"You can’t corner at 1.3 Gs in a Samsung,” says economist.

ATLANTA—As technology continues to advance at breakneck speed, one troubling question remains unanswered: If a 75-inch 4K TV with AI-enhanced upscaling now costs less than a monthly car payment, why does a Porsche 911 still cost more than a house?

“It doesn’t make sense,” said casual consumer and self-proclaimed BMW enthusiast Brian Thompson. “I can buy a TV that talks to me, adjusts to sunlight, and streams 800 channels of crap I’ll never watch—for $499. Meanwhile, Porsche wants $500,000 for an understated supercar?”

Economists are equally baffled. “In most industries, innovation leads to lower costs,” explained Dr. Serena Cho, an economist at the Useless Technicals Institute. “But in the car world, it leads to special paint colors and a 113% price increase that no one asks Porsche to justify.”

One working theory? The vibes.

“You can’t corner at 1.3 Gs in a Samsung,” said economist Jake Mendoza. “Well, I mean, you can try, but then you’re just watching The Office for the 39th time—really fast.”

According to insiders, Porsche’s pricing strategy is based on a complex formula involving heritage, the number of times someone says “air-cooled” at a Cars and Coffee event, and how badly BMW owners want to become Porsche enthusiasts.

“Porsches aren’t expensive because they have to be,” said dealership manager Kyle Withers. “They’re expensive because you’ll still buy one, even if it's overpriced for no reason. You’re not paying for features—you’re paying to feel morally superior to BMW owners.”

Meanwhile, technology companies have continued to drive prices down. For example, a 2005 plasma TV once cost $3,000, weighed 200 pounds, and sounded like a microwave. Today’s TVs are lighter, smarter, thinner, and capable of giving you full-blown analysis paralysis for just a few hundred bucks.

“TVs make sense,” said Thompson. “You get more for less. With a Porsche, it’s like the more you pay, the more likely you are to pay more for the next one. TVs don’t need that.”

Still, demand for Porsches shows no sign of slowing. Experts say it has less to do with performance and more to do with identity.

“At the end of the day,” said Dr. Cho, “a TV shows you who you want to be. A Porsche shows everyone else.”

As for Thompson? He’s decided to hold off on the TV. “I need to save for a new Porsche,” he said. “I’ve never owned one—but it’s worth every penny. Every penny.”