Car ownership has long been integral to the American dream. But as automakers slash the production of inexpensive models to cater to customers who can afford oversized pickups and sport utility vehicles, buyers find themselves facing sticker shock at the same time they are already frustrated by the lingering effects of high inflation.
Consumer prices rose 3.3% in March, the biggest yearly increase since May 2024, while new car prices were up 12.6% from a year ago, the Labor Department reported Friday.
New vehicles now sell for an average of nearly $50,000, up 30% in six years, and average monthly payments — based on 10% down and a 6-year note — recently hit $775. Looking for something on the cheap end? The share of vehicles listing for less than $30,000 is about 13% — down from 40% five years ago, per the car review site CarGurus.
Haha yes that’s what we did too, we could buy a new car for the same we paid for a 4 year old car. But we wanted to be able to pull a trailer, and we wanted a better than minimum battery, and the luxury of the bigger car is of course nice too. 😋
We got the VW ID.4 a CUV which means it’s built like a real car, not some pickup truck construction that avoids regulation, that American SUV’s often are.
The CUV is an amazing drive with perfect handling, an SUV is not.
usedproven.drives off in his Civic Si with multiple possible engine swap possibilities without even changing the ECU
I have enough set aside to make it the Civic Si of Theseus when I’m 72.
/me pushes his chips forward
Let it ride. If gas doesn’t pan out even WORSE to where Civic drivers are scrounging, I’ll scrap it and drop what I’m holding on an EV, until then!
Heck yeah. I’ve had a lifetime Honda streak. :)
I really… really wish I didn’t accidentally doom my Honda Element by stripping that stupid (“goose neck”?) bolt holding the VVT solenoid in the engine.
It was 219, and I could’ve kept it going to 300,000 at least otherwise. :(
Got a very good-enough CR-V now that just does the thing. Can’t complain I guess. Has a middle back seat! But it’s not my Element. :(
I am on my first Honda, a CRV. I bought it during COVID 2021 new because all the used cars were going for new car prices and the new cars… there were not many of them d/t supply train issues. So I went for something that would last a long time and retain more value than a Chevy (which I drove before that and most Chevy’s would last maybe 10 years before major expensive repairs started their siphon on my bank account.
Wow that’s impressive, and it’s also a very nice car to drive I imagine from what I’ve heard.