Need help figuring out if I can afford an FR-S.

[strat61caster]

Seriously, that $650 a month will be nothing with a shiny new car and insurance for it in LA: a high traffic high accident area driven by a young male with prior infractions. $25k spread over 60 payments is $416/month, not including interest rate, dealer fees and any add ons you get suckered into. Even if you snag a used one for $20k that's still $333/month, over half your 'expendable' income. I'd bank MINIMUM your insurance is going to be $100/month, you'll need full coverage because the financing agency won't want to lose their investment.

You're not going to pick one up for less than $20k unless there's something wrong with it in your area, demand is still too high.

Pay off the bike, reduce all your debts to zero and have 6 months savings in case of emergencies, then start searching for a car. Planning your financial decisions based on monthly payments is usually ill advised and short sighted, gotta look big picture.

Edit: Got a 401K? Long term savings? Going to buy a house someday? There's so many variables that financial advice on the internet is shoddy at best.

Edit2: Also enjoy the gas savings on the bike as long as you can, between the obvious advantages (weight, aero, low displacement) lane splitting is awesome.

[00NissanNinja]

Originally Posted by BrianFRS

I decided against it because it had a few problems to begin with

I spent so much money fixing my old car I literally would have had this car 4/5 of the way paid off. And thinking about that sucks, spending all that money on an old car that I'm not fully satisfied with. That is definitely something to avoid.

But yeah pay that gixxer off, and you sound like you'd be good to go.