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Americans can no longer afford their cars (www.newsweek.com)

submitted 10 months ago by jack@hexbear.net to c/urbanism@hexbear.net

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But as things stand, cars are still really expensive for many Americans. Just 10 percent of new car listings are currently priced below $30,000, according to CoPilot. Things are not much better in the used car market, where only 28 percent of listings are currently priced below $20,000.

According to an October report by Market Watch, Americans needed an annual income of at least $100,000 to afford a car, at least if they're following standard budgeting advice, which says you shouldn't spend more than 10 percent of your monthly income on car-related expenses.

That means that more than 60 percent of American households currently cannot afford to buy a new car, based on Census data. For individuals, the numbers are even worse, with 82 percent of people below the $100,000 line.

$100k to afford a car! Wtf.

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[-] FlakesBongler@hexbear.net 62 points 10 months ago

And yet, you must own one lest you be considered a pariah most places

Hate this shit

[-] ClimateChangeAnxiety@hexbear.net 42 points 10 months ago

And to be fair that’s not just a weird social stigma that’s only developed because of classism, it’s a social stigma that developed because you need a car to get anywhere

[-] DragonBallZinn@hexbear.net 30 points 10 months ago

Sure there's walkable cities but whoa mama rent is expensive....but this totally doesn't say anything about how popular walkability is, and that if Americans could live in walkable areas they would...no way.

[-] SpiderFarmer@hexbear.net 22 points 10 months ago

Fr. I've had a car for several years now, but I still get angry over how often I was given shit or denied [low-paying] jobs because I would bike or bus to the place a couple miles away. Part of what keeps me angry is probably knowing people with disabilities denied work or how friends of mine have gotten fucked by our shitty bus system, which is still one of the better ones in the US, mind you.