Good post. I am in the same boat- trying to convince my wife to let me buy a 911 targa. It's strange- sometimes she's cool with it, other times not. I am currently trying to sell my 2000 Range Rover, and plan on using the 911 as a daily driver when the weather permits, but although I have said that I want to buy the Porsche later this year, she is giving me vibes like it might not happen. It's not so much the money part- we have no kids and make just over 100k a year. But I suspect that spending money on a car that is impractical and 20 years old is just too much. I have told her that I will keep the thing until I die (I'm only 34) but no joy. That plus the fact that a 911 would be cheaper to insure, lower payments, and run on regular gas (both the Range Rover and her Mini Cooper S run on premium)
I'll let you know how it goes- big talk about finances tonight...

Cheers,

Paul.

 

Funny. There are parts of your life that are running in a parallel universe to mine!

My wife always would stress out when I came to her with "the big pitch", so I've learned how to float the idea and get the agreement before I start trying to close the deal.

Good luck with it all!

 

just a thought , but the 911 doesnt run on regular, at least you shouldnt be!

 

Lowside,
glad you told me! Do they run on premium? There goes that argument...

Thanks

Paul.

 

Because nobody ever said:

"Wow you own a Hyundai! how does it corner!"

 

It's like a test. If you go along with it, she knows you are a wuss, and you pass, but you get even less respect. If you do your own thing, you fail, but if you continue to act like an adult, and don't respond to the childish antics, you get respect and recognition as an adult male. An alpha male at that. YMMV, but it works for me when all the yes dear[ing] in the world does not.

 

My experience with this topic is that it comes down to what the impact of the car is going to be on her lifestyle. Some of us would live in the car if we had to but our spouses typically don't share the same enthusiasm. Figure out how to neutralize the financial impact. You're on the right track with getting rid of one of the other cars. I did a few months of car shuffling to make room for the 993. If you don't have kids then a lot of arguments are already off the table. We've got 2 kids and many discussions took place to make sure college, etc. was taken care off first. There's no way to justify a car like this so I'd take the tact of how to make it work with the rest of the household priorities rather than it being a bargain. Especially given maintenance costs that won't look like a deal to her down the road. Best of luck.

 

Funny to see so many "whipped" guys here. I laid out a real world solution back on page 2 that would allow you to have the car YOU want. Works for us.

 

You hit the nail on the head here. If it is all about you and not about "us", then it is a much harder sell.

For my cab, I focused on how fun it will be to take weekend trips to the mountains and lakes with the top down an a great sunny day. In fact, we've already plotted out 3 such summer weekend trips.

 

Exactly. This is the first car I've had that she had any interest in which is a much better scenario than in the past. We decided this weekend that we are taking a week and a half and the car for a multi state vacation out west. Plotting out a trip through the Bad Lands of SD, Colorado, down to Santa Fe, and back to Illinois. All at her suggestion of a great way to spend quality time and spend time with the 993.

 

I did that and now I never get to drive it so I am shopping for another.

 

Amazing to see so many replies on this topic. Anyone who has successfully implemented the various tactic mentioned so far should do a report here and give us (whipped guys) some hope.

 

I may have mentioned it already, but I'm too lazy to search for it.

After trying for years, and even prepaying for 5 years of college for 2 kids with my last 911 down payment, I finally got her to conceed in the most unlikely way.

I got an Xbox with Forza Motorsports and told her I was going to spend $2500 to buy a VRX (http://www.virtualracerx.com) so I can have a virtual car collection that I can drive anytime I want. She thought that was rather selfish and would take away from the time we spend together. Jokingly I said well it is cheaper than getting a 911, and she floored me when she said "I'd rather get a 911 than have that ugly think in my house. At least the whole family can enjoy it (referring to us all going cruising in it)." After some discussions she gave me the green light and the rest is history.

Now it is this waiting thing that is killing me!!!!!

 

put your foot down and grow some *****. Tell her you want to have something a little bit special.
Why should you justify? Sell the other stuff, and get your car. Way I see it as long as you're not throwing money out the window it shouldn't matter. Big purchases are something that should be discussed in a marriage but she tolerates the motorcycles. Sell the miata, the motorcycles, and use the money to get your 911. Why should it matter to her? You're simply trading, not something you really need to 'discuss'.
Put your foot down if you can.
Unless it involves her money too...

 

Ironically enough I'm guessing when I buy my Porsche I'm going to have to justify it to my family. my parents, sister, brother in law, etc...