Part of the equation is affordability. When I was 16 years old, in 1979, I had a 1968 Fairlane 500, an 11 year old car, paid $800.00 for it. Today at 59, I have a 1990 Bronco, a 32 year old truck, paid $1500.00 for it 5 years ago, and a 2002 Taurus that my wife drives, a 20 year old car, bought 3 years ago for $2000.00. I also have a mortgage, utility bills, property taxes,retirement investments, and 3 dogs, but my hourly wage is ten times what it was in '79, yet I can't even consider a new or even a few year old vehicle and the debt that comes with it, simply not possible for me at this point.
