Car enthusiasts are amongst the loudest group with regard to complaining about rising new car prices. As it turns out, all of those grievances are pointed wrongly at automakers. Take the 2023 Acura Integra, the car that inspired us to write this story. The new Integra A-Spec closely compares to the 2003 RSX Type S, which cost $23,270. That translates to $39,360, taking inflation into account. A new Integra A-Spec only costs $36,300, not even factoring in how much more technology and safety equipment is available today.
It’s a similar story with the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata. A 2003 Miata cost $20,000 ($33,829 today), but a new one can be had for $28,050. And remember, the NB Miata only produced 142 hp, while the new one has 181 hp.
Even expensive sports cars like the BMW M3 and Porsche 911 kept up with inflation. A 2003 E46 M3 cost $46,545 ($78,729 today), while a new M4 (the two-door version of the M3) is only $74,300. In those 20 years, power went up from 333 to 473 hp. Even the 911 Carrera, which seems expensive at $106,100, is way cheaper than the 996 model at $72,435 ($122,521 today).
