IIRC the average price last year was a little under $47,000. That’s a 6.4% increase in one year.
So what is today’s “equivalent car” for the Ford Escort, Ford Tempo, Dodge Shadow, Dodge Neon, Chevrolet Cavalier, Toyota Tercel, and other similar economy cars? These kind of models simply don’t exist anymore, at least not in the U.S. market.
People nowadays want better cars than the ones @bcohen2010 just mentioned
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The most recent car my wife leased ( in April) is a Hyundai Elantra with an MSRP of $21,000.
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A ‘95 Cavalier base model listed for $10,000, would be $20,000 now, there are 237 new cars within 20 miles of me under $20,000. Mostly Nissan Versas, Sentras, and Kicks. Bump that to 22,000 and Kias and Hyundais come in.
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Inflation. $30,300 20 years ago is $50,000 today.
20 years ago, I worked at a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealer, most vehicles sold were trucks, SUVs and minivans for $30,000 and higher. When people spend money on a new vehicle, they want something they can enjoy.
10 years ago, there were a few forum members that believed America needed basic cheap vehicles reminiscent of the air-cooled Beetle. The public shied away from basic transportation many years ago. Vehicles last much longer, why not buy something desirable if you plan to drive it for ten years.
For every “George” that plans to keep a car for 50 years, there are 1000 people that want a new Vehicle. There will always be used vehicles available.
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They’re so vain.
They probably think this thread is about them
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She said I’m egotistical but I dont know what that means. It’s probably the way that I fill out my tight fitting jeans. Or something like that. Haven’t heard the song fir a while.
Yes - exactly. Raise the price…do some lipstick repairs and then rent for a short period and then sell at a profit.
Here’s one player.
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All this discussion about new car prices, yet no discussion about tariffs.
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Almost nobody wants to do any home repairs when buying today. Last home I sold every single buyer was looking for a move in ready, no renovation required home. Some of them were first time home buyers using parent’s cash to buy. The parents were accepting of a few updates needed to get it up to their kid’s standards. But none of the kids were willing to accept any updating work. Even simple stuff like didn’t like the carpet or countertops. Never mind the carpet was nearly new and top of the line product. It took six months to find the right buyer.
Those cash for homes people do major restoration work to the homes around here. Saw plenty stripped to the studs with complete overhaul of infrastructure. Of course they offer very little for the home, people are desperate to dump them- maybe inherited parent’s old house, and are willing to just take the cash and be done with it. The renovators buy for pennies on the dollar, refresh it and sell for top dollar. They make very good money on those deals.
I think so far, the car manufacturer’s have been absorbing much of the tariffs that apply. I know I was worried about getting stuck with a tariff on the car that was coming from Japan back in April when they were first being implemented but was no mention made of it.
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The development in which I live would not have been built if the township hadn’t reduced their previous minimum lot size from 3 acres down to 2/3 of an acre. Sometimes zoning regulations are beneficial to new homeowners.
Curiously, some rural areas of the 47 sq mile township still rely on both septic tanks and personal wells. When I was looking at homes in that part of the township, there was one upscale development that featured a HUGE water tank in the basements.
When I asked what that tank was for, the salesperson pointed to the sprinkler system that the homes relied upon, because even when the volunteer firefighters arrived, there would be no hydrants for them to connect to. I passed on that development, as I don’t want a septic tank, or well water, or the absence of fire hydrants.
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Maybe that’s because people got tired of replacing their timing belt and water pump every 60K miles and fighting never-ending oil leaks and blown head gaskets.
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Only the cities and large towns in NH have water and sewage. Many of us have well and septic. And I’ve even seen some homes that have Outhouses. These are nice 4-bedroom colonials that sell for almost $1,000,000. They have running water (well), but their septic system is only designed for grey water. Outhouse is built next to the road, and a service truck comes by once a week. I wouldn’t live there, but some people like it.
That’s probably because they had a septic system. 2/3 acre lot may not be big enough for a septic and leech field.
As I mentioned, some parts of the township still rely on septic tanks, but those homes are on somewhat larger lots. My section of the township got water mains and sewer lines back in the 1950s, when this area was still entirely farmland. That is obviously very strange, but there was a reason for putting water mains and sewer lines in an area comprised completely of farmland:
The wealthiest farmer/landowner in this part of the township was also a County Commissioner. Because of his position, he was able to get the county to fund all of that infrastructure work, and those improvements massively increased the value of his land. He had to wait several decades before the area became “desirable” for housing, but he profited to an incredible extent as a result of his position in county government. And, to top it off, his ancestors originally got the land for free, back in the 1700s, as a Royal Land-grant.
It always helps to know people in high places, or to be one of those people yourself.
I’m glad I don’t live amongst you cheapskates.
Around here townships aren’t really involved in much except road maintenance. Mostly it is counties or cities that determine the Regis.
On the other subject, there are a lot of Canadians that show up in Florida during the cold months. Some years ago there was a private equity fund out of Canada that was buying up properties. Enough to be cincerned and ask questions. details escspev me now. with the crash in the market, wonder how thsts going now.
My next door neighbor bought the other next door neighbors house next to me in 2000 for $149,900, after she passed away it sold within 11 days and pending sale after only 5 days, for $404,500 in late 2022, they 100% gutted the house, put in twin 30’ beams to make it an open floor plan, 100% finished the unfinished basement, added another 800-1000 sq ft addition off one end, closed in the oversized garage and made it level with the house, basically they have almost if not fully tripled the sq ft of the house and spent another $300k to closer if not $400K to the purchase price, including the fancy inground swimming pool… They over built for the neighborhood… lol
Our old neighborhood, they are buying up the houses as the owners are getting old and down sizing or dying off (built in early 60’s), then gutting them, modernizing them (open floor plans etc) and either renting them for big money (for here) or selling them for a large profit… I get offers all the time for an as is cash buyout for the old house…
We have plenty of houses built around here on lots much smaller than 2/3 acre that have septic systems. As valuable as property is, sometimes you have to get creative. I see 3 homes sharing a common leach field, and systems that barely meet the requirements that I know will be insufficient in the future.
We have friends who built a home on a hillside with a beautiful view. The septic field is 150 feet uphill from the house.
How is that working out for them?