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Just a curious question. Do those of you 'over the pond' tend to buy new cars as frequently as people in the USA- or do you tend to use them until they are no longer repairable?
I came upon my question because I would like to find a small, fun car- maybe a Fiat 500, and was surprised that they are so difficult to find. Also- old VW Bugs, Honda,- any of the older 4 cylinder type cars.
Does it surprise you that the people in the USA seem to buy another new car so frequently? Thank you!!
My parents have never, never owned a new car. We always bought used ones. I knew some people who bought brand new, off the lot cars - but they were wealthy people. A friend of mine worked full time for years to buy herself at new car at aged 20, and that was a Ford Ka. For me, as a middle class person from the Home Counties, it was definitely only something well-off people did.
I think the replacement rate for cars is similar here to the US - yearly sales of 2.5-3 million usually vs. US sales of 10-15 million. Its the buyers who are different - the majority of new car registrations here are company/fleet sales - a hangover of the 1960s/70s when companies introduced perks like company cars instead of higher salaries due to the punitive income tax rates of the time (83 to 98%, although iirc there was a surtax for some earners that took the effective marginal income tax rate to 107%)
The Fiat 500 is very much in demand atm though, so i guess there arent many discounts available on it.
Just a curious question. Do those of you 'over the pond' tend to buy new cars as frequently as people in the USA- or do you tend to use them until they are no longer repairable?
I came upon my question because I would like to find a small, fun car- maybe a Fiat 500, and was surprised that they are so difficult to find. Also- old VW Bugs, Honda,- any of the older 4 cylinder type cars.
Does it surprise you that the people in the USA seem to buy another new car so frequently? Thank you!!
Well we usually buy a car that is maybe 1-2 years old-after they have done that huge depreciation form being brand new.We keep them till they are 3-4 years old and then change.However we have only done that for the last 10 years and we are a 1 car family.
My first car at 17 was a 10 year old Fiat 127-the clutch slipped like crazy, but I was overjoyed just to have a car!
If you like the Fiat 500 (my Mum had one of the originals in 1963!), then try the Fiat punto or Seat Ibiza maybe.
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