TSOS

true statement. I have a family full of healthcare providers. My brother is a general dentist and I'm an oral surgeon. My two younger brothers are in residency. I told them to think long and hard about their career move. Ones in urology residency so he'll be just fine. Several of those that came before me that were on the physician side cautioned me when I started in schooling to maybe look into dentistry and I'm glad I did. Medicine is a great field don't get me wrong. In my line of work I get the best of both world.

freeman

Most of these replies come from people in the health professions. I am the lower end of the scale as I am a University professor who has taught medical students for 38 years. I bought my first new Porsche (a 914 2l) when I was 40 yoa in 1974 and an assistant professor. I subsequently bought new '87, '89, '95, 2013 and 2015 911s. I was fortunate to have a wife who earned a decent, but not spectacular, living. She was a big fan of Porsches. Every time I asked if I could look, she said, "go for it". In addition, beginning with the '89, I made sure I could pay cash for every car otherwise I would not make the plunge.I have paid cash for every Porsche since. Every enthusiast can afford a new Porsche as long as they are temperate in their approach. Imagine! A university professor has owned 6 new Porsches with great thought. We are far from wealthy as the health professionals. We just kept our Porsches for the right time to sell/trade and negotiated nice deals with dealers. For example, I was driving my '87 911 coupe through Columbia, SC on December 23, 1989. We stopped to look at the local Porsche dealer who had a knockout black-on-black '89 Targa in his showroom. We talked about it and negotiated. The bottom line is that I had no check in my posession with reasonable cash and I did not have the title to my '87. I drove home in the Targa on December 26 and mailed them the title and a check on December 28 for $22,000 for the Targa I had just driven home. They had my '87 coupe.

That is how I have bought my Porsches since 1974. Look at my Porsches on my Avatar if anyone is interested.

I only ask for no unkind statements that may come occasionally from Rennlist. I am a long-time member.

freeman727

Good advise. Figure out how much for basic life expenses (food/shelter/clothes/education/kids/insurance/utilities/etc.), savings (very indvidual) and other duties (parents/alimony/pets/etc). Any leftover money can be considered play money. Gift for wife, 2nd home, gadgets, Porsches, etc.

Unless you are sitting on a huge pile of cash without significant liabilites, you never know when that stream of income will dry up. The point is get it now. Getting to this point of affording one is enough delayed gratification. At least this is my opinion.

Jammin

Also oral surgeon here. Most of my medical colleagues drive "safe" cars such as toyotas and hondas with an occasional acura or lexus or mb. Urologist friend just bought a new jaguar f type convertible and the local radiologist has a 650 convert. and 535, sort of off the curve. However, the hip replacement orthropod has multiple of just about every exotic car available. I had to help him slide his key card into the doctors lot reader once when he showed up in his lambo.

Patriot

Trial Lawyer.

visitador

Retired high class hustler. Used to drive a Jeep Wrangler made by Dieter Zetsche during my trade years

rk-d

Doctor.

Lot of assumptions in this thread about physicians, specialty income, etc etc. There are far too many variables to make sweeping statements. There is an exception for every rule and the calling to this field is more than just income. I'll leave it at that.

freeman

rk-d
Do you want to be specific with your mysterious missive. It may help we unwashed masses.

rk-d

Not really

freeman727

I think that my perspective on purchasing luxury items will change later on in my career when the reality of retirement comes.

points

I grow approx 1 million bougainvillea every year. Owned many Porshii most of em 356.

freeman727

Well the point point of my post is to figure out motivating factors besides money. A lot of people in my field like cars a lot but don't pull the trigger. BTW, psychology was my undergrad major.

rk-d

I know a number of people who could afford cars far nicer than mine and choose not to. I'm sure you do as well.

Invariably, these people have other pursuits - travel, boats, ranches, farms, beach homes. Then there are the liabilities - multiple kids, multiple wives, excessive debt.

Alot of doctors don't feel comfortable having patients see them drive a nice car. Alot of them are nerds and don't really care about cars.

If you think about it - we're the outliers here.

freeman727

Everyone has their vices.

I can't think of any better vice than performance cars. I guess I'm stuck as a little boy and playing with toy cars.

Hurricane

Not a doctor, not a lawyer, not an entrepreneur. Love cars, though...