Have I looked at car [prices? How can one avoid it? My Saturday paper comes with an auto section 2 inches thick!

I didn't say you had to make 150K to afford a Crossfire. I'm not saying I make that. I said that was the market Chrysler was targeting.

This comes straight from an auto writer who had just interveiwed Chrysler VP of Marketing Tom Marinelli:

Target consumer demographics for Chrysler Crossfire is 55 percent male and 45 percent female. In addition, 60 percent have college degrees, are married and between the ages of 35 and 50. The average annual income is more than $150,000. For many, Crossfire will be used as a secondary vehicle in the household..

All that makes sense because, for most households, the Crossfire is impractical as the primary vehicle, between lack of passenger/cargo capacity, fuel costs, insurance, etc. What kind of $$ do you need for the relatively high-cost Xfire to be a third or 4th car? Even tho, for a near-luxur, near-sports car, it may be a great bargain? It's just math.

I agree with all the above who say you can find creative ways to finance a car. All I'm saying is I've had opportunity to review many personal financial statements, and there is a recurrent pattern to banruptcies and divorces with financial problems. Overspending on a car is one of the most common paths to $$ trouble. Sound personal finance policy should limit car payments to 10% of monthly take-home income, with 5% being a lot more prudent, and the higher the insurance and upkeep, the lower the payments should be. Ditto if one needs to be either saving for something (such as college education or a home down payment) or paying off other debt.

I don't make judgments; I know people who spend more than half their income on skiing. If one's priorities are such that one wants to spend 25-30% of take-home on a vehicle, well, Detroit loves you, but at some point just realize that clashes with other goals.