SUV Bloat and Software Overlays: Why New Cars Are Price Gouging Ownership into Oblivion
Modern vehicles are priced near $50,000 due to forcing oversized SUVs and integrating costly, complex technology stacks.
The conversation is ripped apart over solutions. Some users like azimir insist that modern cities are better managed by trains and walking, rendering cars obsolete. Others defend car necessity, citing hauling needs or suburban life. A deeper split exists over valuation: some question the reliability of the average vs. median pricing data, while others argue the true inflation isn't materials but assembly complexity, citing proprietary digital systems as inflation tools.
The weight of opinion suggests current car ownership is unsustainable. The prevailing thought is that the system favors corporate profit—pushed by manufacturers—over genuine mobility, suggesting that ownership itself might vanish, replaced by subscription 'driving time' models, while low-cost alternatives are increasingly vanishing.
Key Points
Modern car pricing is unaffordable due to SUV/tech bloat.
Consensus shows high ownership costs stemming from automaker design trends.
Alternative transport (biking/transit) is superior to car ownership.
azimir advocates strongly for developed city living using public transport.
The cost inflation comes from software complexity, not materials.
boonhet argues tech integration inflates prices; ASSA points to proprietary digital systems.
Car ownership will become a paid, managed service.
chahn.chris predicts the ownership model will disappear, replaced by 'driving time' rentals.
Low-cost, older vehicles are becoming nearly impossible to find.
scytale notes that reliable models under $30k are scarce, showing the core issue is access to basic vehicles.
Systemic economic failure drives car affordability crisis.
BranBucket frames the problem as corporate wealth funneling to shareholders while wages stagnate.
Source Discussions (3)
This report was synthesized from the following Lemmy discussions, ranked by community score.