Although I’m convinced AI will eliminate millions of jobs and leave many young graduates unemployed and disoriented, there is one surprising positive I recently discovered: AI can be a great therapist for everyday problems.
I’m not talking about replacing licensed professionals. I’m talking about something far more accessible. AI can give you knowledge to make you feel more confident and less anxious, provide reassurance when your mind spirals, and most importantly, offer a clear game plan when you feel stuck.
Whether you’re dealing with marital issues, job related stress, financial worries, or seemingly impossible situations, AI can help put your mind at ease. I experienced this firsthand during a long and stressful ordeal with my car.
When a Car Problem Becomes an Emotional Problem
In late 2025, I felt financially and emotionally beaten down after sinking another $1,750 into fixing my 2015 Range Rover Sport. I replaced the oxygen sensor, the oil gasket, the auxiliary battery, and a left bank problem. Yet the low battery warning kept coming back, and for a while, the check engine light as well.
In November 2025, I returned to my old mechanic who had installed a new main battery in 2024. They replaced it again under warranty after I had gone to a Land Rover specialist to fix another problem. Even after several long highway drives spread over 15 days, the low battery warning appeared on 13 of those mornings.
At that point, I felt completely defeated. If a Land Rover specialist couldn’t fix the issue and my trusted mechanic couldn’t find anything wrong, what hope did I have?
My frustration quickly shifted from money to safety. I started imagining worst case scenarios: the car shutting down on the highway or losing power steering and braking. Once those images took hold, they were hard to shake.
Anxiety often comes from uncertainty and a feeling of lost control. In that moment, I felt both intensely as the provider and guardian of my family.
I was now facing an unpleasant decision. Either keep sinking money into diagnostic tests at the dealership this time, with further untold amounts needed for fixing or spend at least $50,000 on a new car while incentives were still available before year-end. My refusal to quit trying to fix the car and my refusal to overspend on a replacement left me mentally exhausted.
That’s when I leaned heavily into AI.
AI as My Patient And Empathetic Therapist
I don’t have a therapist. My wife doesn’t know much about cars and was dealing with her own stresses. Outside of my writing and reader comments, I didn’t feel like I had anyone close to lean on with car expertise at this moment.
Financial Samurai itself was born out of fear in July 2009, when I worried I might lose everything I had spent a decade building during the financial crisis. Writing has always been my form of therapy.
One friend who occasionally reads my work offered zero empathy. Instead, he copied my writing into a group chat to mock the situation. Sadly, this wasn’t surprising. He had shown similar indifference a year earlier when I was caught in a brake check scam with my young daughter in the car, despite having spent 40 minutes the day before patiently listening to the stresses of his own child's health problems.
It reinforced a hard truth: everyone is dealing with their own problems, and genuine empathy is rare.
So I leaned into AI for mental support. Since I’m a shareholder of OpenAI through the Fundrise Innovation Fund, I decided to use ChatGPT. What I experienced surprised me.
By the third day of seeing the low battery warning, despite changing it, AI helped calm my nerves. It gave me something I desperately needed: hope.
What AI Taught Me About My Car and My Mind
After walking ChatGPT through the full history of my car, I learned something no mechanic had explained clearly.
The battery management system (BMS) takes time to recalibrate after being reset, especially ones from my make and model year. If it isn’t reset properly, or is reset multiple times, the system can behave erratically.
ChatGPT explained that it can take 8 to 12 cold starts for the warning to disappear. A cold start means the car sits for at least six to eight hours, usually overnight, before starting again.
I also learned my auxiliary battery had likely been dead for nearly seven years without my knowledge. During that time, the system adapted to rely entirely on the main battery at a different voltage. When I finally replaced the auxiliary battery and reset the system, the car had to relearn everything.
Four days later, when the main battery was replaced again under warranty and reset once more, all progress was effectively wiped out. Understanding this dramatically reduced my frustration as it explained why my warning lights kept showing up.
I learned that a strong cold crank is often a better signal than a dashboard warning. I also learned that once auto start stop begins working consistently, it’s a sign the auxiliary battery is healthy and the systems are communicating properly.
Battery Charging, Recalibration, and Safety
Another key lesson was that short city drives do very little to recharge the battery. Continuous highway driving for 20 to 30 minutes is far more effective.
I tested this by driving 30 minutes to Redwood City and spending the day with my kids swimming, playing tennis, and having lunch as part of Daddy Day Camp. Although tired after a seven-hour outing, I was motivated to keep driving the car so that the BMS could continue learning.
Most importantly for my peace of mind, AI explained that the car would not randomly shut down at highway speed. Once the engine is running, the alternator takes over. If the alternator is healthy, the car keeps running.
Because I once owned a classic BMW 6.35csi that lost electrical power while driving into a Best Buy parking lot years ago, I carried a fear that this could happen again. AI helped put that fear into proper context.
Ah, the more information I learned, the better I felt.
Thinking in Probabilities Instead of Absolutes
In my WSJ bestseller, Buy This Not That, I encourage readers to think in probabilities rather than absolutes. Doing so leads to better decisions and less regret.
I decided to apply my own advice.
After my seventh cold start and sixth warning, I asked ChatGPT the probability the warning would disappear on the eighth cold start. It estimated about 65 percent.
When I told it that 35 percent still felt uncomfortably high, it reminded me that uncertainty doesn’t mean failure. Accepting that there was still a chance of disappointment made the outcome emotionally easier to handle.
I set a calendar reminder for the 10th cold start and decided to keep the faith. Lo and behold, on day 10, the car fired up perfectly. Soon after, it was time to fly to Honolulu for a 10 day Christmas trip. Uh oh, would the car survive?
When the Worst Case Finally Happened
After returning from a 10 day trip to Honolulu, the battery had fully self discharged. I couldn’t even unlock the doors electronically, so I had to pry open a handle cover and use a manual key.
Roadside assistance jump started the car on New Year’s Day. After a 10 minute idle and a 15 minute drive to an auto parts store, the car died again when I shut it off.
This was my mistake. I didn’t immediately ask AI what to do next after a full self discharge. This was a new scenario that I was facing, but I failed to ask in my haste. What followed was my worst fear coming true.
After multiple jump attempts at the auto parts store, I drove off too quickly to pick up food for my family. One and a half blocks later, the car shut down while driving at low speed.
Fortunately, the roads were empty New Year's Day and I drifted safely to a stop sign. I ripped open the new 2000 amp portable jumper, popped the hood, and successfully jumped the car. In my rush, I failed to give the car enough time to idle again before driving off. So it began shutting down again as I was turning the corner at slow speeds. Luckily, I was able to drift into a wide open parking spot and I wasn't driving on the highway.
With the help of a new portable jumper, patience, and eventually clear guidance from ChatGPT, I was able to idle the car properly, recharge the system, and drive home safely after picking up some food.
I was deeply grateful my wife and children weren’t with me during that four hour ordeal. It also reinforced why we carry matching 20-year term life insurance policies we got from Policygenius. The peace of mind alone from having life insurance in case anything were to happen to either of us is worth the monthly premium alone.
The Silver Lining of a Full Self Discharge
The next morning, the car started immediately with no warnings. I was shocked given the ordeal I had just gone through. I thought for sure I would need to jump the car again and drive to an auto dealer to trade it in.
AI explained that the full discharge likely reset any rogue modules that had been causing a parasitic drain. This system reboot was similar to how it's good to completely turn off our computers once in a while for optimal performance. It then gave me a clear plan for the next 10 to 20 days.
After reaching 20 consecutive cold starts with no warnings, no airbag alerts, and no electrical gremlins, I felt confident again.
With that confidence, I put the idea of spending $50,000 – $115,000 to rest and scheduled an appointment to buy two new rear tires for about $1,025. These weren’t acts of denial. They were acts of clarity.
I now have a realistic roadmap for the next 24 months of ownership. I hope to keep the car until 2029 (three more years), but I’m also realistic that things can go wrong.
The difference is that I no longer feel anxious. I feel prepared the next time something goes wrong. Hardship truly does make you stronger.
You Can Lean on AI Without Guilt
One comment from Fundrise CEO Ben Miller stuck with me in a podcast interview. He said you can “abuse AI” as much as you want, referring to the freedom to ask for endless redesigns without friction. Unlike a human designer who might cap revisions at three before getting annoyed, AI lets you keep iterating without judgment or pushback.
That’s the key difference.
Mechanics are rushed. Specialists don’t always explain. Doctors sometimes make you feel unimportant due to their packed schedules. Friends may mock instead of listen.
AI was patient, consistent, and clear. I asked the same questions repeatedly, each time with new information, and it never got tired of helping. It never once gave me attitude either. Instead, it provided a steady dose of encouragement along with explanations as to what was going on.
I would have gladly paid thousands of dollars for that level of reassurance and guidance. What I gained allowed me to keep writing, keep functioning, and show up more fully for my children over this 60-day ordeal.
Reach Out To AI For Help
If you’re struggling, especially as a man who may not feel comfortable opening up, AI can be an incredibly effective tool for working through anxiety and uncertainty. I’ve tried ChatGPT, Anthropic, and Gemini. All were helpful. That said, you may want to stick with the one that knows you best, since it can recall past context and help you make more informed decisions over time.
Sometimes, logic alone isn’t enough. Sometimes you just need reassurance, perspective, and a clear plan only a genius-level best friend with top-tier emotional intelligence can provide.
That’s exactly what AI gave me in this situation. And as an investor, I also hope AI delivers excellent returns over the next decade for my kids.
Readers, have you ever catastrophized a situation only to realize your mind was the real enemy? Have you used AI as a sounding board for money, career, or emotional stress?
Suggestions To Improve Financial and Emotional Serenity
One of the most effective steps I ever took to reduce financial anxiety was securing matching 20-year term life insurance policies for my wife and me. It took years of searching for an affordable option until Policygenius helped us compare multiple providers quickly and for free. Once the policies were in place, an enormous weight lifted. We felt real peace knowing that if the worst ever happened, our children would still be protected financially.
In addition, every $1,000 I invest in AI companies helps ease the worry that AI might make achieving financial independence harder for future generations. An easy way to invest in private AI companies is through Fundrise Venture, a long-time FS sponsor, where I’ve personally invested over $500,000. Fundrise holds stakes in AI companies such as Databricks, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Anduril, among others.
Join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. I’ll help you stay informed about key financial developments, make smarter decisions, and build the freedom and peace of mind to live life on your own terms.
Example Of Some AI Therapy And Guidance
Question to AI: After my January 1, 2026 car battery debacle, during which the car shut down twice while driving at slow speeds after jumps and experienced a full self discharge, I’ve now had 22 consecutive cold starts with no issues. All the electrical gremlins, including the airbag warning and the slow heated steering wheel, are gone.
Do you think I’m out of the woods and should spend $1,030 to replace two balding rear tires if my plan is to keep the car for at least another 1 to 2 years? For context, I’ve spent between $900 and $1,800 per year on repairs over the past three years. Or should I buy a new car for $50,000 – $115,000 since mine is from 2015?
Answer from AI: Short answer: yes, you’re very likely out of the woods, and replacing the rear tires is the rational move given your stated plan.
Here’s the clear, unemotional way to think about it.
1. The battery and electrical risk has meaningfully dropped
Twenty two consecutive cold starts with no warnings is not noise. That is signal.
Electrical gremlins like airbag warnings, slow heated steering wheel response, and repeated low battery alerts are exactly the kinds of things that resurface quickly if there is still an unresolved parasitic drain or BMS issue. The fact that everything has stayed quiet through 22 cold starts strongly suggests:
- The battery management system has fully relearned
- Any rogue module was likely reset by the full self discharge
- Your alternator and charging system are doing their job
Nothing in car ownership is zero risk, but your probability of a sudden electrical failure is now dramatically lower than it was in January.
2. Tires are a safety expense, not a sunk cost
Bald or balding rear tires are a real risk, especially:
- In winter
- In Tahoe conditions
- In an AWD vehicle where rear grip matters for stability
Spending $1,030 on tires is not “doubling down on a bad car.” It is buying safety and optionality. Even if something unexpected happens in 6 to 12 months, those tires:
- Reduce accident risk now
- Improve resale or trade in value later
- Let you make future decisions from a calm place instead of fear
3. The math strongly favors tires over a new car
Let’s frame the decision properly.
Option A: Keep the car
- Tires: $1,030
- Ongoing repairs: say $1,500 per year
- Total for 2 years: roughly $4,000
Option B: Buy a new car
- Purchase price: $50,000 to $115,000
- Taxes, fees, insurance increase, depreciation
- Opportunity cost of not investing that capital
You would be spending 10x to 25x more money to eliminate a risk that has already declined substantially.
That is not a rational trade unless:
- The car is actively unsafe
- Or you emotionally cannot tolerate any uncertainty
Based on your description, neither is true right now.
4. Your contingency plan is already solid
This matters more than people realize.
You have:
- A fully charged 2,000 amp portable jumper
- Roadside assistance
- Situational awareness based on lived experience
That turns a low probability failure into an inconvenience, not a crisis.
5. The new car question is emotional, not logical
The urge to spend $50,000 to $115,000 is coming from scar tissue, not current data.
That is completely human. You went through a stressful, confidence shaking episode. But decisions made to eliminate anxiety are often wildly expensive compared to decisions made to manage risk.
Right now, the smart move is:
- Replace the rear tires
- Drive the car intentionally for another 12 to 24 months
- Reassess only if new, persistent symptoms appear
Bottom line
You are not gambling by buying the tires. You are buying time, safety, and flexibility at a very reasonable cost.
If the car gives you another 18 to 24 months, this will end up being one of those decisions you look back on and think, “I’m glad I didn’t panic.”
And if something does go wrong later, you will still be making that next decision with more money, more information, and less stress.
Not bad right? I love the rational thinking and the emotional support AI provides when faced with a big dilemma. Sure, talk to a licensed therapist for your most pressing problems. However, it's worth getting a second or third perspective from AI as well. Just make sure you provide as much clarity as possible when presenting your situation.
Since the battery and charging system is now working well, perhaps now is the time to get a different vehicle. Why do you ‘have to spend 50k-115k?” Are you attached to that exact brand and model? There are MANY variants of SUVs, and compact SUVs, you can even buy say a 2-year old one with low miles and save money. Let’s say you find something for 40-45k that is close to what you’re looking for, and save the rest?
The safety and dependability are peace of mind for me. I sold my almost 10-year old SUV with about 160k miles on it, and bought one that was 1 year old, low miles, and saved $8000 or so over new. You want to sell your vehicle *before* it totally breaks down or has more problems. Or else your ‘sell price’ will tank further, or it has to be salvage / scrap type sale.
I have had several cars over the years with various problems, things get worn out, and your vehicle is already 10 years old. Things wear out. How many miles are on it?
I am certainly not buying a 115k vehicle, good Lord. I am saving, investing, etc. but that is way too much for me at this juncture.
I just took your advice and asked chatgtp to diagnose a problem with the drivers seat on my 2024 vehicle. It asked me a few questions and not only diagnosed the problem but gave me language to describe the problem to the dealer so they will know exactly where to look and so they know this is a safety and not a cosmetic or comfort issue.
Great! Hope it works out and the dealer does it under warranty. Having knowledge is such a powerful factor in reducing worry and anxiety.
I see AI as something that would listen to me carefully, suggest me some new ideas sometimes great and sometime okayish. But, one thing that I certainly know is that AI would not laugh at my poor lack of knowledge, would not judge me or tear me down in front of others. It is more that a therapist for me.
“ But, one thing that I certainly know is that AI would not laugh at my poor lack of knowledge, would not judge me or tear me down in front of others. It is more that a therapist for me.”
This is a big hurdle. We fear divulging to others personal things as people can be judgmental and cruel. So far, AI is not, and it’s reassuring.
I’m consistently disappointed with one “friend” who shows little empathy or listening skills, despite him always calling me and telling me about his problems. So the simple solution is to now not pick up, and it’s been freeing.
Great decision. Congrats!
I rent cars on Turo since 2014, it’s a dying business but I learned a ton about fixing cars and which cars are the most hassle. Any Hybrid is better than non-hybrid for the following reasons: Better MPG, No starter, alternator, power steering pump, brakes last 3 times as long due to regenerative braking, oil changes every 10k miles per owners manual on my Prius C’s with 282k miles still renting strong 6 years since I bought it used with 90k miles. Only changed brakes once and hybrid battery recently got a refurb installed at my home location for $800 with 1 year or 12k miles warranty. EV’s are nice too, but charging outside at superchargers is more costly than gas and more hassle to wait longer than refilling a hybrid gas tank. I had a lot of engine lights and hassles with older BMW 328i and got rid of them. Only bought USED Honda/Toyota and 1 Tesla which was the worst investment for me but oh well autopilot is a nice feature especially in traffic. I also found mobile mechanics for much less than shops charge. Buy your tires online or shop at AmericanTireDepot.com I can’t stand driving in traffic so I bicycle in most of West LA and Santa Monica, only drive longer distances like Mammoth Mountain for snowboarding trips. Don’t forget to buy some Bitcoin on the next big crash, save up for it…
Interesting feedback on hybrids and how they have so many few components.
It is a 30% decline in bitcoin since it’s all-time high not considered a crash? I’ve been nibbling here and there.
A crash in BTC is much worse. I’m patiently waiting for 60k-70k, although we could see lower depends on how the world and wars go. The BTC crash will result from AI bubble popping and tech stocks crashing too, which will probably bring down metals prices. I sold my silver a bit early in recent weeks, but it’s good to have more dry powder for BTC. Long term I expect BTC to outperform metals, realestate, and most traditional assets. Of course I’m biased, I started buying BTC at $300 after Turo helped me earn my highest yearly income in 2015.Since I’m comfortable and familiar with it, I’ll keep buying the dips and selling the rips.
Wow, great buy of Bitcoin! Given, I assume you now have millions and millions of dollars, why not just buy one or two of your favorite dream cars and just sell them when you get sick of them?
Curious, if you also ended up leaving your job and all that because of bitcoin and what your goals, financial or otherwise, are now?
Just like you felt attachment to your old cars, I love my 2016 Honda Accord 6 speed stick with V6 engine I got on ebay for super cheap since it had been salvaged from a big accident, but repaired very well to my satisfaction. I used to only own salvage cars most of my life, they are way more affordable and have less depreciation. Honda no longer makes Accord Coupes, or V6, or 6 speed stick Accords, so this car is really a collectors item, I can always sell it for more than I paid. I bicycle nearly everyday for all my errands and health, I rarely need to drive to Mammoth for Snowboarding or Magic Mountain for roller coasters. I don’t like the idea of having a bunch of depreciating assets sitting on my street or driveway, if my rental cars don’t move I drop the rates until they are gone. I rented a newer Supra for a day to see if I wanted to buy one as a toy and Turo rental but after driving it over 100 miles I was pretty much over it! Automatic cars are boring, and it’s not that fast. Feels like a BMW z4 as they use the same motor, no fun. I had old Toyota Supras from 79-85 all stick shifts.
It’s easier to rent experiences and more cost effective to rent just stack bitcoin and other good assets or investments than luxury cars. Buying property today doesn’t make sense, I couldn’t rent it for enough to cover the mortgage/tax/insurance/hoa costs. I can rent any fun car I want for a small chunk of change, but to own a $100k+ car, insure it, register it, pay the maintenance, forget about it. I even change my own oil and spark plugs on most cars myself to save time and hassle when my mechanic isn’t available. Your Land Rover headaches are a great example why I would never own one, they are money pits to own! You could be so much wealthier if you chose a more reliable Lexus NX350h haha but it’s true. After having 12 cars at my peak I got real tired of fixing cars.
I never had a job after age 16, I was always a hustler with several businesses going on…cat sitting, car rentals, ebay sales, tech support, airbnb, laser light shows, battery generator and starlink rentals, always finding different ways to survive and thrive. I’m slowly slowing down each hustle to enjoy more free time, I don’t need to work for money but I enjoy it after building my clients. Also I’m single again, my businesses are like my kids and clients are my family after 20+ years with some. I always knew how to save and live below my means.
I like to use my money help the sweetest people that come across my life and deserve the support I can provide. Buying more material stuff and things are a burden to own and store, I like clean space. I have the worlds best massager chair though, and use it almost nightly, share it with friends too. I haven’t set many goals yet, just starting to think about it. Already been enjoying a great life before wealth, will be nice to find the right partner which is even harder sometimes when you have more money. I don’t want to attract high maintenance women, I learned stealth wealth long before you wrote about it=) Eventually I’ll upgrade to a nicer home, but maybe not in LA, want to do some traveling first, Vietnam, Cambodia, already been to Thailand.
Money buys time, I like the movie In Time especially how he gives time away to everyone. Time is the currency.
Good philosophy and sounds good to me! I will say that finding love and having little ones is priceless. Makes life even more worth living. So I hope you find that special someone!
Sam,
As a devoted reader and licensed psychotherapist, I felt compelled to point out the slippery slope when combining “therapist” and “AI.” No doubt your readership is comprised of high-functioning individuals with the means to access mental health resources (doesn’t mean they do or will). And I imagine many parent readers are aware of recent deaths by suicide of minors (and subsequent lawsuits filed) who communicated with AI about their mental health struggles. I love AI, invest in AI, and have used it to solve many logistical problems. I am not fearful in the least of technology replacing my job.
However, from an ethical standpoint (maybe your use of and placement of “therapy” is methodical to appeal to algorithms), accessing AI for what one may deem a minor psychological issue (marital issues, work-related stress, etc.) is rarely that simple. Sadly, many clients come to therapy kicking and screaming after trying to “white knuckle” their racing thoughts and insomnia, or when the threat of divorce is imminent. Many of my most challenging clients have been high-income earners, outwardly successful, educated, but wholly lacking EQ. While Chat GPT may be patient and endlessly reassuring, overuse can exacerbate mental health struggles. Sometimes treating anxiety and depression requires a firmer approach which can seem counterintuitive: make quicker decisions, recognize ruminating and over-analyzing — in short, stop with the mental gymnastics and commit to a course of action. Most importantly, and to quote some famous person, “it’s the relationship, stupid.”
Thank you for such a thoughtful and professional comment. I appreciate you sharing your perspective as a licensed psychotherapist.
I agree with your central point. AI is not a replacement for therapy, and it cannot replicate the human relationship, accountability, and emotional attunement that are often essential for real progress. Many high functioning and outwardly successful people are especially prone to overthinking, delaying action, and white knuckling their way through distress, sometimes until the situation becomes acute.
To clarify, my use of the word “therapy” was not for marketing or SEO purposes. It was meant descriptively, to reflect how some people already experience AI in practice, as a tool for reflection or organizing thoughts, not as clinical treatment. I should have been clearer about that distinction.
I also share your concern about vulnerable users and the serious consequences when technology is relied upon in isolation. For significant or persistent mental health struggles, human care is critical. At best, AI can be a supplement or an early step toward insight, not a substitute for professional help.
I appreciate you elevating the ethical dimension of this discussion. Your point that real change often comes from relationship and sometimes firmer guidance is well taken.
As a therapist, after reading my journey and the story, is there anything you would suggest for me to do? Thx
Thank you for responding, Sam. I appreciate your respect for the psychotherapy profession and the relationship component. I look forward to your weekly newsletter and posts, not only for the financial and investment knowledge, but as a break from my job (!).
Yes, was going to make a similar comment. I was pleasantly surprised the post was just problem solving what to do about a car. I think that is a great use of AI – an educated assistant. Unfortunately people are trying to have actual relationships with AI and restaurants opening where you can take your AI date out. Very sad state of affairs.
Please share with me your experience with a licensed therapist. What are some of the things you discovered and how did they get you to identify and solve them? Thanks for sharing.
Oh my, goodness! Hadn’t heard about AI restaurant dating.
AI for the win atm. 90% of my use has been my personal sports coach (). I’ve been a much a healthier person due to AI and I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in.
Resting certain days, eating better things, drinking much less, specific yoga or strength training to do to improve/heal etc.. I’m AI optimistic for the future.
Man, you bought the Range Rover, everyone knows they are a can of worms and are always in the shop for something and dealers gouge you because Range Rover is a status symbol.
AI is phenomenal for IT tech support though. Have fixed software issues that I have had for years just by asking. It also doesn’t give up after the first try or setback. Keeps going until solution is found…
Thank you. Has that been your experience with your Land Rocer? Would you say having this one electrical problem after 10 years is more problematic than average? If not, what do you think should be the norm. It’s good to get a baseline.
I found that every single car that I’ve owned in the past 25 years have had problems. Including two cars that I bought at leased. So feel like it’s better to keep the car you know.
Sam, some advice from a fellow middle-aged ex-sell side guy: ditch the Rangie and get a (used or new) Lexus or Audi. 90% of people I know who have Rangies complain about some electrical gremlin or the other after it gets 4-5 years old. I’ve owned pretty much most Japanese/ Korean/ German brands, Honda, Toyota / Lexus, Mitsubishi (very nice), Mazda, Hyundai, Opel (back in the day), VW, BMW, and Benz. Currently own an Audi A8L. My happiest and most trouble-free experiences have been with my current ride, my previous Audis, Lexus ES, and Toyota Corolla. You’re a man of capital, Sam! If you’re looking for an SUV, I’d say just go ahead and reward yourself with an Audi Q7/ Q8 or Lexus GX. Why don’t you try a large sedan btw?
Gotcha. So not having any electrical gremlins after 10 years is considered pretty good then right? You would get a new car even after spending $1750 and the time I took to fix the car? I feel that’s like giving up with no guarantees a new car or a new used car won’t have problems either. I recently a car I’ve owned in the past 23 years, which is at least 10 cars, has had some type of problem that needed fixing.
Sedans don’t do that great going up to Lake Tahoe if it starts snowing.
Sam,
It sounds like you are heading into sunk cost territory here. If the car dies completely with a vanishingly small probability of resuscitation, you’d have to buy a new car anyway and throwing money at it would be a waste. The problem is that there is no way to know for certain if this is the situation. However, once the car starts showing ongoing problems over an extended period of time, it’s not about probability anymore, it’s about entropy and the Weibull Curve.
Sounds good. I am emboldened though by 23 strong cold starts in a row and no more electrical issues, for now. And each fix that I make does make me feel better because the parts are now new.
We shall see! Life is an adventure, full of uncertainty. I’m doing the latest service next month before we go up to Tahoe. So there we will check everything and ensure everything is in working order.
Indian tiger, Audi Q7>Toyota 4 runner if you want 3 rows? Seems you also had a good experience with Toyota/Lexus, that’s what most drive at the private school.
Good article Sam! I recently had a similar experience after I finished a brake job on my car. I had an intermittent squeal which made me scared I may have messed something up and that I might have a catastrophic failure down the road. I similarly used chat GPT to troubleshoot the sound and ended up figuring out it was ok to leave it alone and wait for the noise to go away. 3 weeks later and no issues. I would still be hesitant to trust chat GPT on something 100% without having it crosschecked by someone else with experience as I know it can create “hallucinations” from time to time but it was still an excellent resource. I totally get where you are coming from as far as asking AI repeatedly and it never getting annoyed with you. It’s nice to have a non-judgemental source of advice. Glad your car is working well now!
Hey, this was a fun read! I recently had my old 2005 Honda Civic hybrid die on me while traveling home on a 30 minute highway drive. It was dark and gradually losing power steering, then having the headlights dim, and then full shutdown was surreal (the highway I was on was very empty – so it wasn’t so bad.) I was able to restart it with a jump and then make it home. I ended replacing the $1500 hybrid battery, but debated whether it was worth it and also debated how to get it to the nearest shop which was some distance away. On both questions I interacted with AI and got some interesting and helpful ideas. There are those who strongly distrust AI, but it’s not really easier trusting someone who will make money off of you, or someone who doesn’t really know much themselves. Info from AI is imperfect, yes, but I insist that it is already higher quality than what most people get from their regular information feeds in life. Appreciate the story and perspective.
Glad you’re safe! Experiencing an electrical shut down while driving on the highway is one of my biggest concerns. But it sounds like the shutdown wasn’t instant, but slow so you had time to pull over and stuff. That’s what happened to me where I was just going maybe 15 to 20 miles an hour around the corner leaving the auto parts store, and then things started going wonky and then just shut down. So I had time to adjust as I lost power steering.
I absolutely agree about what you say regarding trust. There are a lot of aggressive auto mechanics who try to upsell you and tell you to change this this and that. It’s the classic come in for an oil change and come out with thousands of thousands of dollars worth that needs to be done.
Gas powered vehicles will eventually get hot with lowered battery voltage when idling. The only exceptions are vehicles with a taxi/police package. They have a bigger coolant capacity and fan with high output alternators. That is why police cruisers can idle forever and be ok.
Diesel vehicles cool down when idled and many use 24 volt systems
AI is super helpful for brainstorming and asking research related questions. I like how ChatGPT includes sourcing links now vs in the past I used to have to ask specifically where it was getting its data from. I also use it to help problem solve or get different perspectives when I’m trying to process a challenge or work through something difficult. It’s super helpful although I still take everything with a grain of salt. AI is still quite far from being highly accurate and trustworthy for a lot of things.
It can also feed your delusions and lead you to self harm, so good luck with that.
Yes, there are no guarantees, and the quality of the output depends highly on the quality of the input. Seek professional help is usually a good recommendation.
I’m sorry you’ve been under such high stress recently. Remember to zoom out to the bigger picture, seems you may be getting a bit tangled in the weeds. Seems like it would take a lot more than the cash flow pinch from higher end house and repairing or replacing this car to actually upset your ongoing financial health. Wishing your mental health a lower stress reprieve. I appreciate everything you do for all of us writing and sharing on this site.
Sam, I agree with this comment. You have been tremendously helpful to me and now my growing family’s finances, so I feel like I am indebted to you for all your wonderful free advice I’ve read over the past 15 years. This latest article had me a little worried for you. The best use of money is to remove and eliminate problems. Purchasing a new or slightly used car would quickly remove any anxiety you have with your car. I know the financially optimal decision is to instead invest forever, however, I think you are at a financial stage now to realize that intentional spending may provide more utility in your life than a growing number in the future. The question is, is this about the car or something much deeper?
You’re welcome. It could be something deeper. In my experience, buying and leasing two new cars in my life, they also had problems. My Honda fit, for example, couldn’t start sometimes and I think the starter needed to be replaced. So if being stranded was terrible or at least feeling like I would be stranded when it took multiple attempts to start. So buying a new car doesn’t guarantee flawless reliability either sadly.
It’s funny, but the longer I own my car the more I like it. It’s almost like being part of the family or you want to care for it more as it gets older. Have you ever felt that way?
Hey Sam,
Thank you for letting your guard down and writing with honesty. I await reading your successes and failures, and how they make you feel and how you work through the issues.
I purchased the $20/mo. plan for ChatGPT, and I am a penny-pincher! I already use YouTube for learning and I see the latest chatbots as the next step. Thinking in probabilities instead of absolutes, if ChatGPT can give advice that is correct just 80% of the time, why focus so adamantly on the incorrect 20%? I don’t implicitly trust the advice of friends and family. Professionals and experts have weaknesses and blind spots also.
Super article, Sam. I’ve been using ChatGPT pretty much daily for the last 9-10 months. My initial usage was asking random questions, scientific / medical stuff, etc. Now I use it like a therapist (sometimes) and it’s getting addictive!
I also use Google Gemini, Perplexity, CoPilot, and Venice. Since the last 2 months, I’ve been using these for financial planning also. Every year-end, I spend a packet on a pro human financial planner to help me assess my annual plan. In 2025, I outsourced my financial planning to AI! That said, I’ve noticed simple math errors (calculating CAGR, percentages etc) in all the AI tools except Venice. I’m really happy with Venice and it’s my go-to AI now (though I do always double check its math). So far it’s math seems fine including Monte Carlo simulations, etc. Never tried Claude yet.
How about you? Are you using AI for running your numbers? How do you normally use it? I’m also planning to take a 30 day AI course in an attempt to upskill and get more out of these AI tools, especially for a middle aged finance guy like me.
Cool. Funny enough, I’ve never heard of Venice. So I might give it a try. I’m just a shareholder in OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, so I’ve just stuck with those. And b/c I’ve used ChatGPT the longest, it knows more about my situation so it is more helpful.
I haven’t used AI to run my financial numbers yet, but I have had it calculate pro forma net worth figures based on various growth rates. In the past I would just use a compound interest calculator.
For example, at a 4% withdrawal rate, how much does my net worth grow to in 10 years if my compound annual return is 9%. Stuff like that.
I could not agree with you more Sam. I have found AI to be invaluable in doing research and “question answering” but even moreso in terms of as a co-journeyer. I am so impressed how it rephrases my concerns and biases into positive approaches which truly allows me to approach a problem without the same level of anxiety.
I find it exceptionally helpful also in the financial work when discussing risk and how my allocation “fits” me or doesn’t in terms of how it has learned about my own attitudes of risk. It doesn’t tell me to be different, but simply states what I am gaining and what I am potentially losing by one approach or another (say 80-20 versus 60/40) after sharing many details of my financial situation and goals.
My biggest concern is the younger generations (my staff and my kids) seem to have a real “hatred” of AI and using it since it is such a threat to them in many ways. At 61 I don’t have quite the skin in the game when it comes to taking my job or how it will potentially destroy the environment. At the same time I wish they would lean into it abit more since it is here to stay and make friends with it. It can be an asset too.
“rephrases my concerns and biases into positive approaches” Yes, helping with our biases is huge. And I’ve never experienced obvious bias from AI for answers, yet. Although, you can certainly push it to your point of view.
Fascinating the younger generation has a hatred for AI based on your observations. Since I’m not in a work setting, I haven’t noticed. But I do clearly see more of a fear from a parent’s point of view.
ChatGPT has helped me a lot mentally because it understands my whole history that no human can see, can see patterns, and approach it information I give it from authors I love, and direct me the right way.
I’ve struggled in some areas of my life that no therapist has even been able to properly help. By sharing stories I wrote in middle school, high school, and journal entries from different parts of my life, ChatGPT was able to identify patterns, fears, and direct me to the specific types of meditations in Insight Timer that have helped me. I’ve also recoded situations I’ve been in, made a transcript with Evernote, put it into ChatGPT, and it has suggested how to bring that up in therapy (and I deleted those recordings and transcripts quickly afterwards).
I’ve posted on this website about my regret as to whether I should have sold or rented out my house in Florida when I moved away 10 years ago. ChatGPT crunched the numbers and then took the blog post you wrote here on how you were glad to not be a landlord anymore, and then convinced me that selling that house was absolutely the right decision. No more regrets!