What nonsense you talk !
For your information, the Ford Focus is 13.5k according to the Blue Book.
And car prices are fairly constant across time, adjusted for inflation. The Mustang was 5k when it first came out in the mid 60's. Multiplying it times 6 (adjusting the value across time) you get 30K which is fairly close to now. The comparable model to the present Ford Focus would be the old Volkswagen Beetle which was around 2k then. Multiply it times 6 and you have the present price of a Ford Focus. So when the term to pay the same purchase price has to be stretched double, even you can see the obvious implication.
And as for the Asian economies, their foundation has been mercantilism, never free trade, because real world results were more important than vague theory.
How do you speak to the growth of economies that reduce their own trade barriers?
Both China and Australia are reducing their tariffs over time. The EU sees great internal growth as their own barriers are dumped.
By the way, I will stand corrected on the price of the Focus. According to Intellichoice, you can get a 2005 Focus for a target price $12,478.
And you can get a complete Dell computer system with it, too.
http://www.intellichoice.com/reports/vehicleReport/vehicle_nmb/1505
If we could only get a car without a water-cooled engine (as with the original VW Bug), then your comparison could hold true.
However, our cheapest cars have more technology, fuel mileage, and conveniences than what could only be dreamed of in the mid-60's.
Enjoy your free CD player, too.
We now buy luxury beyond compare for pennies.