I don't know if knowing what I know now, at 54, would have swayed my car fetish in my 20s and 30s, but it would have been nice to have kept some vehicles longer and saved $$$ for my audio fetish at this age.
Yes, my system is more expensive than my vehicle. |
Kiza does that mean you now only own smart audio electronics? Mine haven't yet achieved sentience but they've been designed by smart folks so maybe they are in the middle.
My audio system costs most than both my cars, but my cars are 12 and 10 years old. Still going strong and no need to replace them. I enjoy my audio system much more too :) |
Gave up of stupid audio electronics. Happiest person ever. |
I just sold my fancy hotrod luxury SUV and replaced it with a 10 year old pickup truck so now my stereo cost is higher than my car. Nice to put leftover cash in the bank but might feel weird to tell a non-audiophile that my stereo indeed cost more than my truck. |
My car but I like my system better. |
Tommy, I can't stop laughing :-)
Best regards,
-- Al |
My system costs way more than my car and I drive a Mercedes SLR McLaren that costs $455,500. I have cables that cost more than most cars. Yes, I am awesome!!!!
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Both my vehicles cost more than twice as much as my system and I think my system sounds amazing. In 1985 my car stereo cost more than my car. I've reprioritized. |
I probably paid about the same for both. 2012 Porsche Cayman R....All Ayre electonics with Vpi Superscout Rim Drive/Benz LPS, Vandersteen 5A's |
My preamp cost more than my current car. |
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My car was more expensive when new, but now after 5 years it has depreciated below what I could sell my system for. Seems like audio equipment is probably a better long term investment! :) |
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Jmcgrogan2,...Steep diminishing returns indeed. I still can't believe how good a Squeezebox sounds for its price. It is now my main listening source.
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Mitch4t, I drove a clunker for most of my life too. As the economic well started to dry up I decided that I needed to have a vehicle that I could rely on for 10-12 years. Hence I sold all of my system and purchased newer cars for my wife and myself.
The thing that I'm finding very amazing is that as I downsize, the music still sounds surprisingly good. My current system lists for less than 20% of what my old system did, yet I'm amazed at how close it gets sonically. Maybe all of them "Big" improvements that I heard over the years weren't so big after all. No, it's not quite as good as my old big rig, but I didn't realize just how steep the laws of diminishing returns have gotten. |
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Jmcgrogan2, I have an arrangement with my wife. She drives the nicer car and I drive the clunker. If we drive together, we take her car. So, I have no need to get a nicer car, we always take hers when she's too embarrassed to get into my car. My discretionary dough will go to the system.
Jazzerdave....I had a '56 Ford Crown Victoria when I was in high school in '70-71. It was a two-toned white over green beauty. I paid $250 for my ride back then too! I didn't even know they still made that model any more.
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My system cost a lot more than my car. It should be noted that I paid $250 for my 2001 Ford Crown Victoria. I don't have a single piece of gear that would exceed the current retail of the car. |
Mitch4t, be careful when using words like "Always" and "Never". Once upon a time I thought and acted exactly like you. In fact in my original reply to this thread in 06/10, I wrote "My System". Today, the answer is: "My car".
Let's just say that life has a way of throwing you curve balls that may have you re-evaluate your priorities. |
Paid more out of pocket for new car (BMW X3 for $40k) in 2005, but stereo gear lists for around $50K new even though I bought lightly used and demo stuff for the most part. |
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My system costs more and that will always be the case. Going forward, I will always throw more money at my system than I will my car. There was a time I'd sink more money into my car than my system...no more. I spend more time and get more enjoyment out of my system than I do my car, so that's where the money will go from now on.
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2012 Porsche.....with Bose audio.....costs more, but not that much more |
My System but my harley is right with my Systm tho. |
System by a mile...and many have accused me of being a "car guy" |
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System, I drive a work van. |
System, I'm not sure if that's good or bad. I have a C class Merc, but I always buy second hand, as I try to with HiFi, so it was'nt that expensive |
My system cost's a "little" more than my truck but I guess it's just what we audio nuts do! ;) |
System - even with used market prices. Car is a brand new 2012 Honda Accord EX coupe. Nice car, and pretty safe, but nothing fancy. |
For transportation I use a beautiful 40' NYC bus - comes with a chauffeur too. (I live in Manhattan and don't have a car anymore.) So, yeah, my $45thd system cost more than my "car". |
I have too many expensive hobbies to make the call. System, watches, cars... I dont know about whats more but they are all fun. Dont care to share totals as I do it for my enjoyment. Watch stay under my cuff and system isnt bragged to buddies. Now if we add in kids thats by far the most expensive hobby! |
At current list price, my monobloc amplifiers are neck and neck with my car. |
My speaker cables cost more than my car ! |
My system, but if I had kept that 1971 911 Targa in good condition, who knows? |
Wife, house, cars, systems, in that order. |
When you're a bottom feeder like me, it's harder to figure out.
I have a $40K Lincoln Town Car, but I bought it used for $7.5K.
My 7.1 ch. HT audio system retails for around $12K, but I have about $4800 in it. My 2-channel analog-based system retails at around $9K, but I spent around $3.5K.
It was much easier to answer when I was driving a $2200 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis, which I traded in on the Lincoln. |
Mobile system, AKA: Car.:-) |
1995 volvo 850. 180k miles. lololol. |
Car. I own a 2001 Subaru Imprezza 2.0gl, I paid about 6000 for that car Januari 2010. I don't think I have spent 6000 on my system. And retail to retail the car wins easily. I think only people with the mega $ (more then $15.000) systems own systems that can be more expensive then a car. A decent 2nd hand 4 or 5 door car costs between 5000 and 20.000. I don't think most audiofiles will spend that kind of money on their system. For example a 2nd hand 2004 BMW 530 diesel with 150-200k Km costs between 15.000 and 20.000 The most Basic 530 diesel new costs 65.000
So I don't think many people will a system that costs more the their car.
A 40 square meter appartment costs 100.000 where I live and house prices start at 200.000 for a 120 m2 house and that is in outside the city centre. In the centre the prices can rise a lot.
So I doubt there is anyone in the city where I live that owns a system that is even 10% of the cost of their house. |
My system. I sold an 07 Mustang GT in July 09 got 18k back on the 26k car. Spent half on gold and the other upgrading equipment. If gold hits 1700 per oz. I'll have driven the car for free. I bought 4 new Mustangs in 8 years (one was a Cobra) when I was working, and have been lucky enough NEVER to have paid retail for anything in my life. NEVER will either. I'll go without as long as I have to, but cash is still King and the sellers will finally give in. I'm happy with my minivan and love all the upgrades sitting in my audio rack. Good luck to all. |
Not my car, but it costs more than to heat this house for a year. |
My 2-channel system costs far more than my new Hyundai Genesis V8. I have an Einstein The Tube Mark II pre-amp, an Einstein The Light in the Dark stereo amp, Lindemann 820S SACD/CD player, Lansche No. 5 speakers, various expensive power cords and interconnects, along with my least expensive component--a VPI Classic turntable with a Soundsmith cartridge.
So my system probably costs at least double the price of my car. My upstairs media room surround sound system costs a bit less than my car.
Greg |
This IMO :o) should be rephrased.
Generally on a car purchase it is a one time buy (or say 5K down and a 4-5 year loan to pay it off). Say you spend 25K on a Honda Accord - just saying. The question should be has anyone purchased a component, one time buy at 25K. If you are going to add up the cost of every component of your system, and include trade in's and a lifetime of upgrading then I think this is not a good measuring stick.
If it took someone 20 -25 years to get a system up to say 50 - 75K - then IMO - you need to add up how much you spent on each car you have purchased over those same years.
Just my 2 cents. |
My system of course.I drive a Ford F 150 supercrew truck that I love and take care of but the system costs more. |
Pefstratiou... Whenever you want to unload that GTR I'll be waiting... patiently... staring at it every night from behind a picket fence. ;-D
Seriously, if you have a picket fence then we might have a problem. LOL! j/k
My car (2010 Acura TSX) is still 3 1/2X my system at retail. But I'm just getting started. |
My 2003 Mitsubishi Evo costs the same as the cumulative expense for my system. Then I got a Nissan GTR. I will get better speakers in the near future but still the car will be up there. I can justify 90000 for good handling at 120mph but not 50000 for an amp. |
It is pretty much a tie. I have a custom supercharged 800 hp BMW 540i, a daily driver BMW 535i and a week-end hauler GMC Sonoma PU. My A/V sytem cost $100,000. I love them all, and I have been blessed with being able to enjoy them every day. |
I love these "mines bigger then yours" threads lol |
Same as car but 1/4 of solar hot water and PV investments to power our small house all year. Priorities.. |
2007 Lexus GS350 with Mark Levinson system inside. My mobile system was more expensive than any of my indoors sytems. |
System, music, and car each cost me about the same. System by far is holding value best. |
