$30,500 average: New Cars Increasingly Out of Reach for Many Americans

[Newsjock]

Source: CNBC

Looking to buy a new car, truck or crossover? You may find it more difficult to stretch the household budget than you expected, according to a new study that finds median-income families in only one major U.S. city actually can afford the typical new vehicle.

The typical new vehicle is now more expensive than ever, averaging $30,500 in 2012, according to TrueCar.com data, and heading up again as makers curb the incentives that helped make their products more affordable during the recession when they were desperate for sales.

According to the 2013 Car Affordability Study by Interest.com, only in Washington could the typical household swing the payments, the median income there running $86,680 a year. At the other extreme, Tampa, Fla., was at the bottom of the 25 large cities included in the study, with a median household income of $43,832.

Read more: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cars-increasingly-reach-many-americans-145957880.html

[OceanEcosystem]

1. Buying secondhand is almost always better.

[Gorp]

18. Agreed. I've only bought one car new. It was a good car, but it was used when I drove it off the lot

[Bay Boy]

53. My new car was worth more than I paid for it...

...shortly after I drove it off the lot. If you want to know how that happened I can tell you.

[HiPointDem]

61. lack of sales in the new market = less in the secondhand market.

[Freddie Stubbs]

72. There are a lot less of those available due to Cash for Clunkers

[Cary]

78. I buy new and drive them into the ground.

That works well too.

[CBGLuthier]

2. I bought my last new car in 1980

DO not expect to ever buy a new car again. Life's too short for that much debt.

[dsc]

3. I think they are playing games here

the mean price of a car will be higher than the median and I think they used the mean.

[WCGreen]

6. I think you are right...

There are a lot of good new cars under $20,000.

[guardian]

15. So true

just one example: 2013 Honda Civic HF Sedan = $19,765 MSRP. And you can always get a better price than MSRP. The article in the OP is more fear mongering.

[Initech]

45. It's a total doom and gloom financial article.

If look around and know how to work the system you can score deals on new cars that are at least $5 - $6k off invoice. Try Costco and AAA. Or check local volume dealers from whatever brand you go with. I really wanted a Volkswagen Passat but couldn't find anything for less than $500 off invoice. But then I checked Nissan, Kia, and Ford - almost $6k off invoice. Then I financed through a credit union - payments less than $400 a month. New vehicle.

[DainBramaged]

120. Volkswagen lowed the prices at the expense of dealer profit for market share

Like most GM models, they have around $900-$1400 at retail. Dealers have to bang you at the back end in the finance office. You can't run a store on 2% gross profit.

[DeschutesRiver]

124. I got an email from a dealer last week offering a Kia Soul for $12,900. And I found the same as you

on Nissans and Fords, plus a few Hondas and Subarus were under $20K. And I am not even trying hard yet, just doing an initial search for cars under $20k, and without even going to a wholesaler. And I had a lot of brand new cars from which to pick at that price.

I used a wholesale outfit for the first time to buy a travel trailer. After two futile years of trying to negotiate a lower price with local dealers (and ultimately checking with ALL who sold this model within my state), we ended up paying $8,000 less with the wholesaler . Well, might have been more, because some of the "deals" we'd negotiate would disappear once we showed up to buy the trailer, where it would be offered for a few thousand more than we'd discussed (about 10K more than the wholesaler we ended up using). Trailer shopping is as deceitful at times as car shopping - hated it until I dealt with the wholesale dude, who was straight forward about it - the price online that was emailed to me was the price. Period. No nonsense. The local dealers had told me I'd never get service if I bought it elsewhere, but when we needed a few things fixed, yes, we got them fixed under the warranty though it did take some looking for a dealer who wasn't angry about losing an 8k commission. They do exist, and are happy to get paid for warranty work.

I chose to make it a big vacation for us and the dogs to drive several states away to pick it up, but they would have hauled it here for around $1,000, which still would have resulted in a $7k savings on the low end. This isn't peanuts to save; I wasn't going to buy it otherwise.

This article is quite bogus in its conclusion about the average car price, imho.

[uponit7771]

48. +1

[MattBaggins]

64. The alarm bells go off at the very start.

Who ever wrote this knew they were massaging the numbers. They even go so far as to repeatedly compare median incomes to average prices.

Badly done statistical analysis.

[Purveyor]

4. If they would keep just half of the junk off thatthey are putting on the cars now, i.e. gps, wi-fi,

video players, heated seats, etc., perhaps one could afford a new, good mpg vehicle.

A AM-FM radio, air, power windows,locks are all I need.

[exboyfil]

10. I prefer no power windows or locks

More convenient but a service headache down the road. My 2002 Cavalier has neither, and it is the best car I have ever owned. I am already having problems with one of my 2009 HHR power windows (probably because the kids abused it).

I am waiting for the sub-$15K stripped down all electric car. That would be my next purchase.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

30. Sadly, manual roll-up windows are pretty much a thing of the past.

Auto makers assume you want to have something in your car that only works when the car is actually turned on.

If I could have gotten my most recent car with manual roll-up windows, I would have. But they didn't even offer such a package.

[DainBramaged]

121. You are the micro-minority

you can buy a Chevy Sonic with roll up windows,but finding one on a dealer lot is not worth the effort or waste of gas.

[Bay Boy]

55. They already are out there...

...they are called golf carts.

[exboyfil]

76. LOL

I was hoping for a little more steel around me. Someone has been driving an enclosed 3 wheeler to work and parking it in the motorcycle space. Maybe something like that with an electric motor.

[HiPointDem]

62. +1

[niyad]

5. now THAT is what I call an absolutely brilliant marketing strategy--price your product or service

so that almost nobody can afford it. I wonder why nobody ever thought of that before?

I know there are many people who would love to buy the prius, the leaf, the smart car, the volt, whatever, but simply cannot afford them. automakers, how about pricing these things so more people can afford them (you know, like henry ford did)?

[jberryhill]

7. You can't wave a magic wand at the materials that go into that technology...

....and make the price come down.

There's only so much lithium to go around, and that goes for a lot of other materials which go into making these things.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Henry Ford also paid his work force

Enough, so they could afford it.

[TDale313]

28. ^^^ this^^^

[Bay Boy]

56. I'm not sure of that theory...

...sure I've heard it before, but is it really true? If I built luxury yachts would it make sense for me to pay my workers enough to purchase the boats we build?

[DJ13]

63. Ford's pay idea only works on mass market products

Not luxury goods.

[Bay Boy]

66. It's a very narrow list...

...if I make widgets that sell for $10 I wouldn't have to pay them very much for them to be able to afford them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

79. No, but if Wally word raised base pay from 8.08 to 15

It would cost them 2B, but they would get back 7-9 B from their own work force.

This not paying enough is simply a bad decision long term. You don't believe me? Walmart is starting to realize their core customer base can't afford Wallmart. In fact, this month to be exact.

[Bay Boy]

92. How does this work?

It would cost them 2B, but they would get back 7-9 B from their own work force.

[nadinbrzezinski]

97. People would spend money in things they can't afford right now

Such as new shoes, desperately needed appliances and clothes. It's expected the check would go right back to Walmart.

Right now they can't afford the shoes...or the pants. So they get clothes from second hand or charities.

Oh and by the way, it would save the rest of us some major quid in food stamps which these employees are encouraged to take by their employer, since they know it's not enough for food.

I am all for not having to pay for food stamps and continuing to subsidize Wallmart, but that is just me. And these are heads of families struggling to keep heads above water.

Here

http://www.demos.org/publication/retails-hidden-potential-how-raising-wages-would-benefit-workers-industry-and-overall-ec

[nadinbrzezinski]

74. Henry ford was not building luxury yachts...so that is a nice straw man.

Nor did he do it because he liked his workers. It was purely a business decision in an emerging market. He needed customers and the number of the wealthy who'd buy a model T was far less than people who potentially would buy cars, and yes...trucks.

In fact, good ol' Henry fought the Unions and hated them. Of course, in the 1930s he cut that pay, which led to major labor unrest ending in the Flint Sit Ins and things like the Five day week, and 8 hour day becoming a matter of Federal Law.

Alas, the decision got Ford motor company going, with a ready set (and hungry) market. It was followed by others in the industry.

[Bay Boy]

83. Chillax

I'm not trying to win an argument, I'm just asking questions in an attempt to learn something.

[nadinbrzezinski]

87. I gave you a very much cliff's notes of that decision

There are books written on it, and the NLBR.



If you care I can even point you in the right direction, but this is basic history of labor, and yes economics...as well as classic capitalism 101, gung tp Adam Smith and the Wealth of Natins.

I'll grant you this...it should be taught in school, but the great men theory of history, not nuance, let alone labor history, is what is taught any longer.

[Bay Boy]

84. I think that was just a side benefit

brought about by the price point his cars happened to be at at the time.

What he really wanted was less turn over in employees so as to keep production going smooth.

[frazzled]

20. I'm glad we bought our Prius in 2006, when we got a $3,400 rebate

It brought the price down to $20K, exactly the amount we'd paid for a new Toyota Camry 13 years earlier. We've been driving it for 7 years, and expect to drive it for another 6 or 7, hopefully. So all in all, not a bad investment (in addition to cutting our gasoline bills in half).

I just looked it up, and the base price for a new Prius is still around $24K. So actually, it hasn't really gone up in the last 7 years.

[dairydog91]

36. Except that it's wildly unlikely that manufacturers would make a good which nobody could afford.

And $30,500 average does not mean that you can't get decent cars for less. MSRP on a new Honda Accord starts at $21,500, and I've never had a problem with my old one so that's what I'd be looking at. Civics start at ~$18000, and a new Corolla is more like $16000 (For that matter, so is a Ford Focus).

[Bay Boy]

58. So are you saying sell them

for less than they cost to build? Is that the "we lose money on each individual sale but make up for it on volume" plan?

[aaaaaa5a]

8. The old saying is true.

The new car smell is the most expensive perfume in the world.

[cali]

9. I don't even get why people buy new cars

A friend of mine just bought a beautiful 2005 all wheel drive Jag with gorgeous walnut trim, leather seats and all the bells and whistles, in perfect condition for $6,500. 87,000 miles

I bought my VW Jetta td 2003 last year for $5000.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

13. Jags are nice until...

Jags are nice until they need work. I wouldn't buy one new or used but there's a reason they go from 80 grand to cheaper than a Honda Accord in 5 years. Same with Land Rovers. No way I would own one out of warranty.

[cali]

38. according to my friend (and granted he can work on almost any car)

they're much better than they used to be.

[oldhippie]

27. But, somebody has to buy new cars ...

... or all those robots at the new car factories will be out of work. OK, maybe a few human workers, too.

Besides, where do you think used cars come from?

I will admit that I always buy new cars. But I also keep them at least 10 years. My last truck was 14 years old when I traded it in, and my wife's car is an '03 Honda Accord which is still going strong.

[dairydog91]

37. Used cars can be good deals. Used Jags are, well...

Jags are fun if you like to do constant maintenance.

[GoneOffShore]

117. well, they are made by Ford.

[HangOnKids]

39. I Don't Get The New Car Thing Either

Last August my daughter and I were at the Safeway when my new VW Bettle had just died in the parking lot. I had nothing but problems with this car. I was upset to say the least, and I was talking to the clerk saying" I need a car" when the woman behind me in line said "my aunt has a car she wants to sell, she lives down the block" I was skeptical but my daughter said "Mom let's go look."

We went, took a test drive and I bought it right then and there. It is a 2001 BMW 325xi, it had 53,000 miles on it and was in immaculate condition. It was their third car and they put 4500 miles a year on it. They loved my daughter, they have no grandkids and gave us a great price.

The BMW shop I took it to after wards, just to have things checked out, wanted to buy it from me. No thanks, this is a sweet ride.

New cars are a rip off.

[Lex]

44. My new car is definitely not a ripoff.

Sounds like you bought a lemon.

[Politicalboi]

59. I think that poster was talking about your VW

As being a lemon.

[Lex]

65. Of course I was. And I don't know what the hissy fit was about?

Why would I say the used car that's working perfectly well is a lemon?

[kwassa]

109. BMWs are also wonderful until you have to pay for repairs.

prepare to say goodbye to your wallet.

[rexcat]

51. Of course...

someone bought the VW Jetta new otherwise you would not have been able to buy it used.

Personally I prefer a new car and expect to keep them for 8-10 years. I purchased a 2012 Subaru Impreza for under $20,000 last May and expect to keep it a very long time. Given the reputation of Subaru products I don't expect many problems to arise as long as I keep up the maintenance. Everyone has their own personal preferences. Just because you "don't get it" does not make it wrong. Just saying.

[OregonBlue]

67. Agreed. I just bought a 2005 Nissan Altima with all the bells and whistles and

less than 50,000 miles for $6,000. I replaced a 1999 Nissan Altima that I bought with less than 29,000 with a warranty for under $9,000. Great cars. Comfortable, reliable. I would never buy new.

[rabid_byter]

107. i am an Amputee, too old to work on old cars, cant afford to have em fixed, i bought a Honda Fit

affordable, 6 air bags, most reliable mid sized car, i'm 6'6", got leg room/head room. i'm 65, last car i'll ever get, my wife had a Honda 24 years over 200,000 miles, was in the shop twice, clutch maintenance and her key lock wore out, still runs good gets 36 mpg..

[JI7]

122. i think because of concern over being "ripped off" by getting a bad car

that would need too many repairs and in the end just not being worth it.

i personally would like to learn about cars so if/when i buy one i will be familiar with things and better able to negotiate whether it's new or old.

[TheKentuckian]

123. If no one did there would be few or no used cars.

I agree in principle, I've never bought a new car but somebody logically has to take it for the team.

[aristocles]

11. I NEVER buy new...

...the moment one buys a new car and drives it off the dealer's lot it depreciates by 5-10%, sometimes a lot more. A foolish waste of money.


I always buy pre-owned or certified pre-owned vehicles from a reputable dealer. Before a purchase I always check the CARFAX history on the vehicle. I check Consumer Reports recommendations of best used vehicles. Then I have my own mechanic inspect it, before the purchase.

"Stuff that works": http://bit.ly/oY4Utl

[IDemo]

12. I could afford a new vehicle in the sub-40k price zone

But there is zero chance I will put that kind of money out. My 20 year old pickup is just broken in with 66k miles and should last me the rest of my days.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. You think? We had to replace the truck

Totaled in October...

We bought used...no way in hell I could have bought new.

Wages have been flat for twenty years, everything else is not flat.

[Tempest]

16. Using average cost is meaningless

I could have paid up to $40,000 for my Equinox if I wanted all the bells and whistles.

I paid $25,000 for the Equinox without them.

You can find many makes and models of new cars for under $20,000.

[qazplm]

112. agreed I got the 12 Focus

with most of the bells, it's a very nice car, and it was like 22K.

[bhikkhu]

19. The mandatory features are getting way out of hand

...tire pressure monitors required, rearview cameras with dash monitor, electronic stability controls, abs brakes, all required. Some of those things are nice, but they also pose a nightmare for the aftermarket - the expense involved in maintenance increases exponentially over the years.

I'd rather have a basic car with easily maintained systems, which could be kept driveable without an advanced degree in electronics and 100k worth of diagnostic gear.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Most of the things you posted, like the rear view camera

Is not required, unless you drive an 18 wheeler. Now if you do...

In fact, most vehicles, new, outside of luxury, don't have it.

ABS have become standard, but not mandated...compete with the other guy, you put it on.

GPS and NAV is not required either but it is increasingly standard equipment.

Now, one reason for all the electronics, is the increased gas efficiency in vehicles, which we need until we find another way, efficient and all that, to push a ton along the road.

[dmallind]

49. RVC mandatory starting in 2014. nt

[bhikkhu]

93. Yup.

And all of the 2013's I've seen so far have them.

[GreenStormCloud]

24. My first new car was a 1967 Rambler.

I learned to do all of my own basic maintaince. There was lots of room under the hood, everything was simple to understand and easy to reach. I was able to make the payments while I was an E-4 in the Army. For those not familiar with Army ranks, that is a lower ranking enlisted man.

[Tempest]

25. Not everything you listed are mandatory

"tire pressure monitors required, rearview cameras with dash monitor"

Both optional packages on all the model SUVs I looked at.

[bhikkhu]

95. Cameras are mandatory 2014, tire pressure monitors are mandatory since 2007

...and that's on all passenger cars and light trucks.

ESC, or electronic stability control, became mandatory in 2012. That's the one that senses steering wheel position, pitch and yaw and so forth, and takes over the brakes and steering if it senses a loss of control.

[Bay Boy]

60. Speaking of 'easily maintained'

I read an article of a Malibu costing $175 to replace a headlight.

[supernova]

21. I don't ever expect a new car

from here on out.

My present car is a 2002 Honda CRV that I bought from the first owner in 2006.

When the CRV finally dies, maybe in another 10 years, I will buy another used car, checked against Consumer Reports and Carfax, plus my mechanic's recommendation.

I don't want the car bill or the headache of watching it depreciate faster than I can pay for it.

[canoeist52]

22. The problem with buying used

is that car owners like us are hanging on to our vehicles "'til death do us part" causing a shortage of stock.

And the used-car dealers know and take advantage of this in their pricing.
Sometimes the cost of a new yr. model is very close to the cost of a 2-y/old model. The banks also penalize you in the financing of a second-hand vehicle, which equalizes the pricing of new vs. older model.

[GreenStormCloud]

26. SMART car (That is a brand name.) Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price, basic car, $12,490. N/T

[tabbycat31]

40. I'd be scared to drive a smart car

Are they cute? Sure

But I was in an accident in 2000 with a Ford Expedition. 12.5 years later, I am still feeling the effects of it on my neck (I was rear-ended). She (literally) took the trunk off of my Escort. If I were driving a Smartcar I'm not sure if I'd be alive.

[rainbow4321]

54. I just bought a used Smart car!!!!

It may be "used" but it's NEW to me! 2009 Smart, convertable. 22K miles.

My car had been a 2001 Chevy Tracker that had accumulated 170k miles on it and was on it's last leg (or wheel?). So many problems that pouring money into with it's mileage made NO frigging sense at ALL.

So I chanced it with Carmax since we had gotten my daughter's car thru their financing company a few years back. She had NO credit (20 y/o) and I've had not the bestest of credit history stemming from a divorce in the 90's yet they let me co sign for her and she got a used car with low mileage.

They came thru for us again and I got the Smart car! Keeping in mind what I was coming from with my 2001, I feel like I have bells and whistles on this car...yeah, nowadays the features are not considered bells/whistles but to ME they are!
I know people here have dissed Carmax for various reasons but they have come thru for us that are middle income with not the best credit history!

[kwassa]

110. old technology, at this point.

there are much better alternatives at this point.

in other words, it is not a smart choice.

[Lex]

29. I am so happy with my new 2013 Ford Focus.

I didn't load it down with extras, but it has a few extras. Anyway, I only had finance $13,000 for it, so the payments are barely $200. Buy union made and American!

[Union Scribe]

31. Nice ride

And thank you for supporting our union workers

[Brickbat]

32. The Focus is an excellent car.

We've had two and loved them both. And union-made in the USA!

[RedSpartan]

33. I'm leasing a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Absolutely love it.

[bike man]

34. We got a 2012 Focus last year, traded in a 2005 Sable. I've found the Focus easier to get in and

out of than the Sable (at 70, I'm not as flexible as I once was, so this is a big plus), and overall, we are also happy with ours.

[aristocles]

35. My daughter bought a Focus last August

She loves it. Payments are about $225.

I must say, the fit and finish, ride and handling, and performance rivals that of many more expensive sedans.

She loves the fact that she can use her iPhone hands free with the Ford SYNC My Touch system; she doesn't even have to remove the iPhone from her purse.

I drive an Audi A4 now, but I will seriously consider a Ford Focus or Fusion next time.

[llmart]

99. Great car.

My daughter has one and loves it.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

41. The problem with averages...

Michael Jordan averaged 30.12 points per game during his years in the NBA. That means that when you combine Michael's stats with mine, we averaged 15.06 points per game. You do the math.

The "average" in this case includes models that no middle class person is going to purchase. There are a host of models that come in a less than half the average cost.

[MineralMan]

42. Plenty of cars under $20,000, and some

right around $15,000. You buy what you can afford. Often, the cheaper the car the better the mileage, too, except for hybrids.

[Liberal_in_LA]

69. yep. I've never paid more than 16K - used ones

[MineralMan]

70. I'm talking about new cars, actually.

Lots under $20,000. They're generally small, have small engines, and get good mileage. Ford Focus, Kia Rio and Soul, Chevy Cruze, Fiat 500, and that sort of thing. Base models are the best bet, since these days they have a good set of appointments as standard. They're very popular, at least with buyers, and not so popular with dealers, who make more profit from the higher-priced cars. Still, though, you can get some great little cars in the $15,000-$20,000 range. Some even have 5 year/50,000 mile warranties and some have even longer drivetrain warranties.

[Liberal_in_LA]

71. I know what you meant. I prefer the next size up, so I pay that amount for a used one.

[justanidea]

43. How are they calculating the average?

Adding up the prices of each car model and dividing by the number of models?

Because I'd imagine the various Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, and Bugattis skew the numbers a bit. Especially when you consider the fact that various high end auto manufacturers (Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Land Rover) have been expanding their brands the past 10 years by adding new models.

There are plenty of new cars available for under $30k.

Even quite a few under $20k. Every compact car that I know of starts under $20k. Smaller compacts can even start under $15k.

[Lex]

46. Yes, this. ^^^

It's easy to do research on this (tons of info. on the 'net) and get a very reliable car for a fairly affordable price. People just get suckered in to the expensive cars loaded with unnecessary extras.

[bluedigger]

75. There is quite a spread at the top end as well.

I was watching Top Gear last night and they had a Bugatti Veyron (?) on the show. Amongst the numbers they rattle off were that you could buy 10 Ferraris or 202 Nissan Versas for the same money.

The annual registration fee was over $200k.

[hfojvt]

47. they ought to have stats on that

what is the percentage of adults over 40 who have never owned a new car? What about over 50? Over 60? Over 70?

And what were those numbers back in the 1970s?

My guess is that a new car has always been a stretch for those at or below the median income.

[MineralMan]

77. I bought my first new car at age 67.

My wife and I decided that a warranty was something we needed badly, since our two older cars broke down about the same time, and at a time when we could not afford to fix them. I sold both of them broken, and got enough from them for a down payment on a cheap new car with a real warranty.

Payments are $200 per month. We averaged about $1000 in repair bills for those older cars every year. It's a wash.

[appleannie1]

52. It has been years since we were able to afford a new car.

[LTX]

57. This Article is Pure Hogwash

Here's 210 new car listings for cars between $12,400 and $15,000 within 100 miles of Houston.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/searchresults.xhtml?zip=77002&endYear=2014&showcaseOwnerId=57003093&startYear=2011&listingType=new&listingTypes=new&sellerTypes=b&searchRadius=100&maxPrice=15000&minPrice=12000&sortBy=derivedpriceASC

For entertainment, search for 2010-2013 used cars between $5,000 and $10,000. Relatively speaking, you can get a much better car today for fewer inflation-adjusted dollars than you could get in 1970.

[Mr Dixon]

68. Staying put

I drive a 2001 mercury Mountaineer 90k miles still running strong going to keep it until it drops, the wife has a 2006 300/hemi she loves it, no new cars in our future.

[MineralMan]

73. Here's an interesting list of new cars under $20,000

Invoice and retail prices are listed:

http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/cars/T011-S001-2012-new-car-rankings-compare-costs-performance-da/index.php

[Southerner]

80. I saw all kinds of articles a month ago that said average personal income last year went up about 7%

...despite the drop in GDP fourth quarter. If that's really true, we can all afford the more expensive cars.

[Arugula Latte]

81. I'm always amazed at how many later-model cars I see.

I always think: "How can so many people afford new cars?!"

[Lex]

82. Lots are renting them on 2 or 3 year leases

and that makes the monthly amount owed lower than purchasing. Long terms leases are, for the most part, a rip-off for the consumer.

[BainsBane]

86. I saw a 2013 Scion at a Lexus dealership

I figured the owner got a promotion or better job and traded up.

[BainsBane]

85. I bought a 2010 model

a Mazda 5 with 58,000 miles for $12,500, including tax and registration. A new car is not necessary.

[oneshooter]

88. Bought my 02 Ranger xtended cab new(25miles on it) and am now looking

for another truck. The Ranger has 273,000 miles on it, new motor and tranny, but does not get the mileage, 15.5 and 18, that I need with the higher fuel costs. Am looking for a 011 F-150 crew cab(4door) with a Ecoboost engine. 18 and 23 sounds a lot better! A larger truck with a smaller engine and better mileage!
Most of them are running between 24-27k but I plan to hardball the price and pay cash.

[nadinbrzezinski]

90. ^^^this^^^ it took us six months

And a lot of used online vehicle services to find the jeep.

Good luck, and make sure the truck is checked by an indie mechanic.

[oneshooter]

94. The truck will be inspected by Ford and be "Certified pre owned"

Which means that the drivetrain warranty starts at the mileage that is on the truck.

20'000 miles on truck= full warranty STARTS at 20,000 miles.

I am willing to pay a little more for the CPO rating, as I tend to put a lot of miles on my trucks.

As for my current Ranger? I plan on giving it away. A couple that we have been friend with for 20+ years needs a dependable vehicle. They live 30 miles from town and currently depend on their son for transport to and from town. This will help them AND their son.

[nadinbrzezinski]

96. We had ours certified

We still had our mechanic check it and did the preventive maintainance. Want wild? And what are the odds? I met the owner at the market on Sunday. He recognized the plates, not the Jeep. We since put a hard top, AT tires (silly, came out with street tires) and nerd bars.

[oneshooter]

105. I do most of the preventive maintenance on our vehicles.

Although it is rapidly getting to the point where the vehicles will be smarter than I am!!

[bluedigger]

114. Nerf bars.

Unless you installed an Applebee's or something.

[nadinbrzezinski]

115. Yes, nerf

Damn spell check. It was wild.

[bluedigger]

116. It's an uncommon word.

You should see how upset I get when I see Jeep ads with bumbers and wenches.

[TwilightGardener]

89. $20,000 is my maximum. You can get a good car for that much.

[DearHeart]

91. This is news? Where have these people been?

Must have their heads up their asses!

[Number23]

98. I would probably double that for Australia.

typical new vehicle is now more expensive than ever, averaging $30,500 in 2012

[titaniumsalute]

100. My wife and I make six figures plus

I drive a 2003 Honda Odyssey Mini Van that has been paid off for years and my wife has a 2011 Hyundai Elentra. Although she bought it new, I think it was about $18,500. We live in an upscale area where it seems most people drive Beemers and Mercedes. I don't really give a shot about my car. It is comfortable, functional, looks OK, and is paid off.

[pipoman]

104. Back in the 80's

Bruce williams used to be on Talk Net with Sally Jessie, and Larry King. He was the financial guy..answered callers on financial issues. He used to say, 'I sit on the board of 6 banks, and am partners in hundreds of enterprises and have a significant portfolio..I can't afford to buy a new car'.

[RedCappedBandit]

101. I'll never buy new

Even if I had the kind of money required to buy a new car at that price, I'd much rather buy a gently used, nicer car, for the same price.

[rabid_byter]

102. richest 20% hold 95.4% of the Financial wealth in the USA, poorest 80% have 4.6%

actually... the richest 20% hold 95.4% of
the Financial wealth in the USA, poorest
80% hold 4.6% of financial wealth and the
poorest 50% hold 2.5%

SO THERE IS NO MIDDLE CLASS.!! QUIT USING THAT TERM.!!

it is a mind control trick to make you
think you aren't being SCREWED every
second of your life.!! by the rich who
are so taped out they cant afford to PAY
TAXES. the reason there is a recession..
and only in the underclasses is there a
recession..is because they tie up all the
cash in their mentally ill OCD
cleptocratic plutocratic quest to acquire
more needless wealth and power at the
expense of the underclass. humm
isn't that the definition of Fascism.??

[pipoman]

103. If you want a new car, great!

Just don't make the mistake of buying cheap new..always better off buying high quality used over cheap new..

[A HERETIC I AM]

106. As someone who delivers new cars to dealerships.....

and in fact dropped 8 to the largest Kia dealer in the country the day before yesterday, I beg to differ.

The Kia dealer I am speaking of is putting more than 1000 cars a month over the curb and there are plenty more like him in this country.

There are dozens of models, both foreign and domestic that sell for much less than this article suggests and there are PLENTY of people who prefer new cars to used.
The last three weeks have been slow, but the two ports and 3 plants my company hauls out of have just opened the spigots.

I'm going to be working through the weekend and probably the next as well.

As long as Americans buy new cars, I get to keep receiving a paycheck.

[samplegirl]

108. Here comes ten

or twelve year car loans.

[FarCenter]

111. Cars are more reliable and the average age of cars on the road is up by 2 years in the last decade

A car bought for $30K is probably not too bad an investment when driven 15 to 20 years and 200 to 250K miles.

Certain makes are also holding their resale value much better than was previously the case.

Of course, probably $10K is due to safety equipment, like airbags, environmental regulation mandates, like catalytic convertors, and a variety of electronic and automated crap that I don't actually need. You could get a very nice car for $20K with all the unnecessary stuff stripped out.

[Rochester]

113. I'll drive my '90s-era car until it won't drive no more

and then replace it with another '80s or '90s era car. No fancy electronics or gadgets for me. I want a radio and an air conditioner, manual everything else. Anything more and I'd wonder, "Why am I paying for all this shit?" Until something broke and then there'd be more profanity.

[DainBramaged]

118. You can buy VERY GOOD cars from ALL the manufacturers for under $15,000

I am not going to list them all because Google is your friend.

[quaker bill]

119. I never buy new

I go used and pay cash.