This used to be true when cars were reasonably priced, but these days when a base civic is 30 k, things needs to be re-evaluated.
I’d also say that car tech in general has advanced massively, so even a cheeseey car would be equivalent to top of the line of a car build in the early 2000s.
Most new cars these days are just loaded up with unnecessary bullshit, like touch screens, that’s driven the cost way up. Everything is fucking computer controlled and just prone to fail and be a nightmare to service.
MSRP on base civic is 23k. Which isn’t a whole lot considering how much car you get for it. Comes with a pretty nice (if a bit paranoid) driver assistance suite. Reliable, good fuel economy, pretty comfortable. My only complaints are that the CMBS and the LKAS are neurotic, if you’re under 70 years old, just turn them off, and the base model doesn’t have variable intermittent wipers. You get 3 speeds, Low, Medium, and High.
Prices for an equivalent model car really haven’t changed much after adjusting for inflation.
Hondas aren’t the best example because they have steadily been moving more upmarket as a brand. However, in 1991 a base model civic cost an inflation adjusted $15,600. A 2023 base model civic costs $23,750.
Another example that comes to mind is the Mazda Miata since people often complain about how sports cars have gotten too expensive and it’s the archetypal affordable sports car. A 1991 Miata cost an inflation adjusted $35,600. A 2023 Miata starts at $28,000.
This used to be true when cars were reasonably priced, but these days when a base civic is 30 k, things needs to be re-evaluated.
I’d also say that car tech in general has advanced massively, so even a cheeseey car would be equivalent to top of the line of a car build in the early 2000s.
Most new cars these days are just loaded up with unnecessary bullshit, like touch screens, that’s driven the cost way up. Everything is fucking computer controlled and just prone to fail and be a nightmare to service.
MSRP on base civic is 23k. Which isn’t a whole lot considering how much car you get for it. Comes with a pretty nice (if a bit paranoid) driver assistance suite. Reliable, good fuel economy, pretty comfortable. My only complaints are that the CMBS and the LKAS are neurotic, if you’re under 70 years old, just turn them off, and the base model doesn’t have variable intermittent wipers. You get 3 speeds, Low, Medium, and High.
Prices for an equivalent model car really haven’t changed much after adjusting for inflation.
Hondas aren’t the best example because they have steadily been moving more upmarket as a brand. However, in 1991 a base model civic cost an inflation adjusted $15,600. A 2023 base model civic costs $23,750.
Another example that comes to mind is the Mazda Miata since people often complain about how sports cars have gotten too expensive and it’s the archetypal affordable sports car. A 1991 Miata cost an inflation adjusted $35,600. A 2023 Miata starts at $28,000.