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America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles

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Schm, enjoying his first desert winter. .
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
This is why I try to get my grandparents to consult me before buying a new car. They'll end up paying around MSRP for a crappy Caddilac or Lincoln. Luckily one set has bought Cadillacs for the past decade or so (DeVille/DTS one) and the other set has always had pickups and a car of sort, now they've up-graded to a RXus.
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UglyDuckCar
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
b-b-b-b-b-but I got my caliber for $11k :(
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pres
07/14/09

@UglyDuckCar:

You got taken.
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techstar25
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
You could change the title of the article to "The Top 10 Used Vehicle Values". Part of the reason why the MSRP is too high is because these depreciate VERY fast, and therefore are some of the very best used car values. You could probably save 50% off the MSRP by getting a one-year-old used one.
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Hello Mister Walrus
07/14/09

@techstar25: It depends on what you are trying to say. Your statement and the article are opposites of each other. The article uses market value as the reference value and determines if a vehicle is overpriced by comparing it to MSRP (what the companies say it is worth). You are using MSRP as the reference value and determining which is highly discounted by looking at market value.

Also, if I am interpreting the article correctly, the market value refers to the price of a new vehicle, not a used one.
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cgarison
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
You forgot the chief advantage of a Grand Marquis is that it does look like a squad car and police have a tendency to ignore them on the highway. It is the the perfect stealth vehicle when combining comfort and touring ability with factor that you can set the cruise on any interstate highway at 13 MPH above the posted speed limit and not worry about a thing.

Don't like the handling, put on a set of P71 shocks and a set of Adco sway bars (front and rear). If you can stand a bit of engine noise, swap out the baffled intake for a P71 zip tube and install dual exhausts to get a little more from the car. Need even a bit more, swap out the MAF for the larger one on the P71 and flash the computer to make sure the car is not confused.

My new 2009 GrandMa is a wonderful car. In fact, it has such a presence on the highway that I have speeding cops in marked cruisers slow down when passing me. I don't care what Forbes says, this car is impressive and it commands respect. My 2003 Grand Marquis never had this kind of presence although it was equally as stealthy and ultimately ignored by police. It is a shame when the editors of Jalopnik do not understand the concept of driving a car that has nothing to prove to make a statement.
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Novaload
07/14/09

@cgarison: I have been arguing this for years. I have a 1997. It is just invisible--except at night, when it does cause traffic to slow down. At one point I wanted to get grille lights that said (backwards of course) "Not A Cop"
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Edited by Novaload at 07/14/09 4:23 PM Novaload was starred Novaload was unstarred

drive_thru_disorder
07/14/09

@cgarison:

in other words:

Cop shocks.

Cop exhaust.

does it run good on regular gas Elwood?
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shmendo
07/14/09

@cgarison: I've always thought they'd be the best I-95 car. Just pick one up at an estate sale for cheap and add wheels, tires, shocks, exhaust, and a nice stereo. You're good to go or, since you are on I-95, you'd good not to go. The only problem for me would be the crappy front seat.
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cgarison
07/14/09

@drive_thru_disorder: Yep. It runs good on the 2009 version of regular gas.
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cgarison
07/14/09

@shmendo: What is the problem with a proper bench seat? It only took one trip to paradise with my girlfriend to convince her that I made a good decision by getting another land yacht. Just don't get carried away with the Armor All before heading out through the Poconos or Smokey Mountains using the back roads. (Bit of experience speaking there.)
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skitter
07/14/09

@cgarison: I'm almost sold on one. That's scary.
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shmendo
07/14/09

@cgarison: That's what the back seat is for! Or, you could put 3 buckets across the front like, what was the car?, a late 70's Simca or Matra?. She could sit right next to you, or you could put a chaperone in the middle
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cgarison
07/14/09

@shmendo: Back seat???? That is for those to be incarcerated and children in the SWB Panthers. Backseats are only usable in the LWB Crown Vic (Taxi Package) LWB Grand Marquis (Middle East only) Towncar and Towncar L (Ford factory stretch with 9" rear differential).
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eggwich del fiero
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
MSRP is so irrelevant in most new car-buying situations it should stand for Man Someone Really Paidthatmuch? Take the emotion out of buying a new car and you'll never approach MSRP.
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beercheck
07/14/09

@eggwich: Amen.
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Maymar
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
For whatever reason, base Wranglers start at $20,000 up here. Considering that's mid-level econocar money, it just seems underpriced.
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P161911 probably shoudn't have
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
This brings to mind my plan to attempt to profit from the cash for clunkers program. The Feds say the dealer will give me $4500 for my 88 F-150 that is worth about $1500. I'm trying to find a car that gets the mileage required for the $4500 and will allow me to sell it right after purchase for about $2000 less than I paid= $2500 profit for another old, but slightly better truck The bigger the rebates the better. Any suggestions?
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nataku8_e30
07/14/09

@P161911 now with M POWER!: Actually, you forgot to factor in the value of your F-150, so 4500 - 2000 depreciation - 1500 truck value = $1000 profit = may not be worth the hassle (especially since that 2000 depreciation will have to contain the TTL and any temporary insurance costs)
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beercheck
07/14/09

@P161911 now with M POWER!: My suggestion is to do more research. For example, unless you can prove you've owned the car for a full year (as I recall), it's not eligible.
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P161911 probably shoudn't have
07/14/09

@nataku8_e30: I was factoring that in, but forgot to do the math right in the post. The insurance is no problem, you get a 30 day pass from State Farm, title isn't too bad, tag tax is fairly cheap in GA too, maybe $200. The deal killer might be the sales tax, guess I could do it at an out of state dealer.
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nataku8_e30
07/14/09

@P161911 now with M POWER!: I'd be impressed if you can get a title in under 30 days. I think it's normally 4-6 weeks for me in TX, but I've had it take quite a bit longer when I lived in NY. You're basically going to have to buy something that barely sees any depreciation... I would guess Fit or Mini, and would lean toward Fit since it's an overall better car and is cheaper.
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tonyola
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
How could they forget the Kia Amanti, with its are-you-kidding-me $26,000 base price? OK, I'll admit it's tough enough to remember that these mock-LeSabres are still for sale. When was the last time you saw a new one?
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QuadraBog
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
A fully loaded Miata was at $27,800, Wow! For a Miata? You could by a loaded Mazda 6 for $28,200.

Seems getting this list to 20 wouldn't be a problem.
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beercheck
07/14/09

@QuadraBog: Getting to 20 wouldn't be a problem, but coming up with the contrived formula to exclude all imports might prove too onerous for it to be worth the effort.
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something_unique_and_descriptive
07/14/09

@QuadraBog: Name a new RWD sports car for less.

Hyundai Genesis 2.0T Track With floor mats, wheel locks, and an iPod cable (ie the stuff you actually want) totals out to an MSRP of $27,675 and that's really the only other thing in the market.
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Edited by something_unique_and_descriptive at 07/14/09 4:12 PM

bmoreDLJ
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
I assume the Jalopnik A.Z.T.E.K. Value Index is different from the "How Jalopnik is your car" score.
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Matt Hardigree
07/14/09

@bmoreDLJ: yes of course
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bzr
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
See, this is why I think Forbes automotive lists are about as well-composed and relevant as a medieval court jester at a Metallica concert. Two Pontiac G6s? The Colorado AND the Canyon? A pair of archaic Fords that haven't been sold new since the Reagan administration? A niche-market Wrangler? They still build the GMC Envoy? Some Dodge trucks that are so crappy they're considered overpriced if they actually have price tags on them?

I'd insult the Forbes automotive editors some more, but it's not nice to pick on the mentally challenged.
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beercheck
07/14/09

@bzr: <-- What he said.
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Mad_Science
07/14/09

@bzr: What've you got against jesters?
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Ted Ladue
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
As I said in the gallery view: "Well at least the Durango comes with mountainboards!"

And I'm just waiting for the great deal on a Wrangler....come on Jeep.....get desperate...
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beercheck
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
Did I read this wrong, or is this really about over-MSRP'd vehicles, not over-priced vehicles?
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beercheck
07/14/09

@beercheck - Commentin' Dirty: So, I just re-read the Forbes article, and I delclare that it was the most useless article I've read in weeks.

And I read a lot.

I mean, really, what does MSRP have to do with anything?

I want my 10 minutes back.
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pj134
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
Huh... the wrangler should be about 5 grand less on all trims... oh well...

Who wouldn't want a rubicon for 25 though?
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engineerd
07/14/09

In reply to America's Ten Most Overpriced Vehicles
I'm going to start answering, "ü" to questions. I guess this would only work in email. I guess I could say, "ü", but I have trouble with my umlauts.

BTW, where is Pete?
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.357
07/14/09

@engineerd: Gone.
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Mad_Science
07/14/09

@.357: Gone where?
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.357
07/14/09

@Mad_Science: I don't know. But he's gone. Check out his profile.
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Mad_Science
07/14/09

@.357: It's getting harder and harder to spend my precious time-wasting minutes around here.

This is the first comment in a while that I haven't had to re-write because I committed the Mortal Sin of clicking outside of the comment text box.
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dwegmull comments for the purpose of obscurity
07/14/09

@engineerd: His name is gone from the contributor list on the left as well... I guess he fell victim of Comments 2.0.
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aSoundofSleep-less nights
07/14/09

@Mad_Science:

That happened to me yesterday after typing in a three paragraph essay. I almost shit a parakeet.
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Mad_Science
07/14/09

@aSoundofSleep: Vivid image. Accurate, too.
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