HO automobiles - Model Railroader Magazine

The eternal debate on acquiring location and era-correct vehicles for you module/diorama/layout...without spending way too much money on it...continues

First, there was a recent debate on this forum on 'generic' looking model cars, and my opinion was "heck yeah!". To me, those who said they would NOT accept generic vehicles make no sense - fine, for the up-front edge of your module use those exactly modeled F350s or Mustangs or whatever else you can find (which can be limited), but in the farther-back street scenes, or in a big parking lot, or a highway packed with other vehicles around, generic is plenty good enough. BTW, those Woodland Scenics vehicles mentioned above (not sure if you meant the 1940s/1950s ones like 'Hitchin a Ride' or 'Rusty's Regret' or the more recent 1980s era ones like 'Marron Coupe' or 'Blue Sedan') are generic models, sort of based off of actual vehicles, but IMO they still work (I have one or two). Heh, I see on Woodland Scenics own Vehicle webpage their 'Passenger Van' has no windows in the back - that seems like an bit of a mislabel on WS's part.

Moving on, how about a recent era GMC Top-Kick in...oh wait, they are no longer made in HO scale. Or are they? (yes,  solid core - ugh - and grainy feel seems almost filament printing to me).  How about a Nissan NV van (pretty common in reality), or a Sentra, or an Altima, or Toyota Corolla or Avalon, or Subaru Impreza - You get the idea as there not many of those around in HO.  Audi's and Mercedes and BMWs, they're pretty easy to find in reasonably recent era (e.g. 21st century) as well as earlier eras. (I have plenty)  IIRC this used to be because a) Europe had/has a large HO vehicle collection audience, hence quite a number of German-prototype vehicles b) every model vehicle collector wanted the cool stuff, hence loads of sporty vehicles, luxury vehicles, racing vehicles and no so much daily driver sedans or pickups...except c) Ever wonder why Roco had a 1970s Dodge Ram pickup back in the day? Military and Emergency vehicle collectors - that Dodge was the basis for the US Army M880 eries 1 1/4 ton truck (and a darn useful model for a then-recent era vehicle until the Tridents showed up). I admit I have two fire trucks from Boley, a fire chief SUV from River Point, and a late model Crown Vic police cruiser (which admittedly by late 2010s era would be relegated to auxiliary/secondary duty - I could use 2 late model Ford Explorers  like this from Shapeways.  So yeah, I get the appeal of Military and Emergency vehicles myself. 
BTW eBay - 1:64 S scale is NOT 1:87.1 HO scale - please make a note of it. Thank you.

So where I am going with this? My medium range plan (and I believe the plan of many if not most others in the hobby) is to keep an eye on the current state of home 3D resin printing (forget the filament, IMO that takes too much sanding and finishing to get it looking good) - probably I will jump in a few year depending upon cost and capabilities of the next gen printers (and the consumibles - how many models can you create from $50/litre resin). This includes good control of sharpness, thicknesses, contouring and especially good hollow printing capability is a must - I remember those Magnuson Models solid cast truck cabs and no, painting the window areas dark metallic blue or whatever just did not work for me, even putting the truck in the far backfield of a module, so hollow cab/interior only. After getting familar with 3D printing, liikely starting out by purchasing a few decent 3d print model files and crank out copies out. Hopefully learning how to create my own 'generic' vehicle knock-offs (and the ability to print items like dumpsters, gondolas (a dumpster on wheels...I kid), street details, and even catenary like our Marklin of Sweden friend does.

So, how many vehicles can one use? Well, it has been said a model railroad (set in a humid climate) can absord trees like a sponge does water, and IMO this applies just as well to vehicles in a 20th/21st century built up environment.

ETA:
1: I have a set of those Life-Like Scenemaster vehicles, but more like early 1950s style ones. 4 colors, the red one i cut off the back and made an HO scale car couch from, the others I will use in a diorama some day.

2: S-scalers - they have  a vast array of decent 1:64 vehicles from brands like Johnny Lightning, M2, even Matchbox in many cases, ranging from the 1950s to current day...and too dang many choose to model the 1920s/1930s. Why shoot yourself in the foot?

3:  If resin printing is eventually superceded by something cheaper and better (perhaps not faster, as you can only choose two of "Cheaper", "Faster", "Better", then I will pay attention. Not certain that will happen in the next 2 years though.