Users who Dugg This
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Zain Shah (Bigg Digg Digger)
451 Followers
djnikadeemasJul 20, 2010
How on earth can a 17 year old afford insurance on that sportscar in Southern California?
pantone109Jul 21, 2010
he can't possibly. I also wager the car will be repossessed in 2 months.
jack416Jul 21, 2010
says Negative Nancy.
fairdinkummateJul 21, 2010
How much do you want to wager?
It's morons like you that make what he did possible!
tnoyJul 21, 2010
I don't think you know what the word "insurance" means.
djanakinJul 21, 2010
Oh ya? Repo'd by who? The Craigslist police?!
Dumbass.
otrosJul 21, 2010
not to be a debbie downer or anything, but it's possible that I take out a loan, buy a car, exchange the car for another on craiglist, don't make all the necessary legal stuff to change ownership, don't pay the loan, and the car is repo'd.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
barrimonJul 21, 2010
@otros
If you had a loan you wouldn't have the car title. The bank gives it to you once you've paid it off.
theword12Jul 21, 2010
@otros Because I'm sure he didn't pay anyone to do a title search on the car. /s
vvortex3Jul 21, 2010
How can you repossess a trade? moron.
digg2point0Jul 21, 2010
Shhhh.... the person is brown, you can do anything to a brown person in Pantone's world because they're illegal. It's the law.
lucyimhomeJul 21, 2010
@Digg2point0
I heard you can give them free health care because they're illegal. Say it isn't so!
picor96Jul 21, 2010
notice he doesn't actually drive the car in the video... so maybe he can't get the insurance to drive it.
Closed AccountJul 21, 2010
if you read the article it says he is the only one who drives a porsche to school.......
bladzalotJul 21, 2010
He is Mexican, that means he does not need a drivers license OR insurance for that matter
terarealm256Jul 21, 2010
YES! I dugg you up! :-)
davidjunitJul 21, 2010
A 2000 Porsche Boxster, if it's an S model, is a 250HP 6-cylinder and the only thing it really has going for it is the Porsche name. I wouldn't expect insurance to be too much.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
rbstrJul 21, 2010
You're an idiot.
17 years old + two seat, german, convertible sports car. I'm 22 with no accidents and my 20 year old bmw318is's insurance is pretty outrageous.
1807Jul 21, 2010
You are an idiot David. Just because your car doesn't have a ton of horse power doesn't mean it won't be fast. The Porsche Boxter S doesn't need a lot of horse power because it's light. It can corner better and faster which means a lot more if you're doing anything other than drag racing.
boneheadfarkerJul 21, 2010
17 years old. Porsche convertible. Southern California. Yeah...he's not going have ANY fun with such a s**tty vehicle...
flangepieceJul 21, 2010
A lot of what they base your insurance premium on (in the UK at least) is how likely the car in question is to be stolen, not just how likely the owner is to flip it or wrap it round a telegraph pole.
breadfredJul 21, 2010
flange, true, but a larger loading is applied due to age / experience of the driver. Plus he is a student. You'd have difficulty even finding insurance for that vehicle in the UK - you can, but 90% of insurers here will decline straight away. You are looking at about 14k a yr minimum, I'd guess.
burnerzJul 21, 2010
I agree breadfred. My first year of car insurance when I was 17 for a 1.2 16v clio was £1850 approx (around $2800). That was the cheapest fully comp car insurance. I was quoted £5000 by quite a few companies. Ridiculous.
alexbarnes94Jul 22, 2010
@flangepiece: Dugg for "telegraph pole"
rukooJul 21, 2010
If you look closely, the car looks beat a little. Probably got a hell of a deal.
i.e. Driver-side blinker missing, hood looks a little crooked.
nerfdudeJul 21, 2010
plus it's a boxster. so it'd be worth about 10k in good condition.
i hate when news stories play the "german brand = omg expensive status symbol" card.
but still, impressive work!Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
nerfdudeJul 22, 2010
why am i being buried? why is he being buried? we're both clearing things up for those who may not be well-versed when it comes to cars.
Closed AccountJul 21, 2010
not to mention the income taxes you have to pay on bartered goods
http://money.howstuffworks.com/bartering4.htm
generalobviousJul 21, 2010
Trading done by two people over craigslist is their business, and tax free.
socalsuperheroJul 21, 2010
Also, trading one item for another assumes an equal value. Not transfer/increase of wealth, no tax due.
jsalatheJul 21, 2010
not income taxes, sales taxes.
thanakarJul 21, 2010
Wonder if California has personal property tax, like Virginia does, on stuff like cars and RVs
generalobviousJul 21, 2010
...read the article.
Obviously he's making money from trading items.
FFS.
flippedcrackerJul 21, 2010
you don't make money by trading items, unless the item you trade for is money, which is also called selling.
arozJul 21, 2010
The yearly insurance will be the price of a used car in his normal price range. But don't worry. He'll manage.
bluehouseJul 21, 2010
A lot of time, you only need a ton of insurance if your car is bank financed. A bare bones policy with a super high deductible may not be that expensive
xenodataJul 21, 2010
kudos to that kid for thinking outside the box!
alphadrakeJul 21, 2010
'cept he stole the idea from the guy who traded a red paper clip for a house
amazingsteveJul 21, 2010
Most great ideas are lifted from somewhere.
ccmillsmitJul 21, 2010
you do know that the guy with the paperclip didn't invent bartering right?
Closed AccountJul 21, 2010
thread starters point is that he did invent the idea which is false.
adhomineeJul 21, 2010
Clearly theft of intellectual property. Get the patent office on his ass for his bartering tactics! on the internet!!!!
jkalJul 21, 2010
@AlphaDrake, so that means he was thinking within the box and still achieved something you could have, but you haven't, you just sit there hating. Either way you lose.
neuroticfishJul 21, 2010
on the shoulders of giants
maliathJul 21, 2010
Whatever, the only thing this kid is good at is hiding the fact that he deals ya-yo on the side.
canudi9itJul 21, 2010
...thinking outside the Boxster.
needcoffeeJul 21, 2010
Nifty but not 100% original. There was a website dedicated to this a couple years back where a guy started with something small like a pen and after a year or two ended up with a house.
Awesome regardless! The core of projects like this is the essence of enterprise. Find what people want and are willing to give you just a little more than what it took you to get it.
knifesideleftJul 21, 2010
Here it is.
http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/2005/07/one-red-paperclip.html
Somewhere near the end of each post there should be a link with something along the lines of click here to see what I traded so and so for.
I remember seeing a mile long article that had everything listed but that was about 4 years ago. Can't seem to locate it.
gravyleavesJul 21, 2010
you mean one red paperclip. people were def hooking that guy up though, he only had to make like 15 trades.
needcoffeeJul 21, 2010
Yup that's the one. Thanks for the link and trip down memory lane hehe.
knifesideleftJul 21, 2010
Oh yeah me too considering I found out about this story through Slashdot which still had more traffic then Digg at the time I believe...
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/08/0535250Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
leit89Jul 21, 2010
The guy from one red paper clip also had the help of his blog which gave him national attention. More people are willing to let him trade his items for better items if it means some free advertising.
And the guy in this story specifically discusses how angry he gets when he is called a con man because that is not what he is. He goes on to discuss what trading and bartering is all about. He read people's needs and decided if the trade was going to be a win win situation for both parties.
remeloxJul 21, 2010
Worked out well for Noland Hubbard too, it would seem. Two movie roles instead of one.
adokimusJul 21, 2010
The difference was that the red paperclip person did it by blogging about it and people helped out by hooking him up since there was national media coverage about it. This guy did it slowly and on his own, completely under the radar.
Pretty neat if you ask me.
djanakinJul 21, 2010
Wierd... no one said a f**king thing about it being original. Please direct me to where we can find the car YOU traded up for from a cell phone when you were 17. Oh.. it doesn't exist!? STFU.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
theword12Jul 21, 2010
I don't think it's a shining example of enterprise. It's about asking dozens of people to do you a favor because you're trying to do something cool.
rpatrick819Jul 21, 2010
Red paper clip isn't too original either. I heard about this one guy who started with a pocket cucco and ended up with the most powerful sword in the world of Hyrule.
jasonkruserJul 21, 2010
Yes, but that man started out with a paperclip, as far as I can remember who then worked his way up to a pen then a house.
murrabbitJul 21, 2010
Never work for what you want, instead find some obscure way to game the system, create nothing of value, and reap a much larger reward than you could have ever achieved through actual labor.
It's the American way.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
pantone109Jul 21, 2010
the way of mexico?
digg2point0Jul 21, 2010
No... I do believe he said "American".
We reward those who do the least amount of work and look down on those who do the most, all the while telling everyone else to work harder if they want to get somewhere.
fairdinkummateJul 21, 2010
You really are just a racist prat.
f**k OFF!
ketaminedreamsJul 21, 2010
Work smarter, not harder my friend. FTA, he did nothing shady, imo.
thegreat0neJul 21, 2010
What use is creating things of value if those things don't go to the people that want them? All he did was find ways to get people things that they wanted in exchange for things they didn't want. It's called a service. You'll find that there is a whole industry around it.
dennycraineJul 21, 2010
"create nothing of value"
Well I guess the entire wholesale and retail industry, you know where a company buys something for a dollar and sells it for two, is just an industry of lazy scam artists huh?
heasbyJul 21, 2010
Porches are cool, I guess, but does he have an iPhone?
Closed AccountJul 21, 2010
The car isn't that expensive.
kgermJul 21, 2010
dude... i see kids from burbank, encino, glendale..ect driving 100K cars and most of them are in there 20s... but i dont think they stole them. i think it must be nice to filthy rich parents ...
pentayJul 21, 2010
That's cool. Too bad he'll die alone.
wontstoptalkingJul 21, 2010
But it will be in a fiery explosion going 120 mph in a Porsche.
dkrenderJul 21, 2010
Not likely. The dude now drives a babe magnet.
Speaking of which, how long do you think it will take him to trade up from a mediocre girlfriend?
isinnedJul 21, 2010
For some reason I don't think relationships work that way.
pentayJul 21, 2010
haha how did i get so buried and you guys get so dugg? More funny.
danielvutran1Jul 21, 2010
Because you're an idiot
overdrivenJul 21, 2010
Yep. I'm afraid it's because you're a f**king moron.
freeridstyleeJul 21, 2010
I'd be interested in seeing the actual progression. How did he go from ipod to mac book pro?
lantzaJul 21, 2010
Much more detailed article: http://jalopnik.com/5591644/how-a-17+year+old-craigslist+swapped-an-old-phone-for-a-porsche
"He then traded the phone for an iPod Touch, the iPod Touch for a dirtbike — which was turned around several times for other, better dirtbikes — and then a MacBook Pro arrived, which opened the door to vehicles."
freeridstyleeJul 21, 2010
Thanks, much appreciated!
davethe1stJul 21, 2010
My friend traded his 3rd generation ipod with a 1.5 hour battery life for a Powermac G3. It just takes the right people.
pimpwillyJul 21, 2010
Actually progression for anybody too lazy to click the link:
Cell Phone -> iPod Touch -> dirtbike -> bunch of dirtbike trades, slowly going up in value -> MacBook Pro -> Toyota 4 runner -> Custom Off road golf cart -> Back to expensive dirt bike -> Street Bike -> String of boring cars -> 1975 Ford Bronco -> Porche
catalysisJul 21, 2010
So I guess he traded for a dirtbike, then yada yada yada, he had a better dirtbike.
cyclonusripJul 21, 2010
He traded the
Cell Phone + jacked off fat old dude -> iPod Touch
iPod Touch + tea bagged a closeted homo -> dirt bike
then several dirt bike + nudes of his mom -> better dirt bike
then eventually all this culminated in him losing his anal virginity to some dude inside the Bronco for the porche
Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
shinyplasticJul 21, 2010
the kid has patience, but that "porsche" is not exactly the $60k+ that rich assh**es drive. it's a boxster with a screwed up front end and who knows what else. my bet is he didn't spend more than $5k on this salvaged car. that said, it's still impressive, but would anyone have cared if the title read "kid trades phone for slightly used corolla (that is worth more than a 2000 boxster)"?
i guess i'm just bothered by the sensationalism.
/rant
tr4mpldundrfootJul 21, 2010
i know, i was just reading a different article that said the asking price for the Porsche was only $9000, and that the 1975 bronco was actually worth more... but still, at the rate he is going I'm sure he can trade it up. it actually states that he wants an Cadillac....
anothersoldierJul 29, 2010
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it said the Bronco was worth $9000 more than the asking price of the porche.
evlgyJul 21, 2010
Good job buddy, You should look into a pawn broking buisness.
h3llr41s3rJul 21, 2010
All those hours sitting on the computer craigslisting and putting some pounds on him paid off really well.
mushooJul 21, 2010
As opposed to all those hours you spent on the computer commenting on digg?
bonestampJul 21, 2010
He's been trading his girlfriend up too, it's all good.
jabbrwockeyJul 21, 2010
The alternative is to sit in front of a computer, putting on pounds, trying to make money.
thanakarJul 21, 2010
As opposed to your hours spent in front of the computer just pounding it?
sweetchinmusicJul 21, 2010
His next trade should be this:
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bar/1854786117.html
ehauganJul 21, 2010
They see me rollin......they hatin'.....
jack416Jul 21, 2010
Power-trading defined.
vvortex3Jul 21, 2010
I actually owned a Porsche boxster. It was the worst piece of s**t unreliable car I've ever owned and I've had quite a few.
tnoyJul 21, 2010
Not sure why you're getting dugg down, you're absolutely right. Fun to drive, though.
mist0r_wigglesJul 21, 2010
What year were your boxster? I bought an 07 Boxster S in June last year and it works fine. I've since put 13k miles on it, and I'm not getting any problems.
rolfJul 21, 2010
Wait till after warranty. In my experience with German cars, the powertrain (motor, transmission) is rock solid but the electrical systems (an unbelievable s**t ton in the cars these days) are the weakpoint and just as expensive to fix.
mist0r_wigglesJul 21, 2010
yea, my ML's radio/nav/cdplayer has been broken for about 2 years. Never bothered to bring it in to fix it. Plus I only take out the suv when I actually need it to carry things.
djanakinJul 21, 2010
Did you get it when you were 17 and for free?
No. You didn't.
heynow21Jul 21, 2010
Think about the work involved trading s**t 14 times via Craigslist, it wasn't free.
shinggeJul 21, 2010
From Top Gear: Boxsters are for people who can't afford 911s
mist0r_wigglesJul 22, 2010
and 911s are people that can't afford Ferraris, and Ferraris are for people that can't about Veyrons, and so on and so on. Everyone has a price point, don't belittle their achievement because you drive a box car.
doomesticJul 21, 2010
First generation was crap, but they improved significantly afterward.
supraspeedJul 21, 2010
Quite inspiring. My only advice would to that kid would be to be wary of the jealous douchebags that'll try to key his car
simplesimpleJul 21, 2010
My advice would be to be careful on Craigslist.
imandysmithJul 21, 2010
Too bad there isn't an order of trades.. I assume he actually did spend a fair amount of money during trades
rolfJul 21, 2010
Or a fair amount of time. The headline is a bit misleading suggesting that it went from phone to car, but in reality there's probably a fair amount of time spent in making the deal and probably restoring/repairing what he acquired to be able to trade up.
But an impressive effort nonetheless.
ctraiderthe1stJul 21, 2010
From a reply to another post above:
http://jalopnik.com/5591644/how-a-17+year+old-craigslist+swapped-an-old-phone-for-a-porsche
pimpwillyJul 21, 2010
From http://jalopnik.com/5591644/how-a-17+year+old-craigslist+swapped-an-old-phone-for-a-porsche
Cell Phone -> iPod Touch -> dirtbike -> bunch of dirtbike trades, slowly going up in value -> MacBook Pro -> Toyota 4 runner -> Custom Off road golf cart -> Back to expensive dirt bike -> Street Bike -> String of boring cars -> 1975 Ford Bronco -> Porche
the last trade was actually a downgrade from a car worth about 15k to get the porche that was being sold for 9k
All in all not bad, but the jump from Macbook pro to Car is what really gets me, gotta love those apple fans
roxgod666Jul 21, 2010
Apparently he spends 5 to 6 hours each day on Craigslist.
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110125/how-to-upgrade-an-old-phone-into-a-porsche
Honestly, who the hell has that kind of motivation/ lack of social life?
teacher2beJul 21, 2010
Hi.
theuserdylanJul 21, 2010
Virgins?
flangepieceJul 21, 2010
Your funny-to-word-count ratio is a thing of wonder :)
smihalikJul 21, 2010
honestly he probably isn't really earning that much with the hours he puts in.
his porsche is only worth about 10k. price out a first gen boxster on cars.com if you want to see for yourself.
His entrepreneurial spirit will pay off for him later though. I'm sure he will find a way to make himself rich soon enough.
s0nicfreakJul 21, 2010
And most people his age make how much working 5 hours a day at McDoanlds?
purag66Jul 21, 2010
@s0nicfreak:
If he spends 5 hours a day, that's 35 horus/week. Let's say he worked about 30 hours per week at Best Buy (a reasonable job for a high schooler--I did it without much brains).
At $9/hour, that's $270/week. Let's say he works 45 weeks out of the year. That's over $12000, well over his $9000 Porsche. Not bad I guess?
s0nicfreakJul 21, 2010
It's not that much over, and you have to take into account the fact that he gets to work from home.
newave2Jul 21, 2010
Totally agree. I see this kid ending up running his own company. I would be so proud of one of my children who did this. (Actually, I'm proud of them for what they have done.) And, best part: He doesn't seem like a jerk. Kudos!
purag66Jul 21, 2010
@ s0nicfreak:
I agree that it's not that much over. But if you're gonna count him getting to work, etc., you have to count him having to meet people at random places (like a mall that holds a store he could work at) to swap items.
skillelJul 22, 2010
This account has been closed by the user
sinurgyJul 21, 2010
@roxgod666
Are you joking? I'd say facebook alone answers your question.
danielvutran1Jul 21, 2010
Does lack of social life = an unsuccessful life to you?
And if so, who are you to judge how someone spends their life. Shut up.
roxgod666Jul 21, 2010
To answer your question, i would say i believe the opposite to be true.
P.S Hahahahahaha @ the second part.
nickdbJul 21, 2010
Bill Gates
firesightsJul 21, 2010
I trust you have never heard of World of Warcraft. Don't start playing.
djanakinJul 21, 2010
"Honestly, who the hell has that kind of motivation/ lack of social life?"
Um... a 17 year old with a Porsche.
Closed AccountJul 21, 2010
people on digg
killerbearsJul 21, 2010
If he wrote about this on a college app, he could get in *anywhere*
...provided doing this didn't make him have a 2.0 or something.
dreamvsps2Jul 21, 2010
If you live in a big city, power trades happen quiet often. I just traded my Porsche for a phone.
helloween2008Jul 21, 2010
It's ok. I bet it was an iPhone.
gefahrJul 21, 2010
..to be fair it was an iPhone.
nysusJul 21, 2010
Capitalism defined: It takes about 20 losers to make just one winner.
cerebronJul 21, 2010
At least there are winners.
h0v3rb1k3sJul 21, 2010
These were mutual trades all the way. Everyone was a winner.
alceste1978Jul 21, 2010
Anti-Capitalism defined: Inability/Refusal to comprehend how volitional trading is mutually beneficial because the desires of both parties involved are fulfilled.
The guy who traded the Porsche obviously wanted the other item more, you dumb f**k. People can want different things.
eh123Jul 21, 2010
You're an idiot. Everyone along the way made a voluntary transaction to get something they wanted. EVERYONE WON.
thanakarJul 21, 2010
This is Bartering defined, not Capitalism.There was a time in the USA where bartering was an acceptable method of buying goods. Didn't have cash, then you used a few chickens or whatever.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
2004taxesJul 21, 2010
Wait bartering isn't a form of capitalism?
otrosJul 21, 2010
It has nothing to do with it, you can have a capitalist system with bartering or not.
jeepinatorJul 21, 2010
You're one of those people that walks around wearing a "Che" shirt aren't you?
xios117Jul 22, 2010
Careful nysus, your ignorance is showing. It's ugly.
anakastJul 29, 2010
I don't think you have any understanding of capitalism at all.
tgc1Jul 21, 2010
These are the kids that make you realize just how much you fail at life. Specially me. f**k sakes, where is my initiative and drive?
danielvutran1Jul 21, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p3CzpYXBgY#t=3m
I'd like to point you out to a song.
thanakarJul 21, 2010
All over your fist probably...
theword12Jul 21, 2010
Especially. Fail.
analjusticeJul 21, 2010
well from your profile I would say it might help to start by spending less time on digg
smihalikJul 21, 2010
Godo on him. But I feel it necessary to point out that it's a first gen boxter. Those can be had for under 10k. So he worked for 2 years to earn 10k.
No jealousy, I just feel let down by the title. I was expecting new-ish 911 at least.
spartarisingJul 21, 2010
Yahoo article (linked above) says he only did 14 trades. Not exactly a full time job.
smihalikJul 21, 2010
I also read he spends 5-6 hours a day on craigslist.
spartarisingJul 21, 2010
5 hours * 365 days * 2 years / 14 trades = 260 hours / trade
Does not equate. Maybe he has gotten other stuff.
s0nicfreakJul 21, 2010
@smihalik
Yeah but do you think he is actually sitting there for 5 - 6 hours bartering, or do you think he is also on the forums and switching tabs?
thecoinmanJul 21, 2010
14 successful trades. Getting a successful trade on Craigslist isn't always as easy as sending an email and the next day you've got a trade up. I'm guessing it took quite a bit of time for him to sift through all of the bad trades and people who didn't agree to the trade, in order to make each deal. Not to mention he probably spent some time reconditioning each item before he traded up.
@spartarising 260 hours does equate if you factor in all the time spent browsing Craigslist when the deal you need isn't available. I'm guessing he went for many months checking Craigslist each day before he found each trade up. If it was as easy as a trade a day, it wouldn't have taken him 2 years to do it.
tnoyJul 21, 2010
And in two years, who knows what he'll have.
outlawsundownJul 21, 2010
He also traded a 75 Bronco worth 15 grand he probably could have sold the bronco then bought a Porsche and had a few thousand to spare.
smihalikJul 21, 2010
Who the hell would pay 15k for a '75 bronco?
outlawsundownJul 21, 2010
Thats what it's worth.
jackgrinnanJul 21, 2010
Come on guys, the Porsche is a 2000 model... not that impressive.
/obviously sarcasm
cyborg31Jul 26, 2010
Apparently it isn't, it's only worth about $9k.
slipperyottterJul 21, 2010
ha!
i live 15 minutes away from glendora, and my friend kaydi just graduated from charter oak this june, i wonder if she knows who he is.
anyway, good for this kid.
i hope he proves to be more than just a commercial success and does something meaningful in life.
Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
fitzfanJul 21, 2010
Was it really necessary to name drop there?
Closed AccountJul 21, 2010
coolstorybro
firesightsJul 21, 2010
Is Kaydi hot? Pics? Facebook link?
artworkz918Jul 21, 2010
she can't even spell Katy right, probably no much to look at
juliusthecatJul 21, 2010
This account has been closed by the user
jjc5004Jul 21, 2010
My friend found his stolen car, because the thieves tried to sell his radio on craigslist.
It was one of those $2500 radio in a $2000 car situations you see in tuner cars. So he told the cops that the radio was a top model, not sold in stores, and he had to order it from the manufacturer.
They checked the serial numbers - case closed.
I wish you nothing but luck in your criminal endeavors, just be careful on craigslist.
yO0411Jul 21, 2010
I'm sure this story isn't as glamorous as they make it sound. He probably bought old electronics, fixed them up, lied and sold them as new. Eventually he saved up enough to buy a repo'd Porche, and is now broke because of the ridiculous car insurance. Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
shaqtasticJul 21, 2010
bet that thing has 125k miles on it. nonetheless... amazing job by a 17 year old. more productive than watching tv or playing 4-5 hours of videogames a day. probably also picked up some invaluable social skills that will help him score with the ladies in college (well, i mean, that and his porsche).
danielvutran1Jul 21, 2010
And thus, another seemingly intelligent comment is nulled by idiotic claims of what's considered "productive".
johnfluxJul 21, 2010
I would like to see a definition of productive where watching TV is ranked more productive than working and earning a car.
danielvutran1Jul 21, 2010
And thus, you prove my point. It really is worthless explaining these things to people, you probably think getting laid > staying at home playing WoW too. And no, I'm not being sarcastic. I don't play WoW, but I don't look down upon anyone choosing to play WoW rather than going and trying to sleep with a girl. I always wonder why people think they have the right to judge what's considered "better" but that's a different subject. If you want to argue what's productive, I could easily argue that a child watching sci-fi gains his interest in technology and he grows up to pursue a high-end career in it, and making a discovery. All due to watching T.V. But you'd be the next door neighbor making his kids play sports because "that's what kids are supposed to do" and you don't want your kid to look like a "nerd". Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
analjusticeJul 21, 2010
woah wtf all he said was that's it's probably more productive to work and earn a car instead of watching TV all day and your reply makes it seem like he just insulted 3 generations of your family. Your just using his reply as a catalyst to vent your crazy emotional rage. Seriously did your neighbours pick on you for being a nerd or something? Nobody was even talking about that, you brought all this up yourself.
shaqtasticJul 22, 2010
the only person sounding elitist is you, my friend. and if you can't admit to that, then you have a huge perception problem.
and by your definition, any activity in life can be construed as productive. but if that were the case, then the concept of productivity would not exist, rendering your argument invalid.
but another argument against your point is that you are measuring productivity through hypothetical results, which, i hope i don't have to explain, is pure f**king failure.
Closed AccountJul 21, 2010
Maybe some nice older man he met on casual encounters section of Craigslist "traded" him the Porsche for a "job" well done.
mushooJul 21, 2010
Speaking from personal experience are we?
danielvutran1Jul 21, 2010
Hahaha you mean he had sex with some old guy right? That's so gross!!!!!!!!
diggwithaforkJul 21, 2010
This is the easiest type of trade, by far.
<--speaking from experience
killermothJul 21, 2010
... and in 6 months the IRS comes knocking about taxes on his undeclared income from his bartering.
nickdbJul 21, 2010
That should be fairly interesting. Not sure they can.
Since bartering is just swapping something for something else, both parties put equal value on the items traded. So the argument could be made that his expenses equaled his income, hence nothing to declare.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
spacemanspiff22Jul 21, 2010
If your logic were true it would exploited to no end and nobody with half a brain would ever pay taxes. Ever. That should raise a red flag.
irvman21Jul 21, 2010
Try that logic on the it and you'll be in the cell next to Wesley snipes. He started with a phone an ended with a porsche, anybody can see there is a net gain on which tax is owed...
ldkronosJul 21, 2010
"both parties put equal value on the items traded"
So if you follow the progression, you are saying that he originally valued the cell phone for the same amount that the final guy valued the Porsche? LOL.
thatebayerJul 21, 2010
you can be taxed for the estimated "net gain"
samgerdt1Jul 21, 2010
Who has two thumbs and thinks the IRS are a bunch of douchebags?
....this guy.
buzamanJul 21, 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjective_theory_of_value
idontevenJul 21, 2010
What a poorly written article.
fairdinkummateJul 21, 2010
Wow, I am just absolutely amazed at the number of jealous haters on this post!
The kid did well. He used his brains & skills & got what he wanted - fairly. It's not like he took anything from you to get his Porsche, why all the hate? Jealous prats!
propethicJul 21, 2010
He sells drugs/pills.
dfc106Jul 21, 2010
He really didn't do anything all that impressive. He 'worked' 5-6 hours a day for 2 years. So 5 hours a day times 5 days a week times 50 weeks a year equals 2500 hours for a $9000 car. That's $3.6 an hour. He didn't contribute anything to society by working a job that fills a need, and paying taxes. All that effort for a wildly impractical car for a teenager (gas, maintenance, insurance, etc). Yet he's being heralded as some business genius.
I would be much more impressed by a story about a kid who worked a job part time for 2 years and saved $9000 for college. But that wouldn't be a very sensational headline.
simplesimpleJul 21, 2010
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110125/how-to-upgrade-an-old-phone-into-a-porsche
FTA:
"In fact, when Ortiz made his final swap to get the sports car, he was actually trading down. After driving around the 1975 Ford Bronco—worth around $15,000—for a while, Steven decided to trade it for the renown of being a teenage Porsche owner, even though the Boxster was worth only $9,000."
moocowzJul 21, 2010
yeah, well in his defense, just because a car is "worth" $15,000 doesn't mean you'd be able to sell it for that amount. Also after a quick search of 1975 Ford Broncos on craigslist, most seem to be in the $3000-$8500 range... Although It's possible that the one he bought was just in really good condition I suppose.
spacemanspiff22Jul 21, 2010
You have to apply the same logic on the Porsche being "worth" 9k.
joughJul 21, 2010
Maybe it's just me, but the Porsche in the photo looks like it'd be worth more than $9k.
straatJul 21, 2010
Its you......it's only a boxster. The "poor mans Porsche"
firesightsJul 21, 2010
I want a Boxster worth 9 grand! Even with a ton of miles on it. If you know the right people you can get the engine overhauled and be good to go for a long time. German motors are absolute beasts for longevity.
jeepinatorJul 21, 2010
An engine overhaul on a Porsche is never cheap. It may just be cheap relative to other Porches.
firesightsJul 21, 2010
Not if you personally know someone, or can do a majority of it yourself.
jeepinatorJul 22, 2010
Unfortunately Porsche and other luxury car companies have many proprietary tools to prevent you from working on your own car. For example, my sister's Audi has some under body panels that are particularly hard to get back on without the proper tools and you have to remove them just to change the oil.
theword12Jul 21, 2010
Bloody hell...so instead of my new Toyota Corolla I got a few years ago I could have gotten a Porsche?
ma5termindJul 21, 2010
THIS JUST IN:
The title is very misleading.
Its just meant to get reader attention (like most of the Yahoo News CRAP ) --> http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110125/how-to-upgrade-an-old-phone-into-a-porsche
The kid DOWNGRADED & traded a $15,000 Truck to get a $9K Porsche... a STUPID Trade, but we gotta make it news worthy somehow right.
Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
oystervilleJul 21, 2010
It is only downgrading when you look at it financially. He got what he wanted, which is how he got from a used cell phone to a Porsche. Others "downgraded" financially to get what they held in higher value to themselves personally.
johnfluxJul 21, 2010
Your post is very misleading. He downgraded once out of all of the trades.
mauriceescargotJul 21, 2010
he's a teenager. he exchanged a car (ford bronco) for a chick magnet (porsche). is it realy a downgrade?
drdragunJul 21, 2010
It's a downgrade because he could have had the same Porsche + six thousand dollars
drdragunJul 21, 2010
It's a downgrade because he could have had the same Porsche + six thousand dollars
jjc5004Jul 21, 2010
It may have been a downgrade, but it's a fitting end.
His whole scheme was that people are willing to trade what they have, for what they want, even if the thing they want is worth less than what they have, and don't need.
isoceneJul 21, 2010
I like the idea but he must have had to pay a lot of money when transferring those titles.
djoverezJul 21, 2010
I think he should have traded for a treadmill. Am I right people!?
charlescrosbieJul 21, 2010
I lol'd
kaquinJul 21, 2010
Not as impressive as that one guy who bartered from a paper clip to owning a house.
propethicJul 21, 2010
The guy with the house had an entire community of people helping him out
hivoltage815Jul 21, 2010
Yeah, no way that guy got that house without the media attention and blog surrounding it.
seandoofJul 21, 2010
Did anyone else notice that in the video, the "old cell phone" pictured is a Nexus One?
artworkz918Jul 21, 2010
they give that crap away
spodtekJul 21, 2010
my friends would beat the s**t out of me if i sold the stuff they sold to me at a friend discount for way more
djanakinJul 21, 2010
Apparently your friends are stupid.
malik05Jul 21, 2010
its just a boxter...
firesightsJul 21, 2010
And what do you drive that's so much nicer?
malik05Jul 21, 2010
a vintage fully restored bumper-bumper 240z with original everything...
firesightsJul 22, 2010
Pretty sure the women are going to go for the Porsche, chum. Sorry.
djanakinJul 21, 2010
He's only 17.. and he got it for free. Also, he traded down for it.
YOU cannot beat that.
malik05Jul 21, 2010
they're just making a big deal out of it...and i drive a vintage fully restored bumper-bumper 240z
straatJul 21, 2010
Finally someone who understands....Owning a boxster isn't cool, people with real cars will only laugh at you.
brassbudJul 21, 2010
With this kid's skills he'll be driving a McLaren F1 in about a month.
zukasJul 21, 2010
You guy are all kidding right? There's no way he did this starting with a phone. Seeing as he clearly knows about supply and demand, and basic economic principles, this kid is also a drug dealer.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
richmondrhinoJul 21, 2010
If only more people had his type of motivation.. if we all took baby steps to make our lives better we'd all have that same grin/smile that the young kid has here.
scumblzJul 21, 2010
It'll be a bummer when the car sits for two years while he barters to put new tires on it.
Closed AccountJul 21, 2010
Related: http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/
drahgon55Jul 21, 2010
makes me wonder always why these ppl start so low. if he say started with a car it seems the porsche would have been much easier to get.
djanakinJul 21, 2010
OK.. you start.
Ass. He didn't have a car. He had a phone. Pull your head out of your ass.
jtensJul 21, 2010
If that Porsche is only worth $9k then it must have a s**tload of problems.
djanakinJul 21, 2010
It's just their going price right now. It's also a 2000 model.
wilc3685Jul 21, 2010
So another uninsured teenager with a supercharged engine. There's no way his "struggling family in this economy" can afford insurance even just liability. If he's really smart, he'd trade or sell that car.
djanakinJul 21, 2010
Since when is a Porsche Boxter supercharged?
wilc3685Jul 22, 2010
In terms of insurance companies, it is.
artworkz918Jul 21, 2010
they are N/A or naturally aspirated for those of you not vehicularly versed
livefromheavenJul 21, 2010
$15,000 for a 70's Ford Bronco? wtf
2004taxesJul 21, 2010
hell that's cheap for a tricked out Bronc.
bingo2bangoJul 21, 2010
Or:
1 Previous Owner:
Orenthal James Simpson
artworkz918Jul 21, 2010
I believe his buddy owned it, not OJ
monkey52892Jul 21, 2010
Kudos to the kid, very impressive for his age.
However, because he spent 5-6 hours a night on a job, he would have been better off getting an actual job.
5 hours * 365 days * 2 years = 3650 hours * $6.50/hour (estimate hourly rate after taxes) = $23,725
Having a worked a job is a strong legitimate resume item when applying to colleges.
wjsalm3Jul 21, 2010
i think the idea of this article, and of others praise is to promote the initiative and out of the book thinking done by the young man.
pimpwillyJul 21, 2010
You're assuming that 5-6 hours is spent only for this car, which definitely isn't true. He actually did this in only 14 trades. He probably has gotten a lot of other items through trading.
Besides, how many minimum wage jobs let you look at porn during downtime?
Also, your math is a bit wonky. You assume he'd find a job that lets him work 5 hours a day, 7 days a week. In order to avoid paying him health insurance, he'd possibly be able to find a job that let him work 20 hours a week (if he's lucky).
20 * 52 * 2 = 2080 hours, * 6.50/hour = 13520, a huge amount less than your 23k+ number
In addition, he started this when he was 15, which means he'd have to have qualified for a work permit AND found a job willing to let him work in the specific time hes allowed, i.e. after school and before 10pm.
All in all, I think "Traded from Cell Phone to Porche using Craigs list" is a lot more appealing and foot in the door worthy than "Worked part time at McDonalds"
theword12Jul 21, 2010
Poor kid....that Porsche isn't going to get you laid when you're spending 5 hours a day on Craigslist.
Closed AccountJul 21, 2010
I don't know, having this story on his resume will look awfully good if he applies to retail, sales, etc etc. It means he has initiative, and a good mind for opportunity.
rovaJul 21, 2010
I agree. I would rather hire somewhere with this in their history than a B average.
Closed AccountJul 21, 2010
Impressive dealing.
techsmackJul 21, 2010
Lazy people go way out of their way to stay out of the workplace and keep to the internet! 2 Years for $10,000, and a hefty insurance bill to boot. Seems like he could have sold the $15,000 bronco, and got at least a newer Porsche.
modafromanJul 21, 2010
what the f**k, that was worth $9k? s**t. here in aus, you'd be lucky to look at one for $50k, and it would have 300,000kms on it and be painted rattle can black.
heynow21Jul 21, 2010
Rattle can black?! Krikey!
thatashguyJul 22, 2010
yeah no s**t. can someone please confirm this? (the 9k part)
Dawgz83948Jul 21, 2010
Too bad it's a Boxster. Those have some serious problems, I trade one away too knowing what kind of engine/transmission problems await me in the near future. http://www.flat6innovations.com/engine-failures-illustrated
German engineering at it's finest.