If you are really good at what you do you could avoid a lot of the mess by driving a classic. (Scouring junkyards)

The real challenge though isn’t just that the parts will have tariffs; It seems like auto parts in general have taken a massive hit in quality

Tariffs are new.

They will push average prices even higher but the average new car price has been around 40k for a few years now.

It’s crazy to me. I just focus on my personal debts and pay off timelines and ignore my credit score these days.

Banks were willing to give me mortgages a couple of months ago that I in no way could afford based off my score (it’s actually good). None of this is grounded in reality; prior to 2020 those same fucks wouldn’t even pick up the phone for me.

… Try that shit in a small town?

Not the arbitrary made up numbers that some how go down every time I pay off a car loan!!!