Adjusted for inflation, cars cost about the same now as they did decades ago. All the objective measurements look better on the new cars. However, they're less fun to drive.

I wonder how much a new Model A Ford would cost today if they were mass produced in a low wage country like China.

As for getting rid of all the unnecessary garbage that goes into new cars, the easy way is to lose two wheels and get a motorcycle. The regulators haven't gone crazy on them (yet) so you can still buy a new vehicle for about five thousand dollars with peppy performance and 60+ mpg. Or you can get one for twenty grand that only gets 35 but will outrun anything short of an Enzo.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.