Would like some opinions

[Dr. Marneaus]

Y'all prolly don't know me too well, but I'm in this situation and am looking for some advice.

So, I'm about to enter my second summer living in Vegas, with a jeep that has no AC. I'm planning on buying my mothers Dodge Magnum R/T sometime in the near future, for the price she owes on it, not the blue book value, so I'll be getting the car for a good price, however, it'll still require a loan on my part (we're talking around 7-8k). I want this car because I would never be able to get a car this new and of this style for anything near this price. It's huge, comfy, fast, fun, useful (alot of room for moving stuff), good for highway, long trips etc. However, it isn't a truck, it isn't 4wd, cant take it wheelin... which is why I want to keep the jeep if possible.

I'll be moving into an apartment this spring, parents will pay rent during school year, I'm on my own paying it for the summer, which is fine, and I'm very grateful for them paying during school (I've been an RA for 2 years, getting free room/board).

I COULD afford car/insurance/rent, but I'd be working solely to own a car, if you follow. I have a perfectly drivable jeep, that costs me nothing other than fuel/maintenance. So, realistically I cannot afford the car payment and the apartment, if I want to actually gain money in the summer for the school year, when I'll only be working 20ish hours a week (working more than full time in summer).

I've got a few options here.

1. Drive the jeep all summer and pay rent. I really really really don't want to go through another summer with no AC, I drive a lot for work, and it's just plain awful. Buy magnum in fall, when I don't have rent expenses, jeep will be unregistered/uninsured until I can afford it. But I will have missed summer with AC/road friendly vehicle.

2. work the remaining months of school for about 10 hours a week, and not spend a dime, hoping to earn enough to either pay rent or car expenses for the summer, so essentially either the rent or car would be paid for 3 months, as I enter the summer. Jeep would be unregistered/uninsured for summer, therefore not driven, but kept.

3. Sell jeep. Buy magnum straight up, owe nothing on it. Do a little work on the magnum, but save money for awhile and hopefully buy a jeep in a year or 2 or when I graduate, and hopefully have enough money for a toy. This, in my opinion will give me the opportunity to start a whole new jeep build, maybe an old CJ.

4. Try and find a second job entering the summer and work until I can afford the car, then get the car and bring it out. Jeep would be unregistered/uninsured at this point, until I could afford both. this kind of is like option 2, just earn enough extra money to pay for car, driving jeep until I buy it.

I don't like the idea of getting rid of the jeep for 1 simple reason, I own it. It has 0 cost if it isn't registered/being driven for a while, so there's no real reason to dump it.

However, if I cannot afford the car, the main reason I want it this summer is AC...yet that issue will be gone come fall. So why would I buy it in the fall rather than the next spring? Jeep is fine in the winter, for around town etc.

I dunno, just looking for some outside opinions on this one.

I am seriously looking at selling it for a few reasons, 1 being that it wont be registered/insured until I could afford that on my own, may be 6 months, may be a year may be 2 years, who knows, so it wouldn't be driven anyways... If I sell it I'll own the magnum and have pure profit this summer, other than rent and insurance. Money could be saved for school/car/fun/new jeep...

I don't know, i want to sell it but I don't. I don't know how many of you can identify with seriously LOVING a vehicle, I've put so much blood, sweat and money into the jeep, and I love it, but it's the least practical thing ever.

the car:

The love of my life:

 

[khari]

I don't think you should attempt to keep both cars while you're in school. I say choose one. To me the Magnum makes more sense. There's plenty of time for toys after you graduate. Just my .02

 

[Bsneed51]

Having been in your shoes before, I agree with Khari on this one. You said yourself a couple of times that the jeep is a toy. When you're broke, and doing what you have to just to get bye, toys aren't a luxury you can afford. The Magnum seems more practical. If you want to own both you are going to have to work 50-60 hours a week during the summer, and cut out any extra spending (i.e. cigars, booze, etc). Just don't let work, and the luxury of owning multiple vehicles, take away from your classwork.

Oh, and not to burst your bubble, but even those of us out of college, with real jobs, can't really afford an extra "toy" to go off roading in. Sorry to be suck a downer, but you asked for our opinions, and you know what they say about opinions.

 

[bimmer635csi]

Why not add A/C to the Jeep and get the floppy doors for it?

 

[bpj87]

Whatever you do, I'd recommend a few things:

1. Cut out some discretionary spending. Instead of always living paycheck to paycheck, try to save a little here and there. If this means a nice cigar once a week, rather than a few time a week, you’ll be glad you made the sacrifice later.

2. Don’t go into debt for a more expensive car. Additionally, unless major problems arise with your Jeep, keep it until finances are no longer an issue. Even if you can just afford it, I would still try to avoid the new car. Just because one has enough money to buy something, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one can reasonable afford to buy it.

3. Try to earn and save money with the goal of simply accumulating for investment. Rather than saving up for a purchase which will send your finances right back to where they started, just save the money, invest it, and avoid the urge to blow the stash on a car. It is much nicer to have the money there for an emergency, to put towards a down payment on a house, or for some future expense for which you would otherwise have to work hard or go into debt.

Just try not to stretch yourself too thin. Save up so that you are comfortable and secure, and then think about luxuries. Go with the cheaper option, maybe get the AC fixed on your Jeep, and own only one car.

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

Why not add A/C to the Jeep and get the floppy doors for it?

jeep has full top, full doors windows etc.

Issue lies ion that it's a 2.5l 4 cylinder, sitting on 32" tires, with 4.10 gears. I cant go 65 on an inclined highway, it's slow as crap around town too...

Adding AC to that engine will zap what little power it has and leave me goin' 45 on the highway.

Also, by a "toy" jeep after the magnum I'm talkin' about old CJ, something that's only a few grand. And Also understand that I don't have a family or a wife or anything, and don't plan on it in the next year or 3, but things could change haha.

I love the jeep, it;'s my main source of transportation, it's been fun and reliable but it's just so impractical. slow ass 4 cylinder that gets 16 miles per gallon, I can only put 3 other people, with NO cargo in it, or 1 person with some cargo, it's horribly loud on the highway, handles like crap, stops hard, etc. But I love it, it's a away of life, and it has given me some incredible times.

I suppose there are times when you need to be realistic and down to earth. Sure, I could keep the jeep, but when is the opportunity to buy a luxury muscle car at less than half it's value going to come around again, vs. the opportunity to buy any given jeep? I need to put sentimental value aside and look at what's best financially and practically I suppose. It's just really hard to do.

 

[Bsneed51]

I suppose there are times when you need to be realistic and down to earth. Sure, I could keep the jeep, but when is the opportunity to buy a luxury muscle car at less than half it's value going to come around again, vs. the opportunity to buy any given jeep? I need to put sentimental value aside and look at what's best financially and practically I suppose. It's just really hard to do.

Growing up sucks. Enjoy college while you still can, because it doesn't get much better for at least a few years.

 

[KeyserSoze]

I'd say go with the Magnum and sell the Jeep. This way you'll have some money to save (aka: buy cigars) go out, etc... I can relate to the attachment to your Jeep but trust me, you'll find another love when the time comes.

You just never know what obstacles may pop up and those extra funds you saved will help.

 

[bpj87]

I suppose there are times when you need to be realistic and down to earth. Sure, I could keep the jeep, but when is the opportunity to buy a luxury muscle car at less than half it's value going to come around again, vs. the opportunity to buy any given jeep? I need to put sentimental value aside and look at what's best financially and practically I suppose. It's just really hard to do.

Growing up sucks. Enjoy college while you still can, because it doesn't get much better for at least a few years.

I'm sure everyone struggles with the option of stretching one's finances for a luxury all the time. Many could go out and blow the retirement fund on Italian sportscars and vacations, but do not, because in the long run, there lives will be better for not doing so. Leading such a disciplined lifestyle will allow you to invest and therefore consistently afford the luxuries later on.

I know it's tough... I've been wanting to sell my car and get a roadster for the past year or so, but spending much of my savings right now just doesn't make practical sense. So sell the Jeep, get the more practical car.

 

[Gonz]

Ditch the jeep. Get the car that makes sense, and then use the future prospect of a better/more fun jeep as a proverbial carrot to dangle in front of yourself to keep focused and on track to success.

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

I'd say go with the Magnum and sell the Jeep. This way you'll have some money to save (aka: buy cigars) go out, etc... I can relate to the attachment to your Jeep but trust me, you'll find another love when the time comes.

You just never know what obstacles may pop up and those extra funds you saved will help.

Another friend of mine put it this way " If you were meant to have a jeep, you will be driving one again sooner or later. Do what makes most financial sense, which seems to be selling the jeep and taking the magnum."

I just don't wanna let it go, but then again my mind will prolly change on the first 90 degree day in a few weeks here....


oh the times we've had.

 

[gtadroptop]

Totally understand seriously loving a vehicle. But I have to agree with everybody else. Go with the Magnum for now. Your Wrangler looks to be a newer model. But no matter what model year it is, I know you'll be able to replace it with another from that year and do a rebuild/restoration if that's what you want. Might take several years before you're able to do it, but it can be done.

 

[Allofus123]

You want sound advice? Sell the jeep and buy a bicycle or spend a few thousand on a solid used honda/toyota/nissan. Stop worrying about how cool you think your ride makes you and live within your means. Just because you can make a car payment does not mean you can afford it. Work your azz off in school and stop dumping money into cars. After school, IF you busted your azz enough you will secure a well paying job and can afford all of the toys you want. Get your head out of your azz... its a piece of metal.

God, when did I become my dad.

 

[Dr. Marneaus]

You want sound advice? Sell the jeep and buy a bicycle or spend a few thousand on a solid used honda/toyota/nissan. Stop worrying about how cool you think your ride makes you and live within your means. Just because you can make a car payment does not mean you can afford it. Work your azz off in school and stop dumping money into cars. After school, IF you busted your azz enough you will secure a well paying job and can afford all of the toys you want. Get your head out of your azz... its a piece of metal.

God, when did I become my dad.

I don't think you understand, the jeep costs me nothing? It isn't rickety it isn't falling apart etc. It's 100% within my means, it just doesn't have AC, and doesn't get good fuel economy. I worked my azz off to buy this thing and make it what I want.

If I sell the jeep, the magnum will pretty much be a straight trade off, not requiring a payment or anything, just insurance, same as the jeep.

Would you rather have the innificent 4x4 that is fun to drive, work on and can take you place 99% of other cars cant? Take it hiking camping etc.

Or would you rather have the smooth, quiet powerful wagon with AC and storage/people room?

that's what it comes down to. Not "looking cool" etc. I don't want to sound harsh or stuck up, but its pretty stupid to sell the jeep to buy a beater econobox when I can have a "new" car for less than half it's value.

Also, bicycle? gimmie a break haha.

 

[Fia]

If in the end it is a straight trade, then maybe the magnum is a good choice. However, why not sell the jeep and get a toyota, etc that will be more fuel effecient than the magnum? You will appreciate that with the rising fuel costs. True your jeep can take you off road but the majority of your driving will be on streets. In fact, your insurance might even be less since you wont be driving a 4X4 anymore.

 

[Allofus123]

Like I said.... "if you want sound advice". Apparently you only want the advice you want to hear.

You posted some 10-15 paragraphs with "pictures" for what again?

Would you rather have the innificent 4x4 that is fun to drive, work on and can take you place 99% of other cars cant? Take it hiking camping etc. Or would you rather have the smooth, quiet powerful wagon with AC and storage/people room?

Apparently the question was only two sentences and when put as such I'm not sure why the question is even being asked.

 

[JHolmes763]

Would you rather have the innificent 4x4 that is fun to drive, work on and can take you place 99% of other cars cant? Take it hiking camping etc.Or would you rather have the smooth, quiet powerful wagon with AC and storage/people room?

Only you can answer that, but I agree that those are your two best options. Do whatever you can to avoid having to work through college and make car payments. Focus on your schooling.

Apparently the question was only two sentences and when put as such I'm not sure why the question is even being asked.

He's in school, maybe he's practicing his writing? I assume he just wanted to get everything out there, vent a little and just see what people had to say. No harm in that, is there?

---John Holmes...

 

[Strayvector]

One suggestion...burn the ASU shirt. No need to humiliate yourself like that.

 

[Seavita]

Guns and Butter.....look it up :thumbs:

 

[bfreebern]

I was in the same situation during college. I had a Jeep Wrangler and loved it. It wasn't the best car for what I was having to spend in gas, etc. So I sold it and bought my moms Grand Am. I graduated from college and swore that I'd buy a Jeep sooner or later. Well, I've been through 2 so far and will be looking to buy an Unlimited in the next few years.

Do what's best for you now. Like Kenny said, if you've busted your butt, you'll have many many chances down the road for another Jeep or two.