The $25k car is going extinct?

This is a great example of how factually incorrect narratives - so long as they align with a preferred agenda (which is that things are not affordable any more) - it gets upvoted.

Reality check:

- In 2025, there are 12 new car models available under $25,000

- In 2005, there were around 10 new models under $15,000 (25k adjusted by inflation)

So the premise that “cars used to be much more affordable” is not true. This article is full of misleading or outdated information that distorts the real trend.

HN deserves better data-driven discussions.

While we're being data driven - the narrative isn't far off from reality. Looking at inflation in isolation is also misleading.

Plainly, prices have risen faster than pay.

Avg. new-car price: $23,017 in 2005 -> $47,465 in 2024 (+32% after inflation).

Median household income: $46,242 in 2005 -> $80,610 in 2023 (+12% after inflation).

Average new car price is very misleading. When you buy a car, they don't charge you the average, they charge you what the specific car you're buying costs. If there are a dozen cheap car options for sale, it is irrelevant to me that there are also some more expensive options for sale.

MSRP of Honda Accord went from $15k-$30k in 2005 to $30k-$40k in 2025.

MSRP of one model is also not perfect, but it's another data point.