GT-R owner------Occupation ?
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 399
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From: New Jersey
Ok this here is another angle. In the end, you really need to weigh whether it's worth it to you.
I was trying to make a decision whether to sell my 05 G35c MT, because of the various engine issues, (oil consumption being the main) to get a BMW E92 M3 or a 02-04 NSX. The other choice was to wait for the various issues of the G35 to be sorted out, and then boost. I'd already spent money on exterior mods.. and was happy with what I'd done.
Test drove the M3.. great car. 70k USD, the BMW didn't seem worth it. First of all my car (modified) looked better. As for the Acura, I called a seller in california, and priced a 04 Long Beach Pearl blue NSX for about 62k. OMG Beautiful car. My father talked me out of it, and I'm glad he did. It just wasn't practical for a guy living in a condo with no garage.
I could've conceivably looked at a GT-R. But styling wise, I was on the fence, and I felt that personally I'd get bored with not having a stick. Not to criticize the car... it's a great piece of tech. Just personal tastes.
As for what I do.. I'm a composer/writer for tv. I do ok with my finances and save pretty well, But in the end.. I'd rather get a house first with a garage (have a condo now) before even remotely thinking about getting a proper sports car over 70k.
Getting twin turbos on my G was a chunk of money and maybe a bit of a gamble.. but in the end for me it's miles better than having a ridiculous car note, amongst all of the other bills I have. Paying cash for a GT-R didn't seem smart either. I'm not paying 70-90k cash.. for a car.. unless I reeeeaaaally have to have it and was prepared to take the loss. I'd want to be making at least 300k to even consider doing something like this. GT-R would have to be my toy and not a Daily Driver.
I was trying to make a decision whether to sell my 05 G35c MT, because of the various engine issues, (oil consumption being the main) to get a BMW E92 M3 or a 02-04 NSX. The other choice was to wait for the various issues of the G35 to be sorted out, and then boost. I'd already spent money on exterior mods.. and was happy with what I'd done.
Test drove the M3.. great car. 70k USD, the BMW didn't seem worth it. First of all my car (modified) looked better. As for the Acura, I called a seller in california, and priced a 04 Long Beach Pearl blue NSX for about 62k. OMG Beautiful car. My father talked me out of it, and I'm glad he did. It just wasn't practical for a guy living in a condo with no garage.
I could've conceivably looked at a GT-R. But styling wise, I was on the fence, and I felt that personally I'd get bored with not having a stick. Not to criticize the car... it's a great piece of tech. Just personal tastes.
As for what I do.. I'm a composer/writer for tv. I do ok with my finances and save pretty well, But in the end.. I'd rather get a house first with a garage (have a condo now) before even remotely thinking about getting a proper sports car over 70k.
Getting twin turbos on my G was a chunk of money and maybe a bit of a gamble.. but in the end for me it's miles better than having a ridiculous car note, amongst all of the other bills I have. Paying cash for a GT-R didn't seem smart either. I'm not paying 70-90k cash.. for a car.. unless I reeeeaaaally have to have it and was prepared to take the loss. I'd want to be making at least 300k to even consider doing something like this. GT-R would have to be my toy and not a Daily Driver.
GTR is not a small chunk of change and I bet you someone who makes 70k/year who spent more than a year of his life laboring away just to barely afford a GTR will be heart broken. Meanwhile, the person who makes 500k/year would probably just frown and chalk it up to bad luck and buy another 90k car the next week.
The matter of "what do you do" is only a small matter to affoarding nice things. I'd say what's more important is how well you save and how smart you are with the money you do make.
Just my personal opinion atleast. I have clients that make 6 figures and easily don't have enough disposable income to affoard a GTR.
Just my personal opinion atleast. I have clients that make 6 figures and easily don't have enough disposable income to affoard a GTR.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 199
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From: California
Be a freakin male escort. Older ladies pay some serious cash so you can take them out. Now if your ugly then your not gonna get any business but if your atractive then use what God gave you and sell your self like a cheap ***** dude. Not only that but you don't have to sleep with them. Just be their arm candy for the night.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: So cal.
70k to 90k is not that expensive here in California, considering houses here cost 300k and up... If your house is paid for, and no kids...you can get it.
But are you willing to park a 70k car any where? Which is a dilemma for me.
You can earn 500k a year, and still be concerned on a 70k purchase......
and should be. Time is still money, and we all have a finite amount of it here
on earth...
But are you willing to park a 70k car any where? Which is a dilemma for me.
You can earn 500k a year, and still be concerned on a 70k purchase......
and should be. Time is still money, and we all have a finite amount of it here
on earth...
Last edited by dec55; Jan 5, 2009 at 07:53 AM.
Wow. I have a "well paying" job, own two homes outright, yada yada yada...
YET I still do not feel remotely comfortable owning a vehicle worth roughly
$70k (on a bad day). I have met 3 owners of GT-rs, all nice guys, all in the same
financial boat as me. However, we are all different people with different thresholds of
fiscal pain. At 30, I am not ready to own a big deteriorating asset I cannot write-off
of my already exorbitant taxes. If I struck out on my own I would consider one should
I be able to structure the purchase properly and write the car off.
Love the Gt-r... but in a serious relationship with my Z already.
I have a grand total of $4k in debt on my Z, no credit debt, no mortgages,
zilch... if only I wasn't a jew miser. Saving is soooooooooo much more important.
YET I still do not feel remotely comfortable owning a vehicle worth roughly
$70k (on a bad day). I have met 3 owners of GT-rs, all nice guys, all in the same
financial boat as me. However, we are all different people with different thresholds of
fiscal pain. At 30, I am not ready to own a big deteriorating asset I cannot write-off
of my already exorbitant taxes. If I struck out on my own I would consider one should
I be able to structure the purchase properly and write the car off.
Love the Gt-r... but in a serious relationship with my Z already.
I have a grand total of $4k in debt on my Z, no credit debt, no mortgages,
zilch... if only I wasn't a jew miser. Saving is soooooooooo much more important.
Wow. I have a "well paying" job, own two homes outright, yada yada yada...
YET I still do not feel remotely comfortable owning a vehicle worth roughly
$70k (on a bad day). I have met 3 owners of GT-rs, all nice guys, all in the same
financial boat as me. However, we are all different people with different thresholds of
fiscal pain. At 30, I am not ready to own a big deteriorating asset I cannot write-off
of my already exorbitant taxes. If I struck out on my own I would consider one should
I be able to structure the purchase properly and write the car off.
Love the Gt-r... but in a serious relationship with my Z already.
I have a grand total of $4k in debt on my Z, no credit debt, no mortgages,
zilch... if only I wasn't a jew miser. Saving is soooooooooo much more important.
YET I still do not feel remotely comfortable owning a vehicle worth roughly
$70k (on a bad day). I have met 3 owners of GT-rs, all nice guys, all in the same
financial boat as me. However, we are all different people with different thresholds of
fiscal pain. At 30, I am not ready to own a big deteriorating asset I cannot write-off
of my already exorbitant taxes. If I struck out on my own I would consider one should
I be able to structure the purchase properly and write the car off.
Love the Gt-r... but in a serious relationship with my Z already.
I have a grand total of $4k in debt on my Z, no credit debt, no mortgages,
zilch... if only I wasn't a jew miser. Saving is soooooooooo much more important.
I think that the real point of this thread is this... Are most GTR owners making a sound financial decision or are they leveraged over there heads to buy this car.
Personally, I'm an Anesthesiologist. I make a very good salary, but I still drive my (pretty highly modded) '03 z. I have two kids (less then 5) and a wife. I have one years worth of salary in student loans to pay off, as well as my house.
I'm not buying a GTR now. I've followed the car from day one, but it doesn't make any financial sense for me to buy the car. I could afford the payment, but the Z is paid off. Maybe in five years after I pay off some debt, I'll consider it.
So that's the real question. Most people say that your house should be about 2.5 to 3 times your yearly income; anymore then that and the level of defaults rises drastically. I think there is something similar to this for cars. Except that the car should probably not be more then 1/3 to 1/2 of your yearly income. (Not saying that it's a smart decision, but more then that and your probably risking default)
Personally, I'm an Anesthesiologist. I make a very good salary, but I still drive my (pretty highly modded) '03 z. I have two kids (less then 5) and a wife. I have one years worth of salary in student loans to pay off, as well as my house.
I'm not buying a GTR now. I've followed the car from day one, but it doesn't make any financial sense for me to buy the car. I could afford the payment, but the Z is paid off. Maybe in five years after I pay off some debt, I'll consider it.
So that's the real question. Most people say that your house should be about 2.5 to 3 times your yearly income; anymore then that and the level of defaults rises drastically. I think there is something similar to this for cars. Except that the car should probably not be more then 1/3 to 1/2 of your yearly income. (Not saying that it's a smart decision, but more then that and your probably risking default)
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: NH
First thing, I don't make enough to buy a GT-R, to some degree my opnion might be junk based on that fact alone.
My thinking is the car is awesome, really sick, but over 70K for a Nissan??? Not to be a label *****, and I know it's a solid car, hell I love my Nissan but I could never justify that type of money on a Nissan. If I had that type of coin I'd probably buy a Porsche. Not knocking the GT-R, I think it's a sick car but I honestly feel like it is overpriced. Not looking to get flamed, just being honest in my opinion.
It's good to have nice things, but I would not want to "worry" about a car payment. Unless I really start working more or get snatched up with a huge raise I will be buying my cars used for a long time. I recently made a drastic career change, relocated away from the city, and took a paycut in the process so I think my financial views are very grounded right now. I worked in Financial Services for 5 years and the going advice to most millionaires looking to retire was "not yet, you need to keep earning to sustain your desired lifestyle." I figure if these wealthy geezers can't afford to retire then I better enjoy what I am doing for work, hence the career change... I am hopeful though, sky's the limit, maybe in a few years a used GT-R will be lined up with my range.
My thinking is the car is awesome, really sick, but over 70K for a Nissan??? Not to be a label *****, and I know it's a solid car, hell I love my Nissan but I could never justify that type of money on a Nissan. If I had that type of coin I'd probably buy a Porsche. Not knocking the GT-R, I think it's a sick car but I honestly feel like it is overpriced. Not looking to get flamed, just being honest in my opinion.
It's good to have nice things, but I would not want to "worry" about a car payment. Unless I really start working more or get snatched up with a huge raise I will be buying my cars used for a long time. I recently made a drastic career change, relocated away from the city, and took a paycut in the process so I think my financial views are very grounded right now. I worked in Financial Services for 5 years and the going advice to most millionaires looking to retire was "not yet, you need to keep earning to sustain your desired lifestyle." I figure if these wealthy geezers can't afford to retire then I better enjoy what I am doing for work, hence the career change... I am hopeful though, sky's the limit, maybe in a few years a used GT-R will be lined up with my range.
Or you could just admit you are a label ***** and other people's opinion of you while driving your car is the most important factor.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: NH
I have heard 3x your gross is the most you should spend on a house. Gross household income that is, so if it's a dink (dual income no kids) situation then you can factor total HH income. IMO anything extended beyond 3x gross HH income towards a mortgage enters into the "house-poor" zone, you don't want to be eating Ramen to pay the mortgage. FWIW I'm a renter right now but I keep a watchful eye on these things.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: NH
What Porsche would you buy with that 70k? If it is a new one, you would afford a Porsche that performs the same as a 370z. But at least it has the badge. Or you could get a used 911 that would get destroyed by a GT-R.. Or you could save up a little more for an used 911 TT where it would at least be close in performance.
Or you could just admit you are a label ***** and other people's opinion of you while driving your car is the most important factor.
Or you could just admit you are a label ***** and other people's opinion of you while driving your car is the most important factor.
I know the GTR would eat a 70k Porsche, but I would be buying used (probably but this is all fiction/fantasy talk). I don't really need more speed than my Z and I don't do track days. Realistically, if I had 75k to burn, and I was forced to buy a sports car or toy, I probably would buy a Lotus Elise or a T-Rex and bank the rest or travel, maybe throw in a used Ducati MH900e while I'm at it.
Regardless though, the GT-R is sweet, I just looked at more pics of it, maybe throw a Porsche logo on the front and I'd jump on it for 90k
Last edited by eesnas; Jan 5, 2009 at 07:10 PM.
Rule of thumb #1: Your total payments (mortgage, loans, cc...) should not be more then 40% of you total income.
Rule of thumb #2: if you can't pay cash - you probably should not buy it
Rule of thumb #2: if you can't pay cash - you probably should not buy it