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It's not harder. It's not possible for a vast majority of people. You're telling people that are delinquent on their auto loans to "just pay cash" for used cars that are thousands of dollars. Sure you can find a beater for $800-1500 but what happens when the transmission goes or the engine throws a cylinder? Those of us with auto loans don't have the liquidity to pay outright for a decent vehicle.
You don't need to drive a beater forever. At this level cars are basically worth the same you bought them for. A year of driving a 1k beater and saving 500 a month that is less than an average payment leaves you with 7k for a better car.
Minimum wage in most of the USA is $7.25. Working 40 hours a week, 4 weeks of the month is $1160 dollars before taxes and all the other bullshit. Where exactly is that $500 to save coming from?
Most people aren't making federal minimum wage.
Less than 1% of Americans make federal minimum wage. However, despite your dumb take on the amount of money Americans generally make, I strongly agree that saving $500 a month is a complete possibility for many working Americans
I don't see why they don't just ask their parents for money?
It's like people don't even know how to take care of themselves.
The other answer, from someone who used to buy beaters - you learn real fast what not to buy.
Definitely they should.
The Magnuson Moss Warranty Act has given people the right to repair cars since the 1970s. Most people just don't have the skills, time, or tools to fix them on their own.
There are no viable $1500 beaters anymore. Those vehicles now cost $3000-$4000. More if it says "Honda" or "Toyota" on the front.
Okay, so two years ago. Currently the cheapest two used cars in my local market are a Civic with 348,000 miles on it for $2000, and a 2010 VW with a blown engine for $3000. Even a clapped out 90's Blazer is $5000 if it runs. That's what's out there on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace. Maybe I can go hang around every shady parking lot in town looking to see who's got a lower number soaped on a window someplace, but people in the real world tend to have to work during daylight hours.
And then: Okay, so you found one 80's Chevy Nova that might run. You got extremely lucky. If, as the other poster suggested, you'll treat it as disposable and plan to ditch it after a few months and "buy another," can you do it again? That's even less likely.
Used car prices are still too insane for poor people to be able to count on reliably finding and scraping by with a beater.
Bold of you to assume that people have an extra $1500 lying around.
And just cross your fingers that you don't lose your job because you've called in 8 times with car trouble. Buying beaters isn't the right path for most.
It's still cheaper than 30k$ new car over 5 years. It's like two payments for used vehicle and couple more for fixing it right up. Also, pay a good mechanic to inspect car you like prior to buying. Saves money in the long run.
that's not the point. the point is that there are people who can't afford to save money in the long run. not like metaphorically can't afford, like literally mathematically cannot afford.
they are trapped by their existing financial burdens which they already cannot meet and which are getting larger every month thanks to compound interest.
inflation, which normally has the effect of reducing the value of debts over time, is instead making their financial burdens effectively larger too. as inflation drives up the cost of living, wages stay the same and they have ever less of their income available to make debt payments as a result.
I'd hazard a guess they are in hard financial situation due to their lack of self-control and poor finance management. Adding on top of that 30k$ and contract for number of years exacerbates the problem. If you can't afford 1000$ used car, you can't afford 30k$ new car in 200 installments either.
62% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.
Don't play this 'they're not good with their money' libertarian bullshit. People aren't being paid very well and essentials have shot up in price.
Saving even $800 is beyond many people's reach.
Am not playing anything. It's like someone doesn't have food to eat this month but decide to buy 60$ game. That person has issues prioritizing and managing money and even if they had more money they'd spend it on stupid stuff.
But you are right, things are more expensive while salaries have remained the same. There's no question about it. However managing your finances is a required skill, even if you earn a lot more than you need. I've seen far too many cases where people who had good income still ended up in debt. You need not look further than lottery winners. Huge amounts of money and most of them end up bankrupt or dead.
Its funny how all you have to hear is "someone is broke" and you already have ideas about their moral character.
If you are broke then you don't buy a new car. Simple as that. Whole argument here is new vs used car. Original commenter is a proponent that car payments are a trap and that used car should be preferred, followed by counter argument that many people can't save up for used car to be paid in cash and payment plans of 200-300$ a month for 2 years are a better idea. My comment to all of that is if you can't save money for used car, you shouldn't be buying a new car and you have bigger problems to worry about. That money should be used to dig oneself out of debt first, then work on getting car. Has nothing to do with morality.
You take the paperwork out, take the license plate off, and wave good bye to the car with "well car, I guess you are the local government's problem now".
Because the VIN is super difficult to match up with DMV records.
And? The penalty for abandoning a car is they haul it away.
You give shitty advice. They can and absolutely will fine you for the price to tow the vehicle and potentially extra fees and fines for as long as the vehicle sits in the towing company's lot.
Stuff that never happens for $100 Alex. I have done it multiple times.
Congratulations on littering your shitty cars around your city. Do you just go to friends houses and leave a fat shit in the toilet for them to clean up too?
If you were my "friend" I probably would.
How exactly would an engine "throw a cylinder"?
Typically it’s a rod but you’ve either never heard the term before or are being pedantic.
Or I'm literally just asking a question to gain some insight. I've heard the term thrown a rod, and I've actually worked on cars more than most people. But thanks for the unwarranted hostility.
Easy killer “how exactly would a car throw a piston” wasn’t exactly a non-hostile comment yourself.
some engines have cylinder sleeves that can be pushed out. Although, as another commenter already mentioned, they actually meant "throwing a rod"