It's not what you make, it's what you keep. A good accountant usually pays for him/herself many times over.

 

When I was 16 (1975) I bought a 1966 MGB and completely restored it. It was a great looking car and sometimes I got the same comments ...to which I would reply that I had been cutting lawns, raking leaves, painting fences, walking dogs, cleaning gutters, you name it, since I was 10 years old! I worked my *** off for that car.

I must admit, when explaining this to folks I was rather indignant as their presumptions really set me off.

And since when are MINIs a rich man's car? Accords and Camrys cost more. Heck, one of the most attractive things about the MINI is the price tag.

 

18 year old college student here, it seems I have the same problem as the majority of you. everyone wants to know how i afforded my new 08 MCS. they assume my parents are loaded and bought it for me, its quite the opposite. but we all know what assuming makes you.

 

This is really one of the silliest threads I have read on NAM. I love my Mini, and will always love them. But come one, they are inexpensive and pretty easy to obtain. I would consider a $100k porsche or a loaded M3 an expensive luxury sports car, not my mini by any means.

 

Iam 18 also. Bought my '06 Cooper with cash with my hard earned money that I have been saving forever. I am in college now, so I am glad I have an efficient car that also turns some heads. What could be better?

 

Wow, glad to hear it and thats not typical american attitude. Good for you! However that is pretty interesting to spend such a large % of networth on a depreciating asset. Paying cash for your car is great, never done anything but pay cash. However I would advice in the future possibly waiting until that sum of cash is a small percentage of saved $...

 

I agree!!!

 

Easy to obtain? Not so much for someone my age and where I've come from. I've had to work VERY hard to get to a point where I can be so proud to say that I custom ordered a Mini Cooper that I paid for completely with my own earned money.

 

Early thirties with no kids, no hubby and aside from a mortgage NO credit debt with an "average" education(BBA) and a home based ecommerce business but don't consider myself well off by any means.

 

By no means did I completely level my bank account. I made sure to never get myself into a situation like that. There was plenty left over plus I am always working on the side. My momma didn't raise no dummy!

 

Ravenofskys, I think you have your priorities very well-organized. Your comments have been a pleasure to read. If I wasn't 25-30 years older and happily-married, I would be in love with you

 

I'm almost 30 (ughhhh), and I just ditched a 2004 Honda Civic in May to buy Marissa. She's second-hand (I bought her from a friend) and I have $13,000 to pay off to Citibank before she's *actually* mine.

I live in the Oakland area, and my salary is on the low end for my field (Webmaster/Designer). I bought the Honda right after I graduated from college (English major, holla!) and I just felt like it was time to get a grown-up car. I hated seeing other Civics on the road that were lowered (which the ex-fiancee did to mine) with lame spoilers (Really? You need downforce on a Civic?) and exhausts. When my friend put hers up for sale, I jumped at the chance to buy it -- especially since I was basically buying her out of her lease.

Coincidentally, I'm typing this on my 20" iMac.

 

Yay, English majors!!

 

Ha! I just took out all of my piercings (except the traigus. That little bugger hurt more than anything I've ever experienced... and I've had dental reconstruction!) and stopped dyeing my hair in jewel tones (I've opted for a very "natural" bleached blonde). Though I just did get my only normally visible tattoo for my birthday this summer. Marissa turned me into an adult, quite by accident, I think.

 

Think the tragus hurt...try getting a nipple or two pierced.

 

Oh, I'm way more xhardxcorex than that. My last tat is behind my right ear.

 

I got my second pierced a few weeks ago. Oh, and my latest tattoo...hip to ankle. Wraps all the way around my leg...and the inner thigh HURTS with those needles!!!

Oh, right...are MINI owners well-off...my bad. I guess if I had saved the money from my tattoo...nope, that wouldn't have helped much.

 

 

Very cool! I am keeping mine for now. My hair is blond and black right now.

 

if i'd ever finish residency i guess i might be well off, but in the meantime, i'm drenched in academic debt (undrgrad, grad and med school all financed plus cost of living) and in my 30's. do a great job of living way beyond my means and went an unusual direction to end up with the mini (and i love it and will hopefully keep it - no matter how many other german sportcars i eventually buy) -

1st 2 yrs of med school - rode a custom/modified cbr600F4
Nxt 1.5 yrs - overly modified VW NB (not a turbo, but still fun with all the mods)
Last 4 months of med school - bought a brand new porsche 987 (borrowed xtra loan $$$$ -- got a great deal on the car, bad decision overall - live in learn)
1st yr residency - traded boxster in after 4 months (that was a sad day - weird vibration problem never fixed by porsche -prob why i got such a great deal - plus xwife constantly complained about the car!!!) - leased 2005 bmw 330ci zhp - bitchin car - definitely living like an attending!
2nd yr of residency - ooooh divorce!!!! bimmer too much $$$$ - yay! 2005 AC Schnitzer MCS to take it's place- smile every day like i smiled driving the boxster - but atleast now i feel like i'm driving the appropriate car - i felt a lil too cocky driving the boxster (since i was still in med school at the time).

mini seems to appeal to a wide range - i see other drivers of all ages, both male and female. some who buy the car to drive and/or modify to the limit, others who just drive it because it's unique or fuel efficient. it would help if i was an attending tho cuz then i could crazy with the rest of the mods i'd like to do!!!!!

 

oh and since there's discussion of piercings/tattoos - i'm not quite the typical doctor - i have tattoos (sometimes have to wear long sleeves since i'm at a conservative hospital/training program) and both ears pierced (but haven't worn piercings for a few years now). more tattoos to come - oh the dilemma - spend what lil money i have on tattoos or mini mods (or yeah, food, bills, textbooks, blah blah blah)

 

I'm 21, still in school. Bought my 04 MCS used, paying it off myself. Not well off. Just lucky my parents provide a roof over my head.

 

YIKES!

 

Awesome.

Then you might like this page -- http://inkedinc.com/. I'll likely eventually be in higher education, and I plan on getting more. Tats over MINI mods for a while for me...

 

Do you own or rent? I was getting raped on taxes before I bought my house in SoCal. Now I can deduct all kinds of ***** from my income - and my mortgage is just a little more than I would be paying in rent, plus I don't have to share a wall or abide by a landlord's rules.

That being said, our President-Elect may very well eliminate many of those write-offs so consider the options and drive your MINI with a smile!