According to CPI Inflation Calculator, $24k in 1995 has the buying power of $49,129.10 today. Plug in some numbers from years when you remember cars being inexpensive, and see how much they’re equivalent to today.
That $.30 gallon of gas in 1960 is equivalent to $3.15 today.
The 1996 Geo Prism I bought for $15k (my first brand new car), doesn’t seem like such a good value anymore!
Here’s $24,000. Buy something new in 1995
Now add in vehicle maintenance. Add a quart of oil almost at every fill-up. Adjust points multiple times per year. There’s a reason why old cars had full-sized spares.