It's a conspiracy

[Slasher]

I think it is that the culture is changing with the economy... More people are making less money, yet real inflation on food, energy, transportation, and everything except technology is rising much faster than wages...which for many folks is or has declined...

With the stock market crashing and being as unstable as it has been... the housing market crashing... The fact that our daily cost of providing, food, shelter, clothing, health insurance for our families has caused a need to cut somewhere...

I know folks who have been displaced, have found new jobs making 20-30% less and having to commute 90 minutes because they are underwater on a house that they wish they could sell...

A lot of folks don't plan... They exist in the moment... and right now after all the effects of the economy, most folks are scared...

I can say that the change is not one most folks would choose themselves, but one that is out of necessity...

[cfg83]

Slasher -

I apologize for not have the URL for it, but I heard of a study that compares the standard of living of 1970 to today. The bottom line is that in order to maintain the *same* standard of living as 1970, a family has to work 60% more. My experience agrees with that.

As far as the original thread, I agree with Diesel_Dave. I especially think that the 2008 gas prices created the market for the influx of "subcompact" cars like the Yaris/Fit/Versa.

CarloSW2

[user removed]

2008 or 1973?

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehicles...t_fotw364.html

regards
Mech

[Diesel_Dave]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

2008 or 1973?

Vehicle Technologies Program: Fact #364: March 21, 2005 Historical Gas Prices, 1919–2004

regards
Mech

Excellent point! Hence the death of the muscle car and the influx of the Japanese automakers into the US market.

[Diesel_Dave]

Also, I found this interesting...the average model year for the current top 10 of gasoline car on this site is 1996--there's only one car on there made after 1999.

[Allch Chcar]

I noticed this while looking at engine series over the years. The new 4 bangers are getting some nifty but expensive stuff, especially Domestic branded ones.