Thoughts on Trucks

[Roboturner]

Now, Doug Demuro is a car-enthusiast blogger. Being a car-enthusiast is inherently unmustachian, however he is a brilliantly funny writer - and his thoughts on trucks is beautifully spot on - so you're welcome

http://jalopnik.com/if-the-honda-ridgeline-fails-its-because-pickup-truck-b-1752719068

"I’ve determined that there are two primary questions potential pickup buyers ask when they show up at the dealer. Number one: Do you have a bigger one? And number two: Can you finance me?"

[RocketSurgeon]

Someone in the comments is trying to justify owning an SUV in NYC because of potholes. Admittedly, I've only spent a week there, but I don't see why you would bother with a car at all in that city.

[Racer X]

Now, Doug Demuro is a car-enthusiast blogger. Being a car-enthusiast is inherently unmustachian, however he is a brilliantly funny writer - and his thoughts on trucks is beautifully spot on - so you're welcome

http://jalopnik.com/if-the-honda-ridgeline-fails-its-because-pickup-truck-b-1752719068

"I’ve determined that there are two primary questions potential pickup buyers ask when they show up at the dealer. Number one: Do you have a bigger one? And number two: Can you finance me?"

At the risk of dragging this slightly off topic (and apologies in advance for that if it does...) why do you say that being a car-enthusiast is anti-mustachian?  Is it strictly because people interested in FIRE are supposed to take some kind of vow of poverty and not have any hobbies?  Is it the environmental thing?  Is it a slavish cult-like desire to exactly emulate MMM?

I appreciate MMM's philosophy, and would certainly support using both money and resources wisely.  But I also think people need hobbies to keep them happy and sane.  Some people garden.  Some people hike.  Some people collect stamps.  Some people play with cars.  So long as you are living within or below your means, why should we single out certain hobbies as "anti-mustachian?" 

[Fishindude]

I appreciate MMM's philosophy, and would certainly support using both money and resources wisely.  But I also think people need hobbies to keep them happy and sane.  Some people garden.  Some people hike.  Some people collect stamps.  Some people play with cars.  So long as you are living within or below your means, why should we single out certain hobbies as "anti-mustachian?"      Spot on Racer X !

[RocketSurgeon]

I don't know that I've ever seen MMM say "Whatever, as long as you're not in debt, it's cool." Like if Mark Zuckerberg showed up and asked if we thought it would be moustachian if he started collecting aircraft carriers, don't worry he can afford that? I don't think most would agree with that. MMM and the forum in general has never been shy about calling out activities that could be deemed wasteful, even if the subject had the money for it.
As for hobbies, of course everyone has them, but they're not genetic. You pick them, and if you pick an expensive hobby over a cheap one I think you should expect a certain amount of pushback from a forum dedicated to frugality. To be fair, car enthusiasm is a pretty broad category that could cover everything from subscribing to a magazine and attending shows to buying a new Lambo every year. If you're enjoying cars on the cheap than by all means groom your moustache with pride but if you're Jay Leno, not so much.

[Jon_Snow]

"Truck shaming" certainly seems to be a thing these days.

I'll happily admit to owning a pickup. I even haul things in the bed (garden topsoil for example)...and as a person who likes to seek out the beautiful, wild places in our world it has served flawlessly as my mobile platform to do so for the past 16 years. Frankly, it has allowed me to visit places that the Honda Ridgeline (and others of its ilk) could only fantasize about.

And perhaps I get bonus points because it is an actual COMPACT truck?

Loved your post too Racer X.

[Racer X]

I don't know that I've ever seen MMM say "Whatever, as long as you're not in debt, it's cool." Like if Mark Zuckerberg showed up and asked if we thought it would be moustachian if he started collecting aircraft carriers, don't worry he can afford that? I don't think most would agree with that. MMM and the forum in general has never been shy about calling out activities that could be deemed wasteful, even if the subject had the money for it.
As for hobbies, of course everyone has them, but they're not genetic. You pick them, and if you pick an expensive hobby over a cheap one I think you should expect a certain amount of pushback from a forum dedicated to frugality. To be fair, car enthusiasm is a pretty broad category that could cover everything from subscribing to a magazine and attending shows to buying a new Lambo every year. If you're enjoying cars on the cheap than by all means groom your moustache with pride but if you're Jay Leno, not so much.

I guess this post sort of hits at the heart of my question.  Is this forum more about prescribing a very specific and defined lifestyle, or is it about financial freedom? 

I don't know Jay Leno personally (unfortunately) but I'm guessing he's not living paycheck to paycheck.  I'm guessing he's not supporting thousands of dollars of interest only credit card debt.  He is using his money to do something that he appears to truly love, and doing so without going broke.    What's wrong with that?  Isn't that what we're all striving to do when we retire early because we were so fiscally prudent?

[Roboturner]

Now, Doug Demuro is a car-enthusiast blogger. Being a car-enthusiast is inherently unmustachian, however he is a brilliantly funny writer - and his thoughts on trucks is beautifully spot on - so you're welcome

http://jalopnik.com/if-the-honda-ridgeline-fails-its-because-pickup-truck-b-1752719068

"I’ve determined that there are two primary questions potential pickup buyers ask when they show up at the dealer. Number one: Do you have a bigger one? And number two: Can you finance me?"

At the risk of dragging this slightly off topic (and apologies in advance for that if it does...) why do you say that being a car-enthusiast is anti-mustachian?  Is it strictly because people interested in FIRE are supposed to take some kind of vow of poverty and not have any hobbies?  Is it the environmental thing?  Is it a slavish cult-like desire to exactly emulate MMM?

I appreciate MMM's philosophy, and would certainly support using both money and resources wisely.  But I also think people need hobbies to keep them happy and sane.  Some people garden.  Some people hike.  Some people collect stamps.  Some people play with cars.  So long as you are living within or below your means, why should we single out certain hobbies as "anti-mustachian?"

I suppose it could be considered "Anti-mustachian," would have been a better way to say it. Doug for one, buys expensive cars and pays to have them boarded - due to living in a big city. That or I could say "anti-MMM" given his thoughts on cars, and his judgement that they are a waste of life and money.

I obviously enjoy cars, and read Doug religiously, but that's because i find him incredibly funny, and enjoy his incite on cars (and gives me a chance to live vicariously through him, driving cars I could never justify to myself to purchase)

[Roboturner]

"Truck shaming" certainly seems to be a thing these days.

I'll happily admit to owning a pickup. I even haul things in the bed (garden topsoil for example)...and as a person who likes to seek out the beautiful, wild places in our world it has served flawlessly as my mobile platform to do so for the past 16 years. Frankly, it has allowed me to visit places that the Honda Ridgeline (and others of its ilk) could only fantasize about.

And perhaps I get bonus points because it is an actual COMPACT truck?

Loved your post too Racer X.

"Truck shaming" as well as anything-shaming boils down to what you utilize the instrument for. I don't think there is anything against 'shaming' someone* for buying a massively over-priced item that isn't utilized properly, because you "want it" or "think it's cool"

If you buy a truck and use it like a truck there is no shame, but if you buy a Ford F-160000 Lifted Dually to drive 1 mile to the grocery store, you're kind of just a clown


* In jest, on this forum for example, when it boils down to it, i dont give a F- what you do with your life, as long as it doesn't impede mine

[GuitarStv]

"Truck shaming" certainly seems to be a thing these days.

I'll happily admit to owning a pickup. I even haul things in the bed (garden topsoil for example)...and as a person who likes to seek out the beautiful, wild places in our world it has served flawlessly as my mobile platform to do so for the past 16 years. Frankly, it has allowed me to visit places that the Honda Ridgeline (and others of its ilk) could only fantasize about.

And perhaps I get bonus points because it is an actual COMPACT truck?

Loved your post too Racer X.

"Truck shaming" as well as anything-shaming boils down to what you utilize the instrument for. I don't think there is anything against 'shaming' someone* for buying a massively over-priced item that isn't utilized properly, because you "want it" or "think it's cool"

If you buy a truck and use it like a truck there is no shame, but if you buy a Ford F-160000 Lifted Dually to drive 1 mile to the grocery store, you're kind of just a clown


* In jest, on this forum for example, when it boils down to it, i dont give a F- what you do with your life, as long as it doesn't impede mine

There is a whole subset of truck owners actively chasing as much shame as possible each day.

[MilesTeg]

"Truck shaming" certainly seems to be a thing these days.

I'll happily admit to owning a pickup. I even haul things in the bed (garden topsoil for example)...and as a person who likes to seek out the beautiful, wild places in our world it has served flawlessly as my mobile platform to do so for the past 16 years. Frankly, it has allowed me to visit places that the Honda Ridgeline (and others of its ilk) could only fantasize about.

And perhaps I get bonus points because it is an actual COMPACT truck?

Loved your post too Racer X.

Yep, and SUV shaming has actually somewhat backfired. It used to be you could get an SUV with the qualities that actually made it useful for going off the beaten path. Primarily a decent amount of clearance, shorter wheelbases/tighter turn radius, body on frame construction, and a decent suspension. These days most "SUVs" are useless for that purpose.

Part of this is "shaming", and part of it is the masses of people buying them because of "style" but actually needing/wanting a car have all but destroyed the niche that was the SUV. Even the venerable Jeep brand has started phasing out good off-road models.

This had let to a condition where the only vehicles that are decent off-road vehicles are full size trucks, which have their own problems (long wheel base, etc.). So now all those folks that used to buy an SUV to try to balance efficiency with off-road capability no little choice but to buy a monstrously over-sized vehicle instead of just an over-sized one ;) It's one reason full size trucks are the most popular vehicles sold currently.

And now, we have things like the Honda Ridgeline, which are an even worse compromise between utility and efficiency than a similarly sized SUV.

[obstinate]

I appreciate MMM's philosophy, and would certainly support using both money and resources wisely.  But I also think people need hobbies to keep them happy and sane.  Some people garden.  Some people hike.  Some people collect stamps.  Some people play with cars.  So long as you are living within or below your means, why should we single out certain hobbies as "anti-mustachian?"      Spot on Racer X !

It's like neither of you have ever actually read Mr. Money Mustache. He criticizes wasteful hobbies. He doesn't criticize them relative to the means of people who engage in them. I mean, it's your right to differ from the guy, but this attitude would be more at home on /r/personalfinance than this site. Mr. Money Mustache is anti-consumerism. He's not merely a personal finance guru.

[Racer X]

I appreciate MMM's philosophy, and would certainly support using both money and resources wisely.  But I also think people need hobbies to keep them happy and sane.  Some people garden.  Some people hike.  Some people collect stamps.  Some people play with cars.  So long as you are living within or below your means, why should we single out certain hobbies as "anti-mustachian?"      Spot on Racer X !

It's like neither of you have ever actually read Mr. Money Mustache. He criticizes wasteful hobbies. He doesn't criticize them relative to the means of people who engage in them. I mean, it's your right to differ from the guy, but this attitude would be more at home on /r/personalfinance than this site. Mr. Money Mustache is anti-consumerism. He's not merely a personal finance guru.

Guess this forum isn't for me then.  Thanks for clarifying.