The Real Car Business

With fruit, it's easy... it's either an apple or it's not. With cars, it's tough because an Accord is not an Impala which is not a Fusion which is not an Optima. Now take oranges (the color, not the fruit). If it's an orange XV Crosstrek it's good but if it's an orange RDX it's positively auction-proof. My point is, how can similar cars differ so much in value? Within one segment such as the Accord, Impala, Fusion, Optima sample... each of these sedans fit essentially the same niche. Yet, [a] group of 2012 Accord EX sedans sold at [a] auction on [one] day can vary $2,000. And the same can be said for the Impala, Fusion and Optima. Now consider a composite of vehicles; say a multi-franchise, multiple location new car dealers' entire pre-owned inventory that that dealers management calls its ACV at $11,450,000. That is to say, that if all 760 units in its inventory were cashed today, they would get a check back for the 11.4 million. What are