Multi-topic thread on retirement and second car

[ukcats12]

Damn y’all old af. I still got 30 or so years until retirement. I guess this thread is why everyone makes fun of me for driving an old man car.

 

[dinkman]

my win for the day is i called in to make a colonscopy appt and was pleasantly surprised to learn i wasnt old enough for insurance to cover that procedure. sorry for the tmi!

 

[rubberduck]

my win for the day is i called in to make a colonscopy appt

A retirement thread will have that effect.

 

[BW56M]

Other than the cost of health insurance, I suspect one of the biggest obstacles to mentally overcome, is that most people are at the height of their financial career. It can be hard to walk away from such financial security. Retirement is not something to be taken lightly. That said, if your finances align and you have a plan, retire as soon as you can. Having been retired now for eight years, I don't know how I made time to work.

 

[FLYARMY]

I retired 3 years ago from my NY law enforcement career. 28 years was long enough, my wife getting sick and almost dying from an aortic dissection, made my decision to retire even easier. At 50 years old I bought myself my 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T Plus. Modified it into my childhood dream car of a 71' Barracuda. At 10 years old , it just hit 40k miles. Then I bought my 2022 CT5 BW as a retirement gift for myself. There is a saying that....."when you buy yourself a gift, you are rarely disappointed". If I had stayed in the Army flying helicopters for 3 more years, I would have been eligible for a military pension. Oh well, that's prop wash under the skids. If I had stayed, I would have ended up in the Middle East doing young mans work and who knows what would have happened. I am reasonably confident that I made some very wise retirement investment choices over the years. I am 60 now and males in my lineage are lucky if we make it to 75 or 80 years old. Between my police pension, IRA's , Deferred Com Plan and two social security checks (wife's now, mine in 2 years), I will be comfortable living in Long Island until I croak. If I were to sell my home and move out of state to a tax friendly state, I would be living large . My next dream home is someplace not too hot or cold , with at least a 3 car garage , inground pool and very few natural disasters. If you know of this place, please let me know ! NY is very expensive, but everything is here. My financial guy told me that my biggest fear is living a long life and outliving my money ! He is right.
I go to bed at 2am and sleep until 12pm, unless I have something to do. If I woke up early everyday, I would only find a way to spend more money. My friends tell me that i can sleep when I'm dead ! I just love waking up at 6am, realizing that I have nothing really important to do and then going back to sleep for 5 or 6 more hours !

 

[Z51L9889]

I retired just under a year ago at age 60. Best thing I ever did. We had been saving for retirement for many years, so I didn't anticipate any financial issues, but taking that leap and quitting your job is a bit stressful. I can tell you that after one year, finances are the least of my worries.

I have not been bored in the slightest, and my stress levels are almost non-existent. I mostly putter around the house, run errands, read, and play video games, lol. I think my wife would like me to do more, but after working in a career field with insane deadline stress, I'm really enjoying not having a whole lot that I absolutely have to do.

I bought my 4BW as a retirement present to myself, specifically for the purpose of doing track days. I autocrossed and did track days quite a bit when I was younger, but stopped about 20 years ago when my kids got into their teenage years. I just finished the V Academy last week, and I plan to start doing track days after the first of the year. If you haven't taken the V Academy course, I highly recommend it. These cars are track animals and can take pretty much anything you throw at them.

We're also planning to move back to our hometown in Ohio in the next year or two. When that happens, I will be building a sim racing rig so I can get my racing fix year round. I would do it now but I just don't have room for it in my current house.

 

[DCV]

I bought my “retirement” home in 2019 and it’s all paid off. Retire in May, then drive up and spend the summer there to get away from the heat and humidity of the mid Atlantic

 

[sonny200]

Any interest in competitive shooting or just learning to handle/use a firearm? Triangle Shooting Academy is a great place to try out shooting. They have rental weapons & the ppl there are knowledgeable & friendly.

As for a replacement for the C6 for track duty, I think the BRZ/FRS is a great choice. While not the fastest thing around, with a proper track setup, it'll be more fun & less work than almost anything else around (except for a Miata). Another one I'd consider is the Supra. Toyota came out with a MT for it this year & by all accounts, it's very good. Sad thing is it looks like Toyota is killing the Supra altogether after next year due to lack of sales.

 

[BimmerFan]

Any interest in competitive shooting or just learning to handle/use a firearm? Triangle Shooting Academy is a great place to try out shooting. They have rental weapons & the ppl there are knowledgeable & friendly.

As for a replacement for the C6 for track duty, I think the BRZ/FRS is a great choice. While not the fastest thing around, with a proper track setup, it'll be more fun & less work than almost anything else around (except for a Miata). Another one I'd consider is the Supra. Toyota came out with a MT for it this year & by all accounts, it's very good. Sad thing is it looks like Toyota is killing the Supra altogether after next year due to lack of sales.

I had not heard about the Supra, that's too bad. It's an expensive car for a track toy, and I had a Z4 which is similar and I didn't care for it all that much. The more I hear about the BRX/FRS the more I like it, although the recent class action on the engines has me more concerned.

I have gone to TSA, it's a nice place, but I usually go the Wake County Firearms Training Center because it's closer to me and free. You have to be prepared though, as they don't sell anything, no targets, ammo, no rentals. But a nice place.

I used to go to a range that had Friday night competitions, and I did that for a while. I'm not good enough to win anything, and eventually I tired of it. Now, 25 years later, I don't see as well and don't shoot as well. Need more practice.

 

[rubberduck]

Long range rifle is the way to go for us older gentleman with the inevitable degrading eyesight. Also it’s the perfect way to clear the mind, similar to meditation but more fun.

 

[FLYARMY]

I retired just under a year ago at age 60. Best thing I ever did. We had been saving for retirement for many years, so I didn't anticipate any financial issues, but taking that leap and quitting your job is a bit stressful. I can tell you that after one year, finances are the least of my worries.

I have not been bored in the slightest, and my stress levels are almost non-existent. I mostly putter around the house, run errands, read, and play video games, lol. I think my wife would like me to do more, but after working in a career field with insane deadline stress, I'm really enjoying not having a whole lot that I absolutely have to do.

I bought my 4BW as a retirement present to myself, specifically for the purpose of doing track days. I autocrossed and did track days quite a bit when I was younger, but stopped about 20 years ago when my kids got into their teenage years. I just finished the V Academy last week, and I plan to start doing track days after the first of the year. If you haven't taken the V Academy course, I highly recommend it. These cars are track animals and can take pretty much anything you throw at them.

We're also planning to move back to our hometown in Ohio in the next year or two. When that happens, I will be building a sim racing rig so I can get my racing fix year round. I would do it now but I just don't have room for it in my current house.

I just saw a racing simulator that was for sale on Bring A Trailer. The thing looked like it needed its own room. Looked like a professional NASCAR set up. I don't know how much it sold for , but I know it wasn't cheap !

 

[Z51L9889]

I just saw a racing simulator that was for sale on Bring A Trailer. The thing looked like it needed its own room. Looked like a professional NASCAR set up. I don't know how much it sold for , but I know it wasn't cheap !

Yep, they aren't cheap if you want it to feel realistic. My budget planning number for the sim rig is in the 5 digits (to the left of the decimal point ). And, for those that may be wondering, I have full approval for the spending from the comptroller. She's a keeper, lol.

 

[Deneed4spd]

BRZ with their engine issues is a concern. Miata is cool but it is small. GR Corolla and their diff overheat - maybe they will get it addressed with new model. Although FWD - I just keep hearing it’s a track weapon probably most of us can’t push to its limit. I would vote type R. Not to mention it holds value well and has a nice manual.

Although I’m 44 so maybe I’m willing to deal with the rough type r ride than most oldies here.

 

[dinkman]

BRZ with their engine issues is a concern. Miata is cool but it is small. GR Corolla and their diff overheat - maybe they will get it addressed with new model. Although FWD - I just keep hearing it’s a track weapon probably most of us can’t push to its limit. I would vote type R. Not to mention it holds value well and has a nice manual.

Although I’m 44 so maybe I’m willing to deal with the rough type r ride than most oldies here.

agree with all your logic but i just couldnt be in a honda civic at this point. especially given for a couple more bucks you can get the same car with an acura badge

 

[Roadhawk]

agree with all your logic but i just couldnt be in a honda civic at this point. especially given for a couple more bucks you can get the same car with an acura badge

and a softer ride for your old bones...

 

[dizz81]

I retired from the military after 24yrs of service. I joined right out of highschool so it's nice to have retirement pay so early on. I've been working a contractor job since I retired which pays really well. Having just got my 100% disability, I'm not contemplating the point of working any longer and actually fully retiring.

The plan was to move to SC since the cost of living there is astronomically cheaper than here in cali which would make it even easier for me to live comfortably off my military retirement + disability and makes the decision to fully retire even easier.

I had mentioned my retirement ideas to my coworker (who is now, funny enough, my new boss) and now she is all for me relocating to SC but keeping me on the projects I'm working on for the company.

So now I'm contemplating relocating to SC, keeping my current salary, and living rich for awhile lol.

As far as cars go. I gave up my CT5BW for an economical car and back to a single car garage (still have my girlfriends X3). I've regretted it since (like a LOT of regret), and now considering everything that's going on, I'm once again looking for something else to get in to. I've also been looking hard at M4's (I previously owned a 18 M4 ZCP with every available option), but also been looking at 911's and even test drove a GT4.

Definitely need to get back into a manual. Driving around in an automatic V6 is torture to me. My girl sees it as well and she stopped giving me the side eye whenever she catches me browsing the sale sites or if I mention looking at other cars haha.

 

[Roadhawk]

dizz - my recommendation is to go ahead and move to SC and retire for real. Unless you feel you have some real need for the extra $....I'm guessing you can live quite comfortably and will have all the free time for fun. You could probably even get yourself a boat if you're into that.

As for cars it seems a two seat convertible of some sort could fit the bill....just sayin. And even something like a Miata could be great fun. If you're into the pleasures of MT make sure you get something that will really satisfy. (I've heard good things about the new Z4s in that regard). One reason IMO the two Blackwings are really special as you should appreciate. A CT 4 V BW is a fun car - particularly if you don't need to haul around 4 very often.

Anyway best of luck....and think it through...

 

[FLYARMY]

I found this on Ebay and it arrived in the mail today. I went to take off the plastic radiator shroud and grill to put it on correctly and there are like a million plastic nuts and screws to take off. After removing them all, I still couldn't see how to just pull the grill out enough to get my hand behind it to attach the emblem. I was able to get my tiny finger into one of the grill holes and get it done, just without a large backing plate.
Throw back to old school Cadillac ownership medallions that were displayed on the front grill with Roman numerals for how many Cadillacs you have owned. As you can see, this is my #3. 1967 deVille convertible (still have) , 1972 Fleetwood Brougham and now my 2022 CT5-V Blackwing.

 

[1Evil55]

I found this on Ebay and it arrived in the mail today. I went to take off the plastic radiator shroud and grill to put it on correctly and there are like a million plastic nuts and screws to take off. After removing them all, I still couldn't see how to just pull the grill out enough to get my hand behind it to attach the emblem. I was able to get my tiny finger into one of the grill holes and get it done, just without a large backing plate.
Throw back to old school Cadillac ownership medallions that were displayed on the front grill with Roman numerals for how many Cadillacs you have owned. As you can see, this is my #3. 1967 deVille convertible (still have) , 1972 Fleetwood Brougham and now my 2022 CT5-V Blackwing.

Nice find. I've lost track how many Caddies we've owned. That medallion reminds me of my ball marker in my golf bag. The dinner plate size for when I'm not in someone's line and the small magnetic flat one inside when I need it.

 

[dizz81]

dizz - my recommendation is to go ahead and move to SC and retire for real. Unless you feel you have some real need for the extra $....I'm guessing you can live quite comfortably and will have all the free time for fun. You could probably even get yourself a boat if you're into that.

As for cars it seems a two seat convertible of some sort could fit the bill....just sayin. And even something like a Miata could be great fun. If you're into the pleasures of MT make sure you get something that will really satisfy. (I've heard good things about the new Z4s in that regard). One reason IMO the two Blackwings are really special as you should appreciate. A CT 4 V BW is a fun car - particularly if you don't need to haul around 4 very often.

Anyway best of luck....and think it through...

I am very much into fishing, so a boat may be what comes next. I hear the Carolinas have very good offshore fishing.