How Much Should You Pay for a Jet Ski?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you enjoy being on the water, a personal watercraft (PWC) such as a Jet Ski would be a worthwhile investment. Its small size makes it easier to maneuver than a boat, which is why water lovers find PWCs convenient.

But even though they’re small, they can still be expensive. This is especially true when you factor in storage, insurance, and maintenance. So if you’re considering a used Jet Ski to cut down on the purchase price, you should know how much to pay for one. Here’s a handy guide.

What type of Jet Ski do you need?

Kawasaki Jet Ski personal watercraft | John B. Carnett/Bonnier Corporation via Getty Images

Luxury

According to NADA Guides, luxury PWCs are at the top of their class in performance, acceleration, and speed. This is why they are the most expensive. Most people prefer them due to their top speeds and the thrill that comes with riding them. 

They are also easy to use and are stable due to the massive hulls offering a smooth ride. However, luxury Jet Skis are bulkier and less maneuverable than smaller models.

Performance

These PWCs are similar to luxury watercraft but with some slight differences. They are faster and offer more water maneuverability for tricks and stunts. They can also be more expensive due to the maintenance costs associated with owning one. 

Recreation

These are the most common type of Jet Ski and are highly affordable. They usually have small engines and are designed for beginners and amateur riders. Instead of concentrating on one attribute, recreational Jet Skis balance all aspects to provide a functional personal watercraft. 

Once you determine which type of Jet Ski you want, then you can focus on the price.

Price ranges for new and used Jet Skis

You can purchase a new or used PWC. Though new models come with everything intact, they can be expensive, costing upward of $20,000. But they can also run as little as $5,000, NADA Guides reports. The Jet Ski price depends on its attributes, model, brand, and equipped features.

On the other hand, although used models generally have a lower purchase price, sometimes they come as incomplete units and have hidden costs. For instance, you might find a used Jet Ski in great condition, but it needs a new motor.

If you intend to purchase a used Jet Ski, be sure to do a water test to ensure it’s in good working order. If not, you should avoid buying it or ask for a discount. You should also look for water damage and corrosion, Steven in Sales suggests.

However, the actual cost of ownership is higher when considering all the hidden costs associated with owning a personal watercraft.

The main hidden costs of a PWC include the following:

Maintenance of your Jeet ski

Maintenance costs are usually ongoing and depend upon the type of PWC you own. For instance, performance Jet Skis have very high maintenance costs. 

Fuel cost to fill up your PWC

Before you purchase a watercraft, make sure you consider the gallons it consumes per hour. On average, fuel consumption is usually 120 to 300 gallons annually. 

Insurance to cover your Jet Ski

This depends on the make and model. According to Investopedia, you could pay up to $100 to $500 annually for personal watercraft insurance.

Another cost you could incur is for accessories, but this is usually based on personal preference. 

What’s the difference between a Jet Ski, WaveRunner, and Sea-Doo?

A personal watercraft is a small vessel used to navigate bodies of water. The person using it sits, stands, or kneels instead of standing or sitting inside it as with a boat. A PWC’s primary source of propulsion is an onboard jet drive.

It’s important to note that despite its small size and unique design, personal watercraft such as Jet Skis are still bound by the laws and requirements that govern water vessels in addition to PWC-specific laws. 

Three popular personal watercraft brands are Jet Ski, WaveRunner, and Sea-Doo. Kawasaki makes Jet Ski models, Yamaha manufacturers WaveRunner units, and Sea-Doo produces Sea-Doo vessels. Polaris, better known for making ATVs, also sells Sea Lion personal watercraft.

Some people refer to all PWCs as Jet Skis or WaveRunners, as some call facial tissues “Kleenex.” But all models are brand names of personal watercraft and have similar price ranges.

RELATED: 4 Best Jet Skis, WaveRunners, and Sea-Doos of 2021

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Fiat-Abarth Monomille GT: From 750 Race Car to Porsche 356 Rival

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Here in the US, the Fiat 500 was the only car that got the Abarth treatment. Overseas, though, the Abarth scorpion has appeared on many cars over the years. And while the tuner’s strongest association (even before being bought out) is with Fiat, Abarth has tuned other companies’ cars in the past. One of those was the Porsche 356, the predecessor to the iconic 911. However, although it tweaked the 356, the scorpion brand also helped create a contemporary, all-Italian rival: the 750-based Fiat-Abarth Monomille GT.

Like the Porsche 356, the Fiat-Abarth 750 GT Zagato showed how light weight can trump big power

1958 Porsche 356 1600 SS (left) vs. 1958 Fiat-Abarth 750 GT Zagato | Bob D’Olivo/The Enthusiast Network via Getty Images/Getty Images

While it was practical and fairly advanced for its day, the Fiat 600 wasn’t exactly a race car. But Carlo Abarth turned it into one, punching out its engine to increasingly larger capacities, culminating in the 1970 Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR. However, before that happened, the 600—or rather, its floorpan—became the basis for another race car: the Fiat-Abarth 750.

The Fiat-Abarth 750 uses the 600’s rear-mounted powertrain, complete with a four-speed manual transmission. However, Abarth bored the standard 633cc liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine to 747cc and fitted an upgraded carburetor and camshaft. As a result, the 750 makes 44 rather than 23 hp, Hagerty reports. And in dual-overhead-cam Bialbero form, the engine makes 57 hp.

That doesn’t seem like much, but then, the Fiat-Abarth 750 is very light. Although it uses the 600’s floor pan, it has a custom tube-frame chassis and handmade aluminum bodywork by famed coachbuilder Zagato. In Record Monza trim, the Abarth 750 weighs less than 1300 lbs, Hagerty says. And the GT Zagato model, with the coachbuilder’s signature ‘double bubble’ roof, offers room for helmeted heads without sacrificing aerodynamics. So, even without the Bialbero engine, the 750 Zagato could go well over 80 mph, RM Sotheby’s says.

Combined with upgraded brakes and suspension, the Fiat-Abarth 750 Zagato was fast and sharp enough to keep up with larger-capacity race cars. It was a ‘giant killer,’ a term often used to describe another 1950s-era sports car: the Porsche 356, MotorTrend says. However, while the 356 also has a rear-engine design and rear-wheel drive, it differs in several crucial ways.

The Fiat-Abarth 750 went from racer to road-going sports car with the Monomille GT

A yellow 1963 Fiat-Abarth Monomille GT parked on a grassy path
1963 Fiat-Abarth Monomille GT | Tim Scott courtesy of RM Auctions

RELATED: Why Are People Paying 6 Figures for the Fiat Jolly?

Unlike the Abarth 750, the Porsche 356 has an air-cooled flat-four engine. And by 1960, the 356 1600 Super’s engine displaced 1.6 liters and made 75 hp. Plus, while the Fiat-Abarth 750 was an excellent race car, the Porsche could be both a solid race car and a reasonably practical road car. And at the time, Abarth didn’t have a similar dual-purpose car.

But that changed in 1961 when the Italian tuner launched the Fiat-Abarth Monomille GT, Bonhams explains. It’s based on the 750 Record Monza, with similar suspension and handmade aluminum body panels. But instead of a 747cc engine, it has a 982cc engine with a two-barrel Weber carburetor rated at 60 bhp.

Being a pushrod engine, the Monomille GT’s engine is easier to maintain, RM Sotheby’s says. However, it’s still powerful enough to let the little coupe—it only has a 78.7” wheelbase—comfortably go over 100 mph. And to help it slow down, the Fiat-Abarth Monomille GT swapped out the 750’s front drum brakes for discs.

While the Fiat-Abarth Monomille GT isn’t exactly spacious, it does have some on-road-focused features. Besides the leather bucket seats and full upholstery, it also has a usable rear storage compartment. And buyers could spec their cars with either exposed or Plexiglas-covered headlights.

The hand-built Monomille was more expensive than the 356 then and still is now

RELATED: The Autobianchi A112 Is the Forgotten Classic Fiat Abarth

While the Fiat-Abarth Monomille GT made the 750 into something more practical, that didn’t make it cheap. Back in 1961, a Monomille GT cost roughly 30% more than a Porsche 356, Bonhams says. And while some 356s are more expensive today, overall, these Abarth coupes tend to be the pricier pick.

A good-condition Porsche 356 1600 Super typically costs $63,000 these days, Hagerty says. A similar-condition Fiat-Abarth 750 GT Zagato costs about $7000 more, though. But owing to their rarity, Monomille GTs are even more expensive. It’s not unusual to see examples crossing the block for over $100,000. And experts estimate Abarth made no more than 100 examples

That makes the Fiat-Abarth Monomille GT a rare and valuable scorpion, not to mention a somewhat unusual one. But that’s also arguably part of its charm.

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RELATED: It’s Electric: WEVC’s Coupe Channels the Classic Porsche 356

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2023 Mercedes-Benz Eqe: Watch TV in the Ev Luxury Car for the Rest of Us

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Mercedes-Benz has started pushing the brand into the electric future, looking to take on the big dogs of the EV world with the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE. Thankfully, the arrival of yet another big name brand will push the EV industry forward through the crucible of competition. Obviously, the biggest question on everyone’s lips is “can Mercedes bring down Tesla?” For now, the EQE certainly seems like a promising start, price notwithstanding.

How much will the Mercedes EQ cost?

The new Mercedes-Benz EQE at least brings some interesting colors to the table | Mercedes-Benz

RELATED: The 2022 Polestar 2 Is Here to Send a Warning to the Tesla Model 3

Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on pricing for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE. However, if we’re going off what the car is, then some answers start to emerge. Merc says that the 2023 EQE is supposed to be the electric Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Obviously, that means the brand will want the 2023 EQE to be similar in price. Right now, a new E-Class starts at around $55,000. So, expect something similar for the EQE.

Now, I know that the title says “for the rest of us”, and a roughly mid five-figure price isn’t exactly priced for the masses. However, if we’re taking a look at the average price of EV’s, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE is actually rather competitive. By the way, you’ll be getting around 288 hp for the standard single motor version, though Car and Driver says a dual-motor EQE with almost double the power is one the way too.

You can watch movies in the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE

The new Mercedes Hyperscreen in the EQE sedan, comprised of three screens across the dash of the new sedan
The new Mercedes Hyperscreen is actually 3 screens in one big dash piece | Mercedes-Benz

RELATED: Tesla Model 3 vs. Toyota Camry: Ultimate Ownership Cost Analysis

However, the power figures aren’t really the point of this EV luxury car. No, this is a showcase of what EV technology means for Mercedes-Benz as a brand, much like the Mercedes EQS. Thankfully, that means the inclusion of the EQS’ Hyperscreen. Now, to be clear, it’s really three screens in one unit, but that’s semantics anyway. The cool part here is what that means for in-car entertainment.

You’ll be able to watch movies and TV from the passenger seat of the EQE (and presumably the EQS). However, because safety, you’ll not be able to see the screen from the driver’s seat thanks to some clever tinted glass. Honestly, that makes me a little worried. Not just the TV-in-car-distraction angle. I don’t want TV ads in my car. That’s a slippery slope. Still, it’s a cool feature, much like the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE’s optional rear-steering system.

Competition will lead to better EVs

A close up of the charger port on a silver Mercedes EV
Competition will distill the best parts of EVs into a cohesive automotive package | Adam Berry via Getty Images

Dystopian ad-riddle in-car future screens aside, the new 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE brings yet more competition to the EV field, and that’s a good thing. The addition of features like the Mercedes Hyperscreen and rear-wheel steering can only breed better, more cohesive cars. We’re kind of starting over with the car, and all this competition means consumers will end up with some brilliant machines over the coming decades.

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Are The Supreme DUB Spinner Rims Worth $12k?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

An argument can be made that some car modifications are practical and possibly necessary. For example, a cargo net for the trunk of an SUV or cross-over can be handy for someone regularly carrying a lot of stuff. On the other hand, some modifications are purely for style or even bragging rights. In many ways, a car is a fashion accessory. Some have no problem dropping significant amounts of cash to stand out from a crowd when it comes to fashion.

Spending a lot of money to stand out is especially true when looking at streetwear culture. Streetwear brands like Anti Social Social Club, Human Made, Stüssy, and others, play heavily on exclusivity. It is not uncommon for streetwear brands to release fashion goods at very high prices in minimal quantities. It can be argued that the architect of that strategy is the famous New York brand, Supreme.

In addition to their fashion items, Supreme is known for putting their logo on random objects such as megaphones, fire extinguishers, and even bricks. No matter the item, if it has the Supreme logo, it is guaranteed to be a hot seller.

It is no surprise that Supreme is now reaching into automotive culture with their latest collaboration.

Supreme DUB Spinner Wheels

Supreme DUB Spinner Rim | Supreme New York

DUB Wheels is one of the most wheel brands in the world. It is an offshoot of DUB Magazine, founded on the growing interest in chrome wheels on luxury car makes like Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Mercedes. Since the beginning of the DUB Wheels brand, it has collaborated with music celebrities, sports stars, and more.

DUB’s latest collaboration is with Supreme on a limited set of 24-inch “spinner” wheels that feature a hypnotic rendition of the Supreme logo on the “face” of each wheel. A “spinner” is a particular type of wheel designed so that the wheel’s face can spin independently of the rim so it can create an illusion that the wheels are spinning when the car is stopped. The limited edition wheel was announced on Supreme’s Instagram page in a teaser video featuring the wheels on a Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

Spinner wheels initially gained popularity in the early 2000s when rap artists and athletes would equip them on their cars. The popularity of spinners started to fade for a bit, but they have recently made a resurgence.

How much do Supreme DUB Spinner wheels cost?

Supreme DUB Spinner Rim against a white background from a front on view revealing the Supreme logo on the wheel face.
Supreme DUB Spinner Rim | Supreme New York

A set of Supreme DUB Spinner wheels costs $12,000 a set before taxes and shipping. Each set is made to order and takes 10 to 12 weeks for delivery. If that seems like a high price, that’s because it is. Generally speaking, chrome wheels are expensive, to begin with. Combine that with the exclusive nature of Supreme products, and you have the makings of a pricey set of wheels.

Despite their price tag, the wheels are currently sold out, and they are currently not taking any more orders. We speculate that in about 10 to 12 weeks, we will start seeing the wheels pop up on Tik Tok and Instagram influencer pages or maybe a music video.

RELATED: The Three Most Coveted JDM Wheels

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