New cars are the house

In the future instead of renting an apartment you will rent a parking space and P.O. Box so that you can sleep in your car. The laundromat and showers might be included or they might be pay per use.

Yeah, and pay hasn't gone up for over 20 years

It's like every car salesman next to a military base spread to the whole country like an invasive species...

Well, some do.

Now, these alarming average new car prices aren't indicative of pricing across body styles and brands; KBB data shows consumer choice was in no small part behind the increase, as the number of full-size trucks hit a five-year high through the end of 2025. U.S. buyers purchased over 233,000 full-size trucks in the fourth quarter of 2025, at an average price of $66,386. Similarly, the average EV sat around $58,034 through the end of 2025, further driving up the average new-vehicle transaction price.

A new Camry is $30k, half that.

But only 1 retains it's value. 10 years in and that car is worthless.

They're bundling and selling these loans off just like they did real estate up until 2008. When it all exploded in their faces.

You don't have to get an 84 month loan. We just did a 48 month loan on my wife's new car. The trick is, buy within your means and don't roll negative equity into your new loan.

My previous car I did 60 months at 0%. They were offering, I knew I'd drive it that long, so why not.

And for a solid five months I had no car loan to pay!

Mine's 18 years old. Aside from some clear coat chips, she drives great. No need for a new car. I plan to drive this car til the wheels fall off.

HOLY SHIFT.

Especially as cars do come with 7 or more years of warranty, like KIA.

If you give me 0% for more than 5 years? Sure, I'll take it. Our EV is 2021 model, I'm in no rush to sell it. I'll reach the mileage warranty unfortunately before the timed one.

Toyota

That is a little surprising. Craigslist straight died here after they started charging for car ads. Used to be all kinds of interesting things and decent deals.

Apparently not. Apparently they rent them, just like their homes.

I bought my current car new - over 20 years ago.

I’m nursing a 23 year old VW along. 1.8T 5mt Jetta; it’s still fun to drive, though I really do need to go through it when I have time and replace all the ancient rubber components. But it still runs fine. Fantastic city car too, because it’s easy to park because it’s so small, and old enough that I don’t really care if someone bumps into it a little bit.

Mortgages used to be 7 years, and car loans were unheard of on the gold standard. Cheap debt changed all this, and we chalked up the economic growth as a positive thing.

Now we act aghast when high debt loads exist.