Screwed myself out of my dream car...literally

[Justin.b]

As others have said, the depreciation hit alone is probably enough to cover the cost of a serviceable family sedan. Throw in the body kit and maybe the 4x4 if you can part with it and you're looking at an even nicer/newer family sedan.

Of course, that doesn't take into account any annual excise taxes or the extra insurance for the toyobaru.

I think the real problem is your mods. You haven't had the car very long and have already thrown a bit of cash at it. That habit will conflict with your diaper budget. If you can't keep yourself from modifying it, you should probably get rid of it to avoid some painful conflicts down the road.

-Justin

[Asterisked Accolade]

Yet another reminder of why children and committed relationships are poisonous to my pleasures.

*Holds hat to chest* A moment for our fallen comrade.

[Justin.b]

Originally Posted by Asterisked Accolade

Yet another reminder of why children and committed relationships are poisonous to my pleasures.

*Holds hat to chest* A moment for our fallen comrade.

The closest thing I have to a pre-nup is my agreement that the wife gets the newer car and I get the garage and whatever I want to put in it.

It worked for me, but in retrospect I should have included an out clause in case the Japanese ever again built a light rwd coupe. I didn't... so the wife is enjoying her FR-S.

-Justin

[Asterisked Accolade]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

The closest thing I have to a pre-nup is my agreement that the wife gets the newer car and I get the garage and whatever I want to put in it.

It worked for me, but in retrospect I should have included an out clause in case the Japanese ever again built a light rwd coupe. I didn't... so the wife is enjoying her FR-S.

-Justin

That is one of the kinds of things that really repulses me about marriage. Aside from any tax incentives, i see no reason for it, unless you're some religious person who still holds the whole thing to be some kind of divine leap.

[HunterGreene]

Funny that this came up--and I apologize in advance if anything is re-hashed here, I didn't have time to read the whole thread.

My wife and I are expecting in late February, and my FR-S is arriving within the next two weeks. Our solution is fairly simple--she owns a GMC Terrain already. So I thankfully didn't have to go through that argument. I can see eventually moving out of the FR-S in 3-4 years, especially when the kid is getting bigger and we might have another one anyways.

Here is my suggestion--Keep the FR-S for a few years, the kid will fit in it fine for the time being. You will take a major bath if you try to sell it now. Buy a used Rav4 or other small SUV for kid-transport duties, the recent developments in the small SUV department have made some good quality ones that will last a long time and are very safe.

Approach the hormonal pregnant child-carrier (aka your wife) with a plan that shows her that 1) selling the FR-S at this point would put you in a major hole, and you don't want to be in financial trouble with a baby on the way (medical stuff for prenatal and birth can get VERY expensive), and 2) that bringing another car into the family for baby-transport purposes can be very helpful, plus keeping everyone happy.

Good luck, and congratulations on your kid!

[Justin.b]

Originally Posted by Asterisked Accolade

That is one of the kinds of things that really repulses me about marriage. Aside from any tax incentives, i see no reason for it, unless you're some religious person who still holds the whole thing to be some kind of divine leap.

I held off as long as I could... we dated for ~10 years.

When she was getting close to 30 she started to panic because she wasn't married and we didn't own a home. It was obvious that un-wedded bliss was over, and I'd have a hard time finding another woman who was willing to ride shotgun with me driving, nevermind one that would not give me crap about jdm motorswaps that leave a car sitting un-driveable on jackstands for months at a time.

Seemed like a small sacrifice on my part to keep her happy.

-Justin

[Project_GT86]

keep the FRS, sell your parts and buy a used family car/suv/van.

[feldy]

sell the 4x4 and go get a camary or something cheap.

[Asterisked Accolade]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

I held off as long as I could... we dated for ~10 years.

When she was getting close to 30 she started to panic because she wasn't married and we didn't own a home. It was obvious that un-wedded bliss was over, and I'd have a hard time finding another woman who was willing to ride shotgun with me driving, nevermind one that would not give me crap about jdm motorswaps that leave a car sitting un-driveable on jackstands for months at a time.

Seemed like a small sacrifice on my part to keep her happy.

-Justin

I'd just try to maybe see if i could move up in my employer and start making a bit more money to enable a single life. It breaks my heart to hear on so many forums that so many enthusiastic and happy car guys are regimented and quashed by their women who supposedly love them.

[EsoBOFH]

With all those extras you have, clearly you are not hurting for extra spending money.

Why not make this a second car, and get a nice, safe, used minivan off of craigslist? - I picked up a 2003 Sienna for $3k.. was a steal, and hell of a great vehicle!

Trust me... you will need the FR-S to cheer you up after all those sleepless nights and time spent cleaning up poop.

[Justin.b]

To an outside observer, it is an expensive and childish hobby.

I built my S13 while married and then flew out to CA to buy my Miata and drive it back (I kind of snuck that one. She called me one afternoon and I had to tell her I was in Long Beach, CA - still didn't get in a fight over it). I just did a jdm engine swap on the Miata and bought an FR-S.

Automotively, I can't say I've suffered because of marriage. I've gained, actually. She's really good with money so as benefit I get tier 1 financing and don't have to worry about saving up for the parts I want.

Of course, all it takes is on pregnancy to make things go horribly wrong. (well, I guess I could grease the top step....)

-Justin

[Norkoastal]

Its 4 doors and is plenty safe and peppy... Only posting here since you're in Northern CA and can probably de mod your car and pay for most of what i'm asking..

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/3188000176.html

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by Asterisked Accolade

I'd just try to maybe see if i could move up in my employer and start making a bit more money to enable a single life. It breaks my heart to hear on so many forums that so many enthusiastic and happy car guys are regimented and quashed by their women who supposedly love them.

Thankfully, I have one of those wives that "gets" the whole driving experience, along with my boylike glee that comes with the FR-S. May be part of the reason I married her

And, as far as those guys who have had their dreams "crushed," they were obviously p-whipped and couldn't explain the necessity of having such a fine car to their woman. Or they married a complete bitch, just sayin.

If I may pontificate: Marriage should always be a friendly compromise. If one side is always giving into the other, you can guess that the one who is giving up what they want will be unhappy. I pity those who didn't take the time to properly get to know their wives and married them simply because "oh, she's hot." When you see these "best wife ever" posts and pictures, its because she knows this as well as anyone else: Marriage is a partnership. You may not get what you want 100% of the time, but if you can keep it at a solid 50%, everyone will end up happy.

True when my grandparents were married, and true today.

[ashtray]

In college I had a small budget to buy a reliable car to commute and do road trips back home. I bought a VERY boring sedan. Then I got married and bought a NICE sedan (E39), but was costly to maintain (oops). Replaced it with a wagon bc I knew I'd keep the car for 5 years, and it was very likely we'd have a kid during that time. (My wife chose her sedan due to safety and kid-friendliness.). Well, 5 years later we buy a Miata (first gen) bc we held off having kids and we never bought a "fun car". 2 months later my wife gets pregnant. (I probably had something to do with that.). That was 4+ years ago.

So what about the cars? Well, my wife's sedan proved to be unreliable so it got replaced before my son was born - with a larger and more boring sedan. No budget to replace my aging wagon - actually still have it today. (helps that I got the WRX wagon, so it wasn't a penalty box.). I drove the Miata with my 9 month pregnant wife. She fit fine, just took a little effort getting in/out.

Finally was able to "replace" my wagon this year - now nearly 10 years old. Being the responsible dad, I got the BRZ. . My son loves it. My wife is jealous. Works fine for family stuff now that my son can get in the seat himself, and we're not carrying a giant stroller everywhere. I decided to keep my WRX wagon as a spare vehicle. The extra space comes in handy and I can park it without fear of door dings. But the BRZ is my daily driver.

If you can swing it, sell the truck, get a boring but safe sedan. While your wife is pregnant, your FRS is fine. When your kid turns 2, the FRS is fine. Just gotta get over that short 2 year hurdle. Don't worry - your complete lack of sleep will make considering replacing your car a distant memory from a time when you had 2 quiet minutes to yourself to actually think!