Your Occupation

[Tonus72]

Hi all

I always wonder how reasonable it is for me to pursue my dream of building a Cobra. Am I being too 'selfish'?

I wonder what people do for a living to be fortunate enough to put this much time and money into a hobby, some may say a 'toy'...

Please feel free to take part in my poll if you wish.

Tony

Some of the categories are a bit vague, but come for the ABS website...

[Paintwerks]

My first career background was in advertising originally as an Account Exec and working up to Account Director for a major global agency owned by the Interpublic Group working on GM Holden (amongst other brands). Got very sick and tired of my colleague's ego's, tantrums, psychological games and general chest beating in this 'dog eat dog' game. I wanted to be more than a glorified salesperson. I'd always been into cars as a hobby, had been painting since I was 20, so in 2005 decided to make a career change and I founded/opened a bodyshop in Moorabbin called 'Paintwerks' (http://www.womo.com.au/search/paintw...ralia/M0001001). The hours are long but I love what I do because we get to work on awesome projects and deal with great customers. It's enjoyable too because I get to utilise both my postgrad business degree and spraypainter trade qualifications in my everyday work. It feeds/houses my family as well as provides somewhat for my Cobra passion! Of course, it goes without saying that I have an environment in which to paint my Cobra!

I am a long, long, loooooong way from wealthy and am scraping and scrounging (incl. selling off other toys/assets), as well as putting things on the credit card to build my Cobra. At this point in my life, I am being a little selfish in proceeding with the build. However, my build will also benefit my business as I will be using it for promotions/brand awareness as well as personally enjoying it (along with my kids who will help me build it and drive in it).

I'm 43, so perhaps at my midlife crisis. I have my health at present but who knows what will happen in future? Touch wood...nothing I hope! But there are only two things that have held my interest for such a long time. One of those was a desire to learn to fly and become a licensed pilot (which I accomplished back in 2004), and the other was building/owning an AC Cobra. That has been on my bucket list for the past 24 years. So I'm damn well doing it now while I can!

You leave this earth with your experiences, not your money. If this makes you happy, don't feel bad about it.

[d488y2]

I guess my Occupation comes under Professional.
But It's hard to soar like an Eagle, When your surrounded by Turkeys!

[soulman]

Would Porn star come under personal services ???

Soul.

[Tonus72]

That's a tough one soulman... Also might fit under Technician

Ps - I stuffed up with the public results too. Didn't read the damn check box properly...

[Tonus72]

I am hearing you Simon. I am 41, but I had my (first??) 'mid-life' crisis when I was in my 20's and bought a Toyota MR2!

Anyway, the shed is finished, save for the two windows that are on back order. Oh - and plumbing, electrical, etc

One step closer.

[Mother]

I'm 64 this year. I sure hope this is not a mid life crisis, owning and driving my Cobra. Can't see me driving my Cobra at 100 years of age.
Polishing it, maybe.

[rms427]

I spent a week convincing my dad to cosign on a loan for my car a month before I graduated from college in June 1968. I finally got him to agree after a week by convincing him it would be worth a lot more in the future. I was thinking $10,000. I bought if for $4,995. I paid $100 down to the owner to hold the car for a month until I graduated and actually had a job as an engineer and could get the loan. With the payments on the car loan and student loan I had very little money left over. The first week I had the car I couldn't drive it much because I couldn't afford gas at 36 cents per gallon. I was pleasantly surprised when I got my first check after my first week at work. I could then afford gas but not much else for the next two years until I paid off both loans.

[boxhead]

Bit of a hard one to pick where I fit in the scheme of the list.
I picked manager as my title is "Purchasing manager" but I do not manage any people, but I do manage the day to day requirements of 9 medical clinics, as well as the pharmaceutical items and the telecommunications, and the vehicle fleet.
So not sure if Clerical is more appropriate.
But in any case I see the Cobra as a "toy" (a very expensive one) as it is more a "want" than a "need" item.
My desire for a Cobra stems from when I was about 12 and I saw one (Gloss black with chrome side pipes) and fell in love with it, asked what it was and promised myself I would own one one day. That was back in about 1981.
My wife and I have no children and are both in jobs we enjoy, I make more than enough money, and Ronda's job has great benefits attached to it.
Having no kids has certainly afforded us the chance to "live like Children" and I never intend to grow up, I will just grow old.

[dhs.buckley]

I looked at having the money sitting in the bank @ 2.5% of bugger all, may aswell put it into somthing that i can enjoy (that wont depreciate like a lead ballon) but i made the sacrifice of selling my other toys first, an SS and a speed boat, so the wife felt that she got her way.
also had been saving for about 7 years as a childhood dream that i may own a cobra one day.
Must admit that i think i am pretty blessed to own one at the age of 35 ( getting sick of everyone asking if its my fathers car)

[Z-linkCobra]

Tony,

It has taken me 6 yrs to get to the point where I am at with my cobra. There have been plenty of times where it sat and collected dust because of priorities. Bills come first in my household, then play.

I have a good job that pays my bills and just about every penny I have spent on the cobra has come from a second source income. My brother does garage doors for a living. I have spent many a weekend hanging garage doors with him to make cobra money. I have spent many a weekend hauling scrap iron(which pays pretty good now days) to make cobra money. I have a shop behind my house and on weekends and after work I work on other peoples hotrods and frankly whatever again...to make cobra money. There are all sorts of things one can do when motivated enough.

I also am lucky enough to have the skills and certain machinery or access to machinery that afforded me the chance to make a lot of my own stuff for the cobra.

With that being said I did have a wife that I don't have anymore...lol. She was leaving anyway...she just didn't know it...lol. I also have kids and we spent a lot of time racing go karts and doing some circle track racing(priorities...lol).

Long story short, don't be ashamed to take a second job or mow grass or haul scrap iron. Nothing wrong with a hard days labor. One pc of advice...don't let it consume you. If your married and have children don't risk them for the cobra...aint worth it.

Sorry for the long post guys.

Gene

[boxhead]

Agree 100% on second job.
When I bought my shed, I got a job stacking shelves at night to pay for it.

[Towmaster]

I sold my SS and bought my kit after my best mate died of cancer, he was 25.... I had just turned 30. Life's too short.

[Dimis]

Where does coaching fit?

FWIW: In the big scheme of things, I think cobra ownership is in most part totally selfish!
But at the same time, why NOT spoil oneself? I can think of thousands of worse ways to spend my time, energy and the wife's money!

I've got to spend the wife's money else she'll waste it...
Coaches in the country don't get paid anywhere near enough, but its great "community service" and mentoring young aspiring minds.

Also, well said, and well done Ash!
(PS: I'm sorry to hear of your mates passing).

[WardL]

You might have included "retired"

[Tonus72]

Thanks for all the responses -

Hi Ward - you will have to talk to the Australian Bureau of statistics mate! I just copied them.
But I think they classify retired as an employment status - as in employed, unemployed, retired, etc

It seems to be a common thread that no one has the money lying around and you just 'have to make it happen'. I had a look at a GT40 replica a while ago and the guy that owned it told me 'you just have to make it happen'. That advice has stuck with me and hence the shed! Another step in that direction.

rms427 - good move back in 1968! Did your dad ever get a drive for co-signing??

Boxhead - no kids is a good move !!! I would not give back mine for the world, but I do wonder how much I would get for them on trade-in (??!)

Life is too short Towmaster - sorry for your loss.

[Modena]

I work in IT and do not manage any people so I chose "professionals". I make good money, and after paying all my family's living expenses there is not one cent left for anything as extravagant as a Cobra.

All of the Cobra has come from doing jobs on the side over many late nights. This would be different if I had chosen to wait another 10 years and clear mortgages first, but I wanted to live my dream for as long as possible, not put it off for as long as possible.

[Tonus72]

Originally Posted by Modena

I work in IT and do not manage any people so I chose "professionals". I make good money, and after paying all my family's living expenses there is not one cent left for anything as extravagant as a Cobra.

All of the Cobra has come from doing jobs on the side over many late nights. This would be different if I had chosen to wait another 10 years and clear mortgages first, but I wanted to live my dream for as long as possible, not put it off for as long as possible.

Does this sound like you Ben?

I hope so - because it includes "providing troubleshooting and service support in diagnosing, resolving and correcting problems" and I will be quizzing you a bit if I go the LS3 route like I am planning!

Tony




SUB-MAJOR GROUP 26 ICT PROFESSIONALS


ICT PROFESSIONALS perform analytical, conceptual and practical tasks which support the efficient and secure provision of information and communication technology (ICT) services to government, commercial and industrial organisations, and individuals.
Indicative Skill Level:
In Australia and New Zealand:

Most occupations in this sub-major group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience and/or relevant vendor certification may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Tasks Include:
developing and documenting strategies, policies and procedures relating to the use of ICT technologies and services
planning, analysing, designing, developing, implementing, testing, operating, maintaining and assisting with the use of technologies and services that enable information, such as voice, image and data, to be accessed, networked, stored, processed, transformed, manipulated and transmitted over a variety of media
assessing the performance of ICT technologies and services, identifying limitations and inefficiencies, and recommending and implementing solutions
providing troubleshooting and service support in diagnosing, resolving and correcting problems associated with the use of ICT technologies and service

[eschaider]

It took me 43 years from the time I saw my first 427 SC in a Ford dealership 'til I got my SPF - and I wanted one, every one of those 43 years. I checked off professional, I am a financial advisor who helps people get retired and stay retired.


Ed

[Tenrocca]

School teacher here (although I was in IT till about half way through my build) and while it pays the bills it doesnt leave me flushed with cash. However it does allow me the time to do other stuff.

Always promised myself I would build a cobra one day if I "won the lottery". This came after missing out on winning the Ampol cobra all those years ago (1990?). I dont think Im alone there.

Similar to Ash, a loss of a family member far too young was a trigger for pursuing the cobra dream despite not really having the money to really do so. Was out driving with my eldest and we saw one on the road - she flipped out and I asked her if she wanted me to build one. Rest is history.

Funded much of the cobra by selling stuff on Ebay - mainly car parts and bits and pieces, not enough to make a fortune but I reckon I would have paid for it over the 10 years Ive been selling.

Now its "finished" and registered it sits in the garage with little time to really enjoy at the moment as Im balls deep in a big house reno - fortunately it includes a new garage and eventually a hoist. I did get to take first born to her year 12 formal last year in the cobra though - about 8 years after we saw that car together. She's all grown up now.