Race Fate In Your Midlife Crisis Car
So you want that dream car? Here's what you need to know first.
June 1, 2007 — -- There is a time when most people -- usually when they turn 40, 50 or maybe 55 -- realize that a lifetime is really not forever.
What's that shadow on the horizon? That would be eternity.
They say you can't outrun your destiny … but if you had faster wheels, you could give it a race.
Time to buy that midlife crisis car.
That's the car that's comfortable being the center of attention, the one with the sound system that could power a concert hall. It's the car that merrilytrades practicality and gas mileage for race car looks and more speed than you'll ever need.
Do you want fast?
The Dodge Viper SRT10 roadster is your champion, with the muscle to launch you from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, according to tests done by Consumer Reports magazine. It will drain your bank account even quicker, with a sticker price of about $82,000, says the car info Web site Edmunds.com.
A blink of an eye behind the Viper, at 4.3 seconds, there's the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. The suggested retail price starts near $70,000.
Fancy something famous and German? You can pay more than $82,000 for a bratwurst sandwich and a Porsche 911 Carrera S. It will get you to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The Porsche, not the bratwurst.
If dropping that much coin on a car seems irresponsible, professional negotiator Michael Schatzki says don't worry: It's not always necessary.
A little online research, a trunkful of patience and some hard bargaining can often cut a sticker price to something less shocking.
"If you've done your homework you can often get yourself a good deal," said Schatzki, the principal of the consulting firm Negotiation Dynamics, and the author of "Negotiation: The Art of Getting What You Want."
By the time you're old enough for a midlife splurge, you've probably negotiated sales for at least five cars in your driving lifetime. But buying high-end horsepower comes with a particular psychological pit trap.
"Don't fall prey to the if-you-have-to-ask-you-can't-afford-it nonsense," says Schatzki. "It won't cheapen your driving experience if you pay a decent price for your new car."
Schatzki, based in Far Hills, N.J., also warns that the negotiating skills that took you to the top of the business world need to be adjusted a bit inside the auto showroom.
