How much do you earn each year?

[rosscarlson]

I know this can be a somewhat distasteful question in some society (I think it's really bad etiquette in the UK, yes?) but with all the threads of guys asking "hey, I'm 19 and make $8/hour and want an Elise" I thought it might be good to put some perspective on what other owners earn in a year.

Please feel 100% fee to answer the poll without posting if you're very private about your finances. And if this really is a horribly distasteful thread feel free to kill it as that's not my goal at all.

So have at it.

EDIT: What I mean by "earned" is what was your total income, not necessarily just your salary...

EDIT 2: I also meant to intend this as an owners only poll. Nothing against our none owner brethren but just interested in owner data (or former owners)

[tonymaples806]

Great idea, this will be very beneficial to prospective buyers. Too many people only factor in the cost to finance, and not maintenance. You may be able to afford a 30k car, but if you have a small "fender bender" that's a far different story.

[lotusforsale]

How much did I earn or how much did I make?

[Alphonse]

Not nearly enough!

[rosscarlson]

Originally Posted by lotusforsale

How much did I earn or how much did I make?

Edited my first post - what I mean is what is your total income all around (salary, investments, etc).

[squidward]

Despite your intentions, I do believe this is a distasteful post.

I know your reasoning but seeing this thread just comes off to me as we are community of pretentious people looking to validate our social status.

Like, "Hey Lotus fan, if you are looking to own one, just remember this is where we are, and where you should be if you want to be one of us."


Barf. A Lotus can be had in the high 20's, low 30's..

[rosscarlson]

Originally Posted by squidward

Despite your intentions, I do believe this is a distasteful post.

I know your reasoning but seeing this thread just comes off to me as we are community of pretentious people looking to validate our social status.

Like, "Hey Lotus fan, if you are looking to own one, just remember this is where we are, and where you should be if you want to be one of us."


Barf. A Lotus can be had in the high 20's..

That's a totally fair point - and why I prefaced my post with something like this. I suppose my real goal is just to say because you can afford to make payments on one doesn't mean you can really afford to own one. Just trying to give some potential owners some insight to the rest of us.

But again I can't argue with your argument. I'm very open with finances/money anyway so this subject is just a non-issue with me.

[squidward]

Then why don't you entitle your post more accurately to read what you want to talk about?

"The real cost of ownership" or something to that effect. Gathering income demographics is roundabout way, don't you think? I don't believe someone who makes less than 50k a year should automatically rule out the chance for ownership.. particularly if they are handy with a wrench. The only thing that the poll really says is that this car is a toy and most people have several other cars. But we have seen many owners use their lotuses as their one and only daily driver.. it has been done quite successfully.

[aschen]

I'm torn. I think it isnt in the greatest of taste, but am facinated by statistics and demographics.

Income of course doesnt say too much about affordability. I make a pretty decent living but am certainly not rich. I paid for my used exige with cash as I am mostly frugal and cost of living in texas is low. Now I have a wife and child my money goes alot faster!

My sister and husband have a combined income well off your chart, yet they struggle alot more than me. They live in NYC and have huge daycare fees. Their cars are financed.

When I bought the elise in 2007, I made significantly less than I do now. Maybe even low enough for it to be considered a poor choice. However, I made a deal with myself that if the car was written off or required huge maintenance (igonorant to lotus at the time), I would chalk it up as a life lesson and move on. It was paid for and had another car.

Anyways too many variables are between income and affordability.

[GuppyCaptain]

Originally Posted by squidward

Despite your intentions, I do believe this is a distasteful post.

I know your reasoning but seeing this thread just comes off to me as we are community of pretentious people looking to validate our social status.

Like, "Hey Lotus fan, if you are looking to own one, just remember this is where we are, and where you should be if you want to be one of us."


Barf. A Lotus can be had in the high 20's, low 30's..

I don't know Squid. Normally if someone asks me face to face how much I make, I'll take offense to it unless it's someone else in my profession in which case we're just shop talking and comparing contracts/companies. In fact, when I had my Elise and people asked me how much it cost I usually gave them the "You didn't just ask me that, did you?" look. It's not polite to pry like that and especially into others income. Which reminds me, I've got to figure out how much my Evora S is going to cost per pound. Gotta be ready with the smart-ass answer for the impolite question.

I can see your point about this poll coming off as pretentious, but Ross points out from the get go that it's more to knock some sense of reality into young kids that want to own a Lotus, but perhaps aren't figuring total cost of ownership. Besides, it's mostly the same cast of Lotus freaks that reads this forum and to me it's interesting to see the demographic (income wise) with regards to who owns these vehicles. The poll is nice because no one has to reveal their identity and no one has to even take the poll for that matter if they don't want to.

I can see both of your stances to be honest. How's that for bipartisanship? Maybe I should have run for prez. My first act would have been a tax cut to all Lotus owners

[RENDERMAN]

I won't tell, I'm afraid of Obama

[GuppyCaptain]

Originally Posted by RENDERMAN

I won't tell, I'm afraid of Obama

And with good reason. Okay, no thread hijack. Back to talking about how rich we are

[agirls]

I disagree that these cars are uber expensive and that you have to make a crap load of money to maintain. Maybe I've just been lucky. BUT it pisses me off that some people even *think* about buying any car other than a basic car while living at home with mom and dad not paying rent and on their insurance policy. It is nice to have parents who are willing to let you do that (many people do not) so they should be a little respectful and not take advantage of their parents.

[turbophil]

Not to bring politics into it, but stopping the poll at 200K made me think of the president's image of middle class compared to the very wealthiest americans---Why not ammend poll to include 300, 400, 500, 600, 1mm+------ and perhaps you stopping the poll at 200K+ is evidence that the prez is right???...anyway...

If the poll is anom, then I don't see how this could be tacky or offensive. I also like seeing studies like this. They're always interesting... I've not put a poll together on the forum, so I'm not sure if you or anyone else can see results??????? I guess that answer would better help people like me, who are a bit more private with that information, decide if OK to participate...

[rosscarlson]

I can see your point about this poll coming off as pretentious, but Ross points out from the get go that it's more to knock some sense of reality into young kids that want to own a Lotus, but perhaps aren't figuring total cost of ownership. Besides, it's mostly the same cast of Lotus freaks that reads this forum and to me it's interesting to see the demographic (income wise) with regards to who owns these vehicles. The poll is nice because no one has to reveal their identity and no one has to even take the poll for that matter if they don't want to.

Thanks Guppy, this is exactly what I was thinking when I started the poll. I too am fascinated by stats and graphs. And as I and others have pointed out it's totally anonymous.

To anyone I've offended my apologies - it was not intentional. You'll know when I'm trying to offend

It's also true that income level does not necessarily mean you can/can't afford one, but like all simple polls it is somewhat of a baseline. And I must admit so far the numbers have landed almost exactly where I would have predicted.

[rosscarlson]

Originally Posted by turbophil

Not to bring politics into it, but stopping the poll at 200K made me think of the president's image of middle class very the wealthiest americans...anyway...

Why not ammend poll to include 300, 400, 500, 600. 1mm+... Just a thought...

If the poll is anom, then I don't see how this could be tacky or offensive. I also like seeing studies like this. They're always interesting... I've not put a poll together on the forum, so I'm not sure if you or anyone else can see results??????? I guess that answer would better help people like me, who are a bit more private with that information, decide if OK to participate...

I stopped at 200k because I figure if your total income is over 200k then owning one a Lotus of any kind is probably a very easy thing for you. I'll see if I can add a few more numbers above that. I didn't even think of the Obama (not a fan BTW) 200k comments (maybe that was in my subconscious)

And no, I don't get any more insight into the poll than everyone else - I just see the raw answers at the top. No data on who/what/when (as it should be)

UPDATE: Looks like I can't edit the poll at this point, sorry...

[GuppyCaptain]

Originally Posted by agirls

I disagree that these cars are uber expensive and that you have to make a crap load of money to maintain. Maybe I've just been lucky. BUT it pisses me off that some people even *think* about buying any car other than a basic car while living at home with mom and dad not paying rent and on their insurance policy. It is nice to have parents who are willing to let you do that (many people do not) so they should be a little respectful and not take advantage of their parents.

Maybe in his view and his parents' he's not taking advantage of the them. There's an itch in this country or perhaps it's rather an expectation that once someone turns 18 they need to move out. Perhaps both him and his parents are perfectly content with the situation that they're in and neither are trying to rush him out of the house.

I lived with my parents until I finished up college. My college was about seven minutes from their house and no I didn't have to pay rent and yes they did pay for my schooling (state school). If I had a child I'd expect to have to do the same and would be more than willing to do just that.

One can raise a kid properly and instill good values in them without kicking them out of the house at age 18. The OP sounds like a pretty good kid with his head screwed on straight so I'm sure his parents are doing something right. Besides, when my parents get to that point in their life where they might need my help both monetarily and in other ways, I'll be there for them like they were there for me. It's the circle of life. It's family.

I think you're being a little too harsh on the kid. You don't know his particular circumstance.

[agirls]

I said nothing about him not living at home. He should acknowledge how incredibly lucky he is and not abuse the privilege by buying a second car so he can look at it in his parent's garage.

[squidward]

Originally Posted by rosscarlson

I stopped at 200k because I figure if your total income is over 200k then owning one a Lotus of any kind is probably a very easy thing for you. .

There are other cost to ownership than just affordability. If someone told me owning is easy, I would have shot them by now!

[GuppyCaptain]

Originally Posted by agirls

I said nothing about him not living at home. He should acknowledge how incredibly lucky he is and not abuse the privilege by buying a second car so he can look at it in his parent's garage.

Again, you don't know his circumstance, do you? Maybe his parents are rich enough to have bought him a new F-car for his 16th, but are trying to instill some modesty and work ethic in him.

Look, bash him all you want. I'm not here to argue with you. You do know that in Italy men live with their mothers well into their 20s and even 30. Just because 18 is the cutoff age for so many things in this country and that's when you're legally considered an adult, doesn't mean that it's wrong to live with your parents until you're established and ready to head out into the world.

Whatever, this is really stupid. Carry on..........