The car of your dreams. You know the car that is the must have. While searching for the right one, have you ever come upon a car that reminds you of the car you want, but isn't quite what you've been trying to get-and then buy it anyway, thinking, well I'll buy this car and enjoy it "in the meantime"until the perfect one comes along. I've sure done it before!
Dont do it. Something I've heard from real successful people is to never have a plan b. Life to short.
I have done that before. I bought a 87 chevy short box fleet side 2wd for cheap that needed work, I want a round headlight square body chevy step side short box 2wd. So after realizing I was not in the position to do the frame work it needed that I didn't see when I bought it. I started trying to figure out a way to make it the truck I wanted and realized the money I would spend in fixing or finding a new frame, fixing the cab floor, getting new front end sheet metal, and finding a step side box I would be better off selling it and buying what I wanted. On the other hand I want a 70 GS 455 but I bought a 70 skylark but I already had the GS hood and 455, but I guess it is pretty much the same since I don't care if it is a real GS.
I remember when I was in my young 20s and dumb. I walked into a dealership and wanted an those newers ss monte carlo and with my non credit at the time I could not get, but I could get a v6 monte carlo. I walked out there kinda down. See what I REALLY wanted was a g body monte carlo. 1 years later I had it. Another year after that and i got the v6 swapped with a 350.
Before you buy a "plan b" car, be aware that it will virtually guarantee that you will never get your "plan a" car.
That's true. I was actually looking for a '71 - 72 Eldorado convertible when I found my current Buick. Now it's unlikely I ever will get one because turns out I really like the Buick.
My dream was a 4-speed Wildcat...I looked from 93 to 99 for one. So I got impatient and purchased an automatic 65 Wildcat Coupe. While that car was in transit I found a 4-speed car in Texas...and had to get it. Lucky to be able to do what I really wanted.
I opted for plan B a number of times when I could not find a quality car to match my budget. I was searching for a 57 Bel Air I ended up buying a nice 57 Star Chief. When searching for 60 Catalina, I bought a 62 Catalina. My pursuit of a 70-72 GS led to my 68 GS400. No regrets.
Am I the only crazy guy who has dream car(S) I remember one day making a list and crossing off a bunch of cars.
...kinda knew that, '54 Skylark, '58 Eldo Biarritz convertible, or '65 Riviera GS were always out of reach, but no regrets...
Since I already have a garage full of plan B cars, I think I'll hold out for the car I want-you know- the one that is in bold purple in all of my posts!
I think in part it depends on what your dream car (woman, job, etc) is and whether it is realistic or a "pipe dream". If your dream is to own a $1M supercar, and you are making $50k a year, that probably is a pipe dream and you should buy a plan B car. If your dream is to marry Jennifer Aniston, you probably should have a Plan B. Now if you "dream car" is reasonably attainable for you, and if you buy Plan B car you will not be able to buy dream car (due to financial / space limitations, etc.), that you probably should hold out. But if you can buy Plan B car now, and still buy dream car when/if it comes available, then do it. Life is to short to not enjoy Plan B. Just do it wisely. Buy Plan B car low, limit your investment knowing you are going to get rid of it, and sell high. If you aren't sure how that works, call Jason Cook and have him teach you. :>)