Of all the factors mentioned or alluded to, NEVER, ever, ever underestimate the 16-year-old-lust-factor. As in, what you really lusted after as a 16-year-old. Probably some easier to understand examples in parallel situations are:
Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi Dodge Charger 440 Six-Pack Pontiac 455 GTO Judge Kawasaki H-2, Z-1 or KZ900 Triton
I think you get the point. From a point of mechanical and artist perfection, these vehicles fall far short of those wondrous European pieces of art (say, MV Augusta/Ducati and Ferrari/Maserati). However, prime examples of the above constantly out-price the snobbier Euro stuff.
The Paramount's in the same boat. No matter how finely made, it's American, which means it either: a. Causes a sharp sniff out of the upturned snotty Euro nose, or b. brings back memories of when it was just as desirable as girls, thus insuring that sanity never holds back on the purse strings.
George R. "Syke" Paczolt Montpelier, VA
---------------------------------
What are the most popular cars? Find out at Yahoo! Autos