New vehicles must average 40 mpg by 2026, up from 28 mpg

[kdog]

Used car prices will soar even higher. 

I use to belong to the mindset of keeping up with the Jones and getting a new vehicle every few years and having a car payment. 

Not anymore, hanging on to the 2006 Mustang and 2010 Sante Fe.

Most of my life, I drove what I call "Bic cars" - I'd buy 'em for next to nothing, drive 'em until the wheels fell off, then go buy another cheap one. 300 to 400 dollars was about the average I paid for a car. Even that Jeep Cherokee I mentioned above I only gave 650 bucks for. Most were bought from individuals instead of off a lot. I've bought one new car in my life - a Mercury Tracer for my first wife which had 16 miles on it when we drove it off the lot. That New Car Experience was enough to make me swear off new cars forever. I'd rather let someone else work all the bugs and recalls out of them, and keep up with a payment book.

If I don't have enough cash on hand to buy it then it just stays unbought.

.

We are getting ready to look at used bicycles. I could use the exercise at my age.