I wouldn't say I'm poor, but I'm not rolling in dough either. I'm making payments on my '99 Boxster, and will be for a while. I can't afford a GT3 RS yet.
Originally, when I started looking for a car, I was going to buy another beater. However, after dumping tons of money into my last beater, I decided to get something that would last a bit. I decided to get a 944. I looked at a few, and although they were affordable for me, I couldn't get over them being so old. The 944 eventually morphed into the 944 Turbo. Those have the same problem though. At that point though, I figured I'd just go a bit more and get a used Boxster.
I've had lots of people tell me that this car (and every car I've ever owned) isn't practical. I tell them that my cars are all perfectly practical for me. I don't buy cars to get me from point A to point B in the most efficient, or comfortable manner. I buy cars because I love to drive. The car is my destination, not how I get to my destination.