• star_wraith [he/him]
    ·
    edit-2
    7 months ago

    The novelty is gone, you aren’t any happier.

    I actually think this is true for all cars. Buying any vehicle beyond your basic needs is a huge waste. I used to work with a guy who owned an Audi R8. We’d get lunch together often and he’d drive. First time or two was pretty cool, it’s a nice car. But after that, it was just a way to get to where we were going and the actual experience of driving was basically no different from riding around in my Corolla. Coworker seemed just as bored with it as I was. Sure you can go really fast, like how someone who owns an SUV can go offroad. But 99% of driving in the US is just commuting or running errands. Autos are just status symbols in the US, nothing more. And like all status symbols, they don’t make you one iota happier.

      • quarrk [he/him]
        ·
        edit-2
        7 months ago

        It depends on where you live and the kind of roads. If you are often on two-lane twisty roads like much of the east coast US or even UK, then a small low-power sports car is a ton of fun and makes it more fun to go on errands. When I had a Miata, it made me happy every time I drove it. It has sporty dynamics (including an amazing gearbox, suspension, and weight balance), looks cool, and the roof comes off. And at the end of the day it's literally a Mazda 3 in terms of the hardware, fuel efficiency, and maintenance costs.

        But yea... I wouldn't buy an R8 just to be blueballed hitting illegal speeds in 2nd gear.

        • TomBombadil [he/him, she/her]
          ·
          7 months ago

          Miata gang stay winning. The mountain roads I gotta drive are super fun. Plus it was cheap as fuck compared to any other.sports car.

    • quarrk [he/him]
      ·
      7 months ago

      But 99% of driving in the US is just commuting or running errands.

      If I'm going to do those things, might as well do it in a fun car. The key is that the car is actually fun, and not simply a status symbol that you can't afford and will get old fast.