Cars vs Airplanes

[Bryan Cotton]

I am doing a short pause to change the oil in my '99 Saturn. This is the only new car I have ever bought new and it has 192,255 miles tonight. Many people believe you have to have a ton of money to have an airplane. Many of them have two $35K SUVs in the garage, about two Sonexes worth. I guess this post is about how thriftiness can be a means to achieve that airplane dream. This is why I am building a Waiex. If I could afford those two new SUVs I would probably have an RV7 or a Pitts or something.

When we finish the Waiex Adam and I are going to rebuild the Saturn. I'll take over the new truck ('06 Ram 1500 140K miles) and get my wife something newer. Adam and Matthew will learn to drive in the Saturn.

Oh yeah, besides being a tailwheel guy I am a 5-speed guy.

[samiam]

Bryan, words can't express how much I agree with you. I have a 50% share in an airplane, so "I must be rich." Of course it is a C-150 worth about 9k. Meanwhile, I bought my cobalt used for $7500 5 years ago and will drive it into the ground, while my wife bought a new Prius. I always say I spend less on my car + airplane than her car alone :) I would so much rather have the airplane!

[samiam]

PS, my Cobalt is also a 5-speed. And the Sonex I am building is tailwheel :D

[daleandee]

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[wlarson861]

Ok I have to admit to just buying a new SUV. a $25000 RAV4 (Lowest trim package). I traded in a 17 year old Doge Dakota and manged to afford to keep the Sonex. If it were a choice due to money I would have kept the plane and just hitch hiked to the airport. I was never as enamored with a car or truck as I have been with any airborne conveyance. However a motorcycle runs a close second :D

[mike.smith]

I drive my wife's 2011 6-speed (Subaru) and have a tail dragger Sonex :-) My 2007 Subaru has 128K miles on it, hers 110,000. I have a tie-down because I can't afford a $500/month hangar.

[ihab]

This is turning into a four Yorkshiremen situation. Or maybe You had zeros?

Ihab

[samiam]

I think it's more about how everyone chooses to spend their dollars. If you can afford a nice car and a nice plane, there's nothing wrong with that! But if the dollars are limited, there are ways to sacrifice in some areas (like cars) to allow more room to indulge in others.

[ihab]

I think it's more about how everyone chooses to spend their dollars.

Oh I agree!

My wife has the family car; I ride my bike to the airport. No Sonex yet, but my flying habit is still pretty expensive. Until it was stolen, the bike I rode to the airport was built like a Sonex.

Ihab