New cars are just for rich people now
jalopnik.com
New cars are just for rich people now
1–10 of 130 posts
Re: New cars are just for rich people now
#2[deleted]
Re: New cars are just for rich people now
#3> "When you do the math on what that means to a median household, it is basically pricing the median completely out of the new vehicle market"
Some years ago, 'above median' didn't count as 'rich'. There were 'the masses' maybe like 90% then a bourgeoisie maybe the next ones above that, then less than 1% aristocracy and nobles. Also social class wasn't determined solely by net worth or income. Maybe we will go back to that kind of situation where the median will be considered squarely in 'the masses' class and nowhere near 'rich'.
Re: New cars are just for rich people now
#4> "When you do the math on what that means to a median household, it is basically pricing the median completely out of the new vehicle market" Some years ago, 'above median' didn't count as 'rich'. There were 'the masses' maybe like 90% then a bourgeoisie maybe the next ones above that, then less than 1% aristocracy and nobles. Also social class wasn't determined solely by net worth or income. Maybe we will go back t…
I dunno. Ford saw the automobile as being revolutionary only if the person who makes the automobile is able to afford the automobile. (Funny, nobody applies this one to child care.)
Re: New cars are just for rich people now
#5...because of (a) car-price inflation kick-started by pandemic-era supply shocks, and (b) rising interest rates meant to drive down the rate of price inflation.
In short, both cars themselves and car-financing are more expensive.
Re: New cars are just for rich people now
#6> "When you do the math on what that means to a median household, it is basically pricing the median completely out of the new vehicle market" Some years ago, 'above median' didn't count as 'rich'. There were 'the masses' maybe like 90% then a bourgeoisie maybe the next ones above that, then less than 1% aristocracy and nobles. Also social class wasn't determined solely by net worth or income. Maybe we will go back t…
I dunno. Ford saw the automobile as being revolutionary only if the person who makes the automobile is able to afford the automobile. (Funny, nobody applies this one to child care.)
Yes this is an excellent example! When I said 'some years ago' I pretty much meant pre-USA. The Ford story is a great example of that American socio-economic differences from the previous 90/9/1 kind of distribution they had before that in England or other places.
EDIT: Also, people today would be calling Ford as literally communist
Re: New cars are just for rich people now
#7[dead]
Re: New cars are just for rich people now
#8> "When you do the math on what that means to a median household, it is basically pricing the median completely out of the new vehicle market" Some years ago, 'above median' didn't count as 'rich'. There were 'the masses' maybe like 90% then a bourgeoisie maybe the next ones above that, then less than 1% aristocracy and nobles. Also social class wasn't determined solely by net worth or income. Maybe we will go back t…
I dunno. Ford saw the automobile as being revolutionary only if the person who makes the automobile is able to afford the automobile. (Funny, nobody applies this one to child care.)
Interestingly, Ford put his money where his mouth was and dropped the price of the Model T by 5x over the production period. Very hard to imagine today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T#Price_and_product...
> I will build a motor car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one – and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces.
Re: New cars are just for rich people now
#9> "When you do the math on what that means to a median household, it is basically pricing the median completely out of the new vehicle market" Some years ago, 'above median' didn't count as 'rich'. There were 'the masses' maybe like 90% then a bourgeoisie maybe the next ones above that, then less than 1% aristocracy and nobles. Also social class wasn't determined solely by net worth or income. Maybe we will go back t…
I dunno. Ford saw the automobile as being revolutionary only if the person who makes the automobile is able to afford the automobile. (Funny, nobody applies this one to child care.)
> Ford saw the automobile as being revolutionary only if the person who makes the automobile is able to make the automobile
What is this supposed to mean? I'm not sure if I'm being obtuse or its too profound for me to understand.
Re: New cars are just for rich people now
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
I dunno. Ford saw the automobile as being revolutionary only if the person who makes the automobile is able to afford the automobile. (Funny, nobody applies this one to child care.)
> Ford saw the automobile as being revolutionary only if the person who makes the automobile is able to make the automobile What is this supposed to mean? I'm not sure if I'm being obtuse or its too profound for me to understand.
Maybe he means the person who makes the automobile can afford to buy an automobile?