Is buying a fancy car a sin?

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Sometimes I am tempted to buy a fancy car. Is this wrong? Consider that no one really needs a fancy car, e.g. a BMW, a Mercedes, a Corvette. Such cars really aren’t necessary. All you need is something reliable, clean, in good shape, and of the right power and size suited to your needs. But fancy? Well, this is something I’ve been reflecting on… What do you think?
 
TheAdvocate said:
Sometimes I am tempted to buy a fancy car. Is this wrong? Consider that no one really needs a fancy car, e.g. a BMW, a Mercedes, a Corvette. Such cars really aren’t necessary. All you need is something reliable, clean, in good shape, and of the right power and size suited to your needs. But fancy? Well, this is something I’ve been reflecting on… What do you think?
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Well, if buying and driving a fancy car is a sin, then I will have to get rid of my high stepping Arabian horse, along with its fancy decorated saddle, decorated bridle and beautiful sheep skin saddlecloth. 🤷
 
No. Buying a “fancy” car is not **intrinsically **sinful.

Failing to support the poor through acts of charity is a sin against the Seventh Commandment. If we buy the fancy car while *failing *to do any corporal or spiritual works of mercy, then we should examine our conscience. From the catechism:

2451 The seventh commandment enjoins the practice of justice and charity in the administration of earthly goods and the fruits of men’s labor.

2445 Love for the poor is incompatible with **immoderate **love of riches or their selfish use

We should practice and foster virtue and avoid the sins the have their root in avarice.
 
1ke said:
No. Buying a “fancy” car is not **intrinsically **sinful.

Failing to support the poor through acts of charity is a sin against the Seventh Commandment. If we buy the fancy car while *failing *to do any corporal or spiritual works of mercy, then we should examine our conscience. From the catechism:

2451 The seventh commandment enjoins the practice of justice and charity in the administration of earthly goods and the fruits of men’s labor.

2445 Love for the poor is incompatible with **immoderate **love of riches or their selfish use

We should practice and foster virtue and avoid the sins the have their root in avarice.
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What is “immoderate?” I know a Religion teacher at a Catholic school who owns a Corvette. So as long as he is giving generously to the Church and the needy, it’s okay?
 
No its not a sin.
But you must not forget the needy and give to charity.
 
TheAdvocate said:
What is “immoderate?”
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An inordinate love of money. Greed. Avarice.

For example, a slum lord who owns an luxury car at the *expense *of his tenants-- providing substandard living conditions, unreasonable rents, etc, in order to get that extra money-- would be violating the Seventh Commandment. A businessman who is rich because he pays substandard wages or cheats his employees to turn a bigger profit would be violating the Seventh Commandment.

Buying luxury goods are not *inherently *sinful. The Church recognizes that economic activity provides means for the poor to work and raise themselves out of poverty. You spending your money in the economy builds up others through that economic activity. If “you” (i.e. someone) weren’t buying these goods, the business would shut down and put people out of work. The suppliers to that business would also suffer economically. Our purchasing power here in the US helps those in other countries rise out of their poverty.

It’s not a perfect system because of course there are individuals who take advantage of the poor, crushing debt and corruption in these countries’ governments, etc, but you are not responsible for that.
TheAdvocate said:
I know a Religion teacher at a Catholic school who owns a Corvette. So as long as he is giving generously to the Church and the needy, it’s okay?
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Sure, generally speaking.

If it is a source of vanity, avarice, pride, etc, for* that person *then perhaps it is imprudent and a failure in the virtue of temperance for that person.

We cannot make any sort of blanket judgment on the owning of any particular goods by a person. The Church does not do so.
 
That depends on why you are buying the Statusmobile.

If you are buying the Statusmobile to make people envious, then there’s a problem. Likewise if you acquire debt recklessly in order to buy the Statusmobile or otherwise find yourself unable to meet your obligations to support your family and to do charity as a result of having bought the Statusmobile, then there’s a problem.

OTOH, if you are buying a Statusmobile because you are a limo driver, business executive or professional and the Statusmobile will help you get clients, that’s a good reason to buy one. If you are an auto collector and this is a hobby or investment pursuit for you, more power to you as long as you aren’t falling into the above traps. But if you’re buying a Statusmobile to try and pick up someone of the opposite sex, that’s more questionable.

Follow your conscience and don’t be scrupulous.
 
I appreciate the reply. Don’t worry people, though. Scrupulous I’m not. Like I said, just been thinking about it.

I remember many years back when I bought a fast, shiny, new car. My church contributions suddenly went down. I didn’t care much for that correlation. So this time, I’m resolving that if I’m gonna buy a fancy car, I’m also gonna make sure I can afford it only after I’ve budgeted for tithing.
 
i’m nearly 27 years old and i bought a tv for my room and as i was thinking of getting it I felt guity for buying it. but sometimes one must purchase something with the money they work so hard for. otherwise you start to feel like you are working for nothing. i’m not saying to purchase goods all the time but sometimes like around christmas something you have been willing to have or you wanted for a while then it ok.
 
If you’ve worked hard and have the means to get nice things, then it’s fine. Just don’t let get to your head. They’re good, reliable cars that make for a nice driving experience. It’s enjoyable to have items of a high quality. Also, consider that the cars usually have newer technologies for higher safety.
 
No, not necessarily. I think you should spend your money on better things though, like saving someones life. Even 25 dollars could save another persons life.
 
It is not wrong if you can honestly afford it. I think it is very wrong if your house is in need of repair, your kids need clothes and braces for their teeth, and you have credit card debt.
 
John21652 said:
Well, if buying and driving a fancy car is a sin, then I will have to get rid of my high stepping Arabian horse, along with its fancy decorated saddle, decorated bridle and beautiful sheep skin saddlecloth. 🤷
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LOL! I used to have Arabians but because it was a sin to have a high stepping fancy horse 😉 I downsized to a miniature with a cart. 🙂
 
I think it is better not to since that money could be better spent.

But no, it is not a sin. It would be a sin if that money would not be yours for example but you stole it and now you use it to your own ends. That would be a sin, but it would be the sin of stealing and not the one of ‘buying fancy cars’.

But as I said, while it is not a sin, it is not the best thing to do either.
 
I think if it makes you happy and you’re still being charitable, I see no problem with it. Most people spend money on unnecessary things just to make themselves happy (eating in restaurants, fashionable clothes, vacations, stereos and tvs). If this is car is your “thing,” I don’t have a problem with that.
 
I think if it makes you happy and you’re still being charitable, I see no problem with it. Most people spend money on unnecessary things just to make themselves happy (eating in restaurants, fashionable clothes, vacations, stereos and tvs). If this is car is your “thing,” I don’t have a problem with that. I once knew a priest who drove a fancy sports car. LOL
 
TheAdvocate said:
What is “immoderate?” I know a Religion teacher at a Catholic school who owns a Corvette. So as long as he is giving generously to the Church and the needy, it’s okay?
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As long as its within his means and he’s not obsessing in ownership of the material object.
 
Also, I must say as a car fanatic, there is more into a more expensive car than just prestige and showing it off. Notice the cars with better safety ratings are the more expensive ones. They’re just built better and more money goes into their R&D to build better cars. I drive a VW which is not that expensive, but is more expensive than your Toyotas and Hondas. But I can feel the difference in drivability, and it has a 5-star saftey crash rating. Would I want to put my child in a car thats a tin-foil on wheels? Just for the sake of being modest?

It all boils down to intention. I would question one who buys a Ferrari. But if you’re buying a BMW or Mercedes which are well built cars and crash survivability is very high, and it is well within your means, then by all means go for it. Its not a sin to want good quality.
 
I find it interesting the number of “Is (random act) a sin?” threads started.

No offense to the OP but what I read when I see such a thread is “I want to do this and want to have people tell me it’s ok.” Think for yourself.

That said, I’d agree with what most others indicated. If you can easily afford to do so and still give what you can in terms of charity I don’t see how it could be.

Greed is a sin… purchasing things that are well within your price range that don’t keep you from taking care of your family or keep you from being charitable is not greedy.
 
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