Posted on 06/21/2014 10:04:44 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
The days when a bare-bones "stripper" car came with vinyl seats, rubber floor mats and no air conditioning are long gone.
Today, convenience and cold air come standard for all models, along with a long list of niceties that were once the sole domain of the loaded vehicle. A base Chevy Spark, as one example, offers aluminum wheels, ten standard airbags, power windows — even six months of OnStar service, in case you lock your keys in the car. On the surface, the new car market is offering better values than ever.
There is just one small problem with nearly all entry-level models of the modern day: You can't ever find em', and when you do, they usually come loaded with surprises. We may learn about that teaser of a price from the manufacturer's advertising, or the dealer supposedly suffering a bone-headed overstocking whose pain can be your gain. But actually finding that car is another matter entirely.
Recently, I searched for an absolute bare bones 2014 Nissan Versa S, base model. How many were there for the genuine manufacturer's drive-out price of under $13,000 in metro Atlanta? One. Just a single car to serve a metropolitan population of six million people.
Two weeks ago I walked over to a Mitsubishi dealer near Myrtle Beach, S.C. There were 20 Mirages on the lot, and out of those 20, there was one basic car with that ever so rare five-speed manual. The price: $12,500, before a whopping $1,995 surcharge for window tint. The old days of stain guards for carpeting and VIN etchings on the windows have been replaced with $700 processing fees, $800 destination charges, and $2,000 aftermarket trim packages with low-quality leather and fake wood made out of real plastic.
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
In 2007 we bought a 2006 Jag S Type with 10k mi on it from our local Ford dealer. It had been a rental car. We got it for half price of a new one.
We just sold a 1992 Toyota pickup with 34k mi on it. rofl
Snag-a-deal!! Good going!
This experience absolutely brought things in perspective.
I have driven a standard for years. I like them. They save on gas mileage and...they are fun.
But when the thought enters my mind that my knees might not hold up, it’s time to switch my point of view.
I hate being a grown up!!!
I saw this article and thought of you... great looking older gal in the story, too:
Thanks for the article! And very true...lots of younger folks don’t have a clue how to drive a standard.
I like them purely because they're fun.
Way back when I had an Opel GT, 4 speed, just pure fun to drive.
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