Not surprised in the least. I belong to another internet forum, that forum as a whole isn't finance related but it has a sub-topic area for finances. People who belong there aren't at the MMM level but tend to make far, far better financial choices than the average American. Many new posters to the sub-forum will be in financial distress and ask the other posters to review their monthly budgets and help them get on a better path (much like case studies here). 9 times out of 10 they will have at least one but often two OUTRAGOUS car payments, we're talking amounts that can exceed 40% of net take home a month (before gas, insurance, etc.). The first thing posters comment on are the cars, and the original poster almost always says that the car(s) are non-negotiable for some stupid-ass reason. Almost always one of the vehicles in question are a huge SUV, truck, or minivan with all the bells and whistles, sometimes it's both. And often, because they are so far underwater and the poster has no real cash on hand, even if they want out of the vehicle it can be nearly impossible to dump it.