25 Year Old, First Time Aston Buyer, Need Advice
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Bonaire Ga
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Well, I think you should get one if you can budget it. You only go around once, and if you get married and have rug rats, your dream will die and you'll be sorry you didn't pull the trigger!! 
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17
From: Mississauga
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We live in good times at the moment, as regards to cars. They are probably at their peak in terms of what you can get for your money. Within a few years, I am sure even the prestige marques will do the route of Diesel (e.g. Bentley) or hybrid.
Maybe it is worth joining an exclusive car club so that you get to drive many different types of cars?
Me...I am carless at the moment...but love reading about other people's success stories and the dilemma they have choosing one amazing car Vs another!
Keep 'em coming....
Maybe it is worth joining an exclusive car club so that you get to drive many different types of cars?
Me...I am carless at the moment...but love reading about other people's success stories and the dilemma they have choosing one amazing car Vs another!
Keep 'em coming....
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 160
From: Florida
Rep Power: 30
Greetings,
I am a 25 year old that grosses around $200k/year and currently driving a BMW 335i coupe. I have been blessed and lucky enough to have a decent job and been able to save up over 150k. I am single, have a $400k mortgage, but I pay for my entire family's cell phone bills and car insurance premiums (which is about 5k a year). Since I drive about 18,000 miles a year, I plan on keeping the BMW as a daily driver and only adding about 5,000 miles on the Aston Martin. With all this being said, at my age right now, would it be pretentious for me to drive an Aston Martin? Is this over the hill? I come from a very conservative and modest family and although I work really really hard at my job, I wanted to make sure I was making the right decision.
I was looking at a used V8 Vantage versus a used DB9. Test drove the Vantage and it didn't measure up to my expectation. I even felt that the 335i drive was much better in terms of handling, speed and definitely economical reasons. I test drove a 2011 DB9 and it was a world of difference, however I can not afford the 2011 at 230k pricing. I came across a used 2007 DB9 with 6,500 miles and was able to haggle it down to 95k! Is this a good deal?
How reliable are Aston Martins? The salesman told me that every year the maintenance is roughly $1800/year. The coils in the engine will need to be replaced if the car is not driven on a daily basis which is $120x12 cylinders. The brakes would cost $3,500 to replace for every 30k miles. Are these the major breakdowns of the Aston? The reason why I ask this is because our family's car insurance premiums will now be $7,500 a year! Although I make okay money at my job, I am far from rich and will not be able to handle 10k repairs every other year for this car or even every year. Thanks for any advice you all can provide.
I am a 25 year old that grosses around $200k/year and currently driving a BMW 335i coupe. I have been blessed and lucky enough to have a decent job and been able to save up over 150k. I am single, have a $400k mortgage, but I pay for my entire family's cell phone bills and car insurance premiums (which is about 5k a year). Since I drive about 18,000 miles a year, I plan on keeping the BMW as a daily driver and only adding about 5,000 miles on the Aston Martin. With all this being said, at my age right now, would it be pretentious for me to drive an Aston Martin? Is this over the hill? I come from a very conservative and modest family and although I work really really hard at my job, I wanted to make sure I was making the right decision.
I was looking at a used V8 Vantage versus a used DB9. Test drove the Vantage and it didn't measure up to my expectation. I even felt that the 335i drive was much better in terms of handling, speed and definitely economical reasons. I test drove a 2011 DB9 and it was a world of difference, however I can not afford the 2011 at 230k pricing. I came across a used 2007 DB9 with 6,500 miles and was able to haggle it down to 95k! Is this a good deal?
How reliable are Aston Martins? The salesman told me that every year the maintenance is roughly $1800/year. The coils in the engine will need to be replaced if the car is not driven on a daily basis which is $120x12 cylinders. The brakes would cost $3,500 to replace for every 30k miles. Are these the major breakdowns of the Aston? The reason why I ask this is because our family's car insurance premiums will now be $7,500 a year! Although I make okay money at my job, I am far from rich and will not be able to handle 10k repairs every other year for this car or even every year. Thanks for any advice you all can provide.
#1 How secure is your Job? Nowadays, jobs are here today and gone tomorrow. You state that you have a mortagage of $400,000 and have 150k in savings. The savings is great, especially for a guy your age. However, while you have secure employment and especially with that mortgage looming, you really need to concentrate on saving up a larger nest egg (i.e. about $500,000-$600,000 or more) and establish yourself in your career before going out and buying a 95K Aston.
You also state the following: "The reason why I ask this is because our family's car insurance premiums will now be $7,500 a year" If you are worried about a $2500 change in premium, you should not be thinking about spending $10,000, mush less $95,000.
Bottomline is this: If you are earning $200,000 per year, enjoy your BMW and make an effort to save as much as you can and build up a large cash reserve. Keep your expenses as low as you can while you are young and you should be able to build a small fortune (security blanket) in no time. Then, once you have saved some good money, if you want, go out and get the Aston, I would recommend a porsche though...It may look less exotic, but it has better reliability, better performance, and cheaper maintenance costs.
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Atlanta
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25 Years old and need advice on first Aston Martin
25 years old and doing that well?? Congradulations! You prepared yourself early and thats why you make what you do. I like acheivers and those who still believe in the American Dream. No ridicule here...come as you are. Now, Aston Martins are not low maintenance cars but they will not melt you credit card like an F-Car. I would say, that a pre-owned 09 is the way to go with the bigger engine. However, there are not as many 09s out there as you think. If you want a manual tranny even more rare. The 4.3 with mods is a nice car too. If you want the fastest machine in the world, then get something else. Astons including the 4.3 are plenty quick for me. Hauling @$$ is not the single intent of an Aston Martin. It is the most understated elegant, sophisticated looking car on the planet and it drives incredible. I say go with an Aston Martin and enjoy you hard work.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Columbus Ohio
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ok, i'll bite, and say what i suspect many are thinking.....
You probably should have replaced most of the first paragraph with "i'm 25 years old and believe i can afford an aston martin", because you're whole paragraph was pretentious.
If you are making $200k per year, i would have thought that:
1. You are a pretty smart guy, and would have already found used car value information.
2. You would be aggressive and assertive enough not to care what other people think of your choices, your age or a combination of the two.
3. You would know the difference between "breakdowns" and "normal maintenance cycles".
Lastly, your benchmark on the vantage ""not measuring up" in speed and handling was the bmw? Seriously? If you believe that the bmw is a better handling, faster car than the vantage, i would suggest that you stick with the 335.
The aston lineup is a fine, well-established and dependable marquee that offers owners a car that makes a statement. While i think that your dealer is quoting you high numbers, which could be reduced with an independent, the fact is that quality costs money. The old adage of "if you can't afford the maintenance, you can't afford the car" applies here.
You probably should have replaced most of the first paragraph with "i'm 25 years old and believe i can afford an aston martin", because you're whole paragraph was pretentious.
If you are making $200k per year, i would have thought that:
1. You are a pretty smart guy, and would have already found used car value information.
2. You would be aggressive and assertive enough not to care what other people think of your choices, your age or a combination of the two.
3. You would know the difference between "breakdowns" and "normal maintenance cycles".
Lastly, your benchmark on the vantage ""not measuring up" in speed and handling was the bmw? Seriously? If you believe that the bmw is a better handling, faster car than the vantage, i would suggest that you stick with the 335.
The aston lineup is a fine, well-established and dependable marquee that offers owners a car that makes a statement. While i think that your dealer is quoting you high numbers, which could be reduced with an independent, the fact is that quality costs money. The old adage of "if you can't afford the maintenance, you can't afford the car" applies here.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 329
From: Toronto
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wow. I don't think I could ever drop my salary on a public forum. only my girlfriend and my family know my salary, aside from a handful of very close friends. telling your people your salary can lead to varying reactions from people...and I'd never want to be judged, whether it's good or bad, by my salary. I don't doubt you make what you say you make, but the age/salary thing is something that will incite reactions from people.
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Joined: Jun 2011
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OK, I'll bite, and say what I suspect many are thinking.....
You probably should have replaced most of the first paragraph with "I'm 25 years old and believe I can afford an Aston Martin", because you're whole paragraph was pretentious.
If you are making $200K per year, I would have thought that:
1. You are a pretty smart guy, and would have already found used car value information.
2. You would be aggressive and assertive enough not to care what other people think of your choices, your age or a combination of the two.
You probably should have replaced most of the first paragraph with "I'm 25 years old and believe I can afford an Aston Martin", because you're whole paragraph was pretentious.
If you are making $200K per year, I would have thought that:
1. You are a pretty smart guy, and would have already found used car value information.
2. You would be aggressive and assertive enough not to care what other people think of your choices, your age or a combination of the two.
Recently, I had a dinner discussion with a couple and they were just talking crap about their friend because he bought a Lambo and has not even finished his kitchen.
I'll say the same thing. You do what want and you spend your money how you like. Financially speaking I don't think it's insane to get a used exotic car. At the end of the day if you have insured it and kept it in great condition you can always sell it. Yeah you'll lose some money but I don't see it as really throwing your money away.
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Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Detroit
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As a few others have mentioned, I think it's probably not in your best interest to publicly inform others of your personal financial statement, or close to it. However, since you have I would give you my take, what I would do, not advice on what you should do, regarding only the recreational vehicle not your mortgage etc. I would not finance or lease a recreational vehicle. I have and would only buy it outright.
