Seven Cars to Buy Instead of 2016 World Series Tickets
CARS.COM — Last time we checked on tickets for this weekend’s games at Wrigley Field — and we refresh, like, every 5 seconds — one could spend as much as $27,777.78 for the potential privilege of watching the Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians to win their first World Series in 108 years.
Related: Trunk or Treat! Halloween Car-stume Ideas
Obviously, many among us here at Cars.com’s downtown Chicago headquarters feel that’s a steal worthy of Cubbies center fielder Dexter Fowler. But we also recognize that may not exactly seem like the wisest investment strategy once Blue October gives way to November in the red.
If you’ll forgive our baseball blasphemy, we’ve taken the liberty of selecting seven new cars (all model-year 2017 except where otherwise noted) priced in the same ballpark as those $28,000 seats for the series that you could, gulp, buy instead. Here they are:
Ford Taurus
For $28,220 (all prices include a destination charge), you can root, root, root for the home team — if they don’t win it’s a shame, but at least you’ll be keeping your money in the local economy. The Taurus is manufactured at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant on the city’s South Side, and even comes in blue.
Chevrolet Cruze
Similarly, the Cruze is manufactured at GM’s Lordstown Complex in Ohio, about an hour outside the Indians’ hometown of Cleveland. So if you’re a faithful member of the so-called Tribe, you can spend your $25,685 including the Enhanced Convenience Package on a Cruze Hatchback Premier trim resting assured that it’s supporting hardworking Ohioans like yourself. (The Cruze is also available in blue for an extra $395, but full disclosure: It’s closer to the Cubs’ royal blue while the Taurus is actually closer to the Indians’ navy blue.)
Dodge Challenger
But maybe you wanna be able to make a hasty exit outta town if the Cubs win (or, perhaps worse, if they lose). Then you might consider dropping $28,285 on the Challenger SXT, which gets you a 3.6-liter V-6 engine with 305 horsepower and 268 pounds-feet of torque — plenty for a quick getaway from the famously boozy Wrigley Field occupants as they stumble out of the Friendly Confines with mischief on their minds.
Fiat 124 Spider
Then again, the weather forecast is calling for some sunny skies and temps in the high 60s to low 70s this weekend. And for $25,990, you could put yourself in this sweet little roadster and tool around in the open air with unobstructed views of the Windy City’s world-renowned skyline. We wouldn’t advise actually passing through Wrigleyville crowds with the top down, however. That could get messy. (Just trust us on this one.)
Smart ForTwo
Fear you’ll be judged more harshly than Steve Bartman circa 2003 while driving around the City of Big Shoulders in this tiny car? Brush ’em off like dirt off your pants after sliding safe into home, because while all those regular-size cars are stacked three-deep in supply-and-demand-inflated parking spaces, you’ll be pulling forward into street spaces within comfortable walking distance of the stadium that those naysayers could never dream of squeezing into. (Not to mention, for $23,890 you can get every available option, including a $450 Moon White Matte paint job.)
2016 Kia Sedona
You can get this contender in Cars.com’s upcoming Ultimate Minivan Challenge 2016 for $27,295 and ferry the bulk of the starting lineup of your favorite team and its equipment down to Margie’s Candies for ice cream after the game. It’s like every Little League coach’s sweetest dream.
Toyota Prius
For $27,600, you can get … a Prius. What else is there to say? It’s the very picture of practicality — the exact opposite of paying 28 grand for tickets to a baseball game.
