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Car/Inflation nostalgia
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Car/Inflation nostalgia

9

Feb 1, 2023, 7:48 AM

Cleaning out my basement last weekend I found a few old things that made me miss the good old days in multiple ways....

First I found the bill of sale from the first car I ever bought (2nd car ever, but first was a Dad hand-me-down). It was a 1987 VW GTi 16v, purchased in 1991 at Burnside Dodge in N. Charleston with 20k miles (owner was a naval officer stationed overseas for much of his ownership) for $6100. The inflation calculator tells me that's $13,107 today, which is still a helluva lot less than you'd pay for a 4 year old GTi with 20k miles.

Then I found all my receipts. Took it to Snyders (Porsche/VW/Subaru) in Greenville because the clutch cable needed adjusting and the power steering had an issue. They corrected both with a half hour's labor. Total charge - $21. Yep, the Porsche/VW dealer was getting $42/hour back then vs $150+ today with an hour's minimum diagnostic time.

Needed a new battery in 1992. Receipt from Sam's club - $32

Labor at Roger's Stereo to install an amp, speakers, and graphic EQ (mandatory in the 80's/90's) - $60

I have to imagine that a big reason half the kids don't want to drive anymore is because it's so damm expensive compared to past generations.

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My 1973 Dodge Challenger had the window sticker

2

Feb 1, 2023, 7:52 AM

In the glove box when I got it used 5 years later. MSRP was about $3200. Stripped down 318 v8. Wish I had never sold it too.

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a 318 V8 with 1973 emissions requirements.....

1

Feb 1, 2023, 7:53 AM

Man, I bet that thing made 110, maybe 120 hp!

Sweet ride fo sho.

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I bought this bad boy from Leroy Cannon, brand new in 1982.

2

Feb 1, 2023, 8:07 AM

This was the first year of the GTI, and it was still a Rabbit, before VW went to the Golf. It was really just a dressed up Rabbit, with a basic Rabbit 4 cylinder. To make it "sporty", they geared it really low, and even in 5th gear/overdrive, you were still at about 3000 rpm at 65 mph. I remember driving it to Daytona beach right after I got it, and it felt like I needed a 6th and 7th gear to reach an acceptable highway cruising mode.



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Above all else, love and forgive. Understand that people who disagree with you are not necessarily idiots or your enemies. Respect the wisdom of the founding fathers and individual rights and freedoms. Always see the beauty and humor in life.


Respect level 12/10.

1

Feb 1, 2023, 8:10 AM

That's awesome, what a killer car. I recall the hp on that one being something like 105 but they were soooo fun.

You might have bought that from my great uncle. He was a cool guy with an amazing James Earle Jones-esque voice, and he also did local voice work, worked at a radio station, and did all the announcing at the Greenville Pickens Speedway.

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I can't really remember the salesman, and I'm not even sure


Feb 1, 2023, 8:26 AM

if it was the location across from K-Mart, or the one on Grove Rd. I do remember all of the car mags really pumped this car up at the time. It was a fun car for 1982.

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Above all else, love and forgive. Understand that people who disagree with you are not necessarily idiots or your enemies. Respect the wisdom of the founding fathers and individual rights and freedoms. Always see the beauty and humor in life.


That was my first car, but a 1984 in white...

2

Feb 1, 2023, 9:17 AM [ in reply to I bought this bad boy from Leroy Cannon, brand new in 1982. ]

You are exactly right on the gearing. traveling on the highway it was so loud you could barely hear the stereo. Speaking of stereos, I had a sweet pull out Nakamichi in there. I'd take it out and hide it in the trunk. Loved the flip out vent windows as well.

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now find your first PC, stereo, and TV receipts

1

Feb 1, 2023, 8:09 AM

I remember paying like $2000 for a crappy Acer computer in like 1992. And $1000+ for a 32" TV. In 1990s value $$.

Oh my God.

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No doubt. I watch the 80's Price Is Right reruns with my

1

Feb 1, 2023, 8:12 AM

daughter on Pluto all the time, and the one thing that is not cheaper are the electronics items.

"Emily, what do you bid on this Quasar 7" portable black and white television?" "$750 Bob!!!!"

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my first handmedown

1

Feb 1, 2023, 8:18 AM

was a mercury bobcat station wagon

stylin'



first car purchased was a lime green 1976 VW bug



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Cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile,
Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile!!!!


my first handmedown was a baby blue '73 Super Beetle

1

Feb 1, 2023, 8:34 AM

and that was the coolest car I ever owned.

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Got my annual "Check Your SS Worksheet" over the weekend


Feb 1, 2023, 8:21 AM

1989 - 1st year I worked 12 months full time at a real job I made $21,066 so it's all relative

got a good chuckle out of my 1977 line item - $9.00

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I looked it up out of curiosity


Feb 1, 2023, 9:04 AM

and the average maintenance cost of ownership for a sedan in 1985 was $0.012 per mile and in 2022 it was $0.097 per mile.

What is also inflated though, is the ability to pay. You have to wonder if this is becoming like healthcare in the sense that cars are part survival and part vanity, how much debt is being accumulated to pay for these costs.

The car industry has consumers wrapped around their fingers like health care.

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Rogers stereo sux


Feb 1, 2023, 9:21 AM

also, why didn't you install your own audio equipment?

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because it was $60


Feb 1, 2023, 9:23 AM

DUH

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But $60 back then was prob like $200 now

1

Feb 1, 2023, 9:25 AM

Not like today when its a CFA lunch.

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Let's call it $130

1

Feb 1, 2023, 9:33 AM

still a bargain for young Obed who had not amassed any tools at that point to have someone do a custom center console install of the eq (it was pretty slick), cut holes in parcel shelf for 6x9's, and run power wiring properly from rear of car, under carpet, through firewall to the battery.

Could I do those today in my sleep? Sure. Would I pay someone $130 today to do all that for me? Absolutely. Could I find someone today to do all that for $130? No freaking way.

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I wouldnt even care about it if it was for my car?


Feb 1, 2023, 9:51 AM

But my boat?? I'd make a full weekend project for it and spend $500 on tools to do it.

I might even have some friends stop by in shifts to drink beer while standing around me watching me cut speaker holes.

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We agree there.

1

Feb 1, 2023, 1:22 PM

Ain't nobody going to be as #### retentive doing a stereo install on my boat as I am.

That shipshape TV guy would like at my wiring runs and connections and be like "Damm bro, that's overkill"

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John Greviskis.

1

Feb 1, 2023, 1:32 PM

That dude fell off the face of the earth.

Word was he got caught cheating on his wife, may or may not have had a drug problem, lost a ton of weight, got divorced, then had a kid at 55 with his new girlfriend. His BIL was teh lead tech on SSTV, and his son was a correspondent of sorts. He made about 4-6 more episodes, then it just went away. No idea what he's doing now, or if he's even still alive.

I saw all of his boats on Craigslist for sail about 2-3 years ago. I should have bought the the Moppy.

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You know you're officially old when...

1

Feb 1, 2023, 9:38 AM

you start listing the prices of things from 30 years ago. You should suffer like me. I remember gas being 16.9c/gal.

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This is me embracing it.***

1

Feb 1, 2023, 1:25 PM



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Re: Car/Inflation nostalgia


Feb 3, 2023, 11:57 AM

83'Prelude $2900 in 1991
88' Beretta GT $2800 in 93'
84'Nissan 300z turbo $1400
91'Plymouth Laser Turbo $7200'94'
94'Eagle Talon AWD turbo 13k or so 95'S
91'Toyota MR2 Turbo $7200 97' or so ton work
97'Silverado Z-71 $13.4k '02rar
04'Silverado Z-71 35'ish 04'
99'Vette-trunk. No hatchback 22.5k 06'
07'Trailblazer SS 6.0 '07 (regret selling)BRB
06'GMC 6.0 Vortec 22.5 in 07'
Couple CBR's
2007 GMC Sierra w\20's & tonneau
Quite a few Chevy 1 ton work vans
900 Polaris s x s
21'Challenger T/A 392

The Challenger and 07' Sierra are my current

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For relaxing times, make it Suntory time


It'd take me a few minutes to get the list together


Feb 3, 2023, 12:00 PM

Gotta be close to 30 by this point.

I wonder how much richer I'd be if I had only had about 3-5 cars in the period.

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Re: It'd take me a few minutes to get the list together


Feb 3, 2023, 12:16 PM

I'm sure I left out a few

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For relaxing times, make it Suntory time


Re: It'd take me a few minutes to get the list together


Feb 3, 2023, 12:20 PM [ in reply to It'd take me a few minutes to get the list together ]

The TBSS Id profit on. Double.my monies eadily

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For relaxing times, make it Suntory time


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