🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992May22.160247.27849@awdprime.austin.ibm.com> curt@ekhadafi.austin.ibm.com (Curt Finch 903 2F021 curt@aixwiz.austin.ibm.com 512-838-2806) writes:
>No, no, no.
>They buy cheap junk U.S. cars because it is all they can afford.  
>They keep them running with duct tape and coat hangers and still the
>maintenance costs are higher than with a Japanese car of the same
>mileage.

Yes, yes, yes.

They buy cheap junk U.S. cars because it =is= all they can afford.  All
they can afford to buy (because there aren't any old junky Japanese cars)
and repair.

A quick glance at the classified section of the Statesman reveals that
the oldest Toyota for sale (at any price) is a '76 Celica for $895, the
oldest Honda is a '79 Accord for $2,000 (there are cheaper ones, so this
guy is probably high-balling his asking price), the oldest Mazda is an
'80 626 for $1,400, and the oldest Datsun is a '73 240Z (with a rebuilt
motor) for $2,000.

There are American made cars in an continuum all the way back to the '30s
and beyond.  The Japanese started exporting cars to this country in
earnest well before '76 or even '73 - where are the '71 Datsuns?  Where
are the original Honda CVCC cars?  Honda made and sold jillions of those
old cars during the 70's.

>They can not afford to buy a $1500 Japanese car and pay $20/month for
>maintenance, even though it is ultimately cheaper.  They don't have
>$1500.  And noone will lend it to them.

This is far from true - there are many businesses which are geared towards
preying on the underclass - and they are more than willing to loan you
$1,500 for a car.  They're more than willing to loan you $1,500 for an
old American car, even.  "Got a job?  Get a car, at Credit Cars" ...

>Your argument ignores the cost and value of capital, which the poor
>don't have.  It also assumes the poor are brilliant investors, while
>the rich are not, which is clearly illogical (as a general rule).

The poor don't need capital - they have credit in the form of secured
loans, which the repo-man is more than willing to pick up should our
underclass buyer not make that $30/week payment.

As for the rich being brilliant investors, do you really need to drive
a $40,000 Lexus when a $7,000 Hydundai will work just as well?  Even if
you lease both vehicles for 2 years (before either breaks), the annual
cost of that Lexus will be greater than that of the Hyundai.
-- 
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