I’ve seen all sorts of different takes on buying a car. Most of them are not great.
90% of the time it’s either “You don’t need a car, just use Uber or get a motorbike” or it’s “Buy the best car you can afford because it’s going to last you years”.
I’ve seen this both online and with clients of my tax/law consulting firm. Most people are at either end of the spectrum.
Why the “You don’t need a car” group is wrong
They typically form two camps – one says you should use motorbikes to avoid traffic, and the other says you should use Uber or some form of public transport.
I don’t recommend two-wheelers at all simply because they put your life at great risk.
Whether it’s you crashing into something or something crashing into you, the end result is that you get hurt, sometimes enough to cause life changing permanent damage or outright kill you.
For the guys that say “just use Uber or public transport”, all I can say is that you are either gullible or just lack practical sense (environment activist types).
Often these guys think that not owning a car is some kind of status symbol and they couldn’t be more wrong.
If you do not own a car, you are putting yourself at the mercy of public transport and corporations like Uber. A man must own his own source of transportation.
Just apply common sense. If you have some kind of emergency and Uber or public transport is not available, what do you do now?
Having your own car is far superior to using public transport. You can use it on a whim at your convenience. You don’t have to wait for an Uber to arrive.
Relying on public transport is for peasants. If you are broke and you cannot afford a car, fine. I understand your situation.
Hopefully you’re doing something to resolve it soon. If not, you’re a loser – plain and simple.
I will repeat: A man must own his own source of transportation.
The Big Mistake Most Car Buyers Make
The biggest mistake I see people make when buying a car is getting one they can barely afford.
I see it all the time with friends and clients. Sometimes they will even get a loan to buy a car.
What ends up happening is that they end up becoming slaves to their cars and the bank that gave them the loan.
Instead of using the car for fun, they end up stressing about protecting the car from damage. A scratch here and there hurts them because the car is so damn expensive (relative to their income) and it will cost time and some good money to fix it.
Instead of enjoying their car they have to now worry about their car and make sure they avoid the slightest dent and scratch.
In other words, the car becomes a white elephant of sorts.
You are afraid to eat in it. You are afraid to take it out in rough terrain because it will cause the car damage. You dread the day something goes wrong with the engine because the repair costs will put a hole in your wallet.
And in return for all of this, you pay the bank a nice amount of money each month for years and years.
It is a real dumb decision. Just because you wanted to show off to your friends and society that you can afford this car.
Take my advice: Buy a car you can easily afford.
What I mean by this is that the car should be at a price point where if it gets scratched or damaged, you should feel close to zero pain.
If you have to “be careful” with it, you can’t afford it.
And you certainly can’t enjoy it.
I own multiple cars that I bought in cash. No loans or EMIs or other bullshit.
Well technically my company owns them but that’s a technicality for tax reasons.
When I want to go on an out-of-the-city adventure, I always end up taking my cheap car (that has 4×4).
I always pick the cheap car because I don’t give a shit if it gets scratched or some minor dents here and there.
So I ironically end up enjoying this cheap car way more than any expensive vehicle. I paid the least for it and I end up getting the most adventure from it.
Take my word for it: If you buy an expensive car, you will keep it at home most of the time. You will only use it on city roads because you will want to keep it safe.
You will not be taking it out to jungles and rocky mountains where it will easily get scratched up. I guarantee it.
You will end up getting more out of a car you can easily afford than a car you can barely afford.
Even if the show off factor isn’t there (quite frankly the need to show off their material possessions is something reserved for the insecure losers of the world).
The same logic applies to most consumer purchases
Let’s say you buy a watch. Buy one that you can easily afford.
If you buy an expensive watch (which is of course relative to your income level) you will barely end up using the watch.
When you do wear it, you will be worried about accidentally banging it on the table, scratching it on a wall, or having it stolen. That’s far more of a pain than what wearing that watch is worth.
With something you can easily afford, you can use it freely without worrying about causing the thing damage.
Be it a watch or shoes or clothes or electronics or whatever else.
Fun fact: I used a $100 G-Shock watch for almost 10 years. I only switched to a smartwatch because I got it for almost free with a new smartphone (and stuck with them because I like the step counter feature).
You have to remember that all of these material things are your slaves meant for your use.
You are not supposed to become their slave and have to take extra care of them lest you damage them.
Remember the whole goal of making money is to become free. The goal is not to buy expensive stuff and then becoming the caretaker of the said expensive stuff.
Keep that in mind.
Until next time.
Your man,
Harsh Strongman
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