Head vs Heart: A tough practical vs luxury purchase decision

Everyone I ask, advise me to buy what I can afford, since I do not own any other personal transportation. But the heart wants, what the heart wants!

BHPian thebengalee recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

If you're reading this, you're probably already an automotive enthusiast. Cars and motorcycles aren't mere transportation, they're extensions of our beings.

As Roger Taylor, the drummer par-excellence from Queen crooned: Told my girl I'd have to forget her / rather buy me a new carburettor!

Automobiles are our companions; they're family. So when I say that I have a hard time deciding whether to listen to my heart or my head when it comes to making a buying decision, I think you can empathise!

However, vehicles do have a utilitarian aspect to them as well. We need them for transportation, and we need their upkeep to fit in our bank accounts! And therein lies my dilemma: my ego won't be satiated with what I can afford.

I've been riding motorcycles and driving cars for a long time now. I'm pretty experienced with most mechanical jobs. I've attended riding schools. I've helped older friends and colleagues buy their dream vehicles and now I finally have the means to buy one of my own. It's a decent budget, but evidently not enough to buy the one I want! Everyone I ask, advise me to buy what I can afford since I do not own any other personal transportation. They tell me that I can always upgrade later when I have the financial wherewithal to do so. And my left-brain tells me that they're right. I've myself given this advice to others. But the heart wants, what the heart wants!

If I factor in riding gear and running costs, I can just about manage the EMIs. But I cannot justify spending a not-insignificant amount of money on something that is obviously a luxury buy. On the other hand, I do need transportation and if I can swallow my ego, I can definitely buy something decent. But I'm a petrolhead! I simply can't see myself riding something (relatively) pedestrian! My heart won't let me.

So I ask you: how do I swallow my pride? Have any of you faced a similar dilemma? How did you deal with it?

Here's what BHPian sreerknair had to say on the matter:

I look for delayed gratification if I know for sure that the outgo to satisfy my current ego hinders my peace of mind with financial stability. Personally I won't be able to enjoy a M5 unless I have means to maintain and repair whatever comes outside warranty or insurance. Having said so, I also believe that with whatever budget you have, you can buy the right ride by compromising on few things. What to compromise is individual preference? I also keep remembering that what we buy today becomes outdated in few months or year period anyway.

Here's what BHPian Researcher had to say on the matter:

If I were in your place, I would definitely not risk financial stability just because I want something. In fact, a line from the movie Top Gun comes to my mind - "Your Ego Is Writing Cheques Your Body Can't Cash". Over the past few years, I have always been very clear to focus on needs first (without compromising on safety), then on wants, as one never knows what the future holds for anyone, especially right now when there is more uncertainty in this ongoing pandemic. Swallowing one's pride or changing one's preferences in the short term is far easier than reacquiring lost stability.

As for being an enthusiast, I believe (and it's only my personal belief) that a true enthusiast will be happy riding or driving anything that is currently available with him/her. When I started driving, I had quite a good amount of fun with the direct and mechanical feel of our old Alto. Now I enjoy the smoothness and convenience of our Baleno as well as the handling and stability of my SX4. Each vehicle holds a special place and it's all about how one connects with them.

Here's what BHPian aargee had to say on the matter:

Having gone through this myself, I will say PATIENCE IS KEY

I bought a car through practical reasoning based on principles. I did suffer emotionally when paying my EMI (and closed the loan in 39/84 months), but one drive on the road, every single time, I felt the EMI I was paying is negligible.

I listed down the MUST have things based on my usage needed in the car & went simply with that; I've always been advocating & still do, buying is one time affair, but maintenance is for lifetime. Fortunately except Maruti, no one else can be relied in this country on that front. Although I did consider expensive used cars as well, VW & Skoda teased me emotionally & Mahindra knocked me practically, this one point kept me always in focus.

Eventually the model I bought got discontinued 3 months later I had bought, however, I still feel I made a right decision.

However, if I were not a car enthusiast, FOR SURE, I would've never ever bought a car for the kind of expense it incurs. Incidentally I was talking to my Wife about this doodad vehicular expenses incurred over the lifetime for which I could've easily afforded for a single, if not 2, BHK in suburbs of Mumbai. But then she said something that was immutable truth - If you don't do what you like to do, then, there's no point of calling your life worth a living!!

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