Shmee 675 LT - Monza, disappointing - time to step up!

[Streetrod]

At the end of the day it comes down to what you decide to spend your money on. Shmee has admitted that he does not have any dependants, I think he rents what appears to be a modest property in London and he is not dripping in designer gear or watches. If fact he only seems to wear his owned branded shirts and a jumper most of the time so he spends his income on cars.

If I sold my two properties, rented a smaller place, took both of my kids out of private school (currently over £30k per year after tax alone ) plus got rid of the rest of junk I have accumulated over the years I could easierly afford to run a 675LT and an FF and have a large amount of change to spare. It’s all down the choices we make, Shmee has made his and good luck to him, we have all made ours. So less talk about his money would be nice

Edited by Streetrod on Tuesday 20th October 15:50

Edited by Streetrod on Tuesday 20th October 15:50

[stuno1]

Like many I like the content in terms of cars but find him a bit uncomfortable to watch. I also don't really like the way when he does car reviews he doesn't call out the negatives and just skims over them if mentions them at all. I appreciate he is being paid to review the car but does that not encompass the good and the bad??? He does go to some epic events though so that is what keeps me tuning in.

SOL is another story! That guy is a muppet. lol

[johnwilliams77]

Streetrod said:

At the end of the day it comes down to what you decide to spend your money on. Shmee has admitted that he does not have any dependants, I think he rents what appears to be a modest property in London and he is not dripping in designer gear or watches. If fact he only seems to wear his owned branded shirts and a jumper most of the time so he spends his income on cars.

If I sold my two properties, rented a smaller place, took both of my kids out of private school (currently over £30k per year after tax alone) plus got rid of the rest of junk I have accumulated over the years I could easierly afford to run a 675LT and an FF and have a large amount of change to spare. It’s all down the choices we make, Shmee has made his and good luck to him, we have all made ours. So less talk about his money would be nice

Not really. I think there is more speculation how he is able to afford them both in any case! I have no kids either and a cheap mortgage (relative to what I cannot afford) but the only thing that would allow me to afford the cars he has is significant time abroad in expat roles. 10 years would do it.

[AyBee]

Streetrod said:

At the end of the day it comes down to what you decide to spend your money on. Shmee has admitted that he does not have any dependants, I think he rents what appears to be a modest property in London and he is not dripping in designer gear or watches. If fact he only seems to wear his owned branded shirts and a jumper most of the time so he spends his income on cars.

If I sold my two properties, rented a smaller place, took both of my kids out of private school (currently over £30k per year after tax alone ) plus got rid of the rest of junk I have accumulated over the years I could easierly afford to run a 675LT and an FF and have a large amount of change to spare. It’s all down the choices we make, Shmee has made his and good luck to him, we have all made ours. So less talk about his money would be nice.

If you have 2 kids in private schools, I'm guessing you're also not Shmee's age. You also don't go around parading your supercars on social media and have a number of employees (which Shmee does). Whenever I see a nice car, I wonder what the people who drive them do to afford them because I'd love to own them, I don't think that's particularly unusual for a car fan. I don't have a problem with Shmee at all, he comes across as a genuine guy who's enthusiastic about cars and I'll continue watching his Youtube content, I just don't find it unusual that he gets questions about how he manages it

[D1ckie]

I'm sure I've been told its all through his SM, which looking at his stats is very impressive

FB - 1.3M followers
YT - 0.5M subscribers and over 216M views, that will be good advertising revenue

Fair play, the guy has done very well for himself

[BelfastBoy]

AyBee said:

A lot of Shmee's audience are young and impressionable and all they see is Shmee on Youtube having a very cool life and therefore possibly want to mimic him (and I know he doesn't claim to get all his money from Youtube).

The only reason people query it is because it's in the public eye - a certain Mr Harris got the same questions, it's not limited to Shmee.

Agree with you 100% on both these points, especially the last one about Harris. I'd forgotten about the scrutiny he faced with some of his purchases - the 911 and 599GTB spring to mind.

Again I'll reiterate my personal opinion. I come to this forum to read about, look at, occasionally contribute to, discussions about, cars. My own are mundane so I tend to frequent the supercars section as I find this of greatest interest, especially the insights shared by those lucky / hard-working enough to own them. I admire and respect those in a position to own them and enjoy them. Personally, I don't care how others fund their purchases. Shmee is a real marmite kind of guy, and I'll agree with anyone who suggests that the scrutiny placed upon him is largely self-invited. 'Subtle' is not in his vocabulary and ostentatiously hooning around the place in a McLaren / Ferrari convoy is only going to invite speculation and attention (positive and negative). Why would he even care? Maybe this is for another debate entirely, but it's a damning indictment on 21st century society when the notion of 'celebrity' could arguably extended in this direction...

[Streetrod]

AyBee said:

Streetrod said:

At the end of the day it comes down to what you decide to spend your money on. Shmee has admitted that he does not have any dependants, I think he rents what appears to be a modest property in London and he is not dripping in designer gear or watches. If fact he only seems to wear his owned branded shirts and a jumper most of the time so he spends his income on cars.

If I sold my two properties, rented a smaller place, took both of my kids out of private school (currently over £30k per year after tax alone ) plus got rid of the rest of junk I have accumulated over the years I could easierly afford to run a 675LT and an FF and have a large amount of change to spare. It’s all down the choices we make, Shmee has made his and good luck to him, we have all made ours. So less talk about his money would be nice.

If you have 2 kids in private schools, I'm guessing you're also not Shmee's age. You also don't go around parading your supercars on social media and have a number of employees (which Shmee does). Whenever I see a nice car, I wonder what the people who drive them do to afford them because I'd love to own them, I don't think that's particularly unusual for a car fan. I don't have a problem with Shmee at all, he comes across as a genuine guy who's enthusiastic about cars and I'll continue watching his Youtube content, I just don't find it unusual that he gets questions about how he manages it

You are absolutely right I am not in his age group, I made different decisions at his age which I don’t regret. And yes I do watch his content along with a number of other YouTube contributors like Chris Harris and Harry Metcalf. I just don't get the constant questioning about his income, its been done to death

When I meet these owners which I do a lot the last thing on my mind is wondering how do they afford these cars. I just hope they are as passionate about them as I am and that they are happy to spend a few mins talking cars to me about them.

I have always thought that a passion for cars should cross financial boundaries. I get as much enjoyment out of talking to a guy about his home restored Contina 1600E as I do having a chat with a chap in a petrol station about his Ferrari 250 SWB both of which happened recently

Edited by Streetrod on Tuesday 20th October 16:46

[Slickhillsy]

Frio3535 said:

Slickhillsy said:

Hmmmmmm think the thread is now somewhat off topic.

Don't care about the how and means, more interested that now he's stepped up to the next level of cars be great to see him give them the beans a bit more rather than the usual staged cruising and especially as he was at Monza.
I actually quite like his vids, 20 mins viewing with a cup o tea in the eve...

Given that most of his driving is on public roads do you not think he'd be a complete idiot to post videos of him at speed, regardless of whether the Speedo is on show or not? On camera its all by the book. If I where him I'd be giving it some off camera which I'm sure he does. He's got a lot to lose now after all.

To me its as much about his lifestyle as it is about cars now and I'm sure he has a lot of people living vicariously through him.

Agree, not intending to goad him in to losing his ticket. If you re-read the title my comments are directed at his (lack of) track action, especially in the FF. Just be good to see the petrol head emerge rather than the Forza bling monkey.

[AyBee]

Streetrod said:

I have always thought that a passion for cars should cross financial boundaries. I get as much enjoyment out of talking to a guy about his home restored Contina 1600E as I do having a chat with a chap in a petrol station about his Ferrari 250 SWB both of which happened recently

I agree with your sentiment, but with the more expensive stuff, when you're young, it's much easier to adapt your life to reflect certain things you would like to have in the future and you think about how you may be able to mimic what they've done in order to achieve what they've achieved and so curiosity causes people to ask questions of people who openly display their wealth and 'income source' as Shmee does. Unless that's just me

Lots of people asked and speculated about Tbops' wealth too - and look how that turned out

[Streetrod]

AyBee said:

Streetrod said:

I have always thought that a passion for cars should cross financial boundaries. I get as much enjoyment out of talking to a guy about his home restored Contina 1600E as I do having a chat with a chap in a petrol station about his Ferrari 250 SWB both of which happened recently

I agree with your sentiment, but with the more expensive stuff, when you're young, it's much easier to adapt your life to reflect certain things you would like to have in the future and you think about how you may be able to mimic what they've done in order to achieve what they've achieved and so curiosity causes people to ask questions of people who openly display their wealth and 'income source' as Shmee does. Unless that's just me

Lots of people asked and speculated about Tbops' wealth too - and look how that turned out

I think you are right, it’s probably an age thing. When you are young you can yourself emulating your hero’s, and to many young petrol heads Shmee has an aspirational lifestyle and is living the dream

[cgt2]

Some of the posts here remind me of this book

''how it was amassed and with whose help.''

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitlers-Fortune-Cris-Whett...

[dang2407]

Good luck to him and well done however the money has come (as long as nobody was harmed of course).

The only thing is, if you've never had the old bangers as a youngster, never had to drive something on the edge of falling part, never had to be forced to turn to religion the week before the MOT's due.... there's no way you'll appreciate a supercar fully. No way.

[Shmee]

I promise I'll do my best when it's properly run in to track it and film it all. In the meantime having now reached the appropriate mileage, I think yesterday's video on the passes in Italy and popping some flames in France hopefully suffices!

[TP321]

dang2407 said:

Good luck to him and well done however the money has come (as long as nobody was harmed of course).

The only thing is, if you've never had the old bangers as a youngster, never had to drive something on the edge of falling part, never had to be forced to turn to religion the week before the MOT's due.... there's no way you'll appreciate a supercar fully. No way.

+1

So true....

[mattf93]

Shmee said:

I promise I'll do my best when it's properly run in to track it and film it all. In the meantime having now reached the appropriate mileage, I think yesterday's video on the passes in Italy and popping some flames in France hopefully suffices!

Cant wait now its reached it - has it done 1k miles then? or do mclaren recommend less than that for full bedding in?

I think you must get amused by some of the above comments which continually pop up all over the place?
As long as you are safe/financially secure - keep doing what you're doing, sharing your cars etc - your 675lt is sensational in my eyes the only thing id possibly change is having a roof scoop but appreciate that is a nearly £30k option :O so understandably declined that!
FF is also stunning - and completely out the blue, its a very lovely classy specced car! Although after your trip up with J's F12 I think you may need to look at options

Now wheres that flaming 675LT video got to?
Hope it gets properly spanked at another track in the near future when the car (and driver) are fully ready!

[stuno1]

Shmee said:

I promise I'll do my best when it's properly run in to track it and film it all. In the meantime having now reached the appropriate mileage, I think yesterday's video on the passes in Italy and popping some flames in France hopefully suffices!

That was a great video. A truly epic car! Do you plan on having driving tuition for track days and to exploit the car to its fullest?

[mdianuk]

Ermmm, the track run was on a private day, no support, and asked to be careful. The car only had a few hundred miles on it too. Why would he be thrashing it! You mention him having an FF too, so what, your thread title was over disappointment that he was slow - get over it!

His history and how he affords these cars is a little grey, but who cares, he obviously loves his cars, uses them for mad trips like these (taking both), and is actually very knowledgeable on cars, even if his presenting style is a little awkward.

Believe the 675LT run in is 600 miles, 1000 km, so he's covered that now, just over, so can now carefully open it up more, once he's back in Monaco where the car is currently having a sleep!

Of the YT generation reviewing and reporting on cars, he's actually one of the better. The likes of SOL and ALLEM are just a joke, all about me me me, or how loud and disruptive I can be, rarely about the cars.

[johnwilliams77]

mdianuk said:

Ermmm, the track run was on a private day, no support, and asked to be careful. The car only had a few hundred miles on it too. Why would he be thrashing it! You mention him having an FF too, so what, your thread title was over disappointment that he was slow - get over it!

His history and how he affords these cars is a little grey, but who cares, he obviously loves his cars, uses them for mad trips like these (taking both), and is actually very knowledgeable on cars, even if his presenting style is a little awkward.

Believe the 675LT run in is 600 miles, 1000 km, so he's covered that now, just over, so can now carefully open it up more, once he's back in Monaco where the car is currently having a sleep!

Of the YT generation reviewing and reporting on cars, he's actually one of the better. The likes of SOL and ALLEM are just a joke, all about me me me, or how loud and disruptive I can be, rarely about the cars.

Well said. At least smee has some class about it all.

[Inverted]

Might be an idea to pop over to youtube and watch some videos of the type of driving on that track day. That answered for me why I wouldnt take my spanking new 300k 675lt out. Looks like a lot of fun but not for the faint hearted.

Car looks great btw.

[AyBee]

mdianuk said:

The likes of SOL and ALLEM are just a joke, all about me me me, or how loud and disruptive I can be, rarely about the cars.

SOL had to ask the mechanic what the shaft between the gearbox and the wheel was called when he was having his exhaust fitted and called the black panel between the rear lights the diffuser, his car knowledge is shocking for someone who is supposedly an enthusiast!