Friday Evening Question #3: What cars have vast price ranges?

"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty)
12/27/2013 at 18:00 • Filed to: friday evening question, feq, passat, volkswagen, VR6, inline 5

Many cars today have so many standard features built in that the new prices will vary little between the base model and the loaded one; on the other hand, many cars still have ridiculously priced or such numerous options that you might be rolling off the dealer lot in a car that looks the same as that neighbor who is always trying to best you but costs 65% more. Only you were just suckered into spending $34,000 on a Passat that looks, at first glance, like the one he ended up getting for $20,000 (of course, it does have power everything and a bitchin' V6 that will get you to 60 in I-don't-care-how many seconds faster than his inline-5 equipped model (I am only guessing the typical new Passat buyer doesn't care about performance. Besides—inline-5s are arguably bitchin'-er). So, ignoring the fact that all of these questions are about standoffish douchewads who only care about image when buying a car, what are some other ridiculously different price points on cars that wear the same nameplate?

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DISCUSSION (22)

Brian Silvestro > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/27/2013 at 18:05

3-Series.

$30K

$92K

Hoccy > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/27/2013 at 18:07

I'd say either a BMW 5-series, MB E-class or the Audi A6. All are availible with four cylinder diesels and a rather low entry-price, but they could also be fitted with huge engines and lots of equipment in M, AMG or RS form.

Brian Silvestro > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/27/2013 at 18:07

S-Class.

$71K

$227K

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/27/2013 at 18:08

Porsche 911. If you include all of the 911s as one car, then I'm going to say that I already won because it can go from anywhere at $86k to over $200k for the most expensive Turbo S Cabriolet. But I'm going to type this argument as only with the regular 911, adjust per model as needed because the idea stays the same, because they nickel and dime you for everything. But I guess it's worth it for the personalizing.

EDIT: Just finished, $164k on a base 911 before I got bored, expect that it would hit almost $175k if I put up with the if you choose these seatbelts, you'd have to change the steering wheel, gearshift, and your first born child.

duurtlang > Brian Silvestro
12/27/2013 at 18:09

Exactly, BMWs and other luxury Germans have the biggest difference. Now imagine the European market, where the base 3-series is a lot more base (316i) than the US version, and where (I bet) you can select more/more expensive options for the M.

Brian Silvestro > duurtlang
12/27/2013 at 18:11

Hadn't even thought of that. It's unbelievable what engines they offer in Europe that we aren't even aware of.

dogisbadob > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/27/2013 at 18:12

The Mustang and Camaro!

Starts in the 20s for a V6, going into the 50s if not more for the special high performance editions.

Yeah I know someone will say Porsche, but their cars already start out expensive, so it's going from expensive to really expensive. The muscle cars I suggested start out relatively cheap and go to expensive.

webmonkees > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
12/27/2013 at 18:16

Let us not omit the full range of color choices outside the realm of good taste, which in a way adds to the overall cost of ownership. "Nobody wants to buy my old Mauve 911 with Teal seats."

duurtlang > Brian Silvestro
12/27/2013 at 18:19

Dutch market 2014 F30 3-series alone:
316i, 320i ED, 320i, 328i, 335i, ActiveHybrid 3, 316d, 318d, 320d ED, 320d, 325d, 330d, 335d. That's 13, and it's before the M3 is released so I didn't even count that just yet. I was surprised there's no 318i or something between the 320i and 328i...

AMC/Renauledge > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/27/2013 at 18:20

I'm pretty sure you can get a Mini Cooper hardtop for $20k, and a JCW Cooper S hardtop with all the options and accessories for about $50k.

Brian Silvestro > duurtlang
12/27/2013 at 18:21

That's absurd. It's an American fanboy's wet dream.

duurtlang > Brian Silvestro
12/27/2013 at 18:24

I left the optional xDrive out, and you can get most with 2 transmission options. Oh, and most if not all of this is available on the wagon as well. I think the only exceptions are the 335d and the upcoming M3. 4-series starts with the 420i and 420d.

Brian Silvestro > duurtlang
12/27/2013 at 18:27

Oh shit I forgot about the wagon. I'll take a 330d Wagon with a Manual, RWD please!

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/27/2013 at 18:31

Trucks. Starting MSRP for a F-150? ~$24.k
Fully spec'ed out F-150 Platinum? $58,765, Fulley spec'ed Raptor? $59580
Fully spec'ed F-350? $71,740
Fully spec'ed F-450? $74,715

yeah, they get pricy

GhostZ > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
12/27/2013 at 19:50

And when they add the GT2 RS, if they do to this generation, that gap will widen to at least 86k-260k.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/27/2013 at 22:07

Cayenne is pretty big, and not just between models!
a base cayenne with no options is just shy of $50,000. With all the options, it's about double that!

phenotyp > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/27/2013 at 22:35

Having just gone through this, I'm gonna chime in and say that German sedans have the wildest ranges (at least in the US's used market). You can find a six-year-old BMW from $10-80k, easy. Granted, their conditions can vary just as wildly.

MDP310 > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
12/27/2013 at 22:49

Caddy ATS can go from 33k to almost 60k

joemcm > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
12/27/2013 at 23:29

I drove a 2014 Sierra 1500 for a Maui Jim promotion card I found at the Golf Course I work at that required me to drive a truck to get a free pair of expensive sunglasses. Naturally, I was stoked. Anyways, I drove a $55,000 Sierra. This was before the Denalis were even on the lot. I just speced one out to $60,000 before I got real bored. Base model is $26,000

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > joemcm
12/27/2013 at 23:31

Trucks get crazy expensive, and down here in Texas the sell like fucking hotcakes. The number of King Ranch F250s I see all over the place is borderline insane.

joemcm > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
12/27/2013 at 23:40

I know...

I'm from Kentucky. We make those here. Being a small car driver, I feel like a 4-year-old eternally lost in the mall when trying to make left turns.

AMC/Renauledge > AMC/Renauledge
12/28/2013 at 20:29

Correction. I just priced a $19,700 Mini hardtop to $60,308 in JCW Cooper S trim on the website. That's an additional 206% of the cost of the basic car in options alone. Not even the S-Class can be optioned out to triple its base price in America. And Europe gets even cheaper versions of the Mini than we do.