New car prices today, why so expensive?

[Onceler]

So, I'll probably be in the market for basic transportation relatively soon. I have no desire to spend much for a daily commuter. But it seems new car prices are at a minimum 25k, why? Are there any cheaper ones? Why aren't there any heap basic cars available? Like the original beetle was supposed to be, a people's car. If the average new car price was ~$2500 in 1965, that would equate to maybe 16,000 today
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1972 Karmann Ghia

[Glenn]

My son just bought a base Subaru Impreza for $19,600 with 0% for 36 months.

That's the cheapest all wheel drive you can get.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[Onceler]

Wow! That's a heck of a deal, I'll have to check them out, thanks
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1972 Karmann Ghia

[FullFender]

[Onceler]

[Glenn]

[Onceler]

[kamzcab86]

[Onceler]

[Jennepher]

Yep, Subarus are manufactured in Japan and Indiana, USA.
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[Glenn]

[oprn]

It has a lot to do with perceived "needs". Already in this thread I see the "needs" listed - AC, sun roof, AWD, cruise control and the discussion has barely started! None of us "needed" all that junk in '67 and none of us "need" it now but the industry and peer pressure has convinced us that we do.

I too have been trying to find a "basic transportation" car for many years now. I buy used cars and run them out and am sick and tired of all the "needs" that fail long before the mechanics of the car do and render it useless. Basic cars do not exist in North America.

Back when VW hit the news with it's proposal of a single seat commuter car with a 1 liter 358mpg engine and a "offered to the Asian market" $800 US equivalent price tag I was pretty excited and showed it to a co-worker. "Ya but what options does it have?" was his reply! "Idiot!" was mine as I walked away...

2.5 years ago we went to Argentina for a visit and I was totally blown away with the selection in that country of great little "basic transportation" cars. Luxury does not sell there, the country has been in a major recession for many years now and people appreciate and work hard just to have basic things. I thought we were frugal but we were constantly reminded that we had no idea of how to save money on a day to day basis. Virtually all the cars there are standard shift, have window crank handles, cloth seats, small 4 cylinder engines on either diesel or natural gas, no 4x4s, no SUVs, no automatic transmissions, no power widows and seats. The car does not come out unless there is a real good reason, walking and public transportation is the first "go to".

The air in the capital city of 14 million people was the cleanest air I have ever seen in a city including our two local cities here of only 1 million.

I am insainly jellous of the simplicity of their lives and above all their lovely little SIMPLE cars!

[vwracerdave]

Cars cost that much because people pay that much. There is no other reason. We are lazy fuckers and demand all the luxuries. People are paying $75,000 for a damn pick-up truck.

In 1965 the basic life span of a car was around 120,000 miles. New cars today can get 250,000.
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2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
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1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK

[oprn]

Yup, look for the answer in the mirror!

[Glenn]

[Q-Dog]

Do an internet search for "cheapest cars of 2018" and I find several lists with vehicles for $13,000 to about $17,000. Problem is, so few people want these cars here in the US.

Have you heard that Ford is going to end sale of most cars in the US market? The cars are not selling ... everyone seems to want SUVs and trucks.
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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[hotsam]

Interest rates are low - Joe Blow can get an 84 month loan @ x.9%

Also leasing.
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1968 Beetle

[skills@eurocarsplus]

I have been in the automotive business for 30+ years now (f#ck me) and here is my take....

I think the "thing" moving forward will be leasing cars. at least in my area it seems to be the thing to do. when faced with a 5-6K repair on a 5-7 year old car, most people seem to soul search and decide that money would be best applied to a new car.

figure a 5K down payment, and a monthly payment of under 200/month people are taking the bait. right now I have a client that won't spring for a CCM (climate control module) it's out of the network loop, which flags a SRS code due to communication issues....so now they have no blower fan, and the SRS is blocked from working...

point is, people feel entitled to all of these 'needs, wants and desires' new cars have, but fail to realize the epic cost of this stuff when it goes tits up....and how interconnected this stuff is.

other than heat, a/c, decent radio and perhaps power locks and windows, what else do you need? I just did a POT assembly on a 15 XC60 (power operated tailgate) total bill to just open a tailgate was (sit down) 1,987.00

people seem to fall for this "convenience" bullshit....and evidently the masses want it so there is a limited market for those who don't. hell, even kids are waiting until they are 18-20 before they get a car. I think some of that is due to the cost and responsibility of owning one.

it will be interesting to see moving forward what happens. personally I bought 1 new car my entire life...right out of high school I got a 98 GTI VR6. kept it 3 years and sold it. bought a 89 diesel jetta to get around in. next "new" car I got was in 04...a 01 audi A4 1.8t. still have it. I will drive it until they stop making parts for it. I just can't justify 30-40K every 10-12 years just to get from point A to point B
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[kingkarmann]

[hitest]

Features are lumped into various packages that guarantee a base car will not be "base" for long. If you want cruise- it's intentionally only available in a package that also includes a rear seat foot massage and trunk mood lighting.

I wanted a "base" FJ cruiser in 2006 (07 model). I had to order it because the dealers around here were set up to sell just loaded/half loaded cars. I had to wait 6 months, but finally got the cheapest FJ Toyota ever sold in Idaho. We're talkin' no cruise, no keyless entry- nada. But, all Toyotas had A/C stock.
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