* Type of car: A new luxury sedan would cost far more than a new economy car, and used car prices varied even more widely based on age, condition, and model.
* Source of data: Different organizations (like Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds) used different methodologies and might have slightly different averages.
* New vs. Used: The average price of a new car would be considerably higher than the average price of a used car.
While finding the exact average is difficult, you can expect that the average price of a new car in 1998 was likely in the $18,000 - $22,000 range (in 1998 dollars). The average price of a used car would have been significantly lower. Keep in mind that inflation would make these figures seem much lower in today's money.
