The difference is mostly quantitative. In USSR you could buy a car if you were willing to pay over MSRP (which was mandatory rather than recommended). Simply buy a new car used. Reselling your car immediately after purchase for a profit was a thing.

Some people (occupations such as arctic coal miner) had financial means to do so easily. Other people (notably, engineers on non-management positions like most of HN readers today) would never realistically afford one.

The choice was indeed very limited. But again, it is mostly a quantitative difference.