Looking to buy a new car, truck or crossover? You may find it more difficult to stretch the household budget than you expected. According to a new study, median-income families — in only one major city in the United States — actually can afford the typical new vehicle.
Vehicles are now more expensive than ever, averaging $30,500 in 2012, according to TrueCar.com data. That trend is continuing as automakers curb the incentives that helped make their products more affordable during the recession.
According to the 2013 Car Affordability Study by Interest.com, only in Washington, DC, could the typical household afford the payments — the median income there is about $86,680 a year. At the other extreme of the 25 cities included in the study was Tampa, Fla., with a median household income of $43,832.
The study looked at a variety of household expenses, and with regard to purchasing a new vehicle it considered more than just the basic purchase price, down payment and monthly note, factoring in such essentials as taxes and insurance.
Bottom line? A buyer in the capital can purchase a car with a sticker price of $31,940, slightly more than the new vehicle average for the 2013 model year and about what it would cost for a mid-range Ford Fusion sedan or a stripped-down BMW X1 crossover. The buyer in Tampa? They'll just barely cover the cost of a basic Kia Rio, with $14,516 to spend.
"If you live in New York City or San Francisco, you're probably going to have to pay a lot for housing, but you don't have to pay a lot for a car," said Mike Sante, the managing editor of Interest.com, a financial decision-making website.
Affordability has been a matter of growing concern for the auto industry in recent years as prices have continued to move upward. Even the most basic of today's cars are generally loaded with features that were once found on upscale models a few decades back — if they were available at all — such as air conditioning, power windows, airbags and electronic stability control, as well as digital infotainment systems. They also have to meet even tougher federal safety, emissions and mileage standards that have added thousands to the typical price tag.
"The average compact car of today has the features of a midsize model somebody might be trading in — but it may be just as expensive," said David Sargent, director of automotive operations for J.D. Power and Associates.
That is one reason why many buyers have been downsizing in recent years, said Bill Fay, general manager of Toyota, though he added that "there is still a lot of affordability in the marketplace."
Perhaps, but industry planners have come to recognize that they are targeting a much smaller segment of the American public than in decades past. That's one reason why most manufacturers are offering more downsized models.
They also are working with their dealers to offer certified pre-owned programs where buyers can stretch their budget by purchasing a two- or three-year-old vehicle that has gone through an extensive inspection and, if necessary, repairs and replacements. Such vehicles may cost slightly more than a conventional used model, but they usually include a "like-new" warranty.
If the typical new car costs $30,550, with an average monthly payment of $550, the five cities most able to meet — or come close — are:
1) Washington
Average Household Income: $86,680
Affordable Purchase Price: $31,940
Maximum monthly payment: $628
2) San Francisco
Average Household Income: $71,975
Affordable Purchase Price: $26,786
Maximum monthly payment: $537
3) Boston
Average Household Income: $69.455
Affordable Purchase Price: $26,025
Maximum monthly payment: $507
4) Baltimore
Average Household Income: $65,463
Affordable Purchase Price: $24,079
Maximum monthly payment: $468
5) Minneapolis
Average Household Income: $63,352
Affordable Purchase Price: $24,042
Maximum monthly payment: $470
At the other end of the scale, those five cities least able to handle a car payment are:
21) Phoenix
Average Household Income: $50,058
Affordable Purchase Price: $17,243
Maximum monthly payment: $348
22) San Antonio
Average Household Income: $48,699
Affordable Purchase Price: $17,137
Maximum monthly payment: $334
23) Detroit
Average Household Income: $48,968
Affordable Purchase Price: $17,093
Maximum monthly payment: $332
24) Miami
Average Household Income: $45,407
Affordable Purchase Price: $15,188
Maximum monthly payment: $295
25) Tampa
Average Household Income: $43,832
Affordable Purchase Price: $14,516
Maximum monthly payment: $282
While the typical new vehicle will likely nudge up this year, Interest.com editor Sante stressed that car costs are one of the most controllable parts of a household's budget. "You're better off driving something more affordable and saving or investing the difference."