Are We Witnessing The Demise Of The Affordable Car?

[Cowboys22]

High prices and high interest rates. My Ranger will be a long term vehicle, possibly until it is banned and EVs are forced.

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[IdahoRanger]

Still loving my 2019. Sounds better every day.

 

[rydfree]

Makes me even more happy I bought my 2019 than the fact I have all the deleted stuff.

My 2020 was built in December 2019 . The only thing I am missing is the engine cover and extra tie downs

 

[WNCblueridge]

Dealers are keeping a huge chunk. Offered $21k for my 1.5yr old Ranger w/ 19k miles on it. They will likely sell it for over $31k on the lot. Not bad making ten grand profit for turning over 1 vehicle. 21 Scab w tow package and modifications totaling $4800 extra.

 

[Friday yet?]

I think it is as much or more the case that household incomes have not kept up, and health insurance/medical costs have led inflation for at least a generation, sapping the budget even more.
The F150 has been the best selling truck since 1977,
A 2023 Ford F150 XL 4x2 Regular Cab 8'box has an MSRP of $35, 890 incl Destination/Delivery.
Using an inflation calculator, in 1977 it would have been $7,018.00.
Below is an invoice I found online for a 1977 F250. Keep in mind that today's F150 has more payload & towing capacity than a 250 then; same with the 350 2bbl V8. I also assume this had a granny gear 4 spd but I don't know. So basic trucks of comparable capacity have really stayed about the same. Add in all the "luxury," (A/C, CC, PW PL ABS etc) performance, safety and environmental improvements that are now standard and today's pickups are a pretty good value. The out of reach-ness comes from the $200/mo cable, $900+/mo family medical, $200+ per kid in daycare yadayada.

Lot of good points have been made in this thread but you zeroed in on some aspects of the situation that I had not remotely thought about. I was singularly focused on vehicle differences.

 

[Friday yet?]

Helped that my wife said "If you like it, you should just get it."

I like her!

 

[FunInTheSun]

I like her!

Me too.

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