Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda

[CALL_911]

Post the car you bought, and the other cars you looked at. The car you would have bought, could have bought, or should have bought.

So I was looking at a....
d'oh.

[Onslaught]

When Mazda had a 10K rebate going on the FD RX-7 I should have done it. Add that with my own discount and the car would have been a steal.
With the money I'd have saved I could have gone ahead and ordered a new motor and turbo's for when the car blew up 3 years down the road.

And I can't see what you put up.

[CALL_911]

When Mazda had a 10K rebate going on the FD RX-7 I should have done it. Add that with my own discount and the car would have been a steal.
With the money I'd have saved I could have gone ahead and ordered a new motor and turbo's for when the car blew up 3 years down the road.

And I can't see what you put up.

I didn't put up anything. It was something of a joke, considering I don't have a car.

[Onslaught]

I see.
I don't know anything about you so I didn't know that. 

[the Teuton]

What I almost bought:



(I'm not kidding, same color and everything)

What I considered buying:



And what I bought:

[CALL_911]

I see.
I don't know anything about you so I didn't know that. 

It's cool.

[Raza]

What I got:


(Representative photo)

What I wanted:


Turned out for the best, though.  I loved that Passat. 

[Tave]

I had the opportunity to buy this when I graduated high school and passed on it.

[SVT666]

What I bought




What I shoulda bought:

I got nothin'.

[The Pirate]

This is what I purchased.



This is what I should have purchased.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I got nuthin

[the Teuton]

What I bought




What I shoulda bought:

I got nothin'.

wut

[CJ]

What I bought:


Could have bought.



Should have bought:

[Raza]

This is what I purchased.



This is what I should have purchased.

You're doing it wrong. 

[MrH]

There was a laser blue Protege5, same year, slightly cheaper, with slightly more miles that I wanted to look at.  It didn't have a sunroof (which I prefer), and it had leather instead of cloth (which I also really wanted).  My parents and I withheld looking at it because the day we went to look was on a Sunday and the dealership that had it was closed.

I wish I got that blue instead.  I like that color more too.

[TBR]

Well, since buying the Prelude I have driven two different cars I should have bought and one I very nearly did (but shouldn't have):
While I was still employed...
2003 Protege5- 99,000 miles, leather, sunroof, 5-spd, great condition for $6500
Basically, I decided the financially responsible thing to do would have been to save the money for college. I am not sure I was right, I think it would have been cheaper in the long run. Oh well.

When I was broke and bored...
1994 BMW 325i, pretty much the same deal as the 'Lude, high miles on the body, comparatively low miles on the engine. But, it was very well kept, had a nice aftermarket exhaust, and was for sale at an independent BMW shop so it had been fully inspected by experts. They were asking a very firm $2500. I probably would have tried to get it, except I knew it would last a couple days at the most because it was a hell of a good deal.

Still broke, but even more bored...
1996 VW Passat GLX. 120k, fully loaded 5-spd VR6 for $2800. Another good deal, but ultimately I think it would have ended up being real expensive. I was already to buy it, but I wanted to sell the Prelude first, it didn't happen so no VW for me. It was the best thing I think. I am holding onto the Prelude at least until I am out of school (so I don't have to deal with getting parental approval) and probably until it completely dies.

[The Pirate]

You're doing it wrong. 

I want a truck.  And I'm tired of replacing brake calipers.  Outside, in winter.  It's not fun.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I want a truck.  And I'm tired of replacing brake calipers.  Outside, in winter.  It's not fun.

I don't know about you, but I'd hate to have a truck as an only vehicle. Get a Taco, keep the Prot?g

[TBR]

There was a laser blue Protege5, same year, slightly cheaper, with slightly more miles that I wanted to look at.  It didn't have a sunroof (which I prefer), and it had leather instead of cloth (which I also really wanted).  My parents and I withheld looking at it because the day we went to look was on a Sunday and the dealership that had it was closed.

I wish I got that blue instead.  I like that color more too.

That was the one thing I didn't like about the one I looked at, it seems like 90% of Proteges are either silver or laser blue, I definitely prefer black or the dark blue.

[Raza]

I want a truck.  And I'm tired of replacing brake calipers.  Outside, in winter.  It's not fun.

Then don't replace them.  Or replace them inside in the winter.

Maybe you should have kept the Civic.  Maybe you should have shown a little more discretion with which specific Protege you bought.  But a truck is not the answer.

[Tave]

It's good you don't own a truck, because you wouldn't know what to do with it.

[Onslaught]

What's wrong with trucks? I'd like to have one again

[Raza]

It's good you don't own a truck, because you wouldn't know what to do with it.

Well, I could take a look at all the people who own trucks where I live. 

Wash, wax, and polish every weekend and pick up my kids from the bus stop with it. 

Trucks are great, but not as an only car.

[The Pirate]

Then don't replace them.  Or replace them inside in the winter.

Maybe you should have kept the Civic.  Maybe you should have shown a little more discretion with which specific Protege you bought.  But a truck is not the answer.

Yes, well, hindsight is 20/20, as they say.  And I do like the Proteg?, it's just ended up needing more upkeep than I prefer.  And one doesn't have the option of choosing when brake calipers fail, or choosing to perform work in a garage when one lives in an apartment complex.  Though, to be honest, I did nab a friend's garage for the caliper replacement.  Had to do the front pads and second bleeding outside though, and it was a cold freaking day.

Tacoma is definitely a right answer for me, as well.

[Rupert]

I bought an MG, I coulda bought a Fiat, and I shoulda held my horses for another month and bought an Alfa.



$3k, that.

Also, I bought a Ranger, I coulda bought an RX-7 (but the money didn't want to go there), and I shoulda bought a Trooper.

[Eye of the Tiger]

No, you want the Ranger. Rangers make you feel like a man.

[Tave]

Trucks are great, but not as an only car.

You couldn't be more wrong. Trucks are the best choice for an only car because they can use all the same roads as a sedan and all the roads that the sedan can't.

[Raza]

You couldn't be more wrong. Trucks are the best choice for an only car because they can use all the same roads as a sedan and all the roads that the sedan can't.

But on the roads a sedan can go, the truck gets vastly worse gas mileage and doesn't drive as well. 

Like I said, trucks are great.  I don't particularly like pickups (although, that Nissan one is nice...the Navara.  I don't know what the US version is), but I like when people buy them and use them the way they're meant. 

[Raza]

I bought an MG, I coulda bought a Fiat, and I shoulda held my horses for another month and bought an Alfa.



$3k, that.

That's a pretty car...

[the Teuton]

Psilos, I like your MG better.  I didn't like the proportions of the Alfa.

Everyone else -- great compromise:



Now shut up!