How did you afford to buy a Viper?

[Wild Bill]

If you are a parent you will know what I mean. My 14 year old son thinks I'm a total bloomin idiot (as I did with my father at that age). He loves my 98 RT/10 and wants one also. My response is "go to college, get an education, save your money and get one", his response "I don't need to go to college to be able to afford a Viper-there are lots of jobs I can do that don't need a degree". I told him I bet at least 85% of Viper owners had a college degree.

So, did you go to college? If so what was your degree in? If you didn't graduate college what do you do?

I understand the benefits of an education but all he thinks about is girls and cars.

Thanks for you input!

I have a B. S in Accounting and work as a CFO of a pharmaceutical manufacturer (I handle drug money )

Thanks for your input!

Bill

 

[2001 Sapphire Blue]

B S in business!!

 

[patgilm]

BS in Accounting as well.

 

[Dimitrios]

dropped out of HS senior year...no college or degreee. actually maybe i do have one called the "street smart" degree.

 

[V10 ACR]

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, now own my own company making vaccines and therapeutics.

 

[Gerald Levin]

Dentist (Full mouth extractions & Immediate Dentures only)
Work part time (2 days)
Enjoying life full time.

 

[EA6BPilot]

BS History, USMC Captain.

I got my Viper after having deployed 8 months to the Middle East, where all of my pay was tax free (that and I didn't spend much while I was there).

 

[BigCarrot]

I have one in marketing, and one in business management.

 

[LethalBite]

Doctorate in Pharmacy, Nuclear Pharmaceuticals

 

[ROCKET62]

BA Marketing, Minor Computer Science. Been in medical equipment sales for 13 years now. Sell spinal implants currently.

Funny - had a kid about 12 years old the other day in love with my Viper. I let him sit in it and he asked how much it cost. I said a lot. He said that I must have gone to the casino and won the money.

Had to explain to him that he could afford to get any car he wanted if he did well in school, went to college, studied hard, got a good job, and saved his money. Hope he takes my advice - since it was obvious he had never heard that working hard is a surer bet than a casino.

 

[Jay Herbert]

BS Mechanical Engineering..... and saved for seven years ('89 to '96) to get my first one.

 

[cratica]

I went to four colleges but didn't graduate with a degree. I got bored every time. Everyone I work with does have at least a bachelors degree, some masters as well. I'm definately the exception to the rule.

I'm an Art Director for a computer game company. I was the kind of guy that spent every penny I had (big car payments for my vette, apt, etc...) Once I got married, my wife changed me. She only likes to buy what we can afford (cash). So... I wanted a Viper a couple of years ago so I worked a contract job on the side (in the evening for 6 months) and was able to buy the Viper with cash.

I would say, what you told him was correct, then once out of college, live below your means for a while, it's amazing how much more you can afford.

 

[KERS-VPR]

Quit in 12th grade raised a family (kids 23 & 27) and wife found someone on the internet, divorced and remarried and my wife now works (never make the same mistake twice) also a 9 year old, but wife told me if you want it, get it. We enjoy it and she even helps me detail it. She's a keeper

 

[Fiorano]

Bachelor of Science in microbiology
Doctor of Medicine
Radiology residency
Nuclear medicine fellowship

 

[Vipera Russelli]

Juris Doctorate--Energy and Project Finance Attorney.

Your advise to your son is golden.

 

[Schulmann]

BS in Civil Engineering
BS in Computer Science

And an empty bank account ... but the car belongs to me 100% !

 

[Simms]

BS in Civil Engineering, but my Wife makes more cash than I do!

 

[JWVIPER]

I bought it with cash... Sounds sarcastic but I know way too many people that bought the TOY ie Sports Car, boat etc on the payment plan then hate it and have to take a beating on it when things get tight to get rid of it.

BS ME , moved into Software aspect of business 15 years ago, never looked back.
There are many stories of those that make it without a degree but they are clearly at a disadvantage. Go to school while you are young it is easier, build the base, if you want work as well and get the cash ! Get the cash then get what you want.

As far as being boys, I am still a boy at heart and think about cars and girls (eh I mean my wife). I hope to enforce this with my boys as well. Good Luck !

 

[CHAD]

BS in Industrial Engineering. Own a manufacturing company.

There are a lot more degree to non-degree posts than I would have expected so far. Good ammo for you, however.

Chad

 

[GraphiteGTS]

B.A.; M.A; One-third of my work completed toward a Doctorate.
I tell my 14-yr-old how long it took to get to this point.
My Viper is a respite from a high-pressure profession. It allows me to be 16 again.

 

[rsviper94]

No college degree, run two steel companies. I have two boys and both will attend college, I am 36 and have been very lucky in my career. As a parent I would like my kids to make more money than I do so I will not have to support them after college, they can start supporting me!

 

[Doc.]

BS in science
MD
Board certified in emergency medicine.

Doc

 

[MoparMan]

BS in Computer Science - minor in American History

 

[Fast Viper Dan]

Became a good machinist, worked as a contractor, made more than most degree holding engineers. Opened my own shop and now my 4 children are grown, my wife stayed home with the children except on occasions she would take a class at our community collage.
Your son is right, There are a lot of trades he can do vary well at with out a collage degree.
Machinist
Tile setter
Cement contractor, Patio stamping, BBQ's,
Construction, not as good of pay unless you are a specialist.
Construction, contractor.
There are many more options. School is not for everyone. But it seems that parents that have had a collage education want that for there children. Support them and encourage them regardless of there choose.

 

[3snakes]

learn to weld. then open my steel bus. hire poeple to do my thinking for me. sound stuck up ? this was the only way the i knew how to have my own bus going on 25yrs. have all i need. is this bad. no moneny to go to school after high school. end of story.

 

[LIVIPER]

I understand the benefits of an education but all he thinks about is girls and cars.

Wait, I thought girls and cars WERE the benefits of an education!!!!

- College and graduate degree

 

[STUGOTS]

i got kickeed out in 12th with 2 weeks left of the year, they hated me because i was a [******].

 

[CHAD]

No offense guys but if you read all three posts from the non-degrees, it becomes painfully obvious that there are benefits beyond income. No flame, just an observation.

Chad

 

[Back-In-Black]

MBA Finance
BS Marketing
BS Civil Engineering

Ironically, I made more money when I didn't have my MBA, but Current Investments = Future Income.

Tell your son to buy house and pay for it CASH before buying toys. Thats what I did. If I ever get into trouble I can always pull out equity (i.e. my Viper needs a new motor).

 

[Silver Snake]

I don't have a degree, but I have 8 years experience as a UNIX Systems Administrator. Now a days I think degrees are still a very good thing to have, but sometimes being certified in this-or-that plus on the job experience might get you a better job. At least that's how it worked for me.

Mark