Faded: 1987 Suzuki Samurai vs 1990 Buick Reatta
Today’s next feature is a special…no, that’s not right. Today’s next feature is special. It features two cars where the asking prices are nuts, but you get to decide which seller took a bigger hit off the bong before posting the price. Yup, it is that kinda day. A $20k Suzuki Samurai, versus a $10k Buick Reatta. I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.
First up is a 1987 Suzuki Samurai with 16500 miles on the odo where the seller is asking a price higher than a SpaceX rocket — $20k. That is all the money and then some for a Suzuki Samurai, but at least the Samurai is legendary for its off-road performance and being durable for hundreds of thousands of miles…which begs the question as to why anyone would want to buy a low mile version where they’d not put miles of dirt roads behind them. On the plus side, you won’t get a DUI if it is always parked on your lawn preserving the odometer digits. Onward to the reality check that is a Reatta for half as much. Tip from Rock On!
The GM V6 equipped 1990 Buick Reatta is offered for a Richard Branson in space sum of $10k because it has only 43k miles on the odometer. That is a gigantic steaming pile of money for a car that probably won’t last past 50k miles without a transmission rebuild or that funky digital gauge going up in smoke…but the only reason you might consider driving a Reatta is so you can answer the inevitable “ooh, what is that” question from random people by telling them “oh, I picked this up from a grandma for $500” but instead you’ve got to say “its an appreciating collectible”. Yeah, store it in your garage next that 25 gallon plastic garbage bag full beanie babies and tell me which one is worth more in 10 years. Tip from Cory.
Okay, now its your turn at the bong, which is more overpriced, Stonezuki or the Irieatta? Comments below.
https://youtu.be/VmW-ScmGRMA
I think the Samurai may be the crack-pipiest price here, although this is a tough call. Sammies have a serious following, but they’re mainly interested in it as a cheap, go-anywhere off roader and not in paying big bucks for a pristine one.
The Buick, on the other hand – *if* it had a collector following, the people who would want it would presumably put a premium on clean, unmolested, and working. But it may take a couple decades to find out if such a following would emerge, perhaps if Radwood really catches on.