The Nissan GT-R is popular with many driving enthusiasts, as it offers comparable performance to models from Porsche, Ferrari and others. Yet the big appeal of the GT-R is its low price. While other high-end sports cars retail for well over $100,000, last year's GTR sold for approximately $89,000.
That's changing this year, as Nissan has announced a price increase for the 2013 model, even though only minor upgrades have been made to the car. The new base model GT-R sells for $96,000, which is actually more expensive than the special Black Edition on the 2012 model. The 2013 Black Edition is even more expensive, at more than $105,000.
Nissan has not explained the reason behind the change, but USA Today speculates that is likely due to the strong performance of Japan's yen, which has hurt profits for Japanese automakers importing their cars into the United States.
The 2013 model does have 15 more horsepower and a backup camera, but that's not really enough to explain the entire price jump.
Whether you have a $100,000 sports car or a decades-old beater, auto maintenance is key to keeping the car on the road.