Bentley or Porsche: Boy's Essay on Which Car to Buy at 18 Goes Viral

Life is always about choices that we're forced to make by circumstances, our own personality and inclination, or outside factors. So, no, this isn't about comparing Bentleys to Porsches. Such a comparison would be a proverbial apples-and-oranges situation, so let's not even go there.

This is about levity and viral stardom, with a touch of love for the automobile in whatever shape or form. In keeping with the idea that a passion for cars starts at a young age, the story of an 11-year-old boy from the central Hubei province in China went viral after one of his teachers posted to social media his school assignment in which he discussed his personal dreams.

The posting itself might be in breach of the kid's privacy, but the teacher thought it was endearing, if a tad materialistic, the way the kid tried to budget to 18 to see if he could afford a Bentley. That was his dream car, he explained, and he was looking at possibilities to save up money until his 18th birthday when he'll get his driver's license.

"I have seven years before I turn 18," the boy began by writing. "What can I do in that time to make the money?"

A few calculations later, he reached the conclusion that the $415,000 price tag on the Bentley puts it out of his reach even if he saves all his "lucky money" – small amounts he regularly gets from his parents and grandparents, like pocket money and rewards for his high scores at school. Even if he picked up a part-time job with his parents' company once he turned 18, he still couldn't afford a Bentley – neither to buy nor run, assuming he did buy it.

So what's a boy to do once he realizes he can't get his dream Bentley? He settles, that's what.

"I am afraid I won’t be able to realize my dream, so I will have to adjust it and buy a Porsche instead," he concluded, adding that a Porsche would be three times cheaper than his dream car. The takeaway here is that his calculations revealed a Porsche was more affordable to him, which, let's be honest, is a nice problem to have.

Since the letter went viral, local media tracked down the boy, learning from his mother that the boy's father is also an auto enthusiast. They live in a neighborhood where everyone has a fancy car, usually a Bentley, in their driveway, and the two things combined led to the boy's "life dream."

All we can say in closing is that we wish we were this pragmatic at that young age. Or even later.