Top 10 Most Overpriced Cars in 2011

Cars are considered as needs more than luxuries because of such fast pacing activities seen in everyday life. However, due to the crisis that the world is experiencing, even automobile industries experience the hardship of getting back their financial prowess. They needed to sell some vehicles at a higher price to make ends meet for them, despite of making car purchase quite burdensome to a few customers.

10. Lexus ES350

Luxury cars, even with a little shift of prices, create opportunities for competitors to make it even in the selling of their vehicles. Due to the increase of price to meet some demands, the sales have dropped down about half beginning at the end of the first quarter of 2011. Lexus is already as expensive as it is… Why make things worse?

Base MSRP: $36,725

Average market price: $37,599 (3.8%)

Difference: $874

9. Lexus IS250

With manufacturing and expectation of sale going wrong, the Lexus IS250 was one of the beginning downfalls of the company when it comes to sales. As the cost went up to more than 4% of its standard price, the challenge of selling this vehicle got more difficult with a decline of 43%, even pulling the company down for over 21% in May.

Base MSRP: $33,295

Average Market Price: $34,675 (4.1%)

Difference: $1,380

8. Scion xB

Having a cool car is worth spending especially if it comes with a good name, a trusted brand, performance that is over standard and reputation that is without question. However, having to overprice a vehicle just to cope up with damages to manufacturing plants is not a cool way of passing down the expenses to the needy customers who seek something beyond the ordinary and stereotypical.

Base MSRP: $16,950

Average market price: $17,670 (4.2%)

Difference: $720

7. Honda Accord

Known for getting head to head with Toyota Camry based on body size, performance, and looks, the Honda Accord could have made itself more appealing to the masses. However, with such a huge price jump from the starting price, there have been a few who have been disappointed with such a feat of trying to get things going with their customers.

Base MSRP: $21,380

Average market price: $22,412 (4.8%)

Difference: $1,032

6. Scion xD

Making new concepts are very attractive for customers who want to experience something fresh and exciting. After all, when people mention that a luxury car is worth having, then others will spread the news, and have that set of wheels popular. It should be considered that competitors are not offering the same thing. Otherwise, the price may not be worth the waste.

Base MSRP: $15,845

Average market price: $16,605 (4.8%)

Difference: $760

5. Toyota Prius

When it comes to small and frugal, nothing comes close to what Toyota Prius has done for so many years. Everything could have been alright with buyers, but as much as they feel Japan for the earthquake and tsunami that happened in Sendai, affecting manufacturing, they may have to pass with the purchase.

Base MSRP: $21,650

Average market price: $22,901 (5.8%)

Difference: $1,251

4. Nissan Versa

The price may be one of the lowest quotations available, but it does not mean that it will not hurt clients if they see that the price of the Nissan Versa is being sold more than $500 higher than it should be.

Base MSRP: $11,240

Average market price: $11,924 (6.1%)

Difference: $684

3. Acura TL

There is something obviously wrong going on if you see a car that would sell as much as $2,000 higher than it should be. The difference of the starting and selling price can do so much, and can purchase other things. Would anyone in his right mind take on such a beating just because Japan had experienced an earthquake, which gave manufacturing sites a kind of worry with their delivery?

Base MSRP: $35,605

Average market price: $37,952 (6.6%)

Difference: $2,347

2. Kia Optima

This is a few of the cars that Kia created, which goes away from its usual lineup. Even though the revolution was more than obvious, other people are not buying the new development, with almost 8% of a difference from the value it is supposed to have.

Base MSRP: $18,995

Average market price: $20,473 (7.7%)

Difference: $1,478

1. Honda Civic

It may be understandable that most Japan cars will increase in price sales due to the calamity that hit their hometown, affecting factories and manpower. However, the price is already over the top, even before disaster had stricken the Land of the Rising Sun.

Base MSRP: $15,805

Average market price: $17,301 (9.5%)

Difference: $1,496

Top 10 Largest Banks in the World

Despite of the financial downfall that the world did experience for the past few years due to the economic blow that led to the bankruptcy and closure of some of the most trusted and largest banks in the world, there are still others that have survived and have proven that they are not just the largest but also the competitive. With the recent rankings that have been issued and confirmed by the financial experts themselves, here are the latest and accurate report based on data tallied and collected, the top 10 largest banks in the world.

10. Royal Bank of Scotland, UK

Its last year’s ranking of number 4 and went down to 10 this year. It is founded and located in United Kingdom and has a total assets of $ 2,274,766.82. This is founded in 1727 and being led by Stephen Hesher focusing on Finance and Insurance.

9. Bank of China

This is not associated with the People’s Bank of China, which happens to be the central bank of citizens in the mainland. This is part of the top four biggest banks in the financial industry in China, which is built and was, established in 1912 by the government themselves, focusing on banking financial services. It went up by six rankings high, compared to its last year’s position at number 14.

8. China Construction Bank Corporation

This is included in the top four biggest banks in China and it is ranked as the eighth largest bank in the world. It has been in operation since 1954 where it was originally built in Beijing, China. It went up by seven rankings high compared to its 15^th spot last year, which is a good sign that its trust and financial level are outstanding.

7. Wells Fargo & Co

It has a total assets of $ 2,258,128 which is a pubic owned company found and headquartered in San Francisco, California. It is originally founded in New York City on March 18, 1852 and is focused on retail banking, commercial banking, investment banking, consumer finance, insurance, payday advance, and mortgages.

6. Industrial Commercial Bank of China

Of course, this is part of the big four of China and successfully bagged the sixth spot among the top 10 largest bank in the world. It is founded in 1984 in Beijing China and it has widened its operation worldwide. It focuses on finance insurance, credit cards, consumer banking, corporate banking, Investment Management, Investment banking, global wealth management, mortgages, and private equity.

5. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

It grabbed the number 11^th spot last year, it went up by sixth level higher with total assets of $ 2,480,778, and it is located in Japan.

4. Citigroup

This year, it went down by one level ranking since it got the third spot last year. This is a remarkable comeback despite of the major financial downfall that it did experience which has transpired for the past 3 years.

3. HSBC Holdings

It holds the fifth rank last year and it is eyeing for higher spot next year. It has total assets of $ 2,454,689. This is founded in 1991as HSBC Holdings and in 1865 as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.

2. JP Morgan Chase & Co

It has been consistent with its position on the second spot, which widened its operation worldwide. It is headquartered at # 270 Park Avenue, Manhattan New York City, New York, USA and even the Forbes Magazine had made an affirmation that it is the largest public company by its operation.

1.  Bank of America

The giant nation still holds the primmest level among all other major banks in the world. It is founded in 1904 and has been serving in globally. It has total assets of $ 2,264,909 and it is located in Charlotte, North Carolina in the US.

The Top 5 Adsense Earners

With amounts ranging from almost a million dollars to US$636,000 to US$132,000, the following are the biggest known checks ever received from Google Adsense.

Check amount: CAD 901,733.84 (US$900,000)
Website: PlentyofFish.com

Markus Frind runs the online dating site,www.plentyoffish.com, with only one employee: his girlfriend. The site, now ranked by Alexa.com as the 760th most visited site worldwide, receives up to 500 million pageviews a month and makes up to $10,000 a day. According to Frind, the check represents his Adsense earnings for 2 months.

Payment amount:US$636,524.75
Website: Unknown

This does not necessarily fall under the list of “Biggest Adsense Checks” because the money was sent via EFT or Electronic Funds Transfer, but who gives a damn if the payment amount is worth more than $600,000? The check owner understandably does not want to announce what his site is, but for now, just drool at this check and the other check of his below.

Payment amount:US$281,065.06
Website: Unknown

Photos are from the Flickr album of lazygeek10.

Check amount:US$132,994.97
Main Website: ShoeMoney.com

Problogger Jeremy Schoemaker received the check above in August 2005. He claims that was his biggest paper check from Adsense ever. He has already stopped using Adsense to monetize his sites, but continues to earn thousands of dollars every month from other online advertising networks and affiliate programs…

… such as Commission Junction (CJ.com) where he has earned $709,626.81 as of March 2007.

Check amount: PHP 502,657.38 (US$12,000)
Website: Unknown

A Filipino publisher started a user-generated content website in October 2006 and the site traffic — together with his Google Adsense earnings — increased exponentially from then on. The check above was the site’s earnings for July 2007 alone, converted into Philippine Peso. I have an idea what the website is, but since the owner himself does not want to disclose it, I’m keeping this a secret.

Judging from the payment checks above, there indeed is money on the internet. Have you found it? If you did and have screenshots of Adsense payments or other checks to prove it, why not share it here?