20+college+work=brz??
 

Hey guys ive been on the forum for a while and i mean ive been reading what you guys say to alot of the kids on here. A little about myself im 20 years old live in north jersey i work as an emt for a medical transport company i also volunteer as a emt and firefighter. Ive been driving since im 16 ive done a skip barber driving school and since i started driving ive owned a nissan frontier that i am very greatful of my parents for buying it for me. I want to buy a brz i will havE arount 10,000 by the end of the summer what do you guys say to a 20 yr old living at home going to college wanting to buy a $30,000 car (i also drive ambulances and a firetruck almost daily.let the chat begin!

Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

Do it? Your monthly payment should be 350 or so with 10k down

Who cares what we think?
If you buy a BRZ are you going to put a big sticker on the side of it, detailing your situation and asking fellow motorists to judge you?

A bunch of us walked up hill to school each way in snow storms, looked after our invalid mother, worked in a coal mine before and after school, still had a 4.0 GPA, graduated with honours, and subsequently went to work for UNICEF saving the worlds children. We all drove rusting 20 year old Geo Metros and were thankful to have them.
No way should you have a BRZ at 20 while living at home!

Does that help? Seriously who cares, buy it, don't buy it. Make a decision YOU'RE comfortable with and move on.

Im 20, and im buying one... and I live on my own. However i guess job standings and your budget is the most important factor. Not so much opinion.

What I would tell my college age sons (2 of my 3) if they were in your shoes is to buy what you can pay cash for, and then save the car payment you would be paying to the bank to yourself towards your next car.

You don't need the risk associated with a car loan in your life right now.

Then, in two to three years you'll be ready to upgrade to a new/newer car for near/all cash and the insurance won't kill you like it will now.

The first year insurance on the 86 is relatively low because the insurance companies have nothing to base it on. I expect it to be higher year 2 and substantially higher for someone under 25.

That's my advice, and if you were living at home with me, it would be my insistence. If you haven't talked to your parents about it, you should since they are partially or completely funding your choice by letting you live at home.

In the end though, your life, your car, your money, your choice.

Oh, and thanks for the great service you are doing for your community. Who says kids these days aren't great!

i did it when i bought my 2010 mustang. It's not hard if you are responsible and disciplined

I understand what you are saying, but I also think it's wise (and shows a level of maturity) that the OP is looking for advice on this. It's a big decision, probably bigger than most any other decision the OP has made to this point.

Even random thoughts from folks on an Internet forum can be helpful as long as you keep the source in prospective.

Agreed but it's really a choice only he can make. I can't even offer an intelligent opinion as I have no idea what his finances are, what his monthly bills are, what his plans for the next few years are, etc..

I'm going to say "no, don't do it" - but only based on very limited information I have on your situation. It's actually more your parents' situation I'd be concerned about. College is super expensive. I presume they're paying for it? And they paid for your truck? How about your car and medical insurance? And what about living expenses - are you paying them "rent" and utilities and food money to live there?

Before going out and spending a bunch of money on yourself, I'd look to be giving it to your parents first. Now, if your parents are loaded, driving super expensive new cars, not hurting at all with your tuition payments etc, then they might not even care - so then go for it. Otherwise, put yourself in their shoes - if they've made financial sacrifices for you to be where you're at now, perhaps repaying them would be in your best interest. (and hey, maybe your dad would love a new sportscar since he's been busting his butt working for decades supporting the family?)

Another thing to note - when you graduate college, I presume you'll move out on your own? First month's rent and security deposit could be $2k (depending where you live). And then if you need to buy furniture, some business suits/professional clothes, etc. And it may take you a bit to even find a job. It's not a bad idea to have a stash of money to fall back on in case your income stream were to stop.

Just my 2 cents. Again, limited viewpoint of your life and family.

I finished college ~1.5 years ago. During my 4.5 years there, i made (what I view) as some poor decisions in terms of large investments, mainly cars. I think it may be best, from my standpoint, is to stay with what you have for the rest of college, plus some. Since you are working and attending school, im sure there are plenty strains and stresses in balancing work vs studies that you are dealing with currently. I don't think that a car note plus additional insurance should be added to that stress, potentially upsetting the work vs studies balance. My recommendation is finish up school, find a secure career in your field of studies and see how your budget is afterwards.


Heck, I will not (or plan not) be buying another car until I finish paying off my WRX, which I was able to get an great loan on I am also 24 and have already began investing a big chunk (roughly 10% for now) of my annual income in retirement savings. I am also saving up for a big trip to Japan coming in 3 years to take my brother there as his graduation gift. I am also saving up for a house to call my own, I am currently renting a house... But want one to call my own.


In the end, its your decision. I am offering my opinion, as I have been there before as well.

What dat mean yo?

My parents went with me the day i went to put my order in. (my dads toy has one side of the garage my mothers has the other side of the garage)

Thank you for your imput guys. I really like seing all of the sides of this people in my position people that were in my position and people that have a home have setteled down amd are buying this car. That is why i put up this thread its not to find out what people think of me because i really dont care but you have all been through alot in life and have alot of good information that could possibly sway me one way or another.

I'm 19, go to college (albeit community college), and have a full-time job. Living at home, kind of a similar position.

I leased my FR-S. This way, my payments aren't bad now, and in 3 years when I'll hopefully be even more stable, I can make a bigger decision. At this point, I'm just banking the money I would have paid forward on a finance so that if I want to own the car after 3 years, I can just pay the cash and be done with it.

Whats ur lease look like if you dont mind me askin(numbers wise)

My interest is around 3.5% and I put down 1500. On a 12k a year lease, my payments are $385 a month on an automatic with a few options. Residual is about $17.5 k.

If i put down 6000 it at 3.5% it would be around 420 a month. For 60 months thats on a limited brz

Forgot to say it's a 3 year lease. FR-S with bra, cargo mat, rear bumper applique, around 27 k total I think.

I would never own a new car in college. Hell, at that stage in my life I would never own something I would go crazy over if it got one or two dings. College is not car friendly. I wouldn't put a BRZ through it.

Besides, if you have ask a forum, you cannot afford it. I am not trying to be a snob, but let's be realistic here. If you could comfortably afford the car, you wouldn't ask us.

I actually make around 1500 a month during the school year and 2400 a month when im not in school overtime is wonderful.... Im pretty sure thats more then enough to be comfortable with this car... But its not all about being able to buy it and be comfortable its about seeing what other people did when they were my age and how they are living now years later. (snob)

And we have a winner!

Post of the year. First time ever I've asked my wife to come read something on FT86Club.com. Thanks, this made my day.

do it. screw what we say follow what you want and what makes you happy. we are all walking our own paths and sure i can say do it and the next guy can say no man not ready yet...who cares do what you feel. i think you should do it (only to answer your question)

Lee, do you volunteer for Wayne First Aid?

A fellow 20 year old university student chiming in here:

I pay my parents rent each month, pay my own school tuiton (no loan for me) & expenses.
Despite all this I purchased the BRZ.

If I can do all this in Canada -where I am paying almost 9k a year just on insurance, you can do it to! Your young, live life! Enjoy your new car!

It's really hard for use to give any sort of advice without knowing your full financial history. It also depends on what each person's values are.

When I was in college, I drove a $2000 Datsun 280z, had a lot of my tuition covered by scholarships, and worked to pay as much of what scholarships didn't cover (foreign student) to take the load off of my parents. They still paid for some of the tuition, but I tried to give them as much of a break as possible. I moved out when I was 18 because the scholarship covered dorms. I could've afforded the payments on a new car, but I chose to put the money towards tuition since I wanted my parents to save more money.

With that said, if your parents are living comfortably, and money isn't a huge concern of theirs, then go ahead and buy the FR-S on your own. I would just think through what your plans are after graduation. If you plan on cutting yourself off from your parents financially immediately, then I would hold off on buying the car and continue to drive the Frontier. The money you put aside now will go a long way once all the bills pour in when you're on your own. A car payment on a car you didn't really need to buy is not something you want to deal with when you're freshly out of college, looking for a job, and are on your own.

Again, it's highly dependent on your situation. If my parents were well off when I was 20, didn't mind me living at home, and don't mind me falling back on them when the sh*t hits the fan, then I would probably spend the money on the car. I just could never do it because I knew what it would cost MY parents both on the short term basis and in the long run.

where in Canada do you live and what horrible things have you done to deserve such an expensive insurance policy? I was just qouted 2600 a year for my brz and I'm only three years older then you. I dunno how you do it, but whatever your doing to afford all of that keep doing it.

Near Brampton :/

1 accident + no driving record + primary driver = facility lol

I feel your pain... I tried to get a quote by myself without my parents on the insurance and they wanted $720/month for a Civic Si. It was $530/month for the CRV. No tickets, driving school and other discounts applied... Thankfully my parents are fine with having me on their insurance.

You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ve been further even more decided to use even go need to do look more as anyone can. Can you really be far even as decided half as much to use go wish for that? My guess is that when one really been far even as decided once to use even go want, it is then that he has really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like. It’s just common sense.

When I was in college I had a full ride for tuition and books. I worked about 20 hours a week. Made about 2k per month. In the summer I fought wildfires and could make 15-20k. I paid my own rent, insurance, food, etc. I drove an '87 Accord that I paid $4000 cash for. There would have been no way in hell I could have afforded a $30,000 car.

In med school I bought a slightly used Focus and paid it off in 2 years. That car was $11,000. Even during residency when I was getting paid over $40,000 a year I would not have been able to afford a $30,000 car.

Now, after I have paid my dues, I am a physician and can afford a $30,000 sports car, so I bought one.

Seriously consider moving out of your parents place, buy your own food, clothes, toys, etc. Start paying your own insurance, rent, bills, etc. If you plan on moving out any time in the next 5 years you cant afford this car. There will be others. There will be used ones in a year to buy. There will be lots of competitors very soon. Buy something you can pay cash for until you are done with school and supporting yourself 100%.

Couldn't have hardly better said it than anywhere ever tried before, ever!

As someone with a pretty comfortable family financial situation, 19 yo college student, hell to the no. My parents could definitely buy me a *very* nice car if they wanted, but they didn't. I don't really bring in much income (I prefer to overload myself with coursework), but I am one of those conservative people who doesn't think you should spend more than maybe 1/2 of your disposable income on one thing a year (disposable income needs to be saved/invested :P).

I have wanted a car so badly since 10th grade, because public transport is non-existent in most of the SF Bay and what public transport there is, is completely useless. After getting 2 bikes stolen, 2 rear wheels destroyed by retarded drivers (bike wheels cost a lot to replace!), almost being thrown into traffic by a caught chain, only about 100 scars on my legs, and many many bad memories of breathing diesel exhaust, getting thorny things caught in my eyes every other day, and being completely soaked in the rain, biking is something I hope to get away from for a long time. Not to mention I was one of the only seniors who biked to school. Anyways, to cut to the important part, I've personally decided that I will only buy a new car when I get a full time, high paying job, or somehow have income equivalent to that. For now, the train, walking, and zipcar and whatever will do. If I go to grad school, I'll get a used car since I won't be raking in much money then either.

The less financial stress you have at this age the better. Money will come much easier very soon, and it's not like you'll be an old prune by then and not be able to enjoy it. In college there's not much of a use for a car anyways, at least not for most places I've seen. Driving a car around makes sense if you travel often and your parents have some spare car sitting around, but otherwise not really.

im 20 live at home full time, been investing in stocks since i was 16, im putting 10k down and then selling my altima when my brz comes so I say go for it. You deserve it.

what year is ur frontier? i wouldnt blow all my money on a car
save what u can especially if theres nothing wrong with ur truck, thats what im doing

2400 here, now I dont feel so bad:happyanim:


Jesus H christ for all that id say fuck the car and take the bus.

So true. Young and drunk people all over the place.

There is a lot more to this decision than would make it possible for us to say yes or no. You have to seriously sit down and take a look at your situation and decide if it is right. Are you a good driver who isn't going to take stupid chances in a sports car? Do you have the money to pay for the car/insurance/etc. and still have some to keep you going through college?

I just graduated and my lack of debt (state school) as well as the money I've saved up from working through college, and having a good job made me decide to go for the BRZ, so my advice is to carefully think through the entire situation and make sure that you have the finances in order to be able to do this. Living hand to mouth is a very stressful way to do it.

Hey @feedbag that reads as tweak, take care of yourself man. Permanent damage you know.

Or if that's just English as a last language it's all good, thanks for contributing!

I can count to potato