[Camarolover85]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

OP if you have to convince her you have a problem. Make some kind of deal with her. Scratch her itches. A week on the Riviera would help.

As for me I would have more than one garage, a daily, a new crazy car and several older favorites as long term project cars. But that would never fly so the deal was I can have any daily and "sports" car I want but that's it, two cars.

Life is full of compromises you can live with.

I don’t see it as a problem. Was just wondering how everyone else went about buying such an expensive car that isn’t even a practical every day vehicle. You can’t drive it in the winter in the snow now would you want to. I have a work van, my Camaro now and if I get the ZL1 I also have to have a beater of some sort for errands if it’s snowing out.

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by BDivine76

Ha! That's a bold move!

LOL been there done that. Years later I still hear about it. I had just received a 50% raise and decided on the way home to treat myself to some new muscle. She wasn't pissed I bought it, but rather that I did not at least include her in the process. I then saw her point of view.

Life is for learning.

[Johnjan]

My wife still thinks it's my old Mustang...

[TRZ06]

This is easy. DON'T get married!!!

LOL

[Vtor_ZL1]

My advice: dont fixate on one car, show options, highlights cons of said options, whether that be higher insurance rates, oil consumption (uh hum voodoo motor), ugly interior, uh hum auddi rs3, look at few local ones, uglier than better and then find car you want to work out the math.


In the end, you'll have two colors to choose from, ask her to pick her favorite. Win, Win. Drive home and then get some daily driver friendly tires as ZLE is fkn wood wheel'ed wagon!

[Camarolover85]

Originally Posted by Johnjan

My wife still thinks it's my old Mustang...

Hahahaha! My wife wouldn’t fall for that, she knows better. You reminded me of a hilarious story though. My guitar teacher awhile back was telling me he knew a guy who only bought red guitars and one day he asked him why. He said that he buys every guitar in red so that his wife doesn’t know it’s a different guitar. He has 3 hanging on the wall and he interchanges them out with his stock he has hidden in the basement. I laughed so hard at that.

[Camarolover85]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

This is easy. DON'T get married!!!

LOL

You’re 8 months too late with this advice!! Lol

[Camarolover85]

Originally Posted by Vtor_ZL1

My advice: dont fixate on one car, show options, highlights cons of said options, whether that be higher insurance rates, oil consumption (uh hum voodoo motor), ugly interior, uh hum auddi rs3, look at few local ones, uglier than better and then find car you want to work out the math.


In the end, you'll have two colors to choose from, ask her to pick her favorite. Win, Win. Drive home and then get some daily driver friendly tires as ZLE is fkn wood wheel'ed wagon!

This is a really good idea but I already know she wouldn’t go for it haha. I tried this with a new guitar and she said, “they all sound the same to me and I don’t want to listen to or look at anymore guitars.”

But, I’ll include her in this process so she feels I value her opinion. Good idea honestly, she will appreciate that.

[F1FTY]

I've always had a fun car and my wife supports that.

She helped with negotiations at the dealership when I was buying it.

We took it out yesterday for a drive through Staunton area in VA

If you have the means without hurting the family finances, it shouldn't be a huge deal.

[detltu]

This is actually a fun topic. I don't have a 6th gen ZL1 but I do have a 5th gen. I don't have any quick answer for convincing your wife, but here are a few things that I think helped my wife get on board:

1. She knew what she was getting into with me. I loved cars before I loved her and she knew basically from the first time that she met me that cars were a big deal to me. My college apartment had Camaro/ Ferrari/ Corvette/ etc. posters on the walls and I had a small model car collection as well. My 89 Camaro was my pride and joy. May not be practical if you are on a compressed timeline but my takeaway from this is to let them know how much it means to you. Share your passion.

2. I had a savings account. I have always been a saver. Not long after we started dating I started a savings account for her engagement ring and wedding ring. After those were purchased that savings account became my Camaro account. The 5th gen wasn't out at the time, but the concept had hit and I knew a new Camaro was in my future. She knew about the account and knew it's purpose. I think she did occasionally get a little upset when I called it my Camaro account, but I always told her if there was ever an emergency that account was fair game. When she was diagnosed with cancer I made good on that promise. It wiped out the "Camaro account" but it made a huge difference in our quality of life while we went through that. As soon as we got through her treatments and were on better financial footing I started saving more than ever in the "Camaro account with her blessing. My takeaways: A. Cancer sucks B. Anything you can do to lessen the financial burden is helpful. Pay off credit cards, lower some expenses on things that don't affect her (don't make her sacrifice for your enjoyment), save up for a down payment. Whatever you can do will help. (My wife is doing very well now so no worries there).

3. I involved her in the process of picking out my car. I decided since our savings was decimated that giving up the idea of a brand new Camaro was reasonable. Especially since I was looking at the upper end of the price range. We looked at some used ZL1's but never found the right deal on a car that really matched what I was looking for. We decided to go to Camaro Fest to take a look at the different Models. I wanted a 5th gen SS 1LE, ZL1, or Z28 or I could wait a few more years and see what the 6th gen was going to bring for those same models. I was particularly torn between the ZL1 and Z/28. I was willing to settle for the SS 1LE if I found the right deal as well. After seeing all of them in one place, she had a clear favorite. I had a few colors that I liked as well and I let here provide input in that decision as well. In the end we decided to take advantage of 0% financing and get a new Zl1 exactly how I wanted it. The idea was that if you are going to spend that kind of money you might as well get exactly what you want. My takeaway: even though the car was primarily for me, letting her help on some decisions helps make it our purchase instead of just mine.

Bottom line, she knew how much enjoyment the car would bring to me, she knew I was aware of the financial burden the car would place on us, and she knew she was more important to me than the car.

I didn't do any of that to be manipulative and it wasn't premeditated (other than the savings part of it). It's just how it worked out and it worked out well. You can contrast it with when I bought the 91 1LE. I came home one day and said I think I bought a car. Despite being approximately 20x more expensive, the ZL1 was a much more positive experience.

[BDivine76]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

LOL been there done that. Years later I still hear about it. I had just received a 50% raise and decided on the way home to treat myself to some new muscle. She wasn't pissed I bought it, but rather that I did not at least include her in the process. I then saw her point of view.

Life is for learning.

I got mine last year under similar circumstances, though she knew I was going to buy one. I wouldn't say she supports the car, but at the same time she knows I'm not jeopardizing anything and family comes first. We just paid the car off last week so I probably won't hear too much about it for a while...until it needs new tires

[Camarolover85]

Originally Posted by BDivine76

I got mine last year under similar circumstances, though she knew I was going to buy one. I wouldn't say she supports the car, but at the same time she knows I'm not jeopardizing anything and family comes first. We just paid the car off last week so I probably won't hear too much about it for a while...until it needs new tires

paid it off in a year?

I am amongst the poor here it seems lol. Mine would be a 7 year deal no way around that.

[BDivine76]

Originally Posted by Camarolover85

paid it off in a year?

I am amongst the poor here it seems lol. Mine would be a 7 year deal no way around that.

As everyone here has said already, if you can afford it comfortably go for it. I don't DD the car (I've put 2800 miles on in the year I have had it) so when I do get it out the purpose is to enjoy it. It puts a smile on my face every single time. It has to be the best bang for the buck out there...the car can do amazing things. I think my wife has noticed that I always come back in a better mood after a drive. I think someone else made a similar comment earlier in the thread. There's nothing wrong with a little V8 therapy.

[Camarolover85]

Originally Posted by detltu

This is actually a fun topic. I don't have a 6th gen ZL1 but I do have a 5th gen. I don't have any quick answer for convincing your wife, but here are a few things that I think helped my wife get on board:

1. She knew what she was getting into with me. I loved cars before I loved her and she knew basically from the first time that she met me that cars were a big deal to me. My college apartment had Camaro/ Ferrari/ Corvette/ etc. posters on the walls and I had a small model car collection as well. My 89 Camaro was my pride and joy. May not be practical if you are on a compressed timeline but my takeaway from this is to let them know how much it means to you. Share your passion.

2. I had a savings account. I have always been a saver. Not long after we started dating I started a savings account for her engagement ring and wedding ring. After those were purchased that savings account became my Camaro account. The 5th gen wasn't out at the time, but the concept had hit and I knew a new Camaro was in my future. She knew about the account and knew it's purpose. I think she did occasionally get a little upset when I called it my Camaro account, but I always told her if there was ever an emergency that account was fair game. When she was diagnosed with cancer I made good on that promise. It wiped out the "Camaro account" but it made a huge difference in our quality of life while we went through that. As soon as we got through her treatments and were on better financial footing I started saving more than ever in the "Camaro account with her blessing. My takeaways: A. Cancer sucks B. Anything you can do to lessen the financial burden is helpful. Pay off credit cards, lower some expenses on things that don't affect her (don't make her sacrifice for your enjoyment), save up for a down payment. Whatever you can do will help. (My wife is doing very well now so no worries there).

3. I involved her in the process of picking out my car. I decided since our savings was decimated that giving up the idea of a brand new Camaro was reasonable. Especially since I was looking at the upper end of the price range. We looked at some used ZL1's but never found the right deal on a car that really matched what I was looking for. We decided to go to Camaro Fest to take a look at the different Models. I wanted a 5th gen SS 1LE, ZL1, or Z28 or I could wait a few more years and see what the 6th gen was going to bring for those same models. I was particularly torn between the ZL1 and Z/28. I was willing to settle for the SS 1LE if I found the right deal as well. After seeing all of them in one place, she had a clear favorite. I had a few colors that I liked as well and I let here provide input in that decision as well. In the end we decided to take advantage of 0% financing and get a new Zl1 exactly how I wanted it. The idea was that if you are going to spend that kind of money you might as well get exactly what you want. My takeaway: even though the car was primarily for me, letting her help on some decisions helps make it our purchase instead of just mine.

Bottom line, she knew how much enjoyment the car would bring to me, she knew I was aware of the financial burden the car would place on us, and she knew she was more important to me than the car.

I didn't do any of that to be manipulative and it wasn't premeditated (other than the savings part of it). It's just how it worked out and it worked out well. You can contrast it with when I bought the 91 1LE. I came home one day and said I think I bought a car. Despite being approximately 20x more expensive, the ZL1 was a much more positive experience.

I promised myself I'd make this account years ago and never got around to it. I was busy working 2-4 jobs trying to make ends meet and getting wage garnished to hell and back. Thankfully I think she understands that and that I've always put us first and I've given her lots to appreciate. She had a crappy 1999 Civic and I traded in my 2013 Camaro and worked out a deal so we could have both cars for $600 a month. My camaro and she got a cruze, not the fanciest car but a big step up from what she had. I've paid for her insurance every single month shes had that car to make her life easier too. I think that's partially the reason I get mad at her for getting on me for purchases. I make more but I pay for more of everything; cell phone, car insurances, credit card bills. On topic, that's heart warming, good for you. She knows I'd do anything for her and I know she would do anything to make me happy so it works. Glad your wife is doing good!

"In the end we decided to take advantage of 0% financing and get a new Zl1 exactly how I wanted it. The idea was that if you are going to spend that kind of money you might as well get exactly what you want. My takeaway: even though the car was primarily for me, letting her help on some decisions helps make it our purchase instead of just mine."

so much this! I have this outlook now, if I'm going to spend this money I might as well get what I want. What's the point if you don't? You'll always wish you did. I could get a loaded SS but I love the ZL1's so I'll always have that itch to have the ZL1 and will eventually do it. Why spend the money twice? I'm going to try and include her and make this a fun experience.

The first time she watches me start it and light up she'll understand what it means, haha. This is the perfect time in life and we're not going to have kids so it works. She freaks out about the price or the cost, I don't, I look at it as an investment. She worries about what we owe or don't owe and what our bills are and its funny how different our perspectives are. I look and say, "Were this CLOSE to some real financial freedom"and she sees just a gigantic car payment.

I pay $400 a month right now, I have a student loan with 12 payments left that's $300 a month. My tax return is paying off the last of our wedding and credit card debt and I can almost refinance my house and remove PMI. There's no better time than now! haha. I need to call the dealership and GM.