I’m pretty sure we can attribute it to financing in leasing. It’s similar to what happened to the housing market in the 90's and 2000's (untill... you know). The key difference isn’t that people aren’t buying multiple cars, they are just replacing them before they come close to pay them off, or leasing every few…

Hell yes. They posted a rash of them a few weeks ago and I binged the hell out of it.

Well its not boomers nor GenXers who are driving iPhone sales, nor planet killing disposable fashion.

Kinda weird to think we have no idea what an actual competitive market for this would look like. It’s either a monopoly or some frankenstein monster that beats fundamental labor laws. 

Agreed. What’s been really shitty about the dawn of ridesharing is the amount of small time black car service that have bit it since then. There genuinely was a market for a premium alternative to taxis, but rather than competing in that market, Uber smashed them both together and took all of it.

Fair point, but I don’t think that all those traits you mentioned are tied together the same way they used to be. It’s no secret that younger generations are more prone to use expendable income on travel instead of buying nice things. While travelling is still technically “commercial,” I don’t think it’s quite material…

Fair point. Just begs the question if there is a way to provide that service profitably to a level of quality the consumer approves, at a price they like, and a fair wage to the driver. Obviously there should be, but the system is vulnerable to someone completely tossing one of those requirements and undercutting them…

Eh, weird argument. I really don’t dislike being in the back of some random guy’s Kia any more or less than I disliked being in the back of a smelly Crown Vic. The real discussion is if Uber’s convenience would make consumers pay more to make Uber profitable and pay their drivers better.

Agree wholeheartedly, but I don’t think this is a problem just restricted to Raph.

While I don’t disagree that’s what Uber is, I question whether the people running it realize it. Like, these bright eyed people at startups are so self-important they actually might think they are revolutionizing transportation, and that losing money hand over fist without any signs of stopping is just “part of the…

Damn straight. I would spread that point past toxic masculinity to self-importance in general. Everyone thought the MTV generation was the apathetic ones (the world is so faaaaake maaaaaan). Gen Z (and the last of the millennials) are a whole new level, and I think they and the world will be better off for it.

Praise be to Tom Petty, ain’t this the truth. Self-importance is the great disease of our time.

Nope. 10 Grand for any non-truck 2000's GM product with over 100k miles will never be ok.

Hell yes. If you are going to do something, do it right. If you’re getting a family car, get the most familiest car that effer familied.

The phrase “with that being said” is beaten to death. This is so much better.

The hypothetical you’re describing is a thought I’ve had for quite some time, mainly for the sake of fuel mileage. If the NHTSA let you build a car that was not overwhelmingly safe *for the occupant,* you,d probably wind up with something pretty damn light weight. That combined with a modern powertrain would probably…

Meh, used trucks are for people looking for a tow vehicle and beater. Business regardless of their budget will almost always buy something new. Again, this thing is such a piece of shit it might not be worth it, but I bet somebody could get something small and respectable in the market for a price in the mid-teens.…

Theoretically, yes. But again, the issue is that could be such a big number that it significantly eats away at what the vehicle can tow. We already know how much trucking companies like to load trucks up right against their GVWR. I can’t imagine they’d like to give significant chunks of merchandise load up to the…

This is absolutely horrific, and I have no interest in ever owning/driving one of these...

The design and layout of the trucks are adapted from Volvo’s diesel machines, with the side-mounted fuel tanks replaced with large battery boxes. According to Volvo: