Decisions...

[thedugan]

How much time are you going to have with a 3 1/2 year old and he's way to young to understand whats going on. Keep the Saturn wait till he's much older and then do it. Bank you money and let it grow and then do a car with all the cash you got

[SaturnVUEguy]

Even if he can't help with the build now, I'd still like to get a car my son would be able to help with in the long run. I am very bored. My wife does nothing to keep me happy, and the only hobby I really have at home is computer/video games. I'd like to have something to work on at home to pass the time. Its much better than sitting in front of a tv or computer, especially since I sit in front of a computer all day at work.
I also have a model railroad layout that's under construction at my parents house, but my wife is even fighting with me about bringing that home. The only space for that is the garage, and she'd rather actually use the garage

As for my earlier posts, I shouldn't necessarily say I'm bored with the Saturn (though I would MUCH rather have a stick shift again, and I hate fwd in snow), but that I'm just bored in general

[ho428]

I'm confused, $330 a month for 60 months = $19,800
WTF? Is that for just the used Mustang? or Both cars?

$400 a month for 24 months = $9600 to pay off the Saturn.

Not much decision to make there.

[barraza]

I work at a used car lot..........

I can get my payments to be $300/mo for 60mos. I'm currently at $400/mo with roughly 2yrs to go............

My wife insists we keep the Saturn......
..... our 3 1/2yr old son

..........I could use my mom's Durango ......


What to do?

Since you asked for advice, here goes:

Get off the damn video games. Pay some attention to your wife. Buy what you can afford, not what you want when you are bored. Don't get into pissing contests with the wife over stupid crap like trading cars.

[bigvegan]

Isn't $12k for a 6 year old Mustang a bit steep?

Pay off the Vue, drive it into the ground, and shop around for a project car.

It's not like 5+yr old late model V8 powered cars are going to be getting anything but cheaper.

Paying almost $20k(total) for a stock used car that your wife doesn't approve of sounds like a bad idea to me.

Like thedugan said, drive the Saturn, put some extra $ in the bank until your son gets a little older. Then when he's 14 or 15, see if that $ should go toward his college fund, or if it's enough to make a fun build with.

Barraza could have been more polite about it, but his suggestion to put down the video games and pay more attention to your wife is a sound one.

Getting bicycles for you and your wife might also be a good idea. You can find a decent used bike for $100-$150 per, and refurbishing a bicycle is almost as much fun and much cheaper than a car project, and doesn't take up anywhere near as much garage space. Plus, instead of burning expensive gas, you'd burn off extra calories.

Get your wife's buy-in, figure out what her dream bike would be, then go buy a used bike on craigslist, buy the books and tools and parts, tear it down, polish, paint, and lube as necessary, put it back together, and wow her with your new skills and her shiny restored bike. (Plus, the fact that you've been spending time turning wrenches ON HER BEHALF should buy you a few points.)

Then build a cool cruiser, mtb, or road bike for yourself, add a trail-a-bike for the kid, and go have fun.

[thedugan]

One last point of mine. I have twin 2 1/2 year olds. I want them to be car guys too. They want nothing todo with my car restoration project. They are more interested in their matchbox cars and trains. I take them to every car show there is to get them into the hobby. I get them new toy cars all the time (cheap China ones cause they break everything anyway).

If your going to spend $300 a month get a Trailblazer SS AWD so you have the hotrod and the family car all in one. You can do small mods here or there but really you can take it to car hops park it open the hood and show it while your son and you walk around or BS with people. I really cant see where your going to have any time to redo a car or as it seems your wife wants the garage. Weather its a train set in there or a car in 1000 pieces she wont be happy.
And when she's not happy your not happy

[Runamok]

$12,000 for an '02 Mustang is not a good price.

[SaturnVUEguy]

Ok, some background seems to be needed now...

She works days, I work evenings. During the evenings when I'm at work, she's at her parents' house. She stays there for a while after I get home from work. I don't see her until late in the night when she's tired and wants to go to bed, whereas I'm bored at work all night and am somewhat wrestless when I get home. What do I do to pass the time until she gets home? games. When she does get home, I stop what I'm doing to spend some time together, then she sits her ass in front of the tv, so I head back to the computer.

She's not into riding bikes. I am, but we don't have much room for that where we live, way too built up for me to be comfortable on a bike. There are trails not far from us though.

As far as the Trailblazer SS goes, I'd love one actually, though not AWD. Problem is that they are pretty expensive (to us) and won't be able to afford one for a couple years when the Saturn is paid off. When that happens, she wants a Murano or a Journey. No TB SS for me then either.

The Opel would be something to build over a long period of time, as the budget allows. Not something to just dump money in all at once.

If she is really adamant about not getting a project car, I may just bring the layout I mentioned in my last post home. My son loves the trains, and that is something he could help me with

[Chevrolaine]

You shouldn't be bored with a 3 year old in the house. Build the train as a project, forget the cars!! You don't get a do over with kids, the time is NOW!
It's all about sacrifices and priorities!

[bigvegan]

http://www.carolstream.org/Reference...BikePedMap.pdf - Sounds like your town is getting with the bike path program at least, which is pretty cool.

Good luck amigo.

[SaturnVUEguy]

CYA - when he's in the house, I am not bored. Its when he is with my wife at her parents' house that I get bored. Sorry if I mis-lead you. I still really want that Opel, but now I am going to make an attempt at the trains instead. It would still require the same garage space as the Opel, but less money, and it is something my son can help with too (did I mention he LOVES trains?)

[CHRIS67]

[/quote]
As for my earlier posts, I shouldn't necessarily say I'm bored with the Saturn (though I would MUCH rather have a stick shift again, and I hate fwd in snow), but that I'm just bored in general[/quote]


The fwd is WAY better in snow than a rwd mustang. I understand why you're looking for a change. I'm sure most of us on the site see something that is faster, cooler, or just different and want it. I'm also sure that at some point we've been disappointed with our selection once the honeymoon stage is over. Just make the right choice for the family/hobby.

Besides do you really want to change your user name?

[Chevrolaine]

It would still require the same garage space as the Opel, but less money, and it is something my son can help with too (did I mention he LOVES trains?)

Now your talking! My son started out on trains also, migrated to planes and is now a few weeks away from his first solo! (Cessna 152).
He also just got his Drivers license today and is chomping at the bit to cruise the 92. The 72 is off limits!
The time you spend with your kids flies and goes quickly. Save some money, buy a project when you can afford it without making the bank rich, and work with your wife slowly into what you both want.
She'll come around.

[DonTalarico]

If you made the money, spend how you please. If it is joint cash, then you have to take her point of view in the decision. Pretty simple...oh yea, and 12k for that Stang is atrocious.