I remember the days....

[Insidious Surmiser]

When I'd find killer deals on here almost every week. Ridiculously clean shells that'd make your eyes bug out for $200-$400. Killer deals on parts... you name it.... crazy enough to make your head spin. I grew up poor, and I've always been poor. I bust my ass for the money I earn, but it's hard to get ahead with all the dicking that goes around. (not to mention my mental issues and complete lack of health care) I've always been as generous as life would permit, and quite frankly I miss running into those guys like me (not saying they're not out there, just seems that times have changed). I've been looking for a supra for a LONG time since mine was stolen in Jan. of '08, and now my personal friend is selling me his burgundy 89 targa w/ a fresh motor and everything functioning correctly for $2,500. I literally wouldn't be able to afford anything more, so in that aspect I feel lucky. How do you guys feel about this? Do yall feel that times are getting worse? Or am I just out of touch?

 

[IJ.]

Money IS a lot tighter these days, might have to scale back the wish list or increase the time frame to achieve it

 

[hvyman]

Besides high taxes and my excellent ability to spend money on useless things, expensive food, and partying I do pretty good.

 

[Turbo Habanero]

Besides high taxes and my excellent ability to spend money on useless things, expensive food, and partying I do pretty good.

 

[scottiedawg66]

Besides high taxes

I hear that, ca taxes suck.

Don't even get me started on inflation

 

[mjsn1]

I remember when i had too much money to spend on my car, but now i cant even change the brakes.
And in saudi arabia there is no such thing as taxes and its less then half a dollar a gallon for gas, i just dont know where all the money is going, wait a second, let me look at my self.......... when did i get this fat.

 

[Grandavi]

Depending on how you look at it, you need to realise that everything is relative.

The poorest among us is generally richer than the middle class (if that existed) of about 100+ years ago.
Getting a Supra MK3 with a "fresh" motor for 2500.00 is a steal considering I paid that just for my shortblock...

Our cars are undervalued imo... which is good if your buying or bad if your selling... I dont intend to sell so I dont care.

I have solid work, good pay, food on the table and can shit in a warm bathroom... I consider myself blessed...

Thought I would add... if your a hard working person with respect for the person standing next to you (regardless of who they are), then your an asset to the world. Poor or rich is just part luck, part plan and part mystery. Money doesn't make you happy, its just makes life different.

 

[mjsn1]

Being a student, I understand how money is tight these days. I make a little over $8/hr and usually have around $800/mo. in expenses (from food to rent). My Supra is my current daily driver so I'm trying to be disciplined and save my pennies for another car, but I still keep my eye out for Supra parts - in fact, I just bought a set of MKIV wheels off of a friend. There are good months and bad months for me, where I either have a little left over or barely get by, and I think that goes for everyone on this forum. All I can do is sit back and hope going to school will pay off in the end.

It will pay in the long run you just have to be patient. I got my BS last year, as a network engineer i work from 7a.m to 6p.m and only get $1200 a month, but i still have a job.

 

[emericaskater285]

I would consider myself in the younger crowed, but I do feel times are getting worse. I myself try to wait for killer deals on parts when buying for my car.

 

[bloodasp90]

well i guess i could be on the younger side of the group too, but being that i spent 6 years active duty in the US Marine Corps, and getting a chance to live in JDMland and accually see true JZA70's and A80's, plus the lot of JZX90's, 100's, 110's. I consider my self lucky to be back here in one peace (mostly) and now are going to school and have a okay job.

Work these days isnt getting any easier, if anything its getting harder, yet we still all have to take it in stride and keep moving forward and blaze our own trails over what ever is in front of us.. even if that means going around corner at 60MPH with the tail hanging out and smoke pouring from the rear tires..

 

[Insidious Surmiser]

Money IS a lot tighter these days, might have to scale back the wish list or increase the time frame to achieve it

Yeah for sure man. It just bites seeing these blood suckers (high class elites) sucking the life out of everything around them. :3d_frown:

Besides high taxes and my excellent ability to spend money on useless things, expensive food, and partying I do pretty good.

I've cut partying out of my financial equation. It has no place. All I really spend money on nowadays is bills, food, gas. I haven't been to a restaurant or movie theatre in lord knows how long....

I remember when i had too much money to spend on my car, but now i cant even change the brakes.
And in saudi arabia there is no such thing as taxes and its less then half a dollar a gallon for gas, i just dont know where all the money is going, wait a second, let me look at my self.......... when did i get this fat.

that's crazy man... I'd be in heaven if gas were that cheap. Not only that but brakes are PRIORITY. I'd starve for a couple weeks if I needed brakes. Literally.

Depending on how you look at it, you need to realise that everything is relative.

The poorest among us is generally richer than the middle class (if that existed) of about 100+ years ago.
Getting a Supra MK3 with a "fresh" motor for 2500.00 is a steal considering I paid that just for my shortblock...

Our cars are undervalued imo... which is good if your buying or bad if your selling... I dont intend to sell so I dont care.

I have solid work, good pay, food on the table and can shit in a warm bathroom... I consider myself blessed...

Thought I would add... if your a hard working person with respect for the person standing next to you (regardless of who they are), then your an asset to the world. Poor or rich is just part luck, part plan and part mystery. Money doesn't make you happy, its just makes life different.

Health is wealth. I truly believe that, but with my mental health being iffy at best, that's always susceptible to change. My buddy said he didn't want to sell for less than 3,000 but I was 100% honest with him about my finances and he saw my last supra and it was immaculate due to lots of hard work on my end; so he'd much rather see the car go to me than your run of the mill ?

Due to my poor social skills it's always been difficult for me to land a job, but I do work as hard as I can (after all this is your reputation, if you do poor work your name is basically trashed... but at the same time I know companies employ complete morons who undoubtedly do worse work than a 6 yr old. So I don't really understand that.) Believe me I've talked with quite a few people (my father included), and I've worked with the metal worker's union in the past (terrible workmanship). So first hand accounts (including my own) verify what I've said to be at least right next to being the truth.

I can be appreciative of the food I have and the roof over my head (as I've been homeless in the past). But just barely scraping by, not having seen a dentist or doctor in over a decade; it's not really definable as healthy. Part of my mental issues are that I value my life at next to nothing, really it's my care of others that keeps me going more than anything. I can honestly say that my health lies entirely in the hands of fate.

I would consider myself in the younger crowed, but I do feel times are getting worse. I myself try to wait for killer deals on parts when buying for my car.

I honestly think it's the technology that's dooming this upcoming generation to a truly terrible fate. The age of misinformation seems to be rendering our population blind and confused.

well i guess i could be on the younger side of the group too, but being that i spent 6 years active duty in the US Marine Corps, and getting a chance to live in JDMland and accually see true JZA70's and A80's, plus the lot of JZX90's, 100's, 110's. I consider my self lucky to be back here in one peace (mostly) and now are going to school and have a okay job.

It's always good practice to count your blessings.

Work these days isnt getting any easier, if anything its getting harder, yet we still all have to take it in stride and keep moving forward and blaze our own trails over what ever is in front of us.. even if that means going around corner at 60MPH with the tail hanging out and smoke pouring from the rear tires..

Well said. Hell Yeah. :evil2:

 

[Suprapowaz!(2)]

It will pay in the long run you just have to be patient. I got my BS last year, as a network engineer i work from 7a.m to 6p.m and only get $1200 a month, but i still have a job.

What is the cost of living like in Saudi? You did mention less than half a dollar per gallon of gas, so I assume it's pretty cheap to live there.

 

[mjsn1]

What is the cost of living like in Saudi? You did mention less than half a dollar per gallon of gas, so I assume it's pretty cheap to live there.

living in saudi is cheap, but you dont get to have a big salary like in the US, and if you are a supra owner its even crapier, you cant find parts or nothing.
Also dont get fooled by the gas price, thats the only thing thats working for us, but the rest of the daily things like social services and stuff are absolete, you guys dont know how good you have it. Also dont think of coming to saudi, many americans and people from other places came and left, they didnt like living here, they all say that it a boring place to live, that is why i have a mk3, and a speargun.

 

[Insidious Surmiser]

sounds fine to me... I'm sure the roads aren't that great. I don't really benefit from the govt. what-so-ever, unless you consider a show of force and pointless wars to be benefiting us.... sure traffic regulation is great.... oh wait, what am I talking about? our system is full of failures and loopholes... legally blind people drive around far too much, and driver education is terrible. Just think how awesome it is living in a country where most of your influence comes from the music industry/mass media. I'm not gonna lie, it's kinda crappy. I know... not everyone are brain-dead sheeple, but it's got to be something close to 85% I feel like. (that's still giving benefit of doubt IMO)

 

[Suprapowaz!(2)]

89jdm7m, who is that in your avatar and what's in his mouth. I've always wondered.

 

[Falken]

true true now and days im starving just to get parts for my supra... and not only that i haven't bought any new clothes for a long time. im still wearing the beat up jeans and oil stained shirts at times. i might just have one good pair of jeans and couple good shirts. my friends call me walking portrait just cuz im always wearing the same clothes when i even hang with them or go in a cruise. tough tough days right now.

 

[Insidious Surmiser]

89jdm7m, who is that in your avatar and what's in his mouth. I've always wondered.

haha that's my father with an apple in his mouth :rofl:

true true now and days im starving just to get parts for my supra... and not only that i haven't bought any new clothes for a long time. im still wearing the beat up jeans and oil stained shirts at times. i might just have one good pair of jeans and couple good shirts. my friends call me walking portrait just cuz im always wearing the same clothes when i even hang with them or go in a cruise. tough tough days right now.

I feel ya, man. I wear shoes from when I was half my age (12) to work, and I regularly wear jeans/shirts that are close to a decade old . I'll give you a tip. I've gotten some nice jeans by going into stores in the mall on off seasons (summer) $20 for $120 jeans otherwise.

 

[7M4EVR]

Hey guys I think IJ is right on. Its all about prioritizing your budget. I mean just because you have the money to get car parts at the time, doesn't mean you should. At the same time one has to spend his money on what he values though. The trick is to find a good balance between wants and needs. And everyone's wants and needs are unique

I live in Nebraska, cost of living isn't bad, have a very good job and bring home about 3600 a month, and I have been working on my car since last february, and I am obsessed with my supra. But even when it is done this spring it won't be half as nice as most on here. But then again my wife and two little girls had a good Christmas and have all that they need and that's what is more important to me.

 

[Insidious Surmiser]

Yeah, here's what my basic parts list looks like. I should be picking up a good exhaust on the way back from picking up my car (improve gas mileage).

exhaust
seats/interior
Bushings
traction arms
struts and springs
brakes
driveshaft
flywheel
clutch
engine performance
misc

As for family; I haven't even entertained the idea of having a family of my own; I can barely afford to pay my bills and feed myself as it is... So there's honestly no place for it. Not until I can find an employer that will actually value my hard work and attention to detail.

 

[57trimMKIII]

A key part in "living with a Supra" is budgeting. Here is my budget, as an example: I mentioned I have about $800/mo. in expenses, so break that down into $200/week. $100 of it is set aside for rent/bills, and another $100 is set aside for food/gas/etc.. Now, anything over that $200 goes into the "blow" budget for that week, which can go towards savings, Supra parts, etc.. You need to be disciplined to pull this off, as there have been plenty of weeks where I've had checks just below the $200 mark and I'd rather have rent paid than Supra parts. So sit down with a pen and paper sometime, find out what you're monthly expenses are, break down the cost into 4 parts/weeks, budget each week, and stick to it. This makes things so much easier in the end!