Good day to my fellow forummen, for a long time it was quiet around me (a lot of work) but now I’m back. I have a personal question for you. How did the costs of a car develop in relation to your own income? Do you feel you are getting poorer or can you keep your car status every year? I hope I have made myself clear. So an example: Our neighbor always drove a Mercedes C class (cost of a C class ) since the year 2000. All Costs of Ownership (All costs associated with the car ) Fuel, wear, car procurement, insurance, car tax etc. So for 14 years he drives a C class. Now with the C class as you certainly know a model change to. Usually he then buys the new model as an annual car. But now he has bought a Opel Corsa (without wit ) Reason: He can not afford a C class anymore, we have looked more closely. In the year 2000 had n we looked at all costs ( invoices ) and then compared the costs with 2014. Partially the costs doubled and then we compared his income ( wage certificate 2000 ) with 2014. The cost of the same model increased significantly more than his income. He earned earlier 3850 DM, that is converted 1968 € Now under unchanged conditions he earns 1750 € His income has fallen. ( profession tram driver ) What has happened between 2000 and 20 14 modified: 1. Elimination of holiday money and Christmas money 2. Elimination of monthly allowances for shift service Therefore my honest question! Figures are not important for me, it counts the percentages. How has your income developed in relation to the expenditures car ?