Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
Originally Posted By: CourierDriver
Yes, it was a search and destroy mission, sort of...It was my turn to get into sticker shock--again.
So, here we are- looking out over 5 dealerships of assorted sheet metal--acres of fun awaited me.
There were greys,blacks,whites,a few reds and a blue or two. Large SUV's were into the 50k range and small ones at the 25k to 35k range....I got over myself, got back into my old 2005 lead sled Buick La-Sabre and drove away after about an hour of looking...There just were no turn ons sitting there for me. Now don't get me wrong, there were a lot of nice pieces of sheet-metal there, just not in the mood for car payments and the really, the hassle of all the sales pitch junk...hey, I'm 71, older, somewhat wiser and my time zone for real cars,,was the 60's.... Now where were the Chevelles and GTO's......yes the 60s are gone .I going to play some golf today...
There is a semi-famous quote: "I used to be with 'it' until they change what 'it' was. Then what I was with wasn't "it" and what was 'it' seems weird and scary."
Well, you have now been exposed to a market no-longer focused on your needs.
Finally, FINALLY!!!! Manufacturers are no longer pandering to the boomer market whole-hog. There is a reason that a lot of that sheet-metal, marketing/finance, sales spproach is not speaking to you because for the first time in your life, the manufacturers are not catering to your demographic wholesale. From 1964 to about 2014/now boomers were the largest market. Not to be overly morbid, but now, they know that your next care is likely to be you last (boomers are not buying as many cars anymore). Most manufacturer now want to avoid the "90-00s Cadillac problem" when a brand's core customers die-off and the brand has no natural successor. That is why Buick has a "not your grandpa's car" commercial. Sure, there might be a few models lingering for the old (Corvette, etc) but most manufacturer can sell a boomer a millennial-targeted car easier than selling a millennial a boomer-targeted car. See Kia Soul for example. However, they are not able to sell millennials you old-style Buick (or any boomer focused car). Worse, they can sell millennials GTOs for many reasons. Comparatively, boomers were riding the wave of success built by the prior generation. A part-time "summer" job could pay for college, a house and living expenses without a loan back in the 60s. If I was going to pay for my "home, living expenses, and college" without taking out a loan, I would need to make $65,000-70,000 a year... definitely the cost upon millennial is greater so when manufacturers are selling to the debt-strapped younger folks, they need vehicles that are generally "cheaper" (and finance rates are cheaper so you see a push to that market) but new sheet-metal also check more boxes while out-competing used options. Thus the rise of the compact and sub-compact crossover. Millennial do not have the cash for multiple vehicles so one vehicle might have to do all duties. The modern designs are starting to look at designs from the 1910-30s for good reason.
FYI, if you are curious, I worked for one of the big 3 as a subcontractor when in school (2nd year of my PhD) to identify boomer/millennial buying trends in 2010. This big 3 player was very weary about transitioning to a post-boomer marketplace. I also had all of my Grad education paid for by various research project (but still racked up debt while living on ramen noodles). Between $12-18K as a yearly salary and almost free tuition was not enough. Anyway, tangent enough.
Finally, cars are not all that much more expensive now than what they were in the 60s. Ok, the number is bigger but compared to inflation, not so much. If you take in how much more advanced the vehicle is now compared to what it was, it is a huge bargain.
A base bone-stock "mustang" at $2,400 would be $18.3K. $22K for the V8. For a "small-for-the-time" "youth car" it is still "average cost" today. You might say that the Mustang is now $10,000 more considering inflation today and you would be correct. However,the Mustang is no longer a cheap-youthful car. It is more of a semi-GT/luxury car now. It may be more similar to the '66 Thunderbird than the old '66 stangs as it sits a higher "pedestal" in Fords lineup. So the '66 MSRP for a Thunderbird of $4,600 would be $35,000. Boom. Tada. Makes sense. The $18-23K area of the old Mustang is now occupied by the Fiesta ST and Focus ST. Heck the Focus/Falcon almost sit in identical price-points considering inflation.
Great write up, I agree....my age group is not in the buy one every 2 years,,,lol
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