You Houstonites know I've been wrestling with this one for a while.
I'm ultimately wanting an SRT-6 Roadster or a turbo in an N/A.
But to do either, I need to clean out my financial underwear drawer first...hence, sell the XF.

Well, as the story developes,

I've sold the Cadillac and replaced it with a brand new Fusion.
The payments slightly higher but the insurance, maintenacne, and fuel cost are significantly reduced.

I smell blood.

If the XF goes, I could easily clear everything out and perhaps pay off the house in a few years...but it wouldn't be nearly as fun.

Opinion's are appreciated.
Thx

 

Keep the car, Sell your first born and the spouse. That should clear up some issues! Maybe more than you would think!

 

you want a srt and you like the xfire you have you have two choices. 1. your best bet is to sell it and just sit on the couch or go for a boring drive in the fusion,after all you can get what 30 mpg or better in town going around and around the block,OR 2. you can call Rudy and have him install a srt6 motor into your x fire and then when you go for that nice drive you will have a blast. let me put it this way, i was talking to my wife and we said we have been saving for all these years,,never a new car, not even new furniture, so now before it is too late enjoy life,, she got a new Mustang,, I got a new V-V-V 8, in my crossfire, a very good freind, never had a thing at least we though, a year ago he died,we though he had only his house cause he never went anywhere never did much then he died,, his kids we found out a few months later were fighting over the 2 milion dollars he had, why, not enjoy it, well there will be no fighting in my family, cause i don't have 1000.00 much less than a milion, but that thousand will be gone soon, maybe just for gas in myV8 crossfire, what the hell just do it and enjoy jim

 

There is a certain prideful pleasure in driving a car for which you have no payments to make. You own it. Big deal.

But not so big if you are wishing it was something else. Even if it comes with a payment book. I'm not sayin be reckless with your money (that's what we have a government for) but AMX is right. Don't put it off.

There are less than 3000 SRT Crossie out there. The numbers diminish every week. Only 1/3 of them are roadsters. none of them are getting any younger.

And neither are you BEEP. And everytime you feel you miss the 6 spd or find the monthly payment pinches your wallet, just press lightly on the throttle. All will be left behind..........lost in the wind spilling over the tonneau cover, and massive wing, of your roadster.

roadster with a stick

 

Enjoy your current car, Beep. You have put a lot of work in it that you won't get back if you sell it.

As for wasting money, that's what AT&T is for, F.

 

I agree with the above Beep. My Dad was just commenting on that the other day. he's 78. All his life he worked and worked, saved and saved. Planning fun for their retirement. then my mom had a stroke 10 years ago, maybe 15, she was never the same after that. he had a couple of bypasses, he's fine, but not the same as before. My mom kept getting worse over time, eventually wheelchair full time. Then last month my Mom passed away. the investments he saved for tanked in the economic meltdown, he makes no more to refill the coffer, so it's just dwindling little by little, his life and his savings. Mind you he isn't eating catfood, but still.

So he says he envies me, and my lifestyle, I don't have gazillions either BTW, but he says you got your motorcycle and a passion for riding, the Cross is beautiful, and tons of fun, and that he didn't do any of that because it seemed too vain. But then he says, "I was wrong".

There's a car out there that I really want, but it's still just a car. The Cross, even my NA, is more car than I ever really had before, all things considered. And it's paid for which is even better. Do I wish that it would blow the doors off every other car out there? yes at times, even if I wouldn't do it, I would know that I could. But then that just becomes my little monkey ego chattering in the background.

That's my take on it. different wants for different folks. Depends on how bad you want that, over this.

 

This forum is why I am the way I am. I understand the importance of paying your bills, however I have always tried to keep my necessary expenses such as rent, utilities, food, to a minimum and save money for fun. I have a retirement vehicle and utilize it.. However my approach is why buy a $90,000 home, when the $50,000 two blocks over is the same home. The other money I will use to have fun. I want to combat becoming the person who lives to work, rather I want to be the person who works to have fun and live my life to the fullest.

 

enjoy,,enjoy what will be will be, have fun now because tomorrow brings sorrow,," B Obama"

my dauther ,was the sufering champ for the state of florida in 1999 and 2000 , now she has a masters degree and 5 years ago she startes into the realworld of work,,after one week said Dad when can i retire? now she is married, working at a great job (physical therapist) and she says when she gets to work every morning she says this job is for me to have a house and other things but the real reason is to have two surf trips a year,. I told her and her hubby to save 1/2 of ever raise the get.. jim

 

How much gas could you have got for the difference in payments? What about the hidden fees for changing cars.
Presumably you are now paying longer.
Run cars until they are nearly finished.
Keep or sell the Cross and reduce debt. You never want to live pay check to pay check, especially these days.
One false step and you are out your house and that is the most important asset you have if you have any equity in it.

 

I have to agree with some of these old wise geez'rs....all but one thing. I never have nor never will pay rent. The only thing close to rent I have paid, has been a lease on a car, but, even then, I got the 'buy rate' on the lease. My reasoning, which is flawed btw, was to drive a new car all the time to get me around. I always have had a toy car or two setting around, but I always wanted a nice daily driver around as well...even though, for years, I had a company car so to speak. Never put more than 10K a yr on a car in my life, but I had the need. LOL>......Enjoy your life while you are young enough, but never over step your bounds. Pay your bills on time, keep a little reserve for rainy days, and put away a bit for retirement years...not so much for retirement, but for those times when you reach that ripe ole' age or, medical bills that aren't covered....have fun....

 

I drive about 20k a year. The Cadillac got 23 mpg. The fusion apparently will get about 30 (haven't had a chance to calculate it yet) so the savings in fuel over a year are enormous.

All 3 cars are/were financed for 60 months. The Cadillac was used for $18K 6% intrest. The Fusion is new for $25K 2% intrest. The Cadillac traded for $10k difference after driving it for a year so I got lucky on that one (I hated the speed sensitive steering in that car btw).

There's $10k left on the XF and that loan is driving me crazy. $175 every 2 weeks. I'ld love to pay it off but the credit cards are making it very hard. It's all in all, too much intrest working against it.

All the cc balances are related to the home purchase and are steadly shrinking but it's taking forever. I need to find a way of speeding things up.

 

Well, you will have to make the logical choice in the end but I had friends who's motto was "spend it while you've got it". My mother in law always said "living is for the young, as you get older so does your lust for life" So live as big as you can get away with. How big is your decision.

Les

 

I was watching the movie ocean's eleven. Thats a fast way to get some cash! Is there a casino near by?

 

Any thing over $60 between what you paid monthly for the Caddy and what you are paying now is more than you would have paid in gas for the Caddy. You have saddled yourself with an extra year of payments as well.
For long term gain with short term pain I would say sell the Crossy and save the $350 a month payments plus insurance and other costs. Any money left from the Crossy sale apply to your debt. Not to toys or a new washing machine etc.
Put the $350 a month against current debt and reduce it as fast as you can. Reduce the number of ***** you are juggling to a minimum.
Do not incur any more debt.
I think you know this is the answer already. Reduce your debt as another blow to your finances could cripple you for a long long time.

 

Wise advice from 180 -- listen to him on this one.

 

Brian, you will save around $800/year in gas. I think you already made up your mind. The question is what will bother you more; Having debt or having fun with your car?

 

I think you should do what you feel is best for your situation...I know you spent a lot of time and effort into your Crossfire, but if you have to let if go then you can probably find another one in the future. SRT's might be a little harder to find especially roadsters but a Limited should still be around and at a good price. I wish you the best either way.

 

Is the Fusion your wife's car, if you already said that then sorry, but I was wondering why you bought the Fusion, instead of using the Cross as the daily driver as the gas usage is not that far apart. 180 makes good sense from a financial POV

 

I live with Gidget (my cat) and she is too short to drive. I use the Fusion exclusivly for work and the XF for everything else. That's why it's mileage is so low. The Cadillac was a real problem as the speed sensivitve steering made the wheel too hard to turn and on the frequent long trips, my hands would cramp up. I also found out it was in a major accident that wasn't on the report. It was starting to need repairs.

There are incresed sales opportunities this month that might fix this. Maybe I should wait a few weeks to see how it pans out.

 

The goal here is to pay off the cc's and put an extra $6G in the bank.
Sell the car and put $6G down on a new note?

Trade into an SRT6 Roadster at a dealer with $6G down?

Purchase a turbo in the current car for $6G?
Any of them will supply the requried power.