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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 The right path / what do you do for living so you can afford luxury car |
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04-06-2014, 09:25 PM | #24 | |
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I suspect that many people on this board are actually enthusiasts. They're here to talk about technology, handling, and performance of their vehicle... not whether it makes them feel special. I enjoy getting in my car and driving - for hours. I could care less if there was a single soul on the road who ever saw me in it. Empty roads are preferred, in fact. I was to feel the silky smooth acceleration as I depress the accelerator. I want to feel the suspension envelope imperfections in the road. I want to feel the fine craftsmanship and materials under my fingers in the cabin. I enjoy every aspect of this car - and each of the previous BMWs I've owned. For me, there's no substitute. A Nissan as a better value? Sure. If you're buying a car to get you from point A to B, I may agree with you. But if you're buying a car to enjoy DRIVING and experience the finest that automotive technology can afford you? Then a Nissan won't do. So please don't come here and judge what it is that you THINK drives people to buy a BMW. While I'm sure there are plenty of status seekers who buy them for the badge on the hood, there are many, many, MANY true enthusiasts (many on this forum - myself included) who buy them to experience them.
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04-07-2014, 06:36 AM | #25 | |
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04-07-2014, 08:02 PM | #28 |
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I am a Regional Sales rep for an Investment Management Co. I would say if you can sell something and you are very good at it you will own an F 10 in no time. If you find a company that will reimburse your mileage then it will be gravy on top of all that $ you will be making.
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04-07-2014, 09:07 PM | #29 | |
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The Joy of driving, The Ultimate Driving Experience are real statements. My E46 has over 300k miles on it and still going. Let my friends drive it and they freak out how smooth and fun it still feels on the original engine. Now the proud owner of a 2011 550i. I have loved and been driving BMW's for over 25 years not because they are status symbols but because they are the benchmark. Next time you go in to a Honda/Acura, Nissan/Infinity, or Toyota/Lexus dealer ask them why they compare their cars to BMWs???? Just my 2 cents.... |
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04-07-2014, 11:11 PM | #30 |
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I agree with all that are in a BMW for what the car truly is "the ultimate driving machine." I absolutely love driving my 550, but also enjoy driving my simple 2 door Jeep Wrangler. Both are fun to drive and neither make me feel that I'm in a different status, though they are completely different vehicles.
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04-08-2014, 07:35 PM | #31 | |
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04-08-2014, 08:32 PM | #32 |
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Director level position in the IT industry. Wasn't my "what I want to do when I grow up career" and I still have no clue what I see myself doing in 5 years, but I give my 110% every day at everything I do.... Always have.
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04-09-2014, 02:18 PM | #33 | |
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how about family, kids?
Do you have a family? Kids?
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04-09-2014, 02:52 PM | #34 |
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Yes - I do. And there's nothing else in the world like a family!
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04-09-2014, 04:20 PM | #35 | |
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1) find a job/career/profession because you like it, not because you want to make money. 2) don't ask for career advice on a car forum. |
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04-09-2014, 07:01 PM | #36 | |
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OP prepare to work hard and NEVER be satisfied at your current position, always want more.. I'm telling you from experience.. I came to this country in my 20s with $5US in my pocket. Doesn't matter what job you do, as long you are honest and try to be better what you do than your peers, it will be recognize and be fruitful..
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04-09-2014, 08:48 PM | #37 | |
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I think it's particularly important that you called out being honest. There are plenty of crooks and dishonest people who end up with a lot of money in their pocket (until their luck changes, at least)... but there's nothing quite like making an honest living and doing something extremely well in life. Nothing will provide you with the same satisfaction in life or sense of accomplishment. I love hearing these stories - they need to plastered on the news at night, and our children in this country need to see it highlighted. Too many people have a "woe is me" attitude and a sense of entitlement. If you listen to our president you'd think the "game is rigged" and nobody can get a fair shake or opportunity any longer. Most of the wealthy people I know are self-made, and their attitude embodies the same sentiments as this poster - do something you love, do it honestly, and always strive to be the best... it'll get you where you need to go.
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04-10-2014, 11:18 PM | #38 |
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04-12-2014, 08:12 AM | #39 | |
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Everything you have written is SPOT on. As for the 'status symbol ' comment from the other guy... Clearly he is not an enthusiast... As you pointed out. Some people lack the ability to have PASSION for something. So they lack the understanding of what you described above in the way you enjoy your vehicle. As for the OP's question.... HARD WORK is critical. The advice given by ezmaass is spot on. But I would add one overarching theme... HARD WORK! Especially in your younger years... Then as you get in your later years, hopefully you can swing the pendulum more to SMART work and start to take more time for yourself. Because as pointed out, you WILL need to sacrifice. My wife right now is on a vacation with a girlfriend of hers. I couldn't go due to work obligations. Fortunately, my wife understands as she has a demanding career as well. We don't eat dinner together during the week. We don't have kids (yet...she's 30) But we make time EVERY weekend to spend with family and friends and have our own date night. In the end, work hard... Educate yourself... Be positive more often, learn how to sacrifice as needed, have a general goal of where or who you want to be when you grow up and work towards it.
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04-22-2014, 12:37 PM | #40 | |
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I wish you all the best in your professional life and I hope one day you will be able to make your automotive dreams come true. Just keep in mind that a lion share of the posts on this forum (F10) come from US where cars are dirt cheap compared to the rest of the world. To put things in perspective for you, a lease on a 528xi can run you ~$500 a month with 3k down. A kid straight out of collage with a decent IT degree can easily start off with 60k. So basically what I am saying is that in US a car is by no means a measure of success (unless you have some NEW exotic ride, and “NEW” is a key word here, not a 12 year old 911). That is most definitely not the case in Slovakia, Poland, Germany, UK…..or any European country for that matter. Advices you got here are of course valid, but living in US is just easy and affordable. The buying power of a dollar inside the US makes it the best place to live ! **Disclaimer** I am not trying to steal anyone’s thunder here. It’s cool we all work hard and have nice rides, but OP needs to know how easy it is to have a new luxury car in US. Folks from Europe have to work double that hard regardless the recipe.
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04-22-2014, 03:15 PM | #41 | |
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Yes, these cars are cheaper compared to European countries here, but the average American certainly can't afford them. The average family has a household income of just $55k... barely enough to cover a mortgage and expenses on the average US home (~$200k). There's not money in the budget for a 5-series lease or finance, no less cash purchase. In my neck of the woods (NY metro area), houses routinely run $800k - $1.2M for the "average" family home - equivalent to a $200k in the mid-west somewhere. Many families here are making $200k and still can't afford a BMW. Then you have those people who just stretch themselves and use any amount of credit they're given. You have guys making $75k a year and financing or leasing $75k cars! Insanity. Add to it, when you look at their personal finances, they have credit cards with balances, other loans, mortgage/rent, and next to nothing being saved for retirement. So, they're driving a BMW... but can they actually AFFORD it? No. I was one of those young guys in computer science who got out of college and straight into a great job. Even when I was single, 25, and making six figures, I still didn't think I could "afford" a 5-series... not if I wanted to save for a house, marriage, retirement, and a slew of other obligations that I saw as more important than my car. Could I have gone out and bought one? Sure. The bank would have been more than happy - I had a great income, perfect credit, and the ability to pay for a lease or loan... what else could they have asked for? But it would have meant that I couldn't do things like max-out a 401k or save up a bigger house down-payment (which avoids interest on a loan, etc). I'd suggest it's probably the upper 10% - 15% of the US population who could, if they wanted, find a way to buy a new one. I'd then suggest it's probably more like the upper 3 - 4% who could truly AFFORD them in the sense that their net worth is substantial, other financial obligations are satisfied, they could buy it in cash, and they're not stretching themselves to do it.
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04-22-2014, 04:46 PM | #42 | |
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It's pretty hard to determine anyone's level of success by reading what they write on a forum. As far as the whole status thing goes, I'm sure no one here gives a care in the world about people looking over at them when they are behind the wheel of their BMW, rather they get pleasure from the "drive" only. But BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Audi, etc. all know that European sport sedans and cars have long been the badge of "success" in North America, Russia and more recently India, China, etc. In the 50 and 60's it was Cadillac. But in more recent years GM has struggled to keep up with the image of the European imports, even through they may go faster and corner harder than a BMW. I like BMW's because I like the drive, the look and especially the engineering. I can't deny I like the roundel on the hood (at least a bit). If not, I could get a similar drive for less money in an American brand. There are lots of cars that drive exceptionally well, but given a choice between a GTR and a 911, most would pick the 911. The same goes for the Boxster vs the Corvette. The American car guys say the Corvette does everything better than a Porsche and for less money, but for some reason Porsche seems to sell allot of Boxsters. Maybe the marque has something to do with things after all.
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04-22-2014, 06:13 PM | #43 | |
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Many young folks coming out of college want instant gratification and there’s nothing wrong with it. They will have a whole life to save for their 401k and big houses. What’s available to them in USA is a 36 month BMW lease program and that’s something within their reach. It doesn’t matter it’s a lease (which in my opinion is the best way to waste money on a rapidly deprecating luxury asset), it still puts them behind the wheel of their dream car. And if you’re a lucky 25 year old pushing six figures than you can most definitely drive a new bimmer. I personally would not have waited until I am 45 to finally be able to finance a 5 series which I could have otherwise leased for half of that monthly payment at the age of 25. If it’s available for me and I can handle monthly payments, I want it now. In Europe you have to be at the peak of your career or at least very well established in order to drive a 5 Series. The bank won’t even consider you (lease or otherwise).
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09-05-2022, 05:49 AM | #44 |
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Check back after 8 years
Hello ezmaass and everyone replying
First of all I want to apologize for not responding, even though I appreciate your well-intended replies. Ezmasass you put your heart into it, helping not only me but a lot of other young aspirants, judging by the reach of this post,. Thank you for putting such a valuable advice together, it means so much, it could be book of its own if we dive deep into what you have written in between lines In fact I have hanged your reply on the wall Years have passed, more than 8 to be precise. I can say for myself I have been diligent on my pursue of happiness in honor of not only your advice, I have been promoted several times and pivoted my career multiple times, sacrificing personal time and the sweetness of present moment in favor for the future brought me fruits. Now I'm leading my peers, turning hard work into smart work, I'm getting more into present moment, but the stress and courage to learn new things and put my skin in the game is still plentiful. At this point I can say the urge to own F10 or similar car has been so suppressed, it has been de-ranked from need to want to nice-to-have. Currently enjoying doing well in terms of career and having to catch the train on social life and family (unfortunately no wife yet). The luxuries are not even on the rails currently, even though I could afford them, current times of inflation brings another meaning of the mentioned AFFORDABILITY, so it is the time that will tell us the true value of money. Until then, focusing on what is important, like being healthy, truly happy and leading a life towards a meaning. I am also interested in how your life has changed along the way guys and although we dont know each other more than from these few posts, I will gladly check back with you again in 8 years. At least for me, this is an amazing point to retrospect on. Enjoy life |
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