I think my car obsession takes a different tack. My spouse is a UAW retiree, so I/we get a nice discount on new vehicles. We replace our current ride every 2-3 years. The fun part for me is in spec'ing it out! Twice now, I've come up with a unique combination of specs; the salesman checked his computer & told me there was no other vehicle in the entire U.S. with my choice of options. That's fun!
Granted, constant car payments may seem ridiculous to some. But think of the total outlay: I probably spend as much on payments as some do on modifications over the space of a year. For instance, the truck I'm turning in next month has cost me over $5,000/yr in lease payments. Yeah, I know some mods can cost more than that...EACH.
I'll "pimp" my ride with nice, but inexpensive stuff like bug deflectors, bed liners & caps/deck lids, vent visors, & the occasional set of "chicken lights". But I prefer something that can visually go under the optical radar of the cops. I have a nasty case of Lead-foot-itis, so a black or gray vehicle is more likely to blend in with traffic as opposed to something flashy like red or yellow.
While I do enjoy messing around with cars, I just don't have the time to do what I would like with an old one. So I get something new that won't need constant attention & money.