How Much Did Your First Car Cost? Was It New Or Used?

How much did your first car cost you? Did you buy it new or used? How is it any of my business? You don’t have to answer any of those questions, but with the prices of new and used vehicles nowadays, it seems normal to reminisce about my first few vehicles.

At this point in time, can you believe that there’s only one new car model available for under $20,000 dollars here in the U.S.A.? Out of all the car manufacturers, with all the different models available, there’s now only one. And that vehicle is: (drum roll please) The Mitsubishi Mirage!

According to an article by Tom Krisher on APNews.com, the Mirage lists for an average price of $19,205. That’s according to data from Cox Automotive. Moreover, just five short years ago, there were a dozen new car models selling for under twenty grand. Not to mention the fact that there are now 32 new car models which sell for over $100,000 bucks!

I currently drive a 10-year-old vehicle, and I dread having to go buy my next new vehicle. Furthermore, if I wanted to go with used vehicles from now on, those prices currently average $29,000. Nevertheless, all this talk about what cars cost nowadays got me thinking about what my first few cars cost.

I had just turned 16-years-old and I got a job as a busboy at a local restaurant. Of course, I needed a car to get to-and-from work. My Mom co-signed on a used 1970 Ford Galaxie 500. I called it the green monster. The price? $500 bucks. Man, that thing drank gas like it was water.

A couple of years later I traded it in on a used 1974 Chevy Vega. Remember those? The price? $1,200. It was royal blue with a white racing stripe down the side, and a 4-speed manual transmission. At first, I thought I was so cool. But, I had to replace the clutch about five times in the next two years. So, there goes all that cash down the drain.

Subsequently, I traded in the Vega for a used black Chevy Malibu with swivel bucket seats. It was only three years old, and I think it cost around three grand. I didn’t buy my first new car until I was twenty-five years old. How about you? Happy motoring!

Buckle up, and get in - I'm going to take you on a drive to find out the safest, and most dangerous car brand in Nevada. 

Nevada -Las Vegas in particular - has always been a tourist destination, and in the last few decades it  has grown as a residential destination.

With new stadiums being built every few years to accommodate new teams putting on "Las Vegas" uniforms, new Sphere's, and entertainment venues going up on every corner, and California neighbors selling their homes, and becoming new residents of the Silver State, Las Vegas is (still) one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

Car safety is a big priority for many drivers, and with good reason, especially in Las Vegas. Choosing a car that has great safety features can give you peace of mind and potentially save lives in the event of an accident - which there are far too many of in Las Vegas. 

But with so many car brands and models on the market, how can you know which ones are the safest?

In a comprehensive study by Glass Doctor, they analyzed the top three car brands in each state that reported the most fatal car crashes over a decade. Using this information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the researchers were able to determine which brands were among the safest.

According to the data, Audi is the top safest car brand, with only 0.54 fatal crashes per 1,000 drivers over the decade. This title is well-earned, since Audi has made significant investments in safety technology, research, and development, including developing new safety systems that use sensors and cameras to detect and prevent accidents.

Subaru and Mercedes-Benz also ranked high, with 0.55 and 0.75 fatal crashes per 1,000 drivers, respectively. This goes along with Subaru’s six recent IIHS top-pick safety awards. Mercedes-Benz has a reputation for luxury, but their vehicles are also known for their safety features, including advanced driver assistance systems and collision prevention technology.

According to the Glass Door study, Dodge has the most fatal crashes of any other car brand in most (64%) U.S. states. Ouch!

So what cars are safest and most dangerous in Nevada?

The first three are the SAFEST, the next three are the MOST DANGEROUS.

Time and time again Volvo has been at the top of the list in review publications ranking different vehicles for safety. Volvo is highly focused on accident prevention through features and handling. If you're living in Nevada, take notice.

The 2023. Subaru Forester wins the Top Safety Pick award in the Small SUV category. In addition, the 2023 Subaru Legacy is a Top Safety Pick winner in the Midsize Car category. Subaru is consistently on top when it comes to safety. Might be a good car to handle the many potholes of Las Vegas.

Since the 1930s, Audi has been crash-testing their cars to ensure that they are as safe as possible in the event of an accident. Their SUV is one of the largest on the market. Many surveys call out Audi DRIVERS as some of the worst, so at least their CAR is safe!

According to insurance statistics, Dodge has the most fatal crashes of any other car brand in most (64%) U.S. states - and now Nevada.

Mitsubishi has always struggled when it comes to safety ratings- especially in Nevada.

Other brands worth noting include Buick and GMC, but according to a U.S. News rankings of automakers, CHRYSLER has been around for decades and decades. But it was one of the most dangerous US car brands in the automotive market - and Nevada. 

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

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