[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Darth Khan

MMM,

Tcoat, I have to add some comments to this one. I'm surprised you even mention average price for a new car as a metric.

I have always considered 'Averages' to be one of the most overused numbers especially when it comes to purchasing a new automobile. The 'Average' new car price and the 'Average' income has way too many variables to make it meaningful for the 'Average' purchaser.

I could afford most non exotics on the market today, could probably stretch to a Nissan GTR and not lose too much sleep. Does not mean my 30k twin is not expensive. At what point do you say a new vehicle is/isnot expensive, 40k, 50k, 100k,

If we apply some better statistics to car pricing (Regression to mean comes to mind) to our averages (Income, savings, vehicle price, running costs etc ) you would quickly realize that most new car purchases are a good bit beyond most peoples ideal budgets. Which by definition makes them expensive.

Or to put it another way. Just because one person in 50 million can afford a 3 million dollar Bugatti Chiron does not prove lower price cars are 'Not Expensive'. All it does is mess with the averages.

I get that the average may not be the best measure but to keep it simple it suits me. I was just trying to keep it to a base measurement for comparative purposes. Being ideal for a budget does not show the place in a hierarchy. Starting at the cheapest car and working your way up to the most expensive would put the 86 someplace down near the bottom not the top of the list. My argument is not for one second that everybody can run out and buy a $30K car.