Why I have zero sympathy for all of the financial whining Americans do - avg. new car sales price over $46k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact that new car prices have ballooned so high is exactly why I have sympathy for Americans concerned about finances.

Remember "cash for clunkers?" That was the beginning of the rise in prices. The price of used cars skyrocketed after that ridiculous program.

Democrats really don't care about their policies and the effect they have on the financial well-being of the citizens. That has become abundantly clear.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how DCUM takes a systemic problem (housing prices, car prices, college costs) and uses it to excoriate individuals. College costs exponentially higher than the rate of inflation because states decided to stop subsidizing public colleges? You should have saved more! Or you’re a failure for taking on debt. Housing prices exponentially higher than the rate of inflation? How dare you want to live in something by other than a falling down shack! Your expectations are too high! Car prices exponentially higher? Too bad, how dare you want to buy something new that will fit your family and be reliable.

Guess what? My grandparents were solidly middle class. Middle middle class, not upper
middle class professionals. They got new Fords every few years, and that was the norm. They did not take on huge debt to do so. The problem is that our economy has been fundamentally skewed against the middle class through policy decisions - and the people on here just blame individuals.

Exactly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how DCUM takes a systemic problem (housing prices, car prices, college costs) and uses it to excoriate individuals. College costs exponentially higher than the rate of inflation because states decided to stop subsidizing public colleges? You should have saved more! Or you’re a failure for taking on debt. Housing prices exponentially higher than the rate of inflation? How dare you want to live in something by other than a falling down shack! Your expectations are too high! Car prices exponentially higher? Too bad, how dare you want to buy something new that will fit your family and be reliable.

Guess what? My grandparents were solidly middle class. Middle middle class, not upper
middle class professionals. They got new Fords every few years, and that was the norm. They did not take on huge debt to do so. The problem is that our economy has been fundamentally skewed against the middle class through policy decisions - and the people on here just blame individuals.

Not only that, most people are forced to own cars because of lack of public transportation infrastructure and walkable communities. So they want a decent car if they have to spend so much time in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A car is table stakes to be able to get a job and survive. The vast majority of Americans would prefer not to shell $45k on a car or $200k on college. They are captive to the system.

So drive a $23k Honda Civic, genius.

All I hear are excuses. Gotta keep up with those Joneses now don't ya? Can't have a simple car to go from point A to point B like a civic. You just gotta have the leather seats, infotainment center, sun roof, upgraded rims, and driver assist options before you pay your student loans, right?

You haven't been car shopping lately, have you? I just bought a Honda Civic EXL hatchback and it was $33k. Not the cheapest model available, but it's not the most expensive and definitely doesn't have all the bells and whistles. I think the cheapest I could have paid was probably $28k. For a Civic.

We considered a prius (I was replacing a 2004 prius) but Toyota was charging a $10k market adjustment so it would have been closer to $40k.

Because buying the EXL hatchback was required.

You could have also bought a Kia or Hyundai instead. More excuses for terrible personal choices.

This proves that you know nothing about cars. Kia and Hyundai are pieces of junk. Unreliable as hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When comparing prices of new or slightly used cars versus very used cars, keep in mind the Vimes Boots Theory:

The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. ... A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while a poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory

This is the most ridiculous theory in the history of mankind. The notion that the rich are rich because they spend less money is absurd.
They are rich because they have skills that are in demand and are able to get high paying jobs or create successful businesses that generate a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

People that keep bringing up cars as depreciating assets forget that everything we buy are depreciating assets with a few exceptions. Does that mean we shouldn't buy high quality things?
Your bed and mattress are depreciating assets. Your couch is a depreciating asset.
Are you buying the cheapest $100 mattress or couch you can find because they are depreciating assets?
If you do, I feel sorry for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A car is table stakes to be able to get a job and survive. The vast majority of Americans would prefer not to shell $45k on a car or $200k on college. They are captive to the system.

So drive a $23k Honda Civic, genius.

All I hear are excuses. Gotta keep up with those Joneses now don't ya? Can't have a simple car to go from point A to point B like a civic. You just gotta have the leather seats, infotainment center, sun roof, upgraded rims, and driver assist options before you pay your student loans, right?

You haven't been car shopping lately, have you? I just bought a Honda Civic EXL hatchback and it was $33k. Not the cheapest model available, but it's not the most expensive and definitely doesn't have all the bells and whistles. I think the cheapest I could have paid was probably $28k. For a Civic.

We considered a prius (I was replacing a 2004 prius) but Toyota was charging a $10k market adjustment so it would have been closer to $40k.

Because buying the EXL hatchback was required.

You could have also bought a Kia or Hyundai instead. More excuses for terrible personal choices.

This proves that you know nothing about cars. Kia and Hyundai are pieces of junk. Unreliable as hell.

Are you in your 60's? That information is about 20 years outdated. They top reliability charts now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A car is table stakes to be able to get a job and survive. The vast majority of Americans would prefer not to shell $45k on a car or $200k on college. They are captive to the system.

So drive a $23k Honda Civic, genius.

All I hear are excuses. Gotta keep up with those Joneses now don't ya? Can't have a simple car to go from point A to point B like a civic. You just gotta have the leather seats, infotainment center, sun roof, upgraded rims, and driver assist options before you pay your student loans, right?

You haven't been car shopping lately, have you? I just bought a Honda Civic EXL hatchback and it was $33k. Not the cheapest model available, but it's not the most expensive and definitely doesn't have all the bells and whistles. I think the cheapest I could have paid was probably $28k. For a Civic.

We considered a prius (I was replacing a 2004 prius) but Toyota was charging a $10k market adjustment so it would have been closer to $40k.

Because buying the EXL hatchback was required.

You could have also bought a Kia or Hyundai instead. More excuses for terrible personal choices.

This proves that you know nothing about cars. Kia and Hyundai are pieces of junk. Unreliable as hell.

Are you in your 60's? That information is about 20 years outdated. They top reliability charts now.

Reliability of easiness of theft, yes.