actually, this is the reason why a fancy car has ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE A STUPID IDEA TO ME....
you are AT THE MERCY of everyone on the road, on the street, the elements, etc etc etc etc... AND, this is a possession that you FREQUENTLY HAVE TO LEAVE SOMEWHERE!!!
what other pricey item do you do this with?
i understand that you love your car. but it INTERFERES WITH YOUR LIFE. understand this.
basically what this means is that YOU CAN'T AFFORD YOUR CAR.
if you can't afford to fix and maintain... if you can't afford to have it as an active and easy part of your life - IF YOU CAN'T ENJOY IT (!!!) - you can't afford it.
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the proper attitude is you look at it like a $600 pair of church's shoes. sure, they are expensive.
but as with all your possessions, you do NOT bag it and throw it in your closet. you use them and ENJOY them... AND... you MAINTAIN THEM. if they get scuffed, you buff and polish, you use shoe trees, you send them in every so often to get reconditioned.
the issue is, the maintenance of your car COSTS - quite a bit if it gets dented and dinged. if you can't afford it so that you can enjoy your car, you can't afford your car.
(i speak from experience - my instinct is NOT to enjoy my nice things and just horde them in a box. RIDICULOUS. enjoy your stuff... just maintain. and with most things, a PATINA OF AGE is a desirable mark)
seriously - this is a good principle here - if you cannot enjoy your expensive item, you cannot afford it.
luck
delta