Regarding cars — the cash for clunkers porkulus program as well as lack of sales from 2008-10 reduced supply of good cheap used cars. So now poorer people are stuck with making payments to the company store. Yay for America!
Me, I’ll stick with my 1980s “classic clunker” (paid off, T.Y.V.D.M.) for as long as it runs well. Then pick up another used car for $3k, fix it up, drive, sell at a profit, lather, rinse repeat.
As far as new cars, the only ones I’d consider would be Prius, FT86, Honda Fit, or Fiat 500, not necessarily in that order. The rest (out of US market cars) are mostly bloated oink-oinks.
