I feel like too many people are watching episodes of The Price is Right from the 80s and thinking a brand new tricked out car that cost $8-9k should be like $18k because they don't actually understand how severe inflation has been, especially over the past decade.
I gave actual MSRPs? Those are recent and the actual numbers....
And those aren't even that small or low powered. A 2 door commuter at 1500lb curb weight and 50hp could easily cost under $15k but people wouldn't buy it bc for some reason every car has got to be a big 4 door hatchback.
It's a cultural thing, we need to get back to being ok with small low power cars as commuters/grocery getters. If you need a big van/SUV bc you have a large family or you want a sports car or something then fine, but the obsession with commuter cars being massive is just silly.
Like I'd absolutely buy a 0.5L(500cc) 40hp engine ultra compact 2 door, no back seats, commuter car if they sold one, but no one does. Shit like that needs to exist.
Believe it or not I was agreeing with you. I specifically mentioned tricked out (read: premium options) cars and only one of your examples made it to 2026 by your own admission.
Edit:
Like I'd absolutely buy a 0.5L(500cc) 40hp engine ultra compact 2 door, no back seats, commuter car if they sold one, but no one does. Shit like that needs to exist.
Do Smart Cars not exist where you are? I know they're a Euro staple but they've been a thing in North America for a good 20+ years.
The slowest car available in the US was the mirage but they stopped selling it. It was 1.2L 78hp 3 cylinder 2100lb curb weight.
Now the slowest car on the market is a Nissan kicks with 10.4s 0-60 and 141hp 2L 4-cylinder but it's slow bc the 3,000+ lb curb weight and taller/larger profile. The lowest power car available is the Hyundai venue at 121hp 1.6L 4 cylinder 2700lb curb weight and 0-60 of 9.6s.
It's insane to me that these are the smallest/lowest power cars that are available at all here.
Uhhh is it really so hard to understand that a smaller engine is cheaper. And that a lighter smaller car can still be quick with a really low power engine since speed is directly proportional to weight and frontal area....
I want to know who's making a smart car with over 120hp other than EV smart cars. They don't exist. Or if they do they aren't cheap
Uhhh is it really so hard to understand that a smaller engine is cheaper.
Uhhh is it really so hard to understand that the US is larger than the entirety of the EU? Me driving 8 hours/500 miles one way across multiple states to attend an internet friend's wedding is nothing for an American.
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u/bwaredapenguin 7h ago
I feel like too many people are watching episodes of The Price is Right from the 80s and thinking a brand new tricked out car that cost $8-9k should be like $18k because they don't actually understand how severe inflation has been, especially over the past decade.