But as I pointed out, adjusted for inflation, a Kia costs pretty much what a VW Beetle cost in 1964. Car prices have been constant adjusted for inflation. Real income has not.
Even on a Kia, though, you get things that you didn't get in a VW Beetle in 1964. You have to pay more for more things--that's just the way it goes.
A 1964 Beetle was a piece of crap. A Kia in 2005, while not the best car in the world by any stretch, is light years ahead of what a VW Beetle was in 1964.
I don't see your point. You're getting more. In life, a good rule of thumb is that you should expect to pay more when you're getting more.