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Isn’t this just another sign of consumerism and poor financial decision making for “status”? Automakers are having trouble selling affordable and reasonably pr

Isn’t this just another sign of consumerism and poor financial decision making for “status”? Automakers are having trouble selling affordable and reasonably priced new cars causing them to drop them for pricier SUVs. Consumer behavior is driving these trends. I’ve seen plenty of friends buy a new car that costs what they make per year. The only way to get by is to have 5-7 year financing or they’d be left with nothing after payments and insurance.

AJ007 7y ago
It’s remarkable how similar all of the cars look now. If you didn’t hear the engine, or didn’t know what you were looking for, even the new Lamborghini mini SUV looks the same as everything else on the road.
- dsfyu404ed 7y ago
  They all have to minimize aerodynamic drag in the same atmosphere, comply with the same vehicle class/dimension based (depending on location) fuel economy regulations and are all judged by the same set of benchmarks. It's no surprise that they mostly resemble each other now that all the easy gains have been made.
  - tomwilson 7y ago
    Also pedestrian crash laws and safety regulations etc. By the time you plug all those values into the computer along with the hard points of your platform/chassis you are obviously gonna end up with the same thing.
- alphabettsy 7y ago
  People who aren’t car people have been saying this forever. Google a ‘34 Ford and a ‘34 Chevy and tell me if you’d know the difference, same with 80s car or pick a generation.
hkmurakami 7y ago
Toyota's scion line seemed to have compelling value but seems like consumers didn't like said value.
- auiya 7y ago
  They also didn't like the faulty piston rings which caused catastrophic engine failure in almost every model of Scion either.
bluGill 7y ago
When I can buy a new car for (pick a number) $20,000, or a 3 year old car with a lot more luxury features for the same price why would I buy new. Thus the frugal are mostly not in the new market, and so nobody is buying the bottom line cars. (exception: businesses who run on a different model). What is left are those who are willing to pay for a new car. Since I win in this model I'm not going to complain - my cars are new enough to last for 10 more years (as opposed to 13) an cost half as much up front.

AJ007 7y ago

It’s remarkable how similar all of the cars look now. If you didn’t hear the engine, or didn’t know what you were looking for, even the new Lamborghini mini SUV looks the same as everything else on the road.

dsfyu404ed 7y ago
They all have to minimize aerodynamic drag in the same atmosphere, comply with the same vehicle class/dimension based (depending on location) fuel economy regulations and are all judged by the same set of benchmarks. It's no surprise that they mostly resemble each other now that all the easy gains have been made.
- tomwilson 7y ago
  Also pedestrian crash laws and safety regulations etc. By the time you plug all those values into the computer along with the hard points of your platform/chassis you are obviously gonna end up with the same thing.
alphabettsy 7y ago
People who aren’t car people have been saying this forever. Google a ‘34 Ford and a ‘34 Chevy and tell me if you’d know the difference, same with 80s car or pick a generation.

hkmurakami 7y ago

Toyota's scion line seemed to have compelling value but seems like consumers didn't like said value.

auiya 7y ago
They also didn't like the faulty piston rings which caused catastrophic engine failure in almost every model of Scion either.

bluGill 7y ago

When I can buy a new car for (pick a number) $20,000, or a 3 year old car with a lot more luxury features for the same price why would I buy new. Thus the frugal are mostly not in the new market, and so nobody is buying the bottom line cars. (exception: businesses who run on a different model). What is left are those who are willing to pay for a new car. Since I win in this model I'm not going to complain - my cars are new enough to last for 10 more years (as opposed to 13) an cost half as much up front.