A quick search of completed auctions on eBay and Classic Auto Trader does not show many 2002's in this condition for less than $8K, unless I'm just missing something.

That also doesn't seem like a bad price, but it's cheaper because it's worth less. Automatic transmission and rectangular tails give it way less collector appeal.

Nice graphic for size comparison purposes (as Tyler notes, this is similar in size to Cavour):

How am I the first commenter on this huge story nearly three hours after it was posted?

Because we don't live in a fabulously wealthy oil state that has more money than citizens to spend it on.

Why can't we build 81 million dollar public mountain roads to nowhere for no purpose other than hooning?

This is an awesome idea, Bourdains shows are great, I could definitely see Clarkson doing something similar. Some of the best moments in Top Gear were when they traveled

And the scary thing for the Russians is that a strong and effective American first strike could eliminate the vast majority of the <1000 warheads which are currently deployed. We know where their silos are and even the really hard ones (such as their Satan silos) can be destroyed with a direct hit by a MIRV from a…

Please point me to a study that proves otherwise. Studies that do not match protein intake and studies that rely on self reported intake data do not count. I will be waiting.

Well, if you combine your serious comment with your screen name on here, it sort of brings the funny back.

This. And this is why it was so dangerous to kowtow to Putin with that whole "reset" deal and pull the missile shield back from Europe.

I know you're trying to be quip and make jokes and all. But even if Russia is just blowing smoke, the fact that they expressed it, in no uncertain terms, of their intentions to deploy nuclear missiles at Denmark is just unspeakable. I can't find a joke in this.

"Denmark, Dude"

Suddenly I don't feel neutral

OM NOM NOM (sorry, someone had to do it)

3.) A Giant Freaking Laser

Nope. But given the Colorado's recent success, we darn well better soon.