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You know what grinds my gears. The outrageous cost of cars these days. For example in 1965 you could buy a 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS for $3210.00 (in 1965 money obviously, note car price from Classic Car models and prices for cars from the Sixties) if we were to adjust for inflation that would be $24,182.00 (per CPI Inflation Calculator) same Model 2016 Chevrolet Impala SS's MSRP today is starting at $46k!(2016 SS Sports Sedan: 4-Door Sports Car | Chevrolet that's double literally for the same type of car for its time, and that doesn't include dealer options that every car comes with anyway, we are looking upwards of $50k maybe even inching $60k. Yet (not to get economical or political) I highly doubt anybody's wage for the same profession has doubled since then. What do you think causes these outrageous cost for Trucks and Cars these days??. I live in Texas, where a house in a decent neighborhood can run you 90-120k. Some trucks go upwards of 65k! That can be somebody's mortgage in the lower parts of the inner city. I hear stories of my elders and older colleagues telling me they were buying new trucks off the floor for $7000. Even into the 90's trucks were in the teens.
There are a LOT more safety features and engineering involved in vehicles of today. Also, trucks are a lot more plush inside than they used to be, too. It should be no surprise they're as much, or more, than a car.
You know what grinds my gears. The outrageous cost of cars these days. For example in 1965 you could buy a 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS for $3210.00 (in 1965 money obviously, note car price from Classic Car models and prices for cars from the Sixties) if we were to adjust for inflation that would be $24,182.00 (per CPI Inflation Calculator) same Model 2016 Chevrolet Impala SS's MSRP today is starting at $46k!(2016 SS Sports Sedan: 4-Door Sports Car | Chevrolet that's double literally for the same type of car for its time, and that doesn't include dealer options that every car comes with anyway, we are looking upwards of $50k maybe even inching $60k. Yet (not to get economical or political) I highly doubt anybody's wage for the same profession has doubled since then. What do you think causes these outrageous cost for Trucks and Cars these days??. I live in Texas, where a house in a decent neighborhood can run you 90-120k. Some trucks go upwards of 65k! That can be somebody's mortgage in the lower parts of the inner city. I hear stories of my elders and older colleagues telling me they were buying new trucks off the floor for $7000. Even into the 90's trucks were in the teens.
The problem with car prices are that they are the same no matter where in the country you are. For instance, you mentioned in Texas you can get a house for 100K and the truck will cost you 60K. Well, in San Francisco, the house will cost you 800K and the truck will still cost you 60K. For someone making the money to buy that 800K house, it is easy for them to afford the 60K car. In Texas, not so much.
You don't need to buy the top of the line Platinum Texas Ranger edition either. You start adding option packages sure cists go up. But there are plenty of trucks that have most of the options people use. While a Lariat King Ranch Platinum edition might be a nice ride I have no issue driving a XLT model for 25k less. If you want all the gizmos you're gonna pay for them. As for the safety features all levels get them. You're paying for the option packages
My wife's car has all that active cruise, heated leather, warning this and that. Freaking thing bings bongs and warns me about everything around me. My truck has none of those things. I could care less about them.
At the same time you can also choose to buy a Kia Soul for under $13k. It will be faster than that 65 Impala SS. Have much better safety, double the gas mileage, all sorts of features that didn't exist, and a 10 year warranty. Also popular among the senior set for the driving position comfort.
Do the math on cost per mile, not inflation-adjusted purchase price. You needed to trade in a 1965 car after 3 years when it went off warranty because it was about to implode. Rolling the odometer at 100,000 was cause for a bottle of champagne. Today, people get furious if a car has even mild mechanical issues before 150,000 miles. If you follow the maintenance schedule, the only extras are tires and brakes. Even 300+ hp performance cars get 30+ mpg these days. Oil change interval is 10,000 miles instead of 3,000.
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