Comments on: Cars and radiation … http://7million7years.com/2009/11/30/cars-and-radiation/ How to make 7 million in 7 years ... Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:33:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The ‘No Lease’ car lease …- 7million7years http://7million7years.com/2009/11/30/cars-and-radiation/comment-page-1/#comment-14673 The ‘No Lease’ car lease …- 7million7years Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:11:52 +0000 http://7million7years.com/?p=3591#comment-14673 [...] used – but much better – make and/or model of vehicle. Because I’ve found that cars – just like radiation – have a half-life (but, different for each brand of vehicles) and some depreciate 20% as soon as you drive them off [...] [...] used – but much better – make and/or model of vehicle. Because I’ve found that cars – just like radiation – have a half-life (but, different for each brand of vehicles) and some depreciate 20% as soon as you drive them off [...]

]]> By: Carl http://7million7years.com/2009/11/30/cars-and-radiation/comment-page-1/#comment-4123 Carl Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:59:12 +0000 http://7million7years.com/?p=3591#comment-4123 @Ill Liquidity, I think the sweetspot is when the car is OLD. Cars get to a point where, as long as they are operable, don't really depreciate anymore. And if you get a beater car, then you don't have much maintenance because you just drive it into the ground. For example, I bought a 1992 Saturn SL2 for $1000 in August or 2009. I spent about $150 in maintenance (including new turn signal flasher, battery and oil changes). The thing finally gave up the ghost in October. Insurance was about $350 a year. So, the car cost $107 a month to operate, exclusive of gasoline. I defy you to find a cheaper alternative. Even if the car died in 10 weeks, it still wouldn't have been too much of a loss. One other thing... I don't agree with the old lady car thing. Old lady cars often spend a lot of time sitting in their garages. When I car sits, the oil all falls into the pan, condensation seems into the piston rings and the car slowly eats itself. A car is happiest when it is driving regularly (but not too much), and primarily on the freeway. @Ill Liquidity,

I think the sweetspot is when the car is OLD. Cars get to a point where, as long as they are operable, don’t really depreciate anymore. And if you get a beater car, then you don’t have much maintenance because you just drive it into the ground. For example, I bought a 1992 Saturn SL2 for $1000 in August or 2009. I spent about $150 in maintenance (including new turn signal flasher, battery and oil changes). The thing finally gave up the ghost in October. Insurance was about $350 a year. So, the car cost $107 a month to operate, exclusive of gasoline. I defy you to find a cheaper alternative. Even if the car died in 10 weeks, it still wouldn’t have been too much of a loss.

One other thing… I don’t agree with the old lady car thing. Old lady cars often spend a lot of time sitting in their garages. When I car sits, the oil all falls into the pan, condensation seems into the piston rings and the car slowly eats itself. A car is happiest when it is driving regularly (but not too much), and primarily on the freeway.

]]> By: Be rich? Or, appear rich?- 7million7years http://7million7years.com/2009/11/30/cars-and-radiation/comment-page-1/#comment-4059 Be rich? Or, appear rich?- 7million7years Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:14:26 +0000 http://7million7years.com/?p=3591#comment-4059 [...] buying new Australian or Japanese cars (hence riding the depreciation roller-coaster to the tune of 15% to 30% per year), I bought a ten year old 911 [...] [...] buying new Australian or Japanese cars (hence riding the depreciation roller-coaster to the tune of 15% to 30% per year), I bought a ten year old 911 [...]

]]> By: How much interest do you earn on one million dollars?- 7million7years http://7million7years.com/2009/11/30/cars-and-radiation/comment-page-1/#comment-4051 How much interest do you earn on one million dollars?- 7million7years Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:26:29 +0000 http://7million7years.com/?p=3591#comment-4051 [...] 3. Why buying a new car is such a losing proposition, then click here. [...] [...] 3. Why buying a new car is such a losing proposition, then click here. [...]

]]> By: Adrian http://7million7years.com/2009/11/30/cars-and-radiation/comment-page-1/#comment-4013 Adrian Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:53:20 +0000 http://7million7years.com/?p=3591#comment-4013 @ Brandon - exactly why I usually purchase used ... although, I may occasionally purchase new .... at least I KNOW that I'm throwing money that I can easily afford out of the window ;) @ Ill Liquidity - I see an idea for a web-site in there somewhere ... yet another way to may that $7m7y that you are after :) @ Brandon – exactly why I usually purchase used … although, I may occasionally purchase new …. at least I KNOW that I’m throwing money that I can easily afford out of the window ;)

@ Ill Liquidity – I see an idea for a web-site in there somewhere … yet another way to may that $7m7y that you are after :)

]]> By: Ill Liquidity http://7million7years.com/2009/11/30/cars-and-radiation/comment-page-1/#comment-4011 Ill Liquidity Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:42:54 +0000 http://7million7years.com/?p=3591#comment-4011 Interesting. At first it seems easy enough to compare car dollar value worth to a radioactive decay curve. Except there are other factors. For example, rad decay will progress at a constant rate until the last isotopic atom has decayed to its next transition state, but the decline in the value of a car is expedited by the increase in maintenance costs associated, until the car isn't driven anymore, at which point the value fluctuates with the raw commodity prices of the manufactured components, or the chick appeal of having a rusting camero on your front lawn. Thus there is a sweet spot where both the purchase price and the maintenance costs are minimized. The confounding factor becomes the non-uniformity of vehicle manufacture and driver practice, which make the best economic purchase point more difficult to calculate. E.g. an old, old woman driven car is probably the best purchase. But... it's hard to get the old lady pee smell out of a car (trust me), and oldsmobiles aren't as cool as they once were. An old mid 20's male driven car civic or subaru will be associated with high maintenance. And a new car means high cost depreciation. So how old / how new? And do track tires really make a difference? These questions and more! Interesting. At first it seems easy enough to compare car dollar value worth to a radioactive decay curve. Except there are other factors. For example, rad decay will progress at a constant rate until the last isotopic atom has decayed to its next transition state, but the decline in the value of a car is expedited by the increase in maintenance costs associated, until the car isn’t driven anymore, at which point the value fluctuates with the raw commodity prices of the manufactured components, or the chick appeal of having a rusting camero on your front lawn. Thus there is a sweet spot where both the purchase price and the maintenance costs are minimized. The confounding factor becomes the non-uniformity of vehicle manufacture and driver practice, which make the best economic purchase point more difficult to calculate. E.g. an old, old woman driven car is probably the best purchase. But… it’s hard to get the old lady pee smell out of a car (trust me), and oldsmobiles aren’t as cool as they once were. An old mid 20′s male driven car civic or subaru will be associated with high maintenance. And a new car means high cost depreciation. So how old / how new? And do track tires really make a difference? These questions and more!

]]> By: Brandon http://7million7years.com/2009/11/30/cars-and-radiation/comment-page-1/#comment-4009 Brandon Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:27:49 +0000 http://7million7years.com/?p=3591#comment-4009 Well this makes me feel good about my purchase! I decided to buy a used luxury car instead of a new car for the same price. It was well maintained, low miles, etc. Beyond just driving a nicer car all of the time, my justification was in the numbers. My car was a 3 year old Acura. I looked at 6 and 7 year old Acura's and they still sold for over $10k. I paid $17k and will keep it for 3-4 years. Much lower cost of ownership! Well this makes me feel good about my purchase! I decided to buy a used luxury car instead of a new car for the same price. It was well maintained, low miles, etc. Beyond just driving a nicer car all of the time, my justification was in the numbers. My car was a 3 year old Acura. I looked at 6 and 7 year old Acura’s and they still sold for over $10k. I paid $17k and will keep it for 3-4 years. Much lower cost of ownership!

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