But as things stand, cars are still really expensive for many Americans. Just 10 percent of new car listings are currently priced below $30,000, according to CoPilot. Things are not much better in the used car market, where only 28 percent of listings are currently priced below $20,000.
According to an October report by Market Watch, Americans needed an annual income of at least $100,000 to afford a car, at least if they’re following standard budgeting advice, which says you shouldn’t spend more than 10 percent of your monthly income on car-related expenses.
That means that more than 60 percent of American households currently cannot afford to buy a new car, based on Census data. For individuals, the numbers are even worse, with 82 percent of people below the $100,000 line.
$100k to afford a car! Wtf.
I think if you have a big chunk of change to put down it is the smart move long-term, but basically you have to have enough money to not worry about how expensive cars are anyways. I think most new cars get leased for a year or two before they get properly sold; I have a friend who leases a new car every two years, pays just a bit more than an actual car note, and has something nicer to drive. But he doesn’t have any path to ownership.