Want's - Needs - Stuff!
For the TL;DR, better not even bother....
CARS
So I have 2006 Ford Five Hundred Limited and a 2005 Subaru Outback H6.
The Ford was a replacement to my 1993 Dodge intrepid that I loved. The Ford has a modest 200 HP and only tows 1000 lbs. Now the interior is HUGE. NO lie, it's got more room on paper than a Crown Victoria. It's not a Cadillac ride by any means but I've taken it to MFF several times and that's 14 hours of near non stop driving with no real issues. The Ford's main purpose is interstate travels. So I only have a modest amount of miles on it for it's age. about 130K I guess. It has only a few issues that are actually broken. The Drivers heated seat doesn't heat and it needs a new "dog bone" ... a motor "support" (Not a mount). BUT all this is actually fine and has been for years, with me. The only real concern is that the transmission, I think, has a bit of a imbalance to it at a certain speed and if it's in like a full torque converter lock up and I give it gas at higher speeds it'll exhibit that imballanced feel. It's always been like that. I want to replace this car with a Vehicle that can tow, is in a SUV format so I can keep all my valuable stuff (heat sensitive suits and such) inside and not a truck bed, and is still big enough to not have things crammed to the ceiling when I go to cons. That means something along the lines of a FORD flex, Excursion, or other large format vehicle. YEY! OR no... because that vehicle is so much more expensive. I'll say this more than once, I'm not made of money. SO a used vehicle is the only option for this replacement.
Now the Subaru Outback.
This car, this trim level, was something I have been drooling over for nearly 10 years before I actually got it. I couldn't afford it when I found the ones I wanted. I also knew or anticipated repair costs and being able to have it repaired, so I didn't get one even when I found one in my price range. Finally in 2013, on my way from my second Anthrocon, I stopped at someone's place I saw on craighs list, test drove it, made and offer.... and a month later I had it in my yard. (yea, a month, longer story)
The Roo has been terrific! I've put a radiator, tires, and a drive shaft on it so far in 4 years and treat it like I stole it and it delievers what I expect EVERY time. It's like the perfect combination of my old 79 Monte Carlo and my Dodge Intrepid. I really like that car. I am sold solidly on the brand at this point. The problem with that is they don't offer a large format vehicle and they are super expensive too.
Looking...
Now in addition to looking for a vehicle that can replace the FORD, I've had a few other cars in the back of my mind that I've wanted. Amung those, a Chevy VOLT. You would think for a mid life crisis kinda car I would get some sporty Miata, Fiat, Corvette, ect. Something that says... I'm totally irrelevant and have a tiny dick or something. MEH! I like those things but I wanted the geek factor of the Volt. They were 40K new, and now, I can find a 3 year old one for near $11K. I want the volt for geek factor alone. The electric silent running. It's fascinating really. You can drive the car like a idiot press button go kinda thing or you can put some thought into it and be slightly creative in how you want it to perform. The issue....... I only have but so much money. This car is no good to me for towing or for hauling my con stuff. There's also the risk that it's temperamental (though honestly many have said it's one of the best cars they have ever had and I believe it) electronics will leave me on the side of the road with absolutely no repair facility nearby to get me back on the road. I would mainly have it for the spirited drives back and forth to work. There's also the benefit that it's upwards of 40 MPG when I'm using the generator (the engine built in) but I could likely get all the way to work on electric alone at maybe about 2 bucks in electricity a charge.
My current car lineup costs anywhere on average, from 120 to 150 a month in gas at a average of 22 mpg for either. The only difference between the two is that the Subaru takes premium gas.
Alternatively or additionally.....
One of the SUVs I was looking at would still be near 10 years old. Something like a Nissan Armada or a Infinity QX65. HUGE Vehicles. 12 mpg city - 19 Hwy. BUT!... I wouldn't drive it as much and they are going for about $13K used. I could deal with the gas prices if I'm only going out of town occasionally and towing equally as much. IT would be a standby vehicle just like the current ford, but far more restrictive on affordability to drive.
Costs!
Well, I have a few more loans that need to be paid off before I really feel comfy diving into car payments again and I also don't think I can handle 2 car payments just so I can get a Volt and a newer SUV. I rationalize I could still dive into getting a Volt, it would damn near pay for itself in gas savings but I would nearly negate that cost savings by the additional taxes and insurance costs I currently have. Hell, I could say I'm buying it and then if I don't like it, I could sell it for the pay off a few years later and call it a long term rental. :)
I'm gonna do something stupid. I'm pretty sure of it. But I don't know yet. I mean.. I'm of an age now that I should have a house (not a mobile home I get ragged for by friends that live in glorified apartments or renting) I should have a wife or "MATE" as some have and KIDS. Fuckmerunning... I don't even have a pet. All I have are these little expensive goals and the friends that keep me working to afford to go see them at cons.
Which brings me to the other outstanding aggravation currently.....
SUITS!
I still have a suit that's owed to me from FarisBatawan https://www.furaffinity.net/user/farisbatwan/ and Media's Critter factory.
I went into FB's cue without prior knowledge of her credibility as a crafter. What was supposed to be done 6 months from the time I gave her the money, turned into a 1.5 years of doing nothing to the original blank she was working on. Then I switched up commission types with her blessing and she sold the completed blank she was going to do my commission on, in less than 2 months. I can't get photos or a reliable status but I can get a constant stream of reassurances that something is being done. Meanwhile ... Nothing.
Media, well I've talked with him and I can't help him with his issues, I believe he'll deliver eventually, but he has had my full payment for a suit in hand for over a year now and I have nothing. I wait patiently but it's hard. For what I gave him, I could have 2 loans paid off in full with some money to spare.
I want a few more suits but I feel almost like ass trying to pay for more suits when I have two out there totaling over $4K that I haven't even seen a swatch of fur for progress from yet. I still enjoy this damn suiting and furry thing. I enjoy performing for the general public. I enjoy this shit!!!! But I can't afford to keep giving people money and not get anything in return.
CARS
So I have 2006 Ford Five Hundred Limited and a 2005 Subaru Outback H6.
The Ford was a replacement to my 1993 Dodge intrepid that I loved. The Ford has a modest 200 HP and only tows 1000 lbs. Now the interior is HUGE. NO lie, it's got more room on paper than a Crown Victoria. It's not a Cadillac ride by any means but I've taken it to MFF several times and that's 14 hours of near non stop driving with no real issues. The Ford's main purpose is interstate travels. So I only have a modest amount of miles on it for it's age. about 130K I guess. It has only a few issues that are actually broken. The Drivers heated seat doesn't heat and it needs a new "dog bone" ... a motor "support" (Not a mount). BUT all this is actually fine and has been for years, with me. The only real concern is that the transmission, I think, has a bit of a imbalance to it at a certain speed and if it's in like a full torque converter lock up and I give it gas at higher speeds it'll exhibit that imballanced feel. It's always been like that. I want to replace this car with a Vehicle that can tow, is in a SUV format so I can keep all my valuable stuff (heat sensitive suits and such) inside and not a truck bed, and is still big enough to not have things crammed to the ceiling when I go to cons. That means something along the lines of a FORD flex, Excursion, or other large format vehicle. YEY! OR no... because that vehicle is so much more expensive. I'll say this more than once, I'm not made of money. SO a used vehicle is the only option for this replacement.
Now the Subaru Outback.
This car, this trim level, was something I have been drooling over for nearly 10 years before I actually got it. I couldn't afford it when I found the ones I wanted. I also knew or anticipated repair costs and being able to have it repaired, so I didn't get one even when I found one in my price range. Finally in 2013, on my way from my second Anthrocon, I stopped at someone's place I saw on craighs list, test drove it, made and offer.... and a month later I had it in my yard. (yea, a month, longer story)
The Roo has been terrific! I've put a radiator, tires, and a drive shaft on it so far in 4 years and treat it like I stole it and it delievers what I expect EVERY time. It's like the perfect combination of my old 79 Monte Carlo and my Dodge Intrepid. I really like that car. I am sold solidly on the brand at this point. The problem with that is they don't offer a large format vehicle and they are super expensive too.
Looking...
Now in addition to looking for a vehicle that can replace the FORD, I've had a few other cars in the back of my mind that I've wanted. Amung those, a Chevy VOLT. You would think for a mid life crisis kinda car I would get some sporty Miata, Fiat, Corvette, ect. Something that says... I'm totally irrelevant and have a tiny dick or something. MEH! I like those things but I wanted the geek factor of the Volt. They were 40K new, and now, I can find a 3 year old one for near $11K. I want the volt for geek factor alone. The electric silent running. It's fascinating really. You can drive the car like a idiot press button go kinda thing or you can put some thought into it and be slightly creative in how you want it to perform. The issue....... I only have but so much money. This car is no good to me for towing or for hauling my con stuff. There's also the risk that it's temperamental (though honestly many have said it's one of the best cars they have ever had and I believe it) electronics will leave me on the side of the road with absolutely no repair facility nearby to get me back on the road. I would mainly have it for the spirited drives back and forth to work. There's also the benefit that it's upwards of 40 MPG when I'm using the generator (the engine built in) but I could likely get all the way to work on electric alone at maybe about 2 bucks in electricity a charge.
My current car lineup costs anywhere on average, from 120 to 150 a month in gas at a average of 22 mpg for either. The only difference between the two is that the Subaru takes premium gas.
Alternatively or additionally.....
One of the SUVs I was looking at would still be near 10 years old. Something like a Nissan Armada or a Infinity QX65. HUGE Vehicles. 12 mpg city - 19 Hwy. BUT!... I wouldn't drive it as much and they are going for about $13K used. I could deal with the gas prices if I'm only going out of town occasionally and towing equally as much. IT would be a standby vehicle just like the current ford, but far more restrictive on affordability to drive.
Costs!
Well, I have a few more loans that need to be paid off before I really feel comfy diving into car payments again and I also don't think I can handle 2 car payments just so I can get a Volt and a newer SUV. I rationalize I could still dive into getting a Volt, it would damn near pay for itself in gas savings but I would nearly negate that cost savings by the additional taxes and insurance costs I currently have. Hell, I could say I'm buying it and then if I don't like it, I could sell it for the pay off a few years later and call it a long term rental. :)
I'm gonna do something stupid. I'm pretty sure of it. But I don't know yet. I mean.. I'm of an age now that I should have a house (not a mobile home I get ragged for by friends that live in glorified apartments or renting) I should have a wife or "MATE" as some have and KIDS. Fuckmerunning... I don't even have a pet. All I have are these little expensive goals and the friends that keep me working to afford to go see them at cons.
Which brings me to the other outstanding aggravation currently.....
SUITS!
I still have a suit that's owed to me from FarisBatawan https://www.furaffinity.net/user/farisbatwan/ and Media's Critter factory.
I went into FB's cue without prior knowledge of her credibility as a crafter. What was supposed to be done 6 months from the time I gave her the money, turned into a 1.5 years of doing nothing to the original blank she was working on. Then I switched up commission types with her blessing and she sold the completed blank she was going to do my commission on, in less than 2 months. I can't get photos or a reliable status but I can get a constant stream of reassurances that something is being done. Meanwhile ... Nothing.
Media, well I've talked with him and I can't help him with his issues, I believe he'll deliver eventually, but he has had my full payment for a suit in hand for over a year now and I have nothing. I wait patiently but it's hard. For what I gave him, I could have 2 loans paid off in full with some money to spare.
I want a few more suits but I feel almost like ass trying to pay for more suits when I have two out there totaling over $4K that I haven't even seen a swatch of fur for progress from yet. I still enjoy this damn suiting and furry thing. I enjoy performing for the general public. I enjoy this shit!!!! But I can't afford to keep giving people money and not get anything in return.