The Associated Press (“AP”) reports that at a time when Americans increasingly want pricey SUVs and trucks rather than small cars, the Mitsubishi Mirage remains the ONLY new vehicle with an average price UNDER $20,000 — a figure that once marked a kind of unofficial threshold of affordability. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of new and used cars has skyrocketed.
The current version of the Mirage, which reached United States dealerships a decade ago, sells for an average of $19,205.
The AP report may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, this writer has never paid more than $14,000 for a new (or lightly used contract vehicle) in his entire lifetime. Those days are gone. Both of my family’s vehicles are in horrible shape, but it seems nuts to pay the same amount of money for a new car that I’d have spent in the past for a camper trailer or even a modest new home!
I used to own a 2-wheel drive, manual-windows, standard-transmission Isuzu pickup that drove my family (complete with dachshund) from New Hampshire to Alaska in November of 1988! We even drove past a huge 4-wheel drive truck in the ditch – which only moments early had screamed past us defiantly with snow contrails in its wake! Yes, it wasn’t very kind, but we were smiling a bit! If memory serves, our little Isuzu truck cost about $10,000!
I know! I know! :) The times may have changed and inflation is an undeniable factor, but there still remains that sickening knot in the stomach when realizing that reliable transportation in the 2020s will take a huge percentage of our earnings, retirement pay or social security. I often consider what it means in this day-in-age to be a good steward of my family’s money and how lavishly (or not) we should live our lives.
The above-referenced AP report asserts that Americans want larger, expensive vehicles. From what I’ve noted on the roadways, that appears to be valid. Well, I hope and pray that remaining car manufacturers will continue to spend some effort on reliable, simple and cost-efficient gasoline powered vehicles, instead of forcing battery-powered and high-priced models on everyone. Some of us just want efficient transportation from Point A to Point B – period!
In the long run, I’m predicting that new, efficient, gasoline-powered (or diesel-powered) vehicles will still need to be manufactured – especially when all of the barely running older vehicles we are currently holding together with baling wire, duct tape and used scrap yard parts become too decrepit to save!
This is NOT an advertisement for any make or model, as that is certainly not FGGAM’s purpose(!), but it sure seems that if the choice is between buying a used car for MORE than the cost of a new, gasoline-efficient Mirage, the Mirage (or similarly priced vehicles) becomes more and more appealing!
I’m NOT suggesting that the Lord begrudges His children to have nice things; however, it seems wise to regularly “check” our motivations and desires in light of the bible. What do we really need? What is the best use of our disposal income? It’s our “heart condition” that matters to God!
1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV)
“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!
