▲ 337 ▼ America is a car country. For decades, millions of families relied on inexpensive cars to get from home to work and school. Now, a growing number of americans can't afford one. (www.nytimes.com) submitted 4 months ago* by Valuy@lemmy.zip to c/fuckcars@lemmy.world 70 comments fedilink hide all child comments
[–] infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 3 points 4 months ago (1 child) At no point have cars ever been "inexpensive", they've just been more or less obtainable. Big difference, a car has always been a very large purchase. permalink fedilink source hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 1 point 4 months ago (1 child) Althought this is true, it is also true the industry has shifted to models of cars with higher profit margins, mainly SUVs and light trucks, which follow a loophole claiming they aren't "passenger vehicles". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 1 point 4 months ago* (1 child) The CAFE fleet loophole, yeah. It's less of a loophole at this point, more of an 8-lane interstate bypass. Cars have always been expensive items that not everyone can afford but you're right, the margins between wages and car costs are wider today. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 1 point 4 months ago Not only that but its also what you get in a car these days. 50 years ago you had pretty much a drive train, seats, and radios. Now even base models come with touch screens, sensors, cameras, automatic doors etc. Some of which are nice features sure, but they still come at an additional cost. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 1 point 4 months ago (1 child) Althought this is true, it is also true the industry has shifted to models of cars with higher profit margins, mainly SUVs and light trucks, which follow a loophole claiming they aren't "passenger vehicles". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 1 point 4 months ago* (1 child) The CAFE fleet loophole, yeah. It's less of a loophole at this point, more of an 8-lane interstate bypass. Cars have always been expensive items that not everyone can afford but you're right, the margins between wages and car costs are wider today. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 1 point 4 months ago Not only that but its also what you get in a car these days. 50 years ago you had pretty much a drive train, seats, and radios. Now even base models come with touch screens, sensors, cameras, automatic doors etc. Some of which are nice features sure, but they still come at an additional cost. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 1 point 4 months ago* (1 child) The CAFE fleet loophole, yeah. It's less of a loophole at this point, more of an 8-lane interstate bypass. Cars have always been expensive items that not everyone can afford but you're right, the margins between wages and car costs are wider today. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 1 point 4 months ago Not only that but its also what you get in a car these days. 50 years ago you had pretty much a drive train, seats, and radios. Now even base models come with touch screens, sensors, cameras, automatic doors etc. Some of which are nice features sure, but they still come at an additional cost. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 1 point 4 months ago Not only that but its also what you get in a car these days. 50 years ago you had pretty much a drive train, seats, and radios. Now even base models come with touch screens, sensors, cameras, automatic doors etc. Some of which are nice features sure, but they still come at an additional cost. permalink fedilink source parent