@ $16/hr I'd estimate you'll bring home just over $2000 a month. Two car payments and insurance could easily eat up half that! But the best of luck to you.

One thing I'd do (and I do) when you get your job is to contribute as much as you can to a 401k, esp. if the company has a matching program, its free money! If you do this right away, you'll be able to plan your budget with what you have left and not feel like your paychecks are any smaller than before. Just my opinion.

And lastly - if you want a good bang for the buck mod, I have pulleys for sale!

 

I think it will be less than $2k, assuming you'll be paying ~33% for taxes. Especially if you got nothing to write off at tax time. Hence the idea of buying a house first. Writing off on the interest helps big time.

 

I just don't think you should spend more on a car than you make in a year unless your parents are willing to help you out.

 

Is it 33%? Probably right, especially if you are paying for any benefits...

 

once you get up to $1500 a month the taxes get up to about a third unless you have multiple exemptions. A single person making 2000 a month paying taxes and for medical benifits (you can tell he is young if he doesn't think these are important) could easily drop 6-700 a month before ever getting the check.

 

gross is 2500 taxes are going to eat me up because IM single I have no depends no stuff like that IM buying my truck(beater) in cash and will have the z note. I already have reasonable figures for about 775 (Z note + insurance) will be cheaper if my dad helps me and out and puts in his name but he hasn't said nothing about it yet.(don't expect him to help me wanna do stuff on my own :-) ) I have also be checking out some medical plans. i also have to pay rent $100

Trust me I just don't rush into things I stuff research out everything clearly and all the way out.


In a year or two Im movin out becaues Im go need some write offs so I will be lookin to purchase a home. (mainly Condo)


Taxes R a bytch my cuz pays $1500 Monthly in taxes

 

I hope you are not buying a Z and then living in the hood. I don't know where else you could live for $100. If thats the case though, it makes sense that you would be practicing up on your ebonics.

 

MY parents home

 

Confession here...I'm a Mustang owner.
'02 GT coupe...I can beat any stock Z out there, hands down.

With that said, I'm trading it in for a Z this month.
Why? Because Ford's are worth sh*t in resale, and with the 05's coming out they'll be worth even less. I've been a huge 350Z fan since I saw the first pictures of it a couple years ago, but decided to go with the Mustang because it was cheaper and I've also always loved Stangs.

(I also plan on selling my Z to pick up an '06 Cobra or an '07 Boss 302.)

Well, I'm getting my base Z anytime now...hopefully it doesn't dissapoint.

Kind of a useless post...but just wanted to say that I love Z's and Mustangs... rock on.

 

No offense meant to Stang owners here. I'm just curious. When you say beat the Z.......beat it in what?

Straightline is a whole different world than twisties. It may be able to beat the Z in a drag race, but on the track (and I'm not talking the oval nascar track.....I'm talkin about a real track with actual turning involved ) or in the canyons.....it seems to me the Z has a way better set up and would have the advantage.

Or am I mistaken here?

 

Yes -- I meant at the drag strip. The Mustang doesn't turn nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be, but it's still a behemoth with a live rear axle...not exactly the svelt canyon carver the Z is. I've upgraded my Stang's suspension a ton, so it's much better than stock, but after test driving the Z it still doesnt compare...the Z just seems so much lighter on its feet, the IRS is a god send and I just like the fact it's so much smaller.

With all that said I'm having a hell of a time finding a Daytona Blue base Z in LA!!!

 

I'm only a sophomore in high school but my parents told me if i get a 4.0 GPA or above they'll buy me a car (hopefully the z) at graduation. so that's making me focus on school even more. i know i shouldn't be looking at cars so soon but it's just a phase in a little while i'll just get disinterested... until i get my license that is.

 

I'm sorry to say, but the worst thing a parent can do is give a fast car to an inexperienced driver.

Get a beater.
Hate it.
Work hard, make money.
THEN get your Z. You'll appreciate it more, know how to drive it and most importantly you won't kill anyone or yourself.

I'm not some old parent or anything...I just know that when I was a teen (only a few years back) I was wreckless as hell...

Good luck though.

/End parental rant

 

I just got an '04 Silverstone Touring- I'm totally in love with this
car- that said, I REALLY want an '05 Stang GT (ragtop?)-
I always loved mustangs, I had an '89 GT for years, great car-
BUT it's not as refined as the Z- Bottom line, I love both cars
but if I had to pick just one, it would have to be the Z!!

 

I have to agree with ARES. Before getting my Z, I spent my time modding an '02 Maxima SE which I still have as a daily driver. Sure sometimes it was hard not to just plunk down my credit card and get all the mods I wanted done, but saving up for each mod has its advantages:

1. It gives you time to actually think things out and plan your mods out which will save you money in the long run. For instance, if you know you really want to get a CAI, why buy the drop in K&N filter which will be useless once you get the CAI. Save the $45 bucks towards your CAI.

2. Say you take out a big loan and do all your mods at once. Sure, you'll have a hot car, but to me half the fun of modding a car is looking forward to my next little "project" for my car every month or so. If you do it all at once, what do you have to look forward to?

Just my opinion...

 

Focus on school for the right reasons. If you do well, it'll prepare you for a great life and career. From there, good things will come-- like a Z that you purchased with your own hard-earned money. Trust me, you'll love and appreciate the car even more.

I assume that college is in your future. Trust me, you don't want a hot car like the Z when you're going to college. There are enough distractions in college between all the pretty coeds and the parties--- you don't need to be worrying about finding a safe place to park your Z. If you must get a car, get something sporty but more practical...

 

Yeah, the new Stang is pretty hot. If I were you, stick to my plan...stay with the Z until the '06 Cobra or the '07 Boss 302 w/ the rumored 5.0 engine that makes over 400hp n/a.

Or better yet the new Shelby Cobra...v10 in a car the size of a Miata!

 

Whoa, this will be really off the subject:
I had a sporty car in college (junior, senior), it was fun, fast, and ridiculously over-powered from me. However, it was awesome. If I was is HS getting a Z it would be in a ditch first day.

Instead, I am appreciative of the "RICERS" and mod parts for Hondas and such. My first car was a little Civic Si. If I was your parent (ha ha, man I'd have to age) I'd force you to take a 5 year-old Civic or Corolla, and then you could beat the crap out of it with your friends, being stupid and spinning out in the dirt, snow, parking lots.

In retrospect, the ideal car in college was an SUV. The guys with SUVs always were bringing chics skiing, going climbing etc. The high CG kept stupidity to a minimum as well.
Plus for us left-coasters, it's hard to stuff a surfboard in a Z.

-Xray

 

I would agree with the previous advice. I'm now 25 and had a 96 Toyota Tercel from undergrad until I finished grad school (total of 7 years). Even though I would have preferred a flashier car, it was dependable and maintenace, gas, etc. was low. I also did not have to worry about making expensive payments on the car, so I was able to focus on education and have time for family/friends/fun.
Now that I am working, I was able to afford the Z and waiting for a nicer car while paying for it yourself really makes you appreciate the vehicle even more. It would have been great to have a Z in college, but not if it meant I had to spend a large percentage of my time working. Focus on your future for now, it requires patience but trust me, concentrating on school/education for 4-8 years now will more than pay off down the road, then you will have the rest of your life to enjoy a nice car, house, family, and so forth. Sorry about the length, but someone gave me this advice when I was finishing high school (I was somewhat of a slacker) and I am only now beginning to appreciate it.

 

has anyone noticed the mustang concept and the 2005 mustang are VERY different? Front end, side, tailights, and interior is different. The Mustang concept was very cool looking for a mustang IMO. The 2005 Mustang is a steaming pile of crap.