Neither are investments both are cash flow.
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Exactly. Just what I said. Both personal choices, purchased with cash for a purpose other than financial investment. In essence they both ultimately tend toward zero value, except for intended purpose alone, which holds an inherent and perceived value that elevates them to a chosen course of action.
I realize one is for transportation, that's why I chose it, as you did. I like mine, hope you like yours. The other is for "transformation", from a stressed and hard-working albeit successful professional (nature of my business) who seeks mental and physical relief (like everyone else who holds a position of immense responsibility) with amazing down time, especially with family. But
both still have something in common-----they are strictly for use and abuse, enter at any level...... Call it disposable income if you like, but the purposes of both, and the "financial explications" of both, are not as dissimilar as you attempt to conclude.
And fyi, to the contrary I am indeed in complete control of my timeshares. Maybe that's not the typical experience of the average timeshare owner, but it's something that I did put some modicum of thought into prior to purchasing. I obtained quality by design and can get rid of them as easily as I want, with a decent return not anywhere near zero. In addition, I can (and do) rent any of them for well over maintenance fee, never at a loss, and never even close to a "break-even". Some I rent for 2.5x the maintenance fee, so I have a positive cash flow at any time if I choose to do that.
But I mostly choose to
use them in the way initially purposed, which as planned, enriches my life (and that of my family) like nothing else. It has provided joy for two decades, and won't stop until I decide to choose that route, but I have advised my family to always keep and use them, if nothing else, strictly as positive cash flow through rentals. And even if sold by choice, I fully expect far more by percentage in return than a purchased vehicle. Even if at half the value, that's more than a vehicle at the use's end.
Bottom line, minus the drama over the necessities, I view vehicles and timeshares in much the same light, i.e., a loss in general as a financial investment. And altho a vehicle serves a noble purpose, a timeshare can provide a most enjoyable function in a family's life, with priceless memories not achievable by many other means. And certainly not by renting from someone else. Where we go and where we stay cannot be had by only rentals "for less than maintenance fees" as someone posted. We would pay far more than maintenance fees to get prime weeks in prime places, usually double or more. There is no "Toyota or Honda of the timeshare world". The closest thing might be a resale, with far less up-front cost....somewhat akin to buying a top-brand certified vehicle with low mileage, but then again, you're not riding in luxury in the manner of a ride in a top-notch resort year after year. Ask a kid, he'll give you an honest and candid answer. Ask mine.
