Even without a spike from tariffs, the cost of car ownership (gas, insurance, maintenance, and the car itself) jumped 44% from 2007 to 2023. (Source: www.bts.gov/content/aver...) Americans pay a massive surcharge for living in a car-dependent nation. - ThreadSky

davidzipper.bsky.social • 9 days ago

Even without a spike from tariffs, the cost of car ownership (gas, insurance, maintenance, and the car itself) jumped 44% from 2007 to 2023. (Source: https://www.bts.gov/content/average-cost-owning-and-operating-automobilea-assuming-15000-vehicle-miles-year)

Americans pay a massive surcharge for living in a car-dependent nation.

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cityplanning.bsky.social•9 days ago

I’m really curious where these cost increases show up in behavioral changes. I suppose I could look into that.

gregshill.com•9 days ago

Also have to consider how much more car you get today. The cost of a cell phone has also skyrocketed since 2007.

cityplanning.bsky.social•9 days ago

Yeah, no doubt. Some of that additional car changes behavior, too, from purchasing decisions to having to rebuild your garage so it fits.

gregshill.com•9 days ago

That's interesting. I guess I would have assumed size changes would flow through new builds, with people in older homes parking in the driveway (common in Texas) or street (England).

cityplanning.bsky.social•9 days ago

It’s common (here in Phoenix anyway) where new SUVs don’t fit in the garages built in the 60s-80s. So they get rebuilt with taller doors.

chrisbastianbkl.bsky.social•9 days ago

No it hasn’t. The difference is that cell phone companies stopped hiding the extra cost in their monthly service plans.

gregshill.com•9 days ago

chrisbastianbkl.bsky.social•9 days ago

“The silver model is available now through Verizon Wireless for $199.99 WITH A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT and after rebates” https://www.cnet.com/reviews/blackberry-pearl-review/

chrisbastianbkl.bsky.social•9 days ago

How about comparing the iPhone to, say, an iPhone?

gregshill.com•9 days ago

What you'd really want to do is compare an iPhone 16 to an iPhone 16 (or a 2025 car to a 2016 car with identical features).

jimmybot.bsky.social•6 days ago

Lol. Why would value accrue to *variable* cost providers throughout most of this period then suddenly shift to *fixed*. So huge jump in value in 2023 models vs 2022? Trying way too hard to be unintuitive.

mattg.path.pub•6 days ago

More car? Yes.
Better car? Debatable.

gregshill.com•6 days ago

I think it’s a case where revealed preference leads to less satisfying but probably more useful results.

gregshill.com•6 days ago

It’s like music. You can get any song ever created on your phone instantly. The quality is lower vs. vinyl or live performance. No affect, other benefits to you or ecosystem.

It’s all a bit meta. “Better” doesn’t fully capture but on comfort/convenience, it’s a win. These often predominate.

setthetone.bsky.social•8 days ago

The crazy thing to me is people who drive less than 15000 miles per year! Damn, I do that in 6 months.

voteless.bsky.social•8 days ago

This part about depreciation is interesting. Did new vehicle prices go up on average or did projected trade-in values go down in 2023?

martametro.bsky.social•8 days ago

This helps me reach my goal of never buying a car again.

beeutiful21.bsky.social•8 days ago

The economic realignment over the next 4 years will be tragic.

bahmutov.bsky.social•9 days ago

Glad I bought my ebike as soon as the writing on the wall was clear

jmshghtwr.bsky.social•8 days ago

Yep. I know people who live in wintery places may not have the option, but opting out of the car lifestyle with an e-bike or a motorcycle is 👨‍🍳👌

bahmutov.bsky.social•8 days ago

Scandinavian countries + Montreal do just fine, you just need good bike lanes that get plowed. But of course it works best when there is public transportation too

jmshghtwr.bsky.social•8 days ago

That's where e-bikes have it over motorcycles. Add heated grips to your e-bike and you're good to go in any weather.

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