itsclassified

Hi MBWorld,

I'm a long time reader and poster on these forums under my main account. I'm going to be putting a lot of personal information out so I made a second account.
How do you guys afford a S Class. I feel like i'm missing something. I have always dreamed of having one from a young age and I have worked very hard to get to 100k a year and I'm 25 (this puts me in like the top 1% for my age and i still struggle to understand how to afford it) I went to school and got a BA in computers and work as a programmer in a low cost of living area.

So the budget:
100k = $5435 a month after state and federal taxes. Then you max out your 401k like everyone tells you ($-17,500) and you are left with $4,587.29 a month after state and federal taxes.

Take that $4,587.29 a month - the below.
- $12.50 (rent insurance)
- $50.00 (random needs IE toothpaste soap etc)
- $56.00 (Internet)
- $80.00 (Cable T.V)
- $122.71 (car insurance)
- $104.99 (cell phone)
- $150.00 (electricity)
- $200.00 (gas)
- $300.00 (food)
- $200.00 (fun money (movies eating out W/E)
- $2,000 (mortgage + PMI + Taxes)
- $500 (liquid savings (think vacation or stuff happens fund.)

You are left with $811.09! That's not enough to afford even a lease payment on the s class. Let alone the higher cost of insurance. So am I missing anything or is my spending out of control? Or does it really just boil down to even twice the annual income is not enough for a s class

P.S I know it might get asked but I have 0 student loan or credit card debt.

ChuckinTucson

You mentioned you live in a low-cost area; however, $2,000/month for mortgage would indicate otherwise. Your mortgage payment is almost 50% of your disposable income which is considered pretty high. Most commonly used rule of thumb is 25%. Have no idea what your housing needs are, i.e., size of family and other issues, but that's the only thing that jumps out at me. You might go to www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance and see what their opinion is.

MTrauman

For what it is worth, Mercedes Benz published stats for the S Class buyer in its Dealer Ordering Guide for the 2014 S Class.


Here are the stats:


Average buyer--61 years old, $371,000 of income, 76% are male, 83% are married, and 28% have kids in the household. These stats say nothing about the average net worth of the S class buyer which undoubtedly is a fairly high number.

itsclassified

I did almost 0 down on the house. It was a 300k loan. If I would have gone with a 200k house then yes that would free up another $650 a month. That would bring my total free income up to $1,461 enough for an S class. I could get a cheaper house... Its just me.

That just seems way too high. I see so many S classes out here in scottsdale arizona. I can't believe everyone running around in one is a C level or Dr. that specializes.

MTrauman

I had just pointed out the average S class buyer stats. ChuckInTucson is "right on the money". I am a financial advisor/financial planner. The original poster, based on income and expense data, cannot afford an S class unless he/she has a significant net worth to pay cash for the car.

itsclassified

@ 811 a month liquid savings it would take a long time to pay cash for the car. Programmers top out around $120k a year. 20k more won't make that much of a difference. Looks like I would have to get into IT management or something more lucrative. There are not a lot of 150k + paying jobs. I think I could do it pretty easy at the 150-200k range. Just shocked it takes this much. Sacrificing the 401k for the car is also not the way to go.

Maybe I just get a CPO one around 50-60k but its still going to be $800-$1000. That's why people lease I guess.

DaveVY

To the OP - First, congrats on maxing out the 401k at your age!
At your age of 25 it may seem that $100k would be enough but it isn't as much as the typical American may think. As you have seen it disappears rather quickly. IMO just keep working hard and save for the future. To afford a NEW S Class (in a balanced way) you will need to save for awhile, almost double your current income or reduce your housing costs (or a blend of the three).
Other option would be to save and buy a low mileage used S in a couple years.

itsclassified

Thanks! I like the 3 pronged approach. I don't need so big of a house its just me. I could save and then buy CPO. I think no matter how much I made it would kill me a little to take a 30k depreciation hit in one year.

Quadcammer

jeez man, slow down. the number of 25 year olds leasing new s-classes on their own is a very very small percentage of buyers. You are doing well for yourself, but as noted above, the vast majority of S-class owners are higher up on the income ladder and have had many years to build their net worth.

I'm about 5 years older than you with a higher income but in a higher cost of living area. I would never consider leasing a new S.

Instead, I'm very pleased with my nice condition w220 s-class that still has all the elegance, style, quality, and performance that you could ask for.

I'd recommend a few things:

1. good on you for the $500 a month savings and maxing 401k. keep doing that
2. if you must have an S-class, you can get a nice condition w221 S550 for about $35k. Still a fantastic car that most people believe is current.
3. consider buying a few year old CPO model instead of leasing a new one. You still get depreciation, but you don't get absolutely murdered.
4. Although I bought an S-class at 25, keep in mind that its hard to move up after that.
5. have some fun while you can instead of paying out the nose for an S-class and having to worry about it like crazy.

MDrill

Looks like you are on the right path. When I was 25, I could not even think about getting to 100k salary.
Basically you must figure out how to make more and how to keep more of your hard earned money.
Why did oracle of Omaha say that his secretary paid more taxes than he did? Not in the amount, of course but in percentages. Why?

itsclassified

Because his income came from long term capital gains vs. income taxed at X%. If you have some tips on how to do that I would love a PM (please and thank-you). Like I said I have another account and I know who you are So i believe the comment "you could not think about 100k at 25". Dental school takes a long time and hefty student loans. Starting your own practice takes a lot of $ too. Most Dr.'s don't see income until mid 30's and residency your pay is not so good

MDrill

And not all the dentists are rich enough to buy S class Merc, right? You have a PM. Good luck. You are waaaay ahead of your peers already.

Ormond2004

I've had fairly nice cars since I was 30, but I started out with used vehicles. When I got my first Mercedes, I got negative feedback from my bosses because I had a more expensive car.

If you start out with the top of the line, you have nothing to aspire to and get spoiled. A new S550 depreciates quickly.

Chucky300

I think most of us steal.

MTrauman

OP,


Here is a quick/true story of one of my clients.


He started out as a computer programmer turned software developer. When I met him (before he became a client) he was 22 years old without a nickel to his name living in a trailer house. Through his computer work started a software company. He sold that company at 29 years of age for millions of dollars. He got an MBA from a top 5 MBA program (after selling his first company) and has gone on to start and sell a number of businesses in the computer field.


Within the past 10 years, he purchased 250 acres of land and built an absolute castle of a house on the property. Additionally, he and another client of mine started a partnership of land development that made the two of them a small fortune.


The USA is a great place to start with nothing in your pocket and amass a fortune with "using one's brain" and of course a little--maybe a lot--of luck.


Keep saving and working hard and smart.

ChuckinTucson

Another excellent post! Made my day.

Chucky300

lol

ChuckinTucson

Just wanted to add what the others have said, and that is, OP, you're on the right track. I live just a little south of you (south of Tucson) and Scottsdale is a beautiful place to live. It looks like you've got your priorities in the right place . . . live below your means, max out your tax-free (for now) investment options and set some goals worth attaining. My husband's and my income is slightly double yours and our mortgage payment is $631 a month, but then again it's probably a much smaller place, lol.

itsclassified

Ok, I think I got it now.

1. Stalk a MB world member that has a s550
2. find where they store the keys
3. find where they store the title.
4. bribe a notary at the bank to say you were there and sold the car for $100 bucks.
5. Enjoy the car.

I'll get on this right now!

I'm totally kidding about the above.

hyperion667

wow you seem to be doing fine: what's the big rush for such an old guy car? there are a lot of exciting new Benzes out right now, and who knows what the future will bring ever owned a Porsche?
I'm a stay home dad so I have zero career advice lol, but it sounds like a lot of good advice and insight from the gents above here


good luck young brother

itsclassified

I'm 6 foot 7 and this car fits me so nice. The S class has room like a limo. Living the dream. I would take a stay @ home dad career anyday. Let the wife buy me the toys haha. but seriously great work.

5634MG

If you're looking at getting a new vehicle, find the top salesmen; typically they have the most leverage when it comes to discounts - some can even go below the maximum allowed discount. Also, shop for inventory leftover from previous years; they usually have amazing deals on such vehicles.

Mitch Alsup

Take that $811 and invest it.
Drive a lower end car for 10 years.
In 10 years you can buy a brand new S-class and not have a car payment.

emilner

I think you are well ahead of most people your age. A couple of observations. You are very young to get an S class. You do not have nearly the income to afford one yet. You are chasing a material object. We all want something above our affordable range. That's the nature of marketing and desire. There are things we want but know it's not going to happen. At least not yet. An S class is more of an achievement in status than just a luxury car. For most people it is the best of the best, and it is priced accordingly. I mentioned it in another thread- if you are buying an S class you shouldn't have to worry if it will fit into your budget, nor should an option package put the car out of reach. It's a pure luxury buy.

I would harness that drive and extra funds into building your abilities to move up the ladder or start your own gig. Focus on achieving success and sooner than you imagine you will be able to get an S class without thinking of budgets. When you get to that point some day and pull the trigger, it will mean so much more to you....

5634MG

I second this

With your monthly breakdown of payments and your age, it's better if you use the extra funds to invest or start something; you'll soon be able to get an S-Class without worrying about the cost.

Unless it's necessary to have an S-Class to shuttle clients around and you can write off the payments as a company expense, I would not get an S-Class for your personal use at your current age and monthly expenditure.