Five outrageously expensive gift ideas

Unless you're royalty or a software CEO, you probably won't go for one of these pricey finds. But they make for good window shopping. 

OK, OK. We admit: Without an outrageously large discretionary income, we probably wouldn’t buy these gifts either. But we did enjoy window-shopping for them – and think you will too…

1. The original 1966 Batmobile: “multimillions”

A truly one-of-a-kind gift option for the new year, this iconic car from the live-action Batman TV show drives onto the auction block Jan. 19 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company recently told the L.A. Times that the car’s reserve price is “in the multimillions.”

If that’s affordable, check out the auction press release for more details. If not, check out the replicas officially licensed by DC Comics – they’re only $150,000.

2. Personal submarine: $2 million

This sub measures 10.5 feet long – which makes it about 6 feet shorter than a full-size car – but can carry two people 1,000 feet underwater for up to six hours at a time.

“Providing access to underwater features such as coral reefs, shipwrecks, and the sea floor, a completely transparent, climate-controlled 3 1/4″-thick acrylic pressure sphere keeps explorers safe while dipping even into the mesopelagic zone, offering a chance to see exotic, bioluminescent species such as lanternfish,” says Hammacher Schlemmer, a curious company whose motto is “Offering the best, the only, and the unexpected.”

3. Tyrannosaurus rex statue: $8,500

“Realistically sculpted with rows of menacing teeth, a fearsome tail and scaly skin, our prehistoric statue is cast in quality designer resin and hand-painted with powerfully convincing color and texture,” says Design Toscano, the only place where you can buy a T-Rex statue that stands 11 feet tall and 22 feet long.

No room (or money) for a one-story-tall dinosaur? The equally realistic T-Rex garden sculpture stands 2 feet tall and runs $150.

4. Dictionary: $300

The electronic version of Merriam-Webster’s unabridged 3rd New International Dictionary is billed as “the largest, most comprehensive dictionary ever conceived for the American English language.” It contains about 470,000 definitions and 500,000 thesaurus entries, among other features.

This clamshell-style device is also currently on sale at Amazon. But while it may be a perfect present for a diehard logophile (that’s defined as “a lover of words”), The New York Times’ Gadgetwise blog review suggests saving your money for a tablet.

5. A dozen roses: $259

Since when are roses worth $22 apiece? When they’re as tall as the person you’re buying them for, apparently. And fortunately for anyone still in need of a gift idea, a 5-foot-long bouquet is currently on sale for $190 – such a deal, right?

The 3-foot-long version is also on sale: $90.

Karla Bowsher covers consumer, retail, and health issues. If you have a comment, suggestion, or question, leave a comment or contact her at karla@moneytalksnews.com.

Karla Bowsher is a writer for Money Talks News, a consumer/personal finance TV news feature that airs in about 80 cities as well as around the Web. This column first appeared in Money Talks News.