• ryathal@sh.itjust.works
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    5 months ago

    It’s not just price gouging. Cars are more reliable. you can reliably get to 150k+ miles without major repairs, and get 200+ with some repairs, just replacing wear items. That wasn’t the case in the 80s and 90s.

    • scoobford@lemmy.zip
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      5 months ago

      That’s been the case for at least the past couple of decades. The massive price increases have been over the past 4 years.

      • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
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        5 months ago

        Cars have been going up a long time before the last 4 years. 72 and 84 month auto loans being a thing at all is proof of that.

        • scoobford@lemmy.zip
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          5 months ago

          Average car price before the pandemic was about $38k. By 2023, it was $49k.

          The trend has been ongoing for a long time due to general inflation and a growing preference for SUVs, but it went fucking bananas during the pandemic, and auto manufacturers have taken advantage.