I need some serious help

[TigerNSX]

Every year, I get this unbearable craving for a new car. Furthermore, these cars that I go after are always sports cars or coupes that are not practical at all (since I already have a sports car (NSX), people normally assume that I would buy a practical car when I am in the market for a new car).

So, the craving would haunt me days and nights until I actually buy a car. What's terrible is that several months after my purchase, I would have this buyer's remorse so that I end up selling it. Then, in the next 6 months or so, I would be completely fine and happy with having just the NSX.

This drives my wife crazy. She does not understand my needs for two "sporty/useless" cars and why I go through this cycle every year.

I thought that this year was different since I did not get any craving in the past 9 months (the longest ever since I caught this disease). Then, it happened out of nowhere. So, this time, I told myself that I was going to purchase a practical car for the winter. I searched and searched for the perfect winter car. Yet, my eyes were drawn to all these beautiful sports cars or cars that were not practical in winter at all.

When I mentioned this to my wife, she was like, "again?????"

The rational side of my brain agrees with her. However, the craving is kicking so hard. What's wrong with me? I have 100+ working hours, literally live in the office and barely have time to sleep or drive.... Yet, any spare time I have, I keep on looking at autotrader, cars.com, ebay and etc...

This time, I really want to let it pass and overcome this sickness.

Does anyone have the similar symptom? How do you cope with it? What can I do to let this go away?

PS, I do not drink (alcohol or caffeine), smoke, or anything that is addictive.

PS2, my wife is a doctor, but has not found any solution for my disease..

 

[sahtt]

Buy one of every sports car in existence, build the ones that you can't find, and stop the automakers from making any new ones.

Good luck.

 

[RPM217]

Give her the checkbook!!!:wink:

 

[davidf]

Wow, you don't do caffine??? Caffenine has kept me in the poor house the past few years. Most of my purchases weather it's car or car parts has been from inducing some sort of caffine product. Every part on the NSX is caffine related, LOL. It really makes me want to buy stuff. On the other hand, maybe you should'nt try caffine.:biggrin:

 

[TigerNSX]

Give her the checkbook!!!:wink:

She has the entire checkbook!! :tongue: What I normally do is to ask her again and again until she is so tired of hearing about it that she just gives up the checkbook...

There has got to be someone who went through this... :smile:

 

[steveny]

I got the same problem except I don't sell the ones I have.

Here's a hint, get interested in older muscle cars. Buy them, drive them and then put them away.

OR

Own a car dealership so you can "test drive" a few of the new cars.

OR

A combination of both. Dealer plates are very handy for cars you are not going to keep very long.

Good luck and learn to live with it because most likely you won't get rid of it.

 

[TigerNSX]

Own a car dealership so you can "test drive" a few of the new cars.

There is an idea! Thanks! I will definitely consider this. I just have to figure out a way to fit that into my crazy work schedule as I do not think that I can make that much from the dealership business.

 

[steveny]

There is an idea! Thanks! I will definitely consider this. I just have to figure out a way to fit that into my crazy work schedule as I do not think that I can make that much from the dealership business.

Find a dealer who is in a little bit of trouble and invest some money for a portion of the profits and a set of dealer plates.

 

[SOURCE 1]

I went threw this for most of my life. From the time I was 14 years old I was addicted to buying/building cars. With no regard to how useful they are.
I actually owned 20 cars from 14 to 16 because of this. I learned at a VERY young age that I had to be able to buy and sell cars on a whim and if I didn't I was not going to be able to feed this sickness.

After "flipping" cars from 14-19 I decided to open a car dealership.

The rest is history, I can buy/drive/play with all the cars I want.

Funny part is, I still keep NSX's :biggrin:

It doesn't make the illness go away however it suffices it and makes it fun because you can actually make money on the cars you buy and sell.

You don't really need to look for a dealership in trouble, Just look for one that is established and trustworthy before you invest with them. I know in my case any money is turnable money. Whether it is mine or from an investor.

 

[steveny]

I went threw this for most of my life. From the time I was 14 years old I was addicted to buying/building cars. With no regard to how useful they are.
I actually owned 20 cars from 14 to 16 because of this. I learned at a VERY young age that I had to be able to buy and sell cars on a whim and if I didn't I was not going to be able to feed this sickness.

After "flipping" cars from 14-19 I decided to open a car dealership.

The rest is history, I can buy/drive/play with all the cars I want.

Funny part is, I still keep NSX's :biggrin:

It doesn't make the illness go away however it suffices it and makes it fun because you can actually make money on the cars you buy and sell.

You don't really need to look for a dealership in trouble, Just look for one that is established and trustworthy before you invest with them. I know in my case any money is turnable money. Whether it is mine or from an investor.

As you know the car business is very similar to investing in the stock market. It's better to have more winners than losers. The more cars you have the better the chance you have for winners and losers too. The longer cars sit on a floor plan the less you make, just like being on Margin. The too investments are VERY similar.

 

[TigerNSX]

Thanks so much for out of the box suggestions! I really did not think about that.

I may really pursue this.

Thanks again.

 

[HTN]

Tiger.

I have the same exact problem. I however, call it a gift. A gift of good taste in automobiles.

I spend alot of time searching for cars too. As a Real Estate broker, I have alot of free time now.:biggrin:
Thank goodness I'm not making the same $$$ as I used to, or else we would have to move into a 6 car garage home.

Anycase, I would not mind getting into the Auto biz once our market gets better.

So what are you eyeing right now?

 

[DocL]

I contracted this same disease at an early age. It started with Hot Wheels and bicycles. As previously mentioned there is no known cure.

Good luck.

 

[TigerNSX]

I have the same exact problem. I however, call it a gift. A gift of good taste in automobiles.

So what are you eyeing right now?

I contracted this same disease at an early age. It started with Hot Wheels and bicycles. As previously mentioned there is no known cure.

I am really glad to hear that I am not the only person with this disease. Yes, mine started when I was 3 years old. My mom would tell me stories where I would not leave a toy store until I had a toy car in my hands.

I am currently eyeing on absolutely impractical cars in winter like

BMW E30 M3 (had E36 and E46, and it's time to try E30)
Porsche 911/964 (had 911/993, and it's time to try 964)
1997 Mercedes C36
AP2 S2000

and the list goes on and on...

 

[NSXLuvr]

I am in the same boat as you. I almost bought a F360 coupe last night on Ebay. A friend of mine sent me the link couple of days ago. Last night he called me and told me that there is 1 hour left and the price was $90k. I called me wife, texted her, called the seller, talked to buddy(bastard!) all the while watching the MNF game at a bar. With 1 min. left the price went up to $100k. I was talking to guy with 20 seconds left and decided to let it go. It made me sick!

Like DocL stated - it is an illness with only 1 cure - being broke!!:biggrin:

 

[NSXLuvr]

Link to F360 auction. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230309358256&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:MOTORS:1123

Btw, I almost bought a 2004 F360 with 4K miles in 5/07 for $168K.

 

[docjohn]

Yong from where I sit your behavior is pretty normal given what we know about your life from your descriptive posts.Your work life rules your day.You desperately want a psychological reward for your hard work.Your brain wants to reward your hard work with toys,and you choose cars as your reward.It is all about your own internal attempts at comforting your inner self for the sacrifices you make for your family ect....So if you have the cash have fun.

 

[TigerNSX]

Yong from where I sit your behavior is pretty normal given what we know about your life from your descriptive posts.Your work life rules your day.You desperately want a psychological reward for your hard work.Your brain wants to reward your hard work with toys,and you choose cars as your reward.It is all about your own internal attempts at comforting your inner self for the sacrifices you make for your family ect....So if you have the cash have fun.

John,

Thanks so much for your guidance on this. The more I think about it makes a lot of sense. The craving would normally start right after a prolonged period of continuous stress at work (for example, I had been pulling 2-3 all nighters per week even on weekends since September).

Thanks again for your wisdom.

 

[SOURCE 1]

As you know the car business is very similar to investing in the stock market. It's better to have more winners than losers. The more cars you have the better the chance you have for winners and losers too. The longer cars sit on a floor plan the less you make, just like being on Margin. The too investments are VERY similar.

You are very correct, The key though is to have enough cash not to use the floorplans. I have lines at all 3 major flooring companies for cars I know are sold when I get them. And to always have access to a substantial amount of buying power when needed. They are good to use but only if you are smart with them and know when to use them and not.

I have never really gotten into the stock market whatsoever so I can not tell you how similar they are.

 

[nsxotic911]

Great insight here.. I have the same disease. I usually go 1 - 2 cars / year.
Trouble is, I usually lose on them :redface:

I'm too impatient when I buy to get the "right" one and too impatient selling it, and I usually throw a bunch of money by modding it and 'making it nicer'

Maybe one of the reasons I don't drive the NSX as much as I should :tongue:.. and some day I'll be forecd to sell it or wreck it..

Hudak keeps giving me a hard time about it :smile:

 

[steveny]

You are very correct, The key though is to have enough cash not to use the floorplans. I have lines at all 3 major flooring companies for cars I know are sold when I get them. And to always have access to a substantial amount of buying power when needed. They are good to use but only if you are smart with them and know when to use them and not.

I have never really gotten into the stock market whatsoever so I can not tell you how similar they are.

We just had a floor plan 07 Avalanche that we could not sell for 25k had to send it back last week. It was a really sharp truck. Sometimes they just end up netting nothing.