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Old 11-17-2013, 03:01 PM
 
544 posts, read 610,424 times
Reputation: 474

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The rising number of "poor" people is growing at an astronomical rate in the US. The rising number of people that live paycheck to paycheck is growing.

Why are things like cars and housing still so DAMN EXPENSIVE for poor people? Cars have been around for like a 100 years now. Houses for God knows how long. The facts are that the majority of Americans are poor as crap. Why can't there be one good car company that makes one very basic and very affordable car model?

For example, why not make a car that has a really simple design, uses all interchangeable parts so it's easy to get the car fixed when issues arrive and the parts are cheap to replace.

Whey can't there be a car that costs between $6,000 to $8500 new?

The car would just come with basics like air conditioning and power steering, but wouldn't have built in GPS or other unnecessary crap. Poor people want to have cars to. They want to be able to buy a brand new car that is DEPENDABLE instead of having to take their chances with the used market.

How come this need hasn't been met by the market? Is it because of all the government regulations in cars like the computer systems that are required now? Is it because the very few car manufacturers have an oligopoly and have decided to not allow for this?

Also, what about the poor housing market? Why are we allowing local governments to regulate that an apartment or house must be a certain square footage minimum?

Why haven't apartments been created that are much like a dormitory or hotel room? Like only 250-350 square feet? Have just 1 bigger room and 1 small bathroom in each. And then just have like 2 community kitchens per floor?

It just doesn't make sense that neither of these demands have been met. It's like government regulations make it impossible to make a profit at even trying something like this.
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Old 11-17-2013, 03:12 PM
 
Location: Buckeye, AZ
38,936 posts, read 23,897,671 times
Reputation: 14125
The issue is any company who wants to sell to the poor has to run at Wal-Mart cost levels and many people complain about the wage issues of Wal-Mart. To buy a several thousand dollar car, it needs to be barebones R&D and cheap parts and lake to put to together. There were low cost bands, think of Chevrolet's Geo abd now Toyota's Scion brand but they sold cars that I do not like look wise. Maybe I am the crazy one but I want say a sedan over the Scions and Cubes of the world.
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Old 11-17-2013, 03:33 PM
 
41,813 posts, read 51,059,937 times
Reputation: 17865
Quote:
Originally Posted by HappyHarley View Post
Why are things like cars and housing still so DAMN EXPENSIVE for poor people? Cars have been around for like a 100 years now. Houses for God knows how long.
Much of it has to do with government regulations codes etc. . For example for a brief time here in PA they wre going to require all new houses had sprinkler systems. That's a fine idea if you can afford the extra 10K or whatever it was going to be.
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Old 11-17-2013, 03:33 PM
 
9,470 posts, read 6,969,876 times
Reputation: 2177
Quote:
Originally Posted by HappyHarley View Post
The rising number of "poor" people is growing at an astronomical rate in the US. The rising number of people that live paycheck to paycheck is growing.

Why are things like cars and housing still so DAMN EXPENSIVE for poor people? Cars have been around for like a 100 years now. Houses for God knows how long. The facts are that the majority of Americans are poor as crap. Why can't there be one good car company that makes one very basic and very affordable car model?

For example, why not make a car that has a really simple design, uses all interchangeable parts so it's easy to get the car fixed when issues arrive and the parts are cheap to replace.
Because the government mandates a LOT of the cost of a car.

Quote:
Whey can't there be a car that costs between $6,000 to $8500 new?
stated above. Between EPA, NHTSA, and various other government meddling, the cost of a car simply cannot be less than it is.

Quote:
The car would just come with basics like air conditioning and power steering, but wouldn't have built in GPS or other unnecessary crap. Poor people want to have cars to. They want to be able to buy a brand new car that is DEPENDABLE instead of having to take their chances with the used market.
No, that choice would offend our overlords, so it is prohibited.

Quote:
How come this need hasn't been met by the market? Is it because of all the government regulations in cars like the computer systems that are required now? Is it because the very few car manufacturers have an oligopoly and have decided to not allow for this?
Government interference. How is it you can't see this?

Quote:
Also, what about the poor housing market? Why are we allowing local governments to regulate that an apartment or house must be a certain square footage minimum?
To protect people from tiny houses.

Quote:
Why haven't apartments been created that are much like a dormitory or hotel room? Like only 250-350 square feet? Have just 1 bigger room and 1 small bathroom in each. And then just have like 2 community kitchens per floor?
To protect people from them. That's why.

Quote:
It just doesn't make sense that neither of these demands have been met. It's like government regulations make it impossible to make a profit at even trying something like this.
You can't even try these days.
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Old 11-17-2013, 03:38 PM
 
Location: Lost in Texas
9,827 posts, read 6,936,232 times
Reputation: 3416
The days of the poor going out and buying a new car or a home are long gone. Government regulations and taxing entities have made the cost of these items prohibitive to the poorer working class. Only the upper middle at the bottom can afford such luxuries. Car companies spend a small fortune in compliance issues and they pass these costs on to the consumer.
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Old 11-17-2013, 03:58 PM
 
9,659 posts, read 10,227,349 times
Reputation: 3225
There are cars around 12,000 dollars new
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Old 11-17-2013, 04:04 PM
 
Location: Annandale, VA
5,094 posts, read 5,174,352 times
Reputation: 4233
Quote:
Originally Posted by HappyHarley View Post
The rising number of "poor" people is growing at an astronomical rate in the US. The rising number of people that live paycheck to paycheck is growing.

Why are things like cars and housing still so DAMN EXPENSIVE for poor people? Cars have been around for like a 100 years now. Houses for God knows how long. The facts are that the majority of Americans are poor as crap. Why can't there be one good car company that makes one very basic and very affordable car model?

For example, why not make a car that has a really simple design, uses all interchangeable parts so it's easy to get the car fixed when issues arrive and the parts are cheap to replace.

Whey can't there be a car that costs between $6,000 to $8500 new?

The car would just come with basics like air conditioning and power steering, but wouldn't have built in GPS or other unnecessary crap. Poor people want to have cars to. They want to be able to buy a brand new car that is DEPENDABLE instead of having to take their chances with the used market.

How come this need hasn't been met by the market? Is it because of all the government regulations in cars like the computer systems that are required now? Is it because the very few car manufacturers have an oligopoly and have decided to not allow for this?

Also, what about the poor housing market? Why are we allowing local governments to regulate that an apartment or house must be a certain square footage minimum?

Why haven't apartments been created that are much like a dormitory or hotel room? Like only 250-350 square feet? Have just 1 bigger room and 1 small bathroom in each. And then just have like 2 community kitchens per floor?

It just doesn't make sense that neither of these demands have been met. It's like government regulations make it impossible to make a profit at even trying something like this.
Who buys "new" cars anymore? I prefer CPO'd from the dealer or cars that are just coming off their 3 year lease. You get a perfectly fine car that has already been broken in by the first owner.

The body style of the last generation BMWs were identical from 2006 - 2011. The only thing that was changed is the navigation options.
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Old 11-17-2013, 04:04 PM
 
Location: Lost in Texas
9,827 posts, read 6,936,232 times
Reputation: 3416
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheHurricaneKid View Post
There are cars around 12,000 dollars new
When people have a total income of say 17,000 it is still cost prohibitive.. If you have kids, even at 40,000 income, 12,000 becomes unattainable realistically.
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Old 11-17-2013, 04:05 PM
 
Location: Sango, TN
24,868 posts, read 24,388,397 times
Reputation: 8672
Walmart.com

Catering to poor folks since Sam Walton opened one in Arkansas
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Old 11-17-2013, 04:06 PM
 
Location: 500 miles from home
33,942 posts, read 22,527,236 times
Reputation: 25816
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spaten_Drinker View Post
Who buys "new" cars anymore? I prefer CPO'd from the dealer or cars that are just coming off their 3 year lease. You get a perfectly fine car that has already been broken in by the first owner.
This is shocking but I am going to agree with you. I see no reason to buy a brand new vehicle that depreciates 50% in value the minute you press down the gas pedal.

To answer the OP's question ~ companies will take advantage of the 'poor' market when the Middle Class runs out of any spending money. Which appears to be any day now.
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