The under 30 Club?
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: NOr Cali
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Hey man I totally understand. I'm not under 30, but at my mid 30s I still get looks at driving my C63 Black Series around. People will never understand our priorities in life. I daily drive a VW CC and live in a small place. But then again, I live in Cali in Silicon Valley. The cost of buying a house here is so ridiculous that it will take awhile before I can get the one I want. So instead? I'll just buy some nice cars whil ei have a bunch of money to invest.
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Vancouver
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As a member of the well over 30 pipe & slippers brigade I applaud you for enjoying these cars while you're young. You've earned it, why not?
I had some great cars when I was in my early twenties. That all changed when I got married, bought a house & had to work my butt off to grow my business. Meant a lot of years driving sensible cars
. Still married, daughter moved out, business grown and sold. I'm a 28 year old in a body twice that age, but I'm driving something that excites me again and loving every minute of it 
.
Enjoy it now if you can.
I had some great cars when I was in my early twenties. That all changed when I got married, bought a house & had to work my butt off to grow my business. Meant a lot of years driving sensible cars
. Still married, daughter moved out, business grown and sold. I'm a 28 year old in a body twice that age, but I'm driving something that excites me again and loving every minute of it .Enjoy it now if you can.
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Anyone else ever feel like your "too young" for an Aston or the brand? I went to a Jag/Aston event and everyone there was older than my parents. It sucked when people look at you as if your part of the valet staff and don't believe it when you drive off. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for what I have and try to stay humble and secretive, but its hard to find others to share and appreciate my level of cars when most peers seem to mock or find me out of place.
Elude, I'm not usually a fan of aftermarket wheels and such things (it's just not my thing), but your car looks fantastic.
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From: New Jersey
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Elude: I think you have a good balance in your life. One benefit of being "older" is that I no longer fret about what folks think of what I drive or how I behave. I too believe that I have a decent balance in my life... I've been married for 32 years, have a nice home in a nice community, own my own business, go to church, give back to the community by raising money for two local charities on a bi-annual basis, have a great dog, typically win my age group in triathlon competitions, and drive an Aston (my 10th sports car).
My only suggestion is to drive your car more often and enjoy it. Life's too short.
Cheers!
My only suggestion is to drive your car more often and enjoy it. Life's too short.
Cheers!
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Alexandria, VA
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HA! I'm 58 now and that Vantage seat is awfully low to the ground so this may be my last sports car....but I started with buying my own Corvette when I was 18 years old from money I earned working as a mechanic in a Yamaha shop (when my pals were making $ 1 an hour flipping burgers, I was knocking down $ 10 an hour), and had my first Porsche 911 by age 21. Been a lot of high end cars (and motorcycles) come and gone since then and I've not regretted a single minute of it all. Yes, I've spent a small fortune on my habit - but its been a hellva lot of fun.
Hey, you only go 'round once....
Hey, you only go 'round once....
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Hey guys; sorry about this topic and post in advance. I'll be quick to say I'm not rich, own a huge house or my own company, or ever inherited any money. I'm just an "under 30" military officer, with a deployment to Afghanistan, over a decade of experience in my specialized field, engaged and have a small condo and puppy.
Sometimes I feel like I might be living outside my means and out of place, since I daily a VW GTI (to hide my V8VS) and sometimes my Ducati Monster while all of my veteran friends are still driving civics and integra and are on their 6-7th senior year of college. My neighbors in my condo complex probably think I'm sort of gun runner or drug lord, and my work colleagues have no idea what I have in the garage at home.
Being under 30, and on my second Aston I find it rare to find other "young" enthusiasts. Especially one like me who has been through many MANY cars over the past few years. Typically I get the "why didn't you buy a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Porsche" statement but still do my best to uphold the Aston Martin class and exclusivity.
Anyone else ever feel like your "too young" for an Aston or the brand? I went to a Jag/Aston event and everyone there was older than my parents. It sucked when people look at you as if your part of the valet staff and don't believe it when you drive off. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for what I have and try to stay humble and secretive, but its hard to find others to share and appreciate my level of cars when most peers seem to mock or find me out of place.
Sorry for the rant. Here's a picture of my car in return.
Sometimes I feel like I might be living outside my means and out of place, since I daily a VW GTI (to hide my V8VS) and sometimes my Ducati Monster while all of my veteran friends are still driving civics and integra and are on their 6-7th senior year of college. My neighbors in my condo complex probably think I'm sort of gun runner or drug lord, and my work colleagues have no idea what I have in the garage at home.
Being under 30, and on my second Aston I find it rare to find other "young" enthusiasts. Especially one like me who has been through many MANY cars over the past few years. Typically I get the "why didn't you buy a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Porsche" statement but still do my best to uphold the Aston Martin class and exclusivity.
Anyone else ever feel like your "too young" for an Aston or the brand? I went to a Jag/Aston event and everyone there was older than my parents. It sucked when people look at you as if your part of the valet staff and don't believe it when you drive off. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for what I have and try to stay humble and secretive, but its hard to find others to share and appreciate my level of cars when most peers seem to mock or find me out of place.
Sorry for the rant. Here's a picture of my car in return.
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Got my first Aston in my late 30's and didn't look back. Somewhere along the line, I sorta stopped worrying about what other thought as well. I found a nice balance between living for the moment and saving for the future and have been working inside that framework. I am not wealthy but my wife and I do okay considering we work for a public school system. (Plus no kids helps.) Cheers to everyone lucky enough to live happily within their means!
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Wow, thanks for all the feedback and compliments on my car (JmanE55, I try to go to Irvine C&C at least once a month). Like many have said, I feel even better knowing the sacrifices of hard work to earn a car of this caliber at a young age is one to be proud of. A lot of my perspective changed when I was deployed and seeing younger Soldiers give the ultimate sacrifice without asking for almost anything in exchange. Never knowing when your day might be the last, really makes you appreciate that "life is too short, so just enjoy it..."
I'm not out to conquer the world financially, or live off a yacht when I retire. As long as my family has a good roof over their head, food on the table, and we are able to enjoy the things that makes us happy in life, I'm more than content and will be that much more humble.
Glad to know that for those who are in their 30's/40's/50's, they have the car passion of a 20-y/o. Ironically, those who own Aston's in our twenties, probably have the responsibilities and work acumen of those in their 30's/40's/50's...
I'm not out to conquer the world financially, or live off a yacht when I retire. As long as my family has a good roof over their head, food on the table, and we are able to enjoy the things that makes us happy in life, I'm more than content and will be that much more humble.
Glad to know that for those who are in their 30's/40's/50's, they have the car passion of a 20-y/o. Ironically, those who own Aston's in our twenties, probably have the responsibilities and work acumen of those in their 30's/40's/50's...
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Beautiful car. Here's my N420 and I'm also in the under 30 club. I've specialized in founding online communities and been fortunate doing so. I hope to give us a home, too (www.aston.co)
Last edited by lacir; Feb 26, 2013 at 11:43 AM.
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I guess I can kind of jump in on this conversation.
Like you, I did about 10 years in the military and, went through my fair share of deployments.
After I got out and got a "normal job" I always told myself I would buy an Aston (at the time I was 29 and driving a 2008 M3 coupe).
So, for my 30th birthday I bought myself a 2006 V8V. My friends thought I was crazy (used it as my daily driver and only car ) but in the end it was my Dad who said it like this.
"Listen to me very carefully, you don't have any kids, you don't have a wife or an ex-wife AND you don't have a serious girlfriend, if there's ANY chance for you to get that car, you better get it now, because it could be many many years before you get an opportunity like this again, take it from your old man"
So, off I went, bought the 2006 V8V, LOVED it, and got rear ended (car was totaled) not 4 months later.
Now, at this point I could have made a rational decision to go back to something more conservative but I didn't. I replaced her with a 2007 that had 10k less miles than the 2006 and, I paid nearly the same price. Didn't look back one bit, love my V8V and always will.
Like you, I did about 10 years in the military and, went through my fair share of deployments.
After I got out and got a "normal job" I always told myself I would buy an Aston (at the time I was 29 and driving a 2008 M3 coupe).
So, for my 30th birthday I bought myself a 2006 V8V. My friends thought I was crazy (used it as my daily driver and only car
) but in the end it was my Dad who said it like this."Listen to me very carefully, you don't have any kids, you don't have a wife or an ex-wife AND you don't have a serious girlfriend, if there's ANY chance for you to get that car, you better get it now, because it could be many many years before you get an opportunity like this again, take it from your old man"
So, off I went, bought the 2006 V8V, LOVED it, and got rear ended (car was totaled) not 4 months later.
Now, at this point I could have made a rational decision to go back to something more conservative but I didn't. I replaced her with a 2007 that had 10k less miles than the 2006 and, I paid nearly the same price. Didn't look back one bit, love my V8V and always will.
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This has turned out to be a nice thread. I would like to draw your attention to a member whom I think exemplifies the spirit of youth and somebody we should all want to be like when we get older. I am talking about forum member Dick Tahoe who is in his 70's maybe even 80's by now and drives tons of miles on his v8 Vantage, thru the twisties, as well as still riding motorcycles! All of us are fortunate to drive these cars, weather we have them in our 20's or 70's.... but I think Dick has found the real secret, to be able to enjoy things like this in one's 70's and older...I think that's the real fountain of youth!
Hopefullly Dick has a chance to chyme in and share some of his thoughts.
Go get 'em Dick Tahoe....Keep on driving the wheels off that Vantage with a big grin across your face, may you continue to inspire the rest of us...Aston Martin and James Bond would be proud of ya as well!
All of us are fortunate to drive these cars, weather we have them in our 20's or 70's.... but I think Dick has found the real secret, to be able to enjoy things like this in one's 70's and older...I think that's the real fountain of youth! Hopefullly Dick has a chance to chyme in and share some of his thoughts.
Go get 'em Dick Tahoe....Keep on driving the wheels off that Vantage with a big grin across your face, may you continue to inspire the rest of us...Aston Martin and James Bond would be proud of ya as well!
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Joined: Nov 2012
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Thanks for the compliments. I'm exactly with you on everything you've stated. I've been keeping my eye out for a Ferrari. I just got over wanting a F430 but wouldn't mind a California or V12V if I stayed with Aston. Probably will stick with my Aston for the year and will start ,looking at what's next..! 