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Financial Guys, need advice on stuff. (car related)

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  #2  
Old 11-20-2006, 09:26 PM
GREG@SN95's Avatar
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go for it!
 
  #3  
Old 11-21-2006, 05:49 AM
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i always tell my parents and freinds to wait and get a car used. Because you can A get a hell of a better deal on them and B you can see what problems the car has had and if its a lemon or not.

both of my vehicals i have owned so far we got used when they were either 2 or 3 years old and saved boat loads of cash.
 
  #5  
Old 11-21-2006, 09:58 PM
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What are your other car situations? Is the Mustang an "extra" car? If it is not, a 5.0 project car might be a bad idea anyway. Also, if you have other cars, what are they and how are you set on those vehicles?

Your situation is a common one. We can dwell all we want on the fact that hindsight is 20/20, but fact is, you can't change the past. Also, two bad decisions don't make a right. If you sell the car....you LOOSE lots of money. If you keep the car, you still loose money, but not as fast (depreciation).

Selling the car now will cost you about $5000 large. At your current payment rate it would take you about 10 months to make that up. Acellerating your payments just so you can be at breakeven will just make you feel better. Either way, you are out $5,000.

However, sometimes you have to spend money to make money right? So, if you are trying to improve your cashflow, your only options are to sell the car, or to consolidate. In the longrun, consolidating will cost you more money and may even put in a more upside down position then you are now, unless you can improve your "cost of money" or interest rate.

So, with all that, here is my suggestion:

1 - Use your house to pay-off the car. The interest rate on the equity loan is most likely lower then the the car loan.

2 - The interest you pay on the car will then be tax deductible.

3 - This will have an immediate affect of improving your cash flow probably by $300 - $400 per month. Many home equity loans only require you to make interest payments.

4 - Put the car up for sale. The home equity loan will give you the power to be patient because the loan will not kill you. Being patient will do two things. First, you will get the best possible price for your car. Second, you will get the best possible price for the 5.0 you want. Remember the $5,000? I bet this gap will narrow to more like $3,000 by not jumping into something. This is like having your own money laundry.

This will help maximize your cashflow and reduce your debt. If you wish, you can payoff the equity loan faster....that's fine, but you don't have to. Do it now, you you can maximize your deductions for 2006.

Another thing to consider is the your total monthly auto debt payments. Every financial consultant that I have ever spoke to always recomends that your TOTAL car payments plus insurance should not exceed 15% of your gross income. I bet there are 10 guys on this site who can claim that. Most people spend way more then that, but that is the rule for sound financial mgt.

I just did the math on my own, personal situation and I am at 4.6% and that includes insurance on three cars, so I put my money where my mouth is - LOL

I can certainly empathize with your plight. My wife and I had a down payment on a brand-new BMW Z-3 back when they were cool (1997) then got pregnant and cancelled the order. I got spooked, but in reality, we could have probably gotten the car.

Kids change everything and whent he little sucker arrives, you may even care less about Mustangs.
 
  #6  
Old 11-22-2006, 07:27 AM
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like waterDR said above, if your stang is the only reliable transportation you have dont get rid of it. also, if your girlfeind has a car dont rely on her's. Think about it like this, her car is good, you get the 5.0 and starts 3/4 the time and runs rough in cold weather. you have to take the kid to the doctors and shes at work and your car wont start.....what do you do?, how many times will you allow that to happen? plus how much time will you really have to wrench on a project car with a baby. diapers, feeding, work, your time will be filled. you'll have weekends, but your girl isnt going to allow you to work on your car every weekend, I know that one from experience. take a step back and look at the whole picture, your dont want to put yourself in a situation that can really hurt you down the road.
 
  #8  
Old 11-22-2006, 09:17 AM
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Fixing up a car is expensive and time consuming. Depending on whats more important to you will dictate what you can do. I dont think you want to be wrenching away while you miss out on your kids firsts. When your kid gets to a certain age where he or she can watch and help that is the time to tackle a project to bond with them further.

I have spent alot of money by having someone do my motor but its nothing compared to listening to my 16 month old daughter say her first group of words which was "Oh my God" it just came out of nowhere and my inlaws and wife where all there, you just cant buy this back. I can always make money but I can never go back 2 days and experience that.

Priorities are in order God,Family,Work,Mustang. If you want to cut you car bill in half just sell your stang and start looking for someone that has had work done to it since he will not recomp his $$ back but youll end up saving plus not having to do it yourself but you have to be realistic or youll end up spending alot. If its a 5.0 I would go with a 94-95 since comfort will be an issue with your family plus they can be had real cheap. Fox bodies have crappy ride and rust plus interior all bad.
 
  #9  
Old 11-22-2006, 11:13 AM
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you still owe that much?? how much did u buy the car for?
 
  #13  
Old 11-22-2006, 12:24 PM
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damn thats like sticker price around here for premium gt
 
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