re: Does reading this board make anyone else feel poor?

I find it inspiring that so many are making a good run of it. Anyone willing to grind and learn can still claw their way into the middle/upper-middle/lower-upper classes. To get to the absolute stratosphere takes some luck and connections, but I think people should look at that as a multi-generational goal, instead.

This is exactly how I feel. I have friends driving 2 brand new vehicles, living in 5 year old or newer houses, flying all over the country with debt out the arse. They seem happy, but it looks so miserable to me.

Then on the other hand, I have friends joining country clubs I can only hope to be a guest at cause they have money out the arse.

I'm somewhere in the middle with no debt, maxed Roth's and proud of what we've done considering our circumstances as a younger married couple with young kids.

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Do what you are comfortable with. This is the trap with social media. You only see the positives from people. You don't see the problems or demons folks are dealing with behind the scenes.

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Deleting FB and just enjoying simple moments with my wife and son have made this past month one of the happiest of my life.

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this guy was way higher on the food chain

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Maybe. Possibly. Probably!?!?

Or not. What do you really know about the F40 owner?

That he is a few hundred grand (or whatever F40s cost) less wealthy than before he owned the F40.

Lots of Californians own an F40 one day and repo man owns it the next.

Or, maybe he was high high on the food chain.

Either way, Like your “more to life than cars” point. Driving F40 is probably fun as chit. Don’t get me wrong. Investing and financial discipline over time makes it possible for some. Aiming for “enough” is more probable , right for most and aligned to your point.

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Maybe. Possibly. Probably!?!?

Or not. What do you really know about the F40 owner?

That he is a few hundred grand (or whatever F40s cost) less wealthy than before he owned the F40.

Lots of Californians own an F40 one day and repo man owns it the next.

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Do you know much about cars? Not just any credit-card-happy cheesedick owns an F40 He was fir sure much higher on the food chain.

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For sure

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20% down and 700+ credit is what Walnut Creek, CA dealership I visited required at the time (late 1990s).

That’s high end goat cheesedick but still cheesedick, no?

Look, don’t get me wrong. Likely higher on food chain. But don’t be a slave to appearances. That is all they are for more than I ever realized.

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20% down and 700+ credit is what Walnut Creek, CA dealership I visited required at the time (late 1990s).

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Production of the F40 ended in the early 90s (92 or so, I believe). You were looking at used models, which anyone with the money (or credit) could buy. In order to buy a new one, like the one that whizzed past us in the late 80s (89?), the buyer had to demonstrate ownership of several Ferraris and be approved by Maranello. The same is true today if you want a specialty model. Screw up, and they’ll even ban you from buying future Ferrari models. Are you worthy?! They make it a big deal… and fans buy into it. Smart marketing.

Like I said, I told that story only to say that the 20 something me could relate to how some of the younger posters here feel about comparative wealth. The 50 something me still loves cars and motorsports. It’s my thang. And although there was no envy or jealousy when I saw that F40, I do admit that it did make me feel a certain kinda way. Nowdays, I’m around F1 and sports car paddocks where there are multi-billion dollars of cars and equipment around. I realize it, but I’m just doing my thing, enjoying the experience.

As my old Italian friend used to say, I’ve already made my bones now. As these younger folks go through life and progress, hopefully they’ll get to that happy/content place too.