It is all about managing my money. Like most people I could have paid cash for my 997.2, even when it was brand new, but with the current investments I have that money tied to it makes zero sense. A $50k car at 3.5% interest is a great idea currently, because that same $50k I could have taken out of those investments to pay for the car returned me 18% last year and over 30% the year before. Now if my cash was not giving me that high rate of return I would gladly pay cash.

If your loan rate is 4% and your investment of that same money is 4% then it does not matter which way you go. If you make 10% on that money though you keep it where it is at and back the other 6% while paying your 4% interest. Money in the past few years has been cheap. I am afraid those days are over though at least until the economy takes another hit.

Same as doclouie said. You want you cash working for you. Not against you. W

ex year one I invest the 55,000, I make 10% - I get $5500, less every year after that because you won’t have the whole $55000
if I finance the entire amount I only pay about $6500 in interest over 5 years -

so so at the end of 5 years I’m still way ahead

its actually more complicated than that because you have to pay taxes on the gains

and it can be dangerous because you can end up upside down if you have to sell the car in the short term so I would not do it if I could not pay off the loan or I was only planning on keeping the car short term

2008-2009 was a hard year for sure, but the last 3-4 years have been wonderful. I have been blessed far more than I should have been and I am only in my 40’s. I am a real buy and hold guy who is more risk adverse than most, but I take my investments seriously. That being said I only look at them a few times a year. Remember when it comes to investments the only thing you can really control is how much you will pay in fees and never invest what you cannot lose. I love index funds of all sorts.

Doc. What paid 18% last year? The market was mostly flat. Real estate cap rates over 10% aren't easy to get and with higher returns risk goes up significantly so am curious what kind of asset did 18% in 2018.