I do believe you are mistaken somewhat in that a 'base' car today say a rabbit is about $15K and a base car 20 years ago with about $8K (I owned a VW Fox) the rabbit has so many extra features it's not even funny such as disc brakes, radio, 5-speed, engine that's 2x as powerful, 15" wheels instead of 13" wheels, airbags, ABS, . just the extra content of a new car should be worth a lot more than what it would be, I mean if you offered a Rabbit with no features at all it would likely be closer to $11K

Just 3% inflation would have a $8K car costing $14K in 20 years, so my $8K car back in 1988 was the same as if I was buying a $14K car (same real cost) but I will tell you a car from 1988 was primitive and had no features compared to todays cars.

I believe inflation is fairly tame and the dollar while down is not like that's something that never happens and we have been running a trade deficit for a very long time and much of the trade deficit comes down to how much oil we import which believe me we were importing lots of oil for as long as I can remember and inflation is very low low single digits and the only thing not is Oil which is really not a big cost for most people. I mean if gas costs $1.50 7 years ago and $2.90 now if you use 1000 gallons of gas a year the cost is $28 a week more, I don't think $28 a week is so much like one cup of starbucks coffee a day. Not like all our money is going to gas. Back in the 80s when gas was $2 a gallon that would be like real world $4 a gallon today

I would say the extra features is the main reason. I mean for example a Mini S you can add $12K to the price of a $22K base car and it's not like the base car has no features it's just the options many seem worthwhile like heated seats for $400 or sport suspension for $900 or LSD for $500 (etc..) but they just add up add 10 or 12 such options and you are looking at a $32K Mini S

 

33,495 to 34,995 is not a huge jump for the Sti

48,995 is as high as you can go without accessories (portable nav another set of wheels etc) MSRP.

No you did not. Not in the USA anyway.

 

With accessories, it's doable. Just playing around, I got to $50K with some accessories still left over. In other words, in the same situation that gets you a $38K Honda Accord.

 

Crazy.

 

haha i just priced the mini that is rediculous although i hope nobody would put all those accessories on it.

 

MINI is funny.

On one hand, I absolutely LOVE the fact that a car company makes SO much available...

On the other hand, it's simply crazy to see how much all that can come to.

But to be completely HONEST here...it's just money (to some people). I mean, if you really, really love the MINI Cooper or Clubman and really want to make it "uniquely" yours...wow, the options seem limitless. I love the personlization and _details_ of their accessories.

For example - I think the "removable" NAV system is a great accessory. 1/2 the price of a "full NAV" in the car and you can take it with you...yet it's "designed" for your MINI. How cool. Granted, the $700 price tag weighs heavily on the $400 Garmins and TomToms you can buy now...but I digress...

I think the "choices" is what it's all about and I applaud ANY car company that recognizes that owners want to personalize their rides and who gives a crap if they are raking in profits...that's the way it works.

 

Porsche owns all in this contest:

Porsche Cayenne
Base price: $46,400.00
Price for Equipment: $59,245.00
Total Price:* $105,645.00

 

Have any of you optioned out a Maybach 67 S? Base price was approx $425,000, I ran up most of the options available which run an additional $97,500. Total price, $522,500.. For the price of just the options, you could buy an S-Class!

 

Uh, $90k in options isn't that bad when the car is already $420k. The trick is to find models where you can spend more on options than the base vehicle itself... I.e. there is a set of ghetto ass 21" wheels for the Cayenne that go for 8k, and that's just the beginning.

This doesn't count markups or the like, just factory accessories and options.

 

So...ur saying that my 21" wheels on my new Cayenne Turbo are ghetto??