Originally Posted by BrianMSmith

Car affordability is a very relative thing. I make well into 6 figures but support a family of 5, quarter mill mortgage, aggressive savings plan, kids in private school, child care with the wife doing post-graduate to start a career (which will make us a lot of money long term), and thus a $40k car has only been possible for me the last year or so, and I am now 41yo. In fact, if the wife's (an my) earning potential were not so high in the next 10+ years, the Z would not have looked so attractive financially. My income about doubles every 10 years, according to the record so far and the historical trends. Let's hope Bernanke doesn't inflate us or tax the max us out of the national debt (and housing bust).