Russ wrote:
With new methods of manufacturing, and newer cheaper more lightweight materials.. why so complex and expensive.
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Good thoughts all around, Russmeister. But there's always the hideous R&D cost to recoup. It's a huge Catch-22. Massive design cost + cheap manufacturing + cheap materials still = expensive car.
My cynical mind thinks that if the industry is going to build and market insanely cheap cars, it's only to promote the "disposable" culture and increase the # of unit sales. The cars are going to crap out pretty quickly, as you know that noone will bother to perform routine PM on a cheap car.