as most auto climate control systems. And the radio faceplate is practically parts-bin its uniformity.

The voice-activation seems weird, though. But I assume it would let you select a preset through the voice controls, and you can always just spin the tuning knob.

Is there no independent fan control? 

[ifcar]

Is there no independent fan control? 

Couldn't tell you off the top of my head. But that's not a feature I usually search for.

[JYODER240]

Porsche Boxster =     

Lexus LS460 =     

Predictability isn't funny.

[Raza]

Couldn't tell you off the top of my head. But that's not a feature I usually search for.

I prefer simpler controls.  I don't want to just set a temperature and let the car decide how much air I need.  So it is something I usually try and find.  But glancing down at it while driving didn't let me find it.

[ifcar]

I prefer simpler controls.  I don't want to just set a temperature and let the car decide how much air I need.  So it is something I usually try and find.  But glancing down at it while driving didn't let me find it.

I'm not sure that's a common auto climate control system feature. Not a complexity unique to $70,000 luxury cars.

[Raza]

I'm not sure that's a common auto climate control system feature. Not a complexity unique to $70,000 luxury cars.

Well, my mother's car has independent fan (as well as temperature) control.  The idea is that you can set it to a temperature and let the A/C unit do the thinking, or set the fan strength yourself. 

[JYODER240]

You can do that on the LS. It's simple just set it at what tempature you want it at and then adjust the fan speed.

[the Teuton]

Yep.  Mercedes quoted $31,000 for an engine swap. 

That's not a typo. 

If it makes you feel any better, my engine was $300 and the mechanic-installed swap would have been about $800.  Are you sure that's not a typo?

They had to go find it, and it's got a few options combinations that you don't usually see, apparently, according to the dealer. 

Yes, it has the self park feature.  I haven't used it yet, and I told my dad never to use it. 

An $11,000 option package in the US, sold individually for less than $2,000 on the Prius in Japan.  Your dad had to check the "Bling Bling, Muthafucka" option box, didn't he?

[TBR]

Or, you could take it to an independent Mercedes specialist and have it done for a hell of a lot less (under $5k I'd wager).

[CALL_911]

Any pics of the LS?

[Raza]

No, I was busy today and it rained all day anyway.

[hotrodalex]

It's black sapphire pearl; an interesting color.  In low light situations, it looks black, but in the sunlight, it looks like a very dark, deep blue. 



I'll have to take my own pictures to really demonstrate it, but I don't know if it will do it justice even then.

Seriously? That's like the same color as the stripes on my Camaro.

[Raza]

I think your Camaro's blue is lighter than this.  In low light it looks black.  My aunt couldn't tell the difference between it and black until she looked at my Wolf.

Also, what do you think about a 964 cabriolet instead of a 350Z Roadster?

[CALL_911]

I think your Camaro's blue is lighter than this.  In low light it looks black.  My aunt couldn't tell the difference between it and black until she looked at my Wolf.

Also, what do you think about a 964 cabriolet instead of a 350Z Roadster?

OH MY GOD HELL YES

The 964 STOMPS on the 350Z.

[Raza]

I mean, I really want to get back into a Porsche, but I don't want to jump back to a Boxster.  I've been planning on a 911 in my garage for about...6 years...so this seems like the perfect opportunity.

The 350ZR is a two seater, and more like what I was originally looking for, but the 911's trunk is rather large, and the rear seats also can act as storage.

So, while it's old, you've got storage space, it's a Porsche, and it's a 911. 

Fuck, it will take a lot of caring, wouldn't it?

The 350ZR would be relatively trouble free.

[hotrodalex]

I think your Camaro's blue is lighter than this.  In low light it looks black.  My aunt couldn't tell the difference between it and black until she looked at my Wolf.

Also, what do you think about a 964 cabriolet instead of a 350Z Roadster?

I'll take a picture of it. It looks black in the shade and blue in the sun. It could be lighter though, when I got it painted they had darker choices. I went for a lighter one so you could see it's actually blue in the sun light.

[hotrodalex]

I think your Camaro's blue is lighter than this.  In low light it looks black.  My aunt couldn't tell the difference between it and black until she looked at my Wolf.

Also, what do you think about a 964 cabriolet instead of a 350Z Roadster?

I'm kinda biased (An '85-'93 Porsche is on my to-buy list) but I would get the 964 cabriolet. Just don't get one that I'm looking at too. 

[CALL_911]

I mean, I really want to get back into a Porsche, but I don't want to jump back to a Boxster.  I've been planning on a 911 in my garage for about...6 years...so this seems like the perfect opportunity.

The 350ZR is a two seater, and more like what I was originally looking for, but the 911's trunk is rather large, and the rear seats also can act as storage.

So, while it's old, you've got storage space, it's a Porsche, and it's a 911. 

Fuck, it will take a lot of caring, wouldn't it?

The 350ZR would be relatively trouble free.

Ok, but the 964 is so much better to drive, and so much better in every way besides maintenance. It's a very reliable car, too.