On: Ask HN: Why aren't there any cars in Nineteen Eighty-Four?

[FooBarBizBazz]

> "In 1919, Ford’s Model T cost £170—around $12,000 in 2022 dollars."

Amazing. In real terms, entry-level cars have doubled in price. We could use a new Henry Ford.

[kalleboo → FooBarBizBazz]

I think a lot of the cost comes from minimum safety standards that didn't exist before. I don't think there's that much margin to lower car prices (apart from the dealer price hikes from covid/chipageddon)

In Japan you can get a brand new Suzuki Alto for $8000. And it even has a 7-inch touch screen with CarPlay support. But you wouldn't want to get into a crash with one of those on a U.S. highway.

[Retric → FooBarBizBazz]

Used cars largely fill this rule.

Ultra cheap new cars do show up in emerging markets where decent used cars are in short supply.