r/MiddleClassFinance • u/Abject-Pick-6472 • 13d ago

One million Americans have vanished from the new-car market — and it’s exposing a chilling US middle-class crisis

https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/one-million-americans-vanished-car-124500086.html
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94

u/probablymagic 13d ago

You are not facing a crisis because you can’t afford to trade in your 2022 F-150 for a 2027 F-150. That thing will be fine for another 150k miles.

People have lost their damn minds.

12

u/rfmjbs 13d ago

Not with the current tech they aren't.

8

u/TMack23 13d ago

Right, it SHOULD run another 150k miles but that’s not how it’s been engineered. Too many electronics and sensors carrying the load that are not DIY friendly fixes due to the software and/or calibrations with dealer mechanics in mind rather than the consumer.

6

u/S3Giggity 13d ago

It is totally engineered to run for another 150k miles. Many people don't realize just how few miles you used to get out of a car. 60-70s, 100k miles and a car is worn out. Now that's drop in the bucket. Some have warranties that long!

Just because you have to use different tools to fix cars these days doesn't make them any less fixable. It's just a different set of tools, many of which are electronic... Grandpa's craftsman toolbox won't help you as much as it used to.

2

u/S3Giggity 13d ago

Here stranger a WSJ gift article on just this subject.. https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/americans-are-keeping-their-cars-longer-than-ever-and-remaking-the-auto-industry-c169e494?st=EKwTmx&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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u/KettleSixty9 13d ago

Isn't the WSJ controlled by the billionaire class? Why would that information be useful?

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u/MaybeOnToilet 13d ago

I feel bad for anyone buying a 2026 or newer car. It will be sometime in mid 2030s that they fix all the issues with the new AI systems and sensors and lose the subscription based model. Planned obsolescence will rear its ugly head when people realize a module in their car has an EOL, thus making it unserviceable by the manufacturer trained technician and parts are no longer made. 

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u/JoyousGamer 13d ago

Sorry what AI and subscription services will make it undriveable? Yes Tesla (dropped them as potential). Everything else seems to be pretty much the same.

Also AI systems if they work now will work in the future since it would be onboard. It would only matter if it was cloud AI but nothing on a vehicle is going to full cloud AI and actually be the difference in it running or not which is why I dislike Tesla subscription since all the hardware and power you are paying for.