Expensive Electronics Lust

[llcoolvad]

So I'm having a seriously weak moment in my resolve to spend very little.

My friend Jenn, who buys a new car every two years or so, just got a shiny new Toyota Prius. She showed me all the bells and whistles a couple of weeks ago and since that day I've been having enormous car-envy. They're so damned cool! I have never lusted for a car before in my whole life. The closest I got was when the new Beetle came out — I had a few moments of daydreaming, but nothing serious. They're jolly and round and candy-like, but I was able to resist. And I am totally fond of the Mini Coopers, too, but I like a bit more heft in my cars. But the Prius? Cool, environmentally friendly, seriously high tech, lots of gizmos....ooh. Teh shiny! WANT!!

I'm actually in the market this year for a new car, and since I live with Mom I could totally afford the Prius. But SHOULD I afford it? I'm living here to kill off the rest of my debt, not take on a lot of new debt. And Prius' are $23k, minimum. I have just about talked myself out of it.

I've pretty much decided that I might indeed buy a brand new car (although I've never done that before either. My last car was 1 year old when I bought it over 10 years ago), but that I will probably buy more on the budget end of things. A Sentra, maybe. Not sure yet. I really like hatchbacks and it seems that the budget hatchbacks are scary (like the Yaris and the Fit and the Versa — I mean, what ARE those?).

I confess: part of what's driving that decision is the shiny new iPhone. I currently have a two-year-old Treo that I have thoroughly appreciated, but I've never deeply loved. And the iPhone seems like something I could deeply love. It's ... it's ... shiny! And girly-pretty! And all the things that irritate me about my Treo, like the browser, are solved! And I love the touch screen! And there's an on-screen touch keyboard! There's a 20 minute tour here, if you're interested. Way cool!

The only thing I don't see is the ability to add additional software. Like games. Wouldn't games make sense? I have Freecell and Sudoku on my Treo. I might miss not having them! The reason I have been a loyal Palm user is all the available cheap software. I love adding new apps.

And the iPhones are $500! That's a lot of money for a phone. If I save $10k on a car I might be able to talk myself into buying the shiny phone. Maybe.

In reality I probably will dither about this until my car actually dies and I have no time to make a reasonable decision, and I will postpone getting a phone for another year or so. But today? My mouth is literally watering for the damned shiny tech.

Comments

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

In your situation, I would get the Prius. But I would wait until the Prius is old enough that I can afford to buy one used with cash. This plan only works if your other car lasts that long.

Hey, maybe you can buy Jenn's Prius in two years when she gets her next new car.

(And ever since my first electronic organizer, the best one in the whole world, died just because of a little rain, and then I bought one used online and then it died too, the love is gone, gone, gone.)

[llcoolvad.livejournal.com]

I would absolutely buy one used. Except you can't find them used! Hottest car in the country or something like that. From what I understand you can't even bargain at the dealership. Eeep!

[ozymandiasism.livejournal.com]

you can't even bargain a civic really either actually because of its popularity... well... only a little bit.

[llcoolvad.livejournal.com]

And HA! Maybe Jenn will be interested! She drives a LOT tho, so mileage might be kind of high.