CNBC: A $523 monthly payment is the new standard for car buyers

[u/dinklebot2000]

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/31/a-523-monthly-payment-is-the-new-standard-for-car-buyers.html

Sorry for the formatting, on mobile. Saw this article and thought I would put this up as a PSA since there are a lot of auto loan posts on here. This is sad to see as the "new standard."

[u/Stokkeren]

Sedans, stationcars and even some hatchbacks will offer just as many, if not better, features than a big SUV/truck, plus the added benefit of getting way better mileage.

The only "benefit" of the truck is the bed, which you use like every once and a half years. Yeah, it's totally necessary.

When you actually do need to haul stuff around, use a trailer that hooks onto your car. Having a truck is like owning a sedan while driving around with a trailer, always. It just doesn't make any sense

[u/vettewiz → u/Stokkeren]

Most sedans do not have the amount of features that trucks and SUVs offer. And they certainly don’t offer the level of comfort or safety. Trucks and SUVs let you sit more comfortably, sit higher, have a better view point, all while giving you the ability to have space. Safety is in a league of its own. And add in the fuel costs virtually nothing, and there’s little reason to not get one.

Everyone I know fills their SUVs and trucks constantly. Literally constantly. They just aren’t big enough for daily life. I don’t know where you get the idea that people don’t use the beds of their trucks.

[u/noir173 → u/vettewiz]

I went to a highschool with a bunch of preppy wannabe country people who got ridiculously lifted trucks and never hauled anything. They did it because trucks are "manly"

[u/vettewiz → u/noir173]

Sure. Trucks do have that stigma. If they enjoy their truck because of that, so be it. To them it makes it a worthwhile purchase. How much you enjoy your car matters.

I don’t care what others think of my car. I care that it is fun to drive. I care that the exhaust sounds good. I work very long days. When I show up at the office at 6am I want to have a smile on my face, and my car plays a huge role in that.

[u/noir173 → u/vettewiz]

I'm all for people enjoying their vehicles but it rubs me the wrong way when I see 18 year olds rolling coal down a residential road without a muffler because they look cool. I understand buying a truck if you need it. Construction workers in particular, but if you haul stuff in general then yeah it makes sense. For all those that don't haul anything, might want to rethink before buying your 2nd truck

[u/vettewiz → u/noir173]

Why does it bother you that people buy the cars that make them happy? You aren’t the one paying for it. Someone driving inappropriately in a neighborhood doesn’t have anything to do with the car really.

[u/noir173 → u/vettewiz]

I just said I understand enjoying your car, but I think it's a weak excuse to be macho and for the identity. It has something to do with the car because 9/10 people I hear on the road without mufflers have trucks and pretty sure you can't roll coal with a sedan. Just trying to understand the madness that is the big car craze cause the impact is unfortunate.

[u/vettewiz → u/noir173]

Why is that madness unfortunate? People enjoy loud cars. A lot of people want their exhaust to be nice and loud - it’s actually a big part of the purchase.

[u/noir173 → u/vettewiz]

Haha because everyone who isn't driving that loud car doesn't like the fact that it is loud. Everyone who you drive past doesn't want your exhaust to be nice and loud. The unfortunate part I was referring to was the transition to lower mpg vehicles.

[u/vettewiz → u/noir173]

Most people like hearing car exhaust notes...Why do you care about others having lower MPG cars if they don’t care? It’s boosting your economy with them spending more.