Two things you would need a pension fund of approx.£625,000 to produce an income of around £25k (just a guess), and how much did your STi cost if the savings are enough to buy a place in "the Alps"?

 

I am impressed with the speed of your reply. That is about right. The reason I ask is that I wonder how many people who are ploughing money into their Scoobies are making the same provision for old age?

I haven't bought the place just yet as I have to finish my house move. It is in a great resort, at good altitude with excellent transport links and a short walk from the lifts. I am being deliberately vague because I don't want to alert people to them. Based on a 25 year mortgage and assuming Euro interest rates and exchange rates remain within 50% of their current levels, not running my STI will allow me to cover 75% of the mortgage payments. When you add the money saved through not having to rent accomodation when I go on holiday the numbers start to get awfully close to 100% of the mortgage payments.

It is not the cost of buying the Scooby it is the cost of running it. Super unleaded (quite high mileage), tyres, (rip off) brake pads, servicing, insurance all adds up to hundreds of pounds saved every month if you go for something normal. I wouldn't mind paying if I could enjoy the performance, but I can't.

I am getting very boring

 

Not boring just smart maybe? I was once told by a person a lot smarter than me never pay interest on a depreciating asset(look at scooby residuals ) only pay when the arithmetic works in your favour ( borrow at 4ish% growth at 10ish%). Now if I could only ski. Can I come to you for more advice in the future?

 

Arent all cars a depreciating asset?
Unless you have a sought after/classic car then they all loose money?