Wants vs Needs

[InDebtInDC]

I drive a m3 convertible.....in a snowy state!!! I moved from a warm state that never had snow. It was an unexpected move due to work. So now I drive in zero degree weather with snow in my rear wheel drive vert. I would like to get a used M3 coupe because its more practical (ie. trunk space). I'd probably have to fork out another 25k to do it, however.

I would personally recommend a beater truck. How is a coupe going to be an improvement over what you have now?

At least you have another summer to think about it.

[Pitman]

How do you know if you need new tyres?

My tires have little to no grip on them, and threads are very low. It rained pretty heavy on Monday, so I was doing about 15mph just to avoid slipping, and sliding.

[InDebtInDC]

I know I need new tires when I can see the tread is getting low

I addressed this issue in the auto repair thread in the frugral forum.

Generally, just because the tread is low doesn't necessarily mean that the tyre is no good. Each individual tyre is designed to operate with different levels of tread. It depends on the particular design you have. There are literally over millions of types of tread compounds and tread designs. It depends on what your tyre was designed to do.

the tires also spin when trying to accelerate from a stop on a wet street

This is not a good way to test tyres. Even the best all-season tyres in the best operating conditions will lose traction when accelerating on wet pavement.

I figure they will just as easily lose traction on a turn or stop on wet roads

Not necessarily true. It is extremely easy to spin tyres when accelerating, especially on front wheel drive vehicles like most passenger cars and mini vans. It doesn't nessarily mean that the tyre has no traction for conering or stopping.

How about that old Lincoln's head on a penny trick?

The penny trick is an easy way to measure to see if your tread is at least 2/32". The best way is to use a tread depth gauge.

Is that a decent way to judge the condition of tires?

It's a good test to prepare for state inspection, but to determine if the tread level is appropriate for the tyre design, you need to contact the manufacturer.

Also keep in mind that the manufacturer has incentives for you to buy new tyres, so even if a tyre is perfectly fine, a rep may tell you to buy new ones to make money and to avoid legal liability.

I want and need good tires!!

I'm sorry but there's no simple answer. When in doubt, invest in a good set of all-season tyres in the same size that is recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer.

[ceejay74]

Luckily I don't want a car. I may have to get one in a couple years if I have a baby, but I'm not looking forward to it and may do some research on blogs, etc., to see if it's doable to be a carless parent in my city.

My nonfrugal wants are to travel, to dine out and to buy stylish clothes. I'm going to try and swing two trips per year for me and my family and hope that keeps the travel bug at bay. I dine out about once a month using pocket money and that seems to keep that part of me satisfied (just barely). And I do an Old Navy/Target/H&M trip about twice a year to get a couple hundred dollars' worth of clothes.

My frugal wants are much more important to me these days, so they get much more money and attention than my nonfrugal ones! First one: getting rid of credit card debt and thereby increasing net worth.

[SnoopyCool]

I would personally recommend a beater truck. How is a coupe going to be an improvement over what you have now?

At least you have another summer to think about it.

If you live in a snowy state in a truck, at least in my past experiences, you'll have to weight the bed down with something so you can keep traction on a snowy or icy road.

In my opinion, a sedan with front wheel drive is the best way to go. Makes for fun fishtailing!

[LuxLiving]

Joan, when I have a question about whether or not our tires are getting down to the nub, I will ask 1)my step-dad who is a professional car guy and/or 2)my mechanic. Neither of these guys are selling tires so I trust their opinion about the road-worthiness of the tires.

[myrdale]

My best advice about "wants" is never rush to buy anything. Think good and hard about it. Is it worth the money you will pay? Is it something that you will use for years or will it get trashed in 6 months?

Especially on cars, spend alot of time figuring out what you really like. Find a car that is really you (and really your budget!!). Once you buy that car think of it like a marriage. Fall in love with your car. Have it, hold it and forsake it for no other. In 6 years, I have seen no car that comes anywhere near comparing to my little yellow Frontier. I love it, I love it, I love it!!

Yes it is only a truck and in 40 years it will be in a scrap yard, but it is mine. I am amazed by people who buy a car, then spend the next year complaining about it only to buy another and do the same again.

As for me? A freshman in college, I could have had a new truck on day one. Instead I put it off for a year and ahalf until I found exactly what I wanted. And if you didn't catch the hint above, I ain't looked back once.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Lux, I consider it my own personal failing in life to have no friends who are mechanics. Gosh, I'm looking for a smilie of a shade tree mechanic throwing extra engine parts out from under the hood! Heck I'd settle for a lawn mower mechanic, but I don't know if the smilie for that would be as cute.

[flavor]

I drive a honda accord, 5 years old, with only 17,000 miles on it. Since I'm a stay at home mom, and hardly drive anywhere, I'll probably end up driving it another 50 years. Can I afford a more expensive car? Yes. Do I really need one? No. Do I want another car? Sometimes I say yes, but when I really think about it I always go with a big no.

The reason I somethimes want a new or better car, is because I see all these other moms driving expensive suvs. But listening to their financial stories, I know I'm better off then they are. My house is paid off, my car is paid off, and believe it or not I have 0 debt.

Waiting to pick up my child from preschool, I couldn't help but overhear one pregnant mom saying to another mom, that they'll continue living in their one bedroom rental apartment after her second child is born so they can save some money. As we walked out of the building, I noticed the pregnant mom had parked right next to my honda. She was driving a very new huge Lexus suv.

[maat55]

I drive a honda accord, 5 years old, with only 17,000 miles on it. Since I'm a stay at home mom, and hardly drive anywhere, I'll probably end up driving it another 50 years. Can I afford a more expensive car? Yes. Do I really need one? No. Do I want another car? Sometimes I say yes, but when I really think about it I always go with a big no.

The reason I somethimes want a new or better car, is because I see all these other moms driving expensive suvs. But listening to their financial stories, I know I'm better off then they are. My house is paid off, my car is paid off, and believe it or not I have 0 debt.

Waiting to pick up my child from preschool, I couldn't help but overhear one pregnant mom saying to another mom, that they'll continue living in their one bedroom rental apartment after her second child is born so they can save some money. As we walked out of the building, I noticed the pregnant mom had parked right next to my honda. She was driving a very new huge Lexus suv.

That is so sad. I would be embarrassed to get out of a lexus to go into an small apartment. Better financial priorities taught at an early age, is just as important as getting an education. One of my daughters gets it, the other I'm working on.

[Tim_1983]

you are better off sticking with an old car and saving the money to pay for the rising cost gas!

[m3racer]

Good point maat55. Maybe I should start thinking that paying off my student loans is a want.

Sorry to bring this thread back from the grave but I couldn't help it. The good news is that I paid off $100k in student loans this year. The bad news is that I felt nauseated after making that payment. I know it was the right thing to do but I feel like I've got nothing to show for it. I still owe ~$99k in SL and I still haven't purchased a new "used" car. Of course I just spotted the car that I "want" at a stealership. Life sucks!!!!

[maat55]

Sorry to bring this thread back from the grave but I couldn't help it. The good news is that I paid off $100k in student loans this year. The bad news is that I felt nauseated after making that payment. I know it was the right thing to do but I feel like I've got nothing to show for it. I still owe ~$99k in SL and I still haven't purchased a new "used" car. Of course I just spotted the car that I "want" at a stealership. Life sucks!!!!

At a boy.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Congratulations!

[snafu]

Because I live in the snow belt similar to Buffalo, NY, I want a Hyundai Sante Fe. [ it's cheap, well made, and heavy]. With all the changes being planned [electric, propane] I don't choose to replace my car at this time