paying 500k for a picanto would be absurd, not because the picanto doesnt cost that to make but rather because it is mass produced and created in the cheapest possible way. if someone liked the picanto and only 5000 units were ever made and the asking price was 500k and they could, then why the hell not? frankly i think it is completely absurd for anyone of us to even think of telling others what they should do with their money. if someone likes something regardless of cost then why cant they purchase it and be proud of it? why is it that people have to sit here and complain about other people getting ripped off.
If someone can afford a 100k amplifier and purchase it instead of buying a 20k one that does the same job then why not. frankly the audiophile hobby is overpriced in almost every arena. most people are happy with a small samsung micro system, but most of us here would prefer a nice onkyo or marantz, because its built better and leaves us with a feeling that we got something better and more unique, the samsung would still produce very decent audio at a fraction of the price, yet we support the audiophile brands because they offer slightly better performance at a much higher price. we do this because we can afford the more expensive one in this scenario. the cable industry is a prime example, monster cable charges 5 times the price of some good quality "no name brand stuff" for some 16awg ofc cable and yet people are willing to pay the extra for the brand and the feeling they are getting a better product. monster has managed to create a brand that people are all too willing to pay for, not because their products are far superior but because people want that feeling that they are getting the best even if it costs them 5 times the price. if the guy who buys the picanto for 500k feels he is getting the best, then let him, ignorance is bliss and fools are soon parted from their money, but if he is happy then the price is worth it according to the only person who's opinion matters, the purchaser.
So if someone is fortunate in life and has large amounts of cash at their disposal and choose to spend it on exclusive over priced goodies then why not, the fact is the items that we think are too expensive are not made for or targeted at us, they are targeted at those fortunate enough not to worry about price, those who can simply say"because i can". Its like walking into a rolls royce dealership, if you have to ask, you cant afford it. ofcourse that saying is cocky, but it has truth to it. if you have to ask how much a luxury item costs then you are most probably not in the position to spend a stupid amount of money on the item. if you are too worried about the insurance premiums or the price of fuel or servicing or how you can afford to pay it off or the depreciation or the value for money, then the rolls royce is not for you. but if you have vast quantities of cash and an eye for quality and want to be different from 99.9% of other motorists then R5million is not a issue.Exclusivity comes at a cost. R5 million might be a bargain for such exclusivity to some. To me it seems a waste, for a fifth of the price you could get a bmw 7 series, lots of luxury, some exclusivity and a comfy ride, but it wont have the same felling to say you drive a beemer when you could say you drive a rolls. ofcourse the people who purchase the rolls know they paying for the name, and for the status and for the exclusivity, but if they can, then why not.
