You've got to convince her that the money spent on a Pantera is not gone, it's capital invested in an enjoyable asset. Pull it out of a non-IRA account.
Pick the right machine and you're buying a item that is at market value and likely to (slowly) appreciate in value, not a new toy that's going to lose 30% or whatever of it's value the moment you take it off the dealers lot.
Now the operating part. My agreed value (purchase price) and liability insurance with Hagerty is around $400 a year, tags about $110.
I burn about $50 in fuel per weekend morning romp. Haven't spent a dime on anything beyond an oil change this year. Like I said, pick the right machine, and then take care of it.
Good luck.
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