US Auto Costs 1-6-25

In 2024, the cost of buying, maintaining and insuring automobiles is unsustainable. Teens have been priced out of the market. Growing up in the 1960s, used cars were cheap and so was gas at 20 cents per gallon. We got our cars at age 16 and drove them to school and to work. Single family houses were selling for $10,000 to $20,000. Our Great Grandkids are screwed. 

In 2024, the average used car price was $25,540.

In 1992, you could buy a used car for $6000

In 1984, you could buy a used car for $200

In 1960, you could buy a used car for $200

 

In 2024, the cost of a new car was $48397

In 1976, the cost of a new car doubled to $8000

In 1970, the cost of a new car was $4000

In 1969, the cost of a new car was $3000

In 1965, the cost of a new car was $2000

In 1960, I bought my first car from my mom for $200. It was a 1946 Plymouth. I used it from 1960 to 1962. It lasted 16 years.

Then I bought a 1954 Plymouth for $200 and drove it until 1963 it lasted 9 years. Then I bought a 1956 Chevy for $750 and drove it until 1965. It lasted for 9 years. In 1965, I bought a 1965 Buick for $2000 and it lasted for 4 years. In 1969, I bought a 1969 Oldsmobile for $3000 and gave it to my wife in 1973 it lasted for 6 years. In 1973, I bought a 1973 Triumph Spitfire for $4000 and drove it until 1979, It got 30mpg.  We had 6 kids and bought used Station Wagons in 1975 and 1977 for $3000. 

In 1960, my wife bought her first car from her uncle for $200 and drove my Oldsmobile after I got the Triumph Spitfire. In the 1980s we bought used cars for the kids for $200 from retirees and for $6000 from leasing companies. We bought used Cadillacs before we bought our Prius Hybrids to get 60mpg in 2005 when gas prices went over $3 per gallon. We still have the Priuses.

Three of our 13 Grandkids are homeowners. Ten are car owners. Most are renters or are living with their parents. They range in age from age 10 to age 38. Two of our Great Grandkids are teenagers living in the Exurbs with good schools, but no cars and no jobs. Younger families are excaping to the exurbs for lower costs, but longer driving distances.

When Jesus said “The Poor will always be with you.” He was referring to our grandkids. God takes care of the birds of the air by telling my wife to set up bird-feeders. We pray that our grandkids and great grandkids will find occupations they love and do well, so they can all become economically self-sufficient.

Wildly excessive Government Spending began in 2000, with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and continued in 2009 with the Climate Hoax. The cumulative Inflation drove our National Debt from $5 trillion to $36 trillion. This needs to stop and be reversed by employing technology to reduce costs and shrink the size and cost of government. Returning to affordability is required to give our grandkids a chance to become self-supporting.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader