Car buyers have no choice about accepting the many mandated features in new cars, nor are they told how much such features add to the cost. From Eric Peters at ericpetersautos.com:
The federal regulatory apparat requires that the sellers of the food we buy in stores list the ingredients and calories per serving and other such on the label so that we know what we’re eating. It is interesting that the federal apparat does not require any similar disclosure regarding the cost-increasing effect of the regulations it imposes on the cars it allows us to buy.
Well, assuming we can afford to.
Millions of us – literally – no longer can, if the waning number of new cars being sold currently vs. recently is a barometer of that. The high of more than 17 million annually was set back in 2017. It is down by a couple million now.
Certainly, there is inflation. The cost of everything has increased by about 20 percent, roughly – and that includes cars. Which of course leaves less money in people’s hands to buy cars. And cars have become alienating things to many people, who dislike the disconnected, smartphone-emulating interfaces and pushy parenting of the “driver assistance technology” that has become unavoidable in new cars – because the car companies now anticipate these “technologies” being mandated by the regulatory apparat and make them standard before they’re required.
Which is exactly has happened.
It is why all new cars already have a suite of “advanced driver assistance technology” – including (most of them) the automated emergency braking system that has been mandated to be standard a few years hence. Elements of the so-called “kill switch” all new vehicles must have by 2026 are also already embedded in anticipation of the formal requirement.
Saw an Aston-Martin ad of a half naked woman putting her leg up on a counter in high heels with a mixed drink!
This is the way.
Old Jalopies will be worth their weight in gold as more Karen mommygov controls become mandatory.
At one time insurance wasn’t mandatory but it only takes one snout under the tent.
A peace and safety obsessed Karenocracy has zero chance in WWIII and that is not by accident.
Breaking from Monty Norman:
James Bond Theme (Bongos)
[From Dr. NO]
They just showed the Jaguar rebrand mobile and it looks like a Hot Wheels indoor space heater!
Only Barbarella mutants would want one for their virtuous signal.
Yours for a $150,000 plus tacks. (s/)
Heat wave at 32 degrees and finally got a good walkabout and hang out with Kiki and some actual kitty food for it.
Breaking from Motörhead:
Victory Or Die
[Equality Is Just A State Of Mind]