Car prices - inflating as expected?

[TheFungle]

Cars becoming more expensive clearly isn't a new thing but I have to say, I can't recall a time in my 25yrs of motoring that even relatively normal cars feel massively out of touch.



Now, M cars are never cheap but those prices seem......strong to say the least.

Is this just a typical reaction of getting older or are prices higher than they have ever been?

[TheFungle]

Glosphil said:

"relatively normal cars feel massively out of touch" - BMW M cars! Only on PistonHeads could these be considered 'relatively normal' cars.

However, actual normal cars, such as Corsa, Focus, Golf, A3, etc. have also increased in price at a rate well above inflation. As already suggested, the number of cars PCP'd or leased has enabled manufacturers to hide these large price increases.

If you'd asked me several years ago if I could have afforded an M3 as an aspirational purchase I would have said yes.

As a 40-ish year old with a modest mortgage, no kids and a salary that I'm neither ashamed or boastful about it's something I could have considered.

At current prices there is no way I'd even bother considering it.

[TheFungle]

Ironically the car that feels decent value - the GR86 - is the one that has the supply/demand equation most in favour of it's manufacturer, frustrating.

I've accepted that my next car will cost more be it cash, lease or PCP but that doesn't make it less hard on the wallet. Perhaps the Gov. will finally give me a wage rise in line with inflation..