Then This Now

Technology

The 50,000-Mile Throwaway: How Americans Once Accepted That Cars Simply Wore Out

There was a time in America when hitting 100,000 miles on your odometer wasn't an achievement — it was basically a eulogy. Engines burned out, transmissions failed, and rust claimed the rest. The story of how that changed is one of the most underappreciated engineering transformations of the last half-century.

Mar 13, 2026

Finance

When $2,000 Could Park a Brand-New Car in Your Driveway — Where Did All That Money Go?

In the 1950s, a shiny new American car cost roughly what a decent used smartphone runs today. Decades later, the average new vehicle sticker price has blown past $48,000 — and the reasons why say a lot about who we've become as drivers, consumers, and a society.

Mar 13, 2026