maybe he smartened up... working at 2 jobs and don't have time to post.
but most likely not, LOL.

 

MINI For Life,

This is a little long so please be patient. I think having this car repo'd is the best thing that could have happened to you, squeaking by and living for a car is not the way to go through life. You didn't really say if you were in college or not, but if you are not, you need to be. In these tough economic times, which will not get better in the near future, your future prospects are cut in half without a degree. Take that 480/month payment, save it and get into a school persuing something you like. If you can't afford to do that, then the others are right. Join the service for 4 years. Grow up and go to school. The thirty thousand dollar investment you will make on an education instead of a car will take you much further than a car ever could. A car can take you down the street to the club. an education will take you to your dreams. [Yes, that was cheesy] If you must have a car, buy a ten year old Honda Civic. Yes, the 'cool factor'is not there. but is is also not cool to be thirty-five and working in a deadend job driving a Dodge Neon. The real world is tough and sometime these kind of decision are difficult.

Now why would I be so bold to hand out advice so freely and unsolicited? Because I already went down the path the I fear you are heading in. I was 18, bought a new Fiat Spider, lived at home with my folks and spent nearly every thing I made on my car and insurance. And I ignored my future. Fast forward 18 years. I had worked my way up to a district supervisor with McDonald's making 'ok' money but nothing compared to my freinds but i was comfortable. The Fiat was long gone. Although not completely happy, I was ok with the status quo and intended to retire in McD's. Then my world collapsed. I was fired and had no income and a new baby on the way. I swallowed my pride took multiple , low-paying jobs and went back to school in an accelerated program and got my Associates, and later BS, in computer Science. Twelve years later, I drive a new MINI, have a very nice house and a pretty good retirement set aside.

Bottom line, a car is fleeting, and education is a lifetime. Forget the MINI [and the expensive toys like GPS and iPhone etc. that you mentioned you had. Sell them!!] and go back to school. I think you dad was right in not forking over the money to save the car. I know this is not what you WANTED to hear on this forum, but it is wht you NEEDED to hear. I think those who are in my 45-50 age bracket would all agree so heed our warnings. Please. We would rather see you as a successfull man than a boy with a nice car.

[Callahan steps off his soapbox]

 

1+ (a life lesson learned)

http://www.steve-olson.com/a-simple-...-of-education/

Take a look at your finances before committing to a car payment-
http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/105396/Five-Signs-That-You're-Living-Beyond-Your-Means

 

My thoughts exactly. Priorities!!

 

i don't think he likes us.

 

Same here, but retired after 22 years (that was almost 5 years ago).

 

Truth hurts.

 

Maybe we were supposed to start a collection to get his MINI back for him

 

I've been retired from the Air Force for 7 years now. So we entered pretty close to the same time.

Nice to have served with you.

 

Same here. I spent most of my career at Scott AFB.

 

I also think he thought he'd get a large dose of commiseration from the board, instead he learned a hard lesson - life is tough, and you have to work to get (and keep) the things you want and need.

I also say good for the parents for not bailing him out on this, but co-signing for the car was a major mistake for them, they're on the hook for this financially - whatever the car doesn't bring at resell will be on them - I hope they hand it right off in the form of a promisory note to the OP, but I also wonder what the legal age is for a contract in his state - if 21, they're toast on this deal.

At any rate, hope the OP has learned something from this, but I doubt it....

 

I hope you don't have kids...your priorities are not right...Maybe you should go to the military to get some discipline and structure...like some of us did.

U.S. Navy, Retired, 20 years
Retired 6 years ago

 

We've already started one on this thread!
Just look at all the .02 cents we've collected for him so far!

 

My assignments were Wichita, KS; Sembach, Germany; Blytheville, AR; Misawa, Japan; Oklahoma City, OK; Ramstein, Germany; Guam; and back to Wichita, KS.

Lots of TDYs during my career, too... but none to Scott AFB.

 

I was at Ramstein from 1988 to 1992.

 

I don't think the dad co-signed. If he did, he would have at least prevented the car from being repoed, sold it and paid off the loan. From what the kid was saying about his dad, I don't think daddy would risk his credit rating.

 

Half the crap on the car...could've been used as car payments to keep him afloat...FMIC over $600 ($480 car payment)...two other mods ($480 car payment)...

 

1996-1999, for me.

And Sembach from 1983-1986. Our paths just missed crossing.

 

I was at Chanute AFB in 1990 and at Keesler AFB in 1995...

 

Unfortunatually the Military is not the last hope that lots of people think it is. With the security and background requirements in place many young people find themselves no longer qualified. Not to mention police and civil matters and with the reposession I would assume he would have some pressing legal matters. However Miniforlife is very very quiet. I think he expected sympothy from the group.

AVCM
27 years and still serving US Navy

 

If he had to be at least 60 days behind on payment for the bank to repo it, thats 60 days he had to find a job or sell the car, wow.

 

No sympathy here. You want fries with that?

 

Many people want three letter words such as day off, fun and don't want to do the four letter words that go with it such as WORK!!

 

Or sell the Garmin, iPhone, Xbox 360 and all of it's games, or Wii.
Oh look, I just found a payment!

 

Being reactive versus proactive. Wait for them to take the car then complain vs contacting the back and asking for assistance, or opening the newspaper and getting shoe leather looking for employment.