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American here without a super expensive vehicle, but still a pretty normal life.

There are plenty of adequate cars for $5-10k, even with the current used car price insanity.

I agree that dealerships are parasites, but so far it seems like it's pretty easy to avoid dealing with them.

Also an American and the same story. I have owned six "modern" (post 2000) vehicles and none cost more than $5000 and all have had very long and problem free lives with me. The only two vehicles I don't still own is a Dodge van that had an engine issue (owner fault) and a Mitsubishi that my wife's friend wrapped around a pole.

Oh, totally. I've bought all my past cars used, and it was a perfectly servicable experience.

But if you want a new car (first time I ever did that, long story), good god, dealerships are a pox on all our houses. And unless people buy new cars from time to time, you'll run out of used ones at some point ;)

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