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These Are The Cars You Wish You Bought When They Were Cheap
Jalopnik • • technology
Key Points:
- The author shares a personal encounter with an elderly man who reminisced about his first car, a 1964 Volkswagen Beetle, which cost $1,100 new—equivalent to about $11,900 in 2026 dollars after inflation.
- The man expressed surprise and concern upon learning that no new cars are now available for under $20,000 and that the average new car price exceeds $50,000.
- He highlighted the stark contrast by noting that the average new car today costs more than what he paid for his first house in San Francisco.
- Reflecting on the current economic challenges in America, the man offered a pessimistic outlook for younger generations, suggesting that financial difficulties will worsen.
- The anecdote sets the tone for the blog, which will explore readers' favorite cars they wish they had bought when prices were more affordable.
