wow, only car i ever had with a bench seat was my 62 Impala
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 ...
LOL! Yep, a wire shirt hanger was all ya needed.
But look at the bright side. On a hot day in Texas, you can use your sharp black gangsta car for a bread oven.
That’s the Hi-Low beam switch.
O No! How wrong can a man be? It's starts atlike 16 large with every known accessory package ... and goes up into the mid twenties for converts and speed models.
The Wal-Mart crowd shelling out 16 grand for KIAs, 25 G for Hyundais ... power windows, Power locks, AC, Stereo USB Ports, 26 airbags, yadda yadda yadda.
Blame Jimmy Carter and that dipshiite Joan Claybrook. And BTW, there will soon be a derivative based on car loans ... just like those bad mortgages on houses of a few years back. Stick a guy with a 27 thousand, 7-year car loan, then move the plant where he works to China ... bingo!
At least the stupid SOB can live in it for a week or two before he's foreclosed.
But, thank you God, this is still ... briefly ... America, where you can actually buy a good used car for $2500 ... really good ... just 10 years old and needing some slight attention of that rare American who still knows a wrench from a stench.
I loved the little indian head high beam indicator in the old Pontiacs.
one thing you overlook it 2500 dollars cars are G O N E .....the public drove em in the ditch.....had to....39 percent of America ain’t workin and 38 percent went to 30 hour work weeks......no money to buy or replace or hell, fix the car.
a car today that works, paint is solid and sheet metal is straight has a 6 to 8 k car now
How about when the spark advance was on the steering wheel?
never had one of those.
I had a ‘68 Barracuda with those and large under dash vents. It also had a white interior and white terrycloth seat covers. On a hot day with those open, the side windows up and the rears down I never missed having AC out on the road. It wasnt even noisy.
I have a 2006 Corolla with 30,000 miles on it.
:-)
.
more loans for GMAC so you could buy a new car and have it recalled.
I bought a 2013 jeep Patriot in Dec of 13, it’s a basic car no power locks or power seats or power windows and basic radio and ac, cost me 19k before the lo-jack system and a life time warrenty up it to 25k.
My Uncle had a 55 Buick in which the starter was in the accelerator. You turned on the key then pressed on the accelerator. About half way down the starter kicked in.
Not a particularly good idea imo.
wow, only car i ever had with a bench seat was my 62 Impala
“never had one of those.”
Okay, that was on my grampa’s 1921 limo. That limo came with shock absorbers, which were an “extra”, heck, they may have even been after market.
the dimmer button
Brights
Now, what is the small pedal to the left of the brake pedal?
Airbags aren’t a luxury item anymore. Standard equipment. And if you need to replace one expect to pay out the nose. My horn went out and the whole damn airbag (never deployed) had to be replaced for $800 to pay inspection.
Been in numerous accidents over the years (side impact, rear impact) most times the cars are totaled. Air bags never have deployed.
Never been at fault in those accidents either.
“Advance the spark, Biggles! We’ve a Hun on our tail!”
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