As a portion of your annual income, how much is your current car worth.

The question has come from the BMW thread where nick commented that porsche boxsters aren't that expensive.
I guess expensive is all about what you compare it too. A top end boxster can cost as much as I paid for my house. That sounds quite expensive for a car to me...

Anonymous poll in case your sensitive and don't want people back calculating how much you earn.

PS - gross income.

Currently mine is around 1/16th, if I upgrade it will shoot up to around 1/2.

I dont know Cyclone. My annual income includes student loan and part time work, and my car is worth about 2 pounds. Hope that helps :D

My income includes a student loan (I get roughly 5k) and I earn about £5k a year in my part time job... My car cost 6k, but I pay off £99 a month... :)
So that makes it between 1/2 and 1 :)

its difficult to measure 'cos i've got 4 cars.

its difficult to measure 'cos i've got 4 cars.
Why not add them up? That's what you've spent on car(s), just that you spread it out and got more wheels out of the deal :)

What its current value is or what you paid? We are a 2-car family, both cars cost in excess of £20k and currently at between 12 and 18-months old, they will have depreciated somewhat.

i payed £60 for mine 18 months ago as a non runner , i get 22 k , so thats not a lot (went to italy in it last year too)

Mine was worth a half of my income when I bought it.

Sadly depreciation has taken it's toll on the ratio :(
Happily a pay rise has also changed the ratio :)

Good point about depreciation (I used the current value of our car, for what it's worth). It would be interested to also see how much everyone has spent as a total proportion of their net income, over the last X years. I'd hazard a guess it would be a scary amount for something that's mainly used to get to work and back :)

I'd hazard a guess it would be a scary amount for something that's mainly used to get to work and back :)

Problem is, a lot us people have an issue with travelling to work 'in style' hence the money we spend on cars.

I drive an M reg Fiesta which cost me £700. I get paid a fair whack but am not fussed about arriving in style, A car's a tool which is to be used for its practicality. Not because it's a 25K penis extension.

More interesting to me at least, is what proportion of their income, if any, are people putting into their pension.

Will you be able to afford a car when you retire ;)

Problem is, a lot us people have an issue with travelling to work 'in style' hence the money we spend on cars.
Yep. I don't really care what people spend their money on (I might think some things are a daft waste of cash, but no doubt people would think the same about my hobbies! :)), but it is a little tiresome when people look down their nose at you for having a battered cheap(ish) car.

A car's a tool which is to be used for its practicality. Not because it's a 25K penis extension.

I know what you're saying, but you have to admit - the regular BMW, Merc or porsche driver (brand new one's that is), doesn't buy the car because its reliable and affordable and gets you from A-B. They (and I stand up and include myself here) buy because it looks good and they feel good driving it. Unfortunately, that will always be the case.

nowadays a car is a status symbol - If you have a decent job, you buy a car that says "look at me". I'm not suggesting that everyone is the same

More interesting to me at least, is what proportion of their income, if any, are people putting into their pension.

Will you be able to afford a car when you retire ;)

Put as little as possible into your pension and as much as you can into property.

I was going by the current value of the car, not how much you paid for it.

For reference I pay 6% into a pension, the company i work for pays 8.5%. So that's over twice what my car is worth every year (at the moment).

Not because it's a 25K penis extension.

we all choose how to spend our disposable incomes, holidays, houses, cars, toys, kids, fancy food or whatever.
So why do some people feel the need to be offensive about the way others choose to spend it?

Out of interest, who owns a car that is worth twice or more what they earn every year?

No one owning up to that then?

When I bought a new mini in 1962 it cost 450 quid, hard to believe today. My salary then was 1250 pounds, so cost about one third. When I went to Canada in 1968 a new beetle cost me $1400, and my salary $9000, there fore one sixth. At that time US anfd Canadian dollars were nearly at par.
Today a new beetle would cost $16,000 or so, with a median salary in USA about $50,000, so once again nearly one third. I don't really know how this compares with UK, but cars as a proportion of wages have got much more expensive. Then again they are much improved today with airbags, a/c, electric doors and windows, etc. as standard equipment.

we all choose how to spend our disposable incomes, holidays, houses, cars, toys, kids, fancy food or whatever.
So why do some people feel the need to be offensive about the way others choose to spend it?

I think jealousy comes into it. I cant see why ppl cant have a nice fast/executive car. A car is a bad investment IMO but if you can afford it or choose to stretch your budget then that's up to the person

Mine was 2/3's but I've sold the car and got myself a £60 bus card a month.

Much cheaper :hihi:

I think jealousy comes into it. I cant see why ppl cant have a nice fast/executive car. A car is a bad investment IMO but if you can afford it or choose to stretch your budget then that's up to the person
All depends which car you buy. A brand new Mondeo is a very bad investment because of depreciation but my car (Porsche Boxster) is actually worth more now than when I bought it last year!! Or at least according to the ones I've seen for sale anyway!

the majority of cars are a bad investment, even that nearly new boxster will start to depreciate soon, it's only gone up because there's a waiting list presumably.

You could almost turn that into a way of owning a flash car. Get on the waiting list, whilst your about to get your new car, get on another waiting list. 6 months down the line, sell the car for a profit, take delivery of a different one, and get on another waiting list.
Tricky though to a) rustle up the 30 - 50k needed in the first place (paying via credit would wipe out any profit and some I'd think), b) to correctly guess which cars will be that desirable that the 6 month old ones sell at a premium.
Ashmorel, how does a 2000 W 3.2S compare to the new ones. I've seen on in Leeds at 16.6k which i might have a look at tomorrow.
Although the guy who was supposed to look at my car this afternoon hasn't turned up :-(

the majority of cars are a bad investment, even that nearly new boxster will start to depreciate soon, it's only gone up because there's a waiting list presumably.

You could almost turn that into a way of owning a flash car. Get on the waiting list, whilst your about to get your new car, get on another waiting list. 6 months down the line, sell the car for a profit, take delivery of a different one, and get on another waiting list.
Tricky though to a) rustle up the 30 - 50k needed in the first place (paying via credit would wipe out any profit and some I'd think), b) to correctly guess which cars will be that desirable that the 6 month old ones sell at a premium.
Ashmorel, how does a 2000 W 3.2S compare to the new ones. I've seen on in Leeds at 16.6k which i might have a look at tomorrow.
Although the guy who was supposed to look at my car this afternoon hasn't turned up :-(
Boxsters and Porsches in general are well know for holding their value well. I've only done 3000 miles in my car and it was bought new in June last year. I think some people do exactly what you say and order cars with waiting lists just to keep them for 6 months and then sell them at a profit. I had to wait 8 months for mine and it was tortuous!! Particulary when it got close to the expected delivery date!

The new Boxsters are much better cars than the old ones but to be honest, there's no such thing as a bad Boxster! The thing I found is that the interior is a bit tackier in the older cars. It's very similar to the 911 in the new ones and is very nice. The exhaust note in the new ones is much more 911 like too! The new Boxsters have more power and better standard features as well. I'd make sure you get one that has traction control, climate control and a CD player as a minimum.

All depends which car you buy. A brand new Mondeo is a very bad investment because of depreciation but my car (Porsche Boxster) is actually worth more now than when I bought it last year!! Or at least according to the ones I've seen for sale anyway!

Well it is very rare to be able to make a profit. And when we talk about Porsche Boxters we are talking about a car that the vast majority cannot afford or sensibly cannot buy.

In the US, Hondas and Toyotas are the best mid priced cars for holding value, how do they fare in UK? Kias and Hyundais are about the cheapest, and have imprioved over the years, they have great warranties up to 100,000 miles, which is all well and good because they don't have great resale value.

we all choose how to spend our disposable incomes, holidays, houses, cars, toys, kids, fancy food or whatever.
So why do some people feel the need to be offensive about the way others choose to spend it?
I wouldn't say I'm offensive about it, but I do have my own opinions about the ludicrosity (have I just made up a word? :)) of it - which I generally keep to myself! Of course people can spend their money how they want, but I'm just as entitled to privately laugh at them!

It comes down to the fact that people don't seem to see the sheer amount of money involved - those four wheels seem to blind them to the numbers.

I don't think I agree Rich. I know exactly how much money i'm thinking about spending, how long it will take me to repay the finance, how much i'm charged for having the finance, roughly how much the depreciation will cost me in that same time and i've already checked out running costs and insurance costs.
I over stretched myself once before just after I graduated and had to sell the car again 3 months after buying it, loosing about 2k in the process.
It's a mistake i'm not going to make again.

A car is probably the 2nd most expensive thing i'll buy in my life, probably not this specific one, i'm sure i'll buy more expensive ones, but I don't intend to spend my life driving around in a car and seeing other models and thinking I wish I had one of those.

Boxsters and Porsches in general are well know for holding their value well. I've only done 3000 miles in my car and it was bought new in June last year. I think some people do exactly what you say and order cars with waiting lists just to keep them for 6 months and then sell them at a profit. I had to wait 8 months for mine and it was tortuous!! Particulary when it got close to the expected delivery date!

The new Boxsters are much better cars than the old ones but to be honest, there's no such thing as a bad Boxster! The thing I found is that the interior is a bit tackier in the older cars. It's very similar to the 911 in the new ones and is very nice. The exhaust note in the new ones is much more 911 like too! The new Boxsters have more power and better standard features as well. I'd make sure you get one that has traction control, climate control and a CD player as a minimum.

I have read the few posts you have on here and I have to voice my opinion.

You sound so far up yourself it's untrue.

Mr OO I got a Porsche, Mr OOOO I work in Brazil, Mr OOOO my Daddy has his own Business, Mr OOOO I have great girlfriends.

You probably travel the city working for ONYX!

Just sounds to me like someone who's doing ok and enjoying nice things and chatting about them. So what? Why do you feel the need to criticise?

Just sounds to me like someone who's doing ok and enjoying nice things and chatting about them. So what? Why do you feel the need to criticise?

Sorry, it's my envious side.

I couldn't afford an Astra GTE so had had to settle for the vastly inferior Astra merit :P

Ah! A step down from the Astra L(oser)

Only pulling your leg ;)

finally got round to mine.
car number 1(mine) cost just under my annual salary. bought 2004
car number 2(hers) cost half my salary. b0ught200
car 3( 4x4 to p everyone else off) just over half my salary .bought 2002
car 4(classic plaything) cost 1 months gross salary.
car 5 (second 4x4) cost 1/2 annual salary.

apart from petrol- they are all cheaper to run per year,than running an old banger that cost 1 months salary.(which i used to have)

if your serious over a porsche Cyclone, pm me.
my daughters partner deals in porsche's & can get you a good price from new.

One might wonder why you need two 4x4's?

And also how you manage to live, having spent just over 2.5 times your annual salary in the last 4 years on cars (actually you didn't say when number 5 was bought). I suppose technically we shouldn't count number 2.
Which makes it just 2 out of 4 years money, or an average of half your salary every year on cars.

PS - is that of gross salary, in which case it's probably more like 2/3rds of net spent on cars.

Ah! A step down from the Astra L(oser)

Only pulling your leg ;)

You wouldn't know a wind-up if it hit you in the face and *mod: unpleasant suggestion removed* !

if your serious over a porsche Cyclone, pm me.
my daughters partner deals in porsche's & can get you a good price from new.

I can't afford new, not even with a good deal.

Le-Rosbif - that wasn't too smart now was it.

One might wonder why you need two 4x4's?

And also how you manage to live, having spent just over 2.5 times your annual salary in the last 4 years on cars (actually you didn't say when number 5 was bought). I suppose technically we shouldn't count number 2.
Which makes it just 2 out of 4 years money, or an average of half your salary every year on cars.

PS - is that of gross salary, in which case it's probably more like 2/3rds of net spent on cars.


the cars are paid for,except 4x4 number 2, for which the daughter has to pay.
car number 5 was bought from ebay in 2004 as an anniversary gift to my wife ,it has however been passed to me 'cos its not new enough(1976).

figures are gross.

ah, well, you can't count one that your daughter is paying for :-) that's cheating.

Le-Rosbif - that wasn't too smart now was it.
No it wasn't. Now I'll have to edit out all his bad laguage.

What will I do for fun today ? ;)

my current is worth over 3 times my annual income... mind you it was one of the spoils of my last career...

my new car (i get this week) is worth of 2 times my annual income.

why did i have the car... one word "fun!"

i'd rather spend my time living and enjoying myself than worrying about what may never be...

I have read the few posts you have on here and I have to voice my opinion.

You sound so far up yourself it's untrue.

Mr OO I got a Porsche, Mr OOOO I work in Brazil, Mr OOOO my Daddy has his own Business, Mr OOOO I have great girlfriends.

You probably travel the city working for ONYX!
Sorry mate but you couldn't be more wrong.

The people who know me well will say I am very modest and actually come from a poor background so appreciate how lucky I have been and have had to work bloody hard for it. I grew up on a council estate and my friends from childhood (who I still hang around with) all live on council estates and have poor backgrounds. Ask them if I think I'm better than them and they'll tell you straight away that I don't. I haven't forgotten my roots. I don't go boasting about what I have and you certainly won't see me cruising round with the roof down chatting all the ladies up or flashing my key ring about. It certainly won't pop up in any conversation with a girl I like either!

There are people far more fortunate than me out there and if they've worked how I've worked then I say good luck to them too. The only people I resent are the people who have things put on a plate for them and have rich Daddy's that buy them their new Porsche or Ferrari or also those people that want the nice cars and lifestyle but aren't prepared to put in the work to get it.

Oh and as for having great girlfriends, when did I say that? If I had great girlfriends then why am I not married to one of them?!! I've had some good looking girlfriends (I wouldn't have gone out with them otherwise, would I?!!) as I'm sure many guys have but looks don't give them a great personality!! Oh and I've been single ever since I had the Porsche even though it would be easy to go around looking for golddiggers. That's not my style.

My Dad might own his own business but I never ask him for money because as far as I'm concerned he's worked hard for it and deserves to reap the rewards of his endeavour. I'm proud of him for going from nothing and having bailiffs on the door to being a success and why shouldn't I be? I was only entering into the topics of discussion at the time.......

As for not being able to afford an Astra GTE, well, I've been there!! Keep working hard and you never know when your luck might change......

Sorry mate but you couldn't be more wrong.

The people who know me well will say I am very modest and actually come from a poor background so appreciate how lucky I have been and have had to work bloody hard for it. I grew up on a council estate and my friends from childhood (who I still hang around with) all live on council estates and have poor backgrounds. Ask them if I think I'm better than them and they'll tell you straight away that I don't. I haven't forgotten my roots. I don't go boasting about what I have and you certainly won't see me cruising round with the roof down chatting all the ladies up or flashing my key ring about. It certainly won't pop up in any conversation with a girl I like either!

There are people far more fortunate than me out there and if they've worked how I've worked then I say good luck to them too. The only people I resent are the people who have things put on a plate for them and have rich Daddy's that buy them their new Porsche or Ferrari.

Oh and as for having great girlfriends, when did I say that? If I had great girlfriends then why am I not married to one of them?!! I've had some good looking girlfriends as I'm sure many guys have but looks don't give them a great personality!! Oh and I've been single ever since I had the Porsche even though it would be easy to go around looking for golddiggers. That's not my style.

My Dad might own his own business but I never ask him for money because as far as I'm concerned he's worked hard for it and deserves to reap the rewards of his endeavour. I'm proud of him for going from nothing and having bailiffs on the door to being a success and why shouldn't I be? I was only entering into the topics of discussion at the time.......

As for not being able to afford an Astra GTE, well, I've been there!! Keep working hard and you never know when your luck might change......

The Astra GTE comment was written tongue in cheek, a mirror of your Boxster v Carrera decision.

A song springs to mind..

Don't be fooled by the car that I got, I'm still Ashmorel from the block....

Don't be fooled by the car that I got, I'm still Ashmorel from the block....
LOL! Well, at least you've got a sense of humour....!!

I didn't particularly want a 911. Could have got a 3 or 4 year old one for the same price but I'd rather have a convertible and preferred a new car. I also don't drive that many miles so couldn't justify the extra running costs.

Using this logic though, surely buying a 911 Carrera just means that you can't afford a 911 Turbo? We could go on and on until we get to a Pagani Zonda or Bugatti Veyron!! People buy cars for many different reasons. Cost being a large part of that but not the only part.

I'd love a Ferrari F430 convertible or an Aston Martin DB9 but at this moment in time, I can only dream. Still, I'm gonna keep working hard and hope that one day my dream comes true!!

I'd rather try and fail than never try at all.

LOL! Well, at least you've got a sense of humour....!!

I didn't particularly want a 911. Could have got a 3 or 4 year old one for the same price but I'd rather have a convertible and preferred a new car. I also don't drive that many miles so couldn't justify the extra running costs.

Using this logic though, surely buying a 911 Carrera just means that you can't afford a 911 Turbo? We could go on and on until we get to a Pagani Zonda or Bugatti Veyron!! People buy cars for many different reasons. Cost being a large part of that but not the only part.

I'd love a Ferrari F430 convertible or an Aston Martin DB9 but at this moment in time, I can only dream. Still, I'm gonna keep working hard and hope that one day my dream comes true!!

I'd rather try and fail than never try at all.

Easy solution - Ocean Finance.

They can lend you up to 250k and you can pay it back in small monthly payments.

I was thinking of getting 100k from them and buying a DB9.

Would get propa respect from the ladies.

I'd be da man and you still be in your Boxster HA HA HA. Loser!