Five Pointless Cars

June 26, 2009

          Here are the five cars that I find most useless and overpriced. Now I am sure they have their fans, and in some situations are pretty handy to have around, but in my everyday experiences I think for most people to own one is a waste of money.

 

5. Hummer

MPG:13/16 Price: $50,000 Passengers: A bakers dozen

 

            Too big! I like the idea, and the styling but it is just not utilized by 99% of people out there. Like most of the cars on this list it’s a “statement” vehicle. You want people to look at you and know you’re big, bad, and powerful. Plus it goes with your extensive collection of UFC graphic T’s.

 

4. Smart!

MPG: 33/41 Price: $15,000 Passengers: 1.5?

 smart

            Too Small! How is this car practical for anything? I would rather buy a scooter for 1/4 the price with probably better acceleration. Not to mention that I have heard horrible things about its actual fuel economy, transmission, and ability to merge into the interstate. The smart boast the slowest 0-60 MPH time of any car in production today.

 

 

3. Tesla Roadsters

MPG: Unlimited Price: $100,000 Passengers:2

 tesla

            This car is pretty slick; it is essentially a super car in the electric version. The problem is that it has no trunk and no range. Sure it’s fast, but other then taking it out on Saturday nights it has no functionality. I mean they get points for trying something new, but the only people that want to buy it seam to be the activist Hollywood types. This car gets bonus points on this list because the founders have made a habit of lobbing lawsuits at each other.

 

 

2. Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

 MPG 20/21 Price $70,000 Passengers: 8

 

            It’s like putting lipstick on a pig…. I don’t even know why they made the hybrid version of this. The original Escalade is pretty expensive, but very nice and a lot of people like that even if it is just a “smaller” nicer hummer. Spending another 10k for  a measly 5 MPG improvement is pretty pointless.

 

 

1. Jeep Wrangler

 MPG 15/19 Price $22.000 Passengers: 3

 jeep

            “It’s a jeep thing, you wouldn’t understand” Understand what? Your horrible gas mileage in your tiny car that is good for rolling over and does not have a real roof!? I guess then maybe I don’t. Yes jeeps are great for off-roading. As we have learned from the 100 million SUV’s on the road with four wheel drive no one goes off-roading! So basically your buying a car whose primary purpose is to drive on unpaved roads, and yet you will spend 99% of your time on paved roads where your car is out of its element. But oh yeah you drive a Jeep, so you get to wave at other jeeps as the drive by, lucky you….

1 Comment | Cars | Permalink
Posted by fubar1383

The Poor House

June 16, 2009

 

the poor house

 

Population: JonBon

 

 

            I used to be rich, I used to be the guy with money. I used to be the person who took vacations and maxed out their Roth IRA.  I used to live in a vault like Scrouge McDuck and swim around in all my money.

 

But I moved.

 

I moved into the poor house, with most of my fellow Americans. Now you have to understand my definition of poor, and an economists definition of poor are very different. My net worth is still probably very high for my age, and technically I am doing great. I am just way less liquid then I used to be.

 

            I have accumulated a crazy about of debt in the past 3 months or so. Now most of this is good debt, but its still debt, and I hate debt!!

 

            House:

better shack

 I purchased a home with 10% down. So I have six figures of mortgage debt that I now have to pay back for 30 years at 5.45 percent.  It is a huge adjustment to have tens of thousands sitting in the bank, to tens of thousands sitting in a house. It makes the dollars a little harder to get too. I will get the $8,000 first time home buyers credit, and I will get a place to live, but it’s still hard to go from owing money to no one, to owing the bank well over $100,000! The reason that this debt is good, is becuase it went to purchase an asset that in theory can be sold for more then I paid.

 

            Appliances:

fridge

I spent around two grand on some pretty solid stainless steel appliances. I am happy with what I have; they look nice, and work well. These I financed over a year with 0% interest. I did this before with my enormous TV. It’s a way to keep your cash, and pay for them over time. Just a warning, do not miss a single payment, and never be late. The banks that make these uncollateralized loans (GE Money) are not very nice people. The 0% you get it just a teaser, most people do not pay them off in time, and get hit with huge penalties and interest.

 

            Jewelry:

quartz

I recently got engaged and financed an expensive diamond, as well as purchased a ring to put it in. I probably spent a lot more then I needed too, and got a diamond that is of much higher quality then most. She would have been happier with less, but its what I wanted her to have. I financed the ring with a zero percent interest for 12 months Chase credit card. Again a warning to you, this is a really stupid way to buy things unless you know that you can make the payments.

2 Comments | Assets, Liabilities, Real Estate | Permalink
Posted by fubar1383