"Supercars owners" - why did you buy your car
Discussion
And for "Supercars" read "Anything that would appear in Scotland's Finest Spotted" (but it wouldn't fit in the heading!)
Purely to cure my curiosity, I was wondering why do owners of these types of cars buy the ones you do? Is it brand loyalty, realising a dream or do you do a full comparison of cars?
I will never be in that league and I like MPV type cars due to family and liking the higher position. So when I buy a car I compare features of several cars, prices, fuel consumption, dealer availability, special offers etc.
However if you are in the market for a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche or countless other high end marques, why do you pick that car? Why the Lambo over the Ferrari? Why one Ferrari over the other? Maybe already owned the Ferrari and fancied a change? Or is it down to availability at the time? Or even at this level is it still possible to make "spec" comparisons to a certain degree ie. picking one car over the other as it has got x,y or z?
If it was me, I know it would be a red Ferrari just to achieve the boyhood dream, which type of Ferrari would probably not matter (I read a recent blog on here about the owner finally getting his Ferrari and that is how I would see me)
As said at the start, just looking to cure my curiosity!
Cheers
Purely to cure my curiosity, I was wondering why do owners of these types of cars buy the ones you do? Is it brand loyalty, realising a dream or do you do a full comparison of cars?
I will never be in that league and I like MPV type cars due to family and liking the higher position. So when I buy a car I compare features of several cars, prices, fuel consumption, dealer availability, special offers etc.
However if you are in the market for a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche or countless other high end marques, why do you pick that car? Why the Lambo over the Ferrari? Why one Ferrari over the other? Maybe already owned the Ferrari and fancied a change? Or is it down to availability at the time? Or even at this level is it still possible to make "spec" comparisons to a certain degree ie. picking one car over the other as it has got x,y or z?
If it was me, I know it would be a red Ferrari just to achieve the boyhood dream, which type of Ferrari would probably not matter (I read a recent blog on here about the owner finally getting his Ferrari and that is how I would see me)
As said at the start, just looking to cure my curiosity!
Cheers
It's a passion for which there is no one answer
I like older italian cars! However wouldnt mind a BMW M1 or Z8 or a Porsche 959 or Bugatti EB110!
Performance is usually a given and as such of less importance to the people I know who buy them and not important to my choice.
Most say style not function
I always say to kids who come to look at my cars and ask about them, that i was a kid once who admired these cars and one day it will be their turn to own them!
Hope this ramble helps!
Paul
xx
I like older italian cars! However wouldnt mind a BMW M1 or Z8 or a Porsche 959 or Bugatti EB110!
Performance is usually a given and as such of less importance to the people I know who buy them and not important to my choice.
Most say style not function
I always say to kids who come to look at my cars and ask about them, that i was a kid once who admired these cars and one day it will be their turn to own them!
Hope this ramble helps!
Paul
xx
I think it may have been my blog mentioned above and for me it was all about fulfilling a dream of owning a Ferrari, I set my sites on a 430 a couple of years ago as I did want performance along with the dream and the 430 ticks all the boxes. I didn't look at Porsche or Lamborghini or anything else, the only thing I wanted was a Ferrari.
John.
John.
I know a Cerbera isn't a Supercar in the same sense as a 430 or a Countach, but I'll chip in my twopenneth anyway.
I wasn't after a badge, and would've been actively put off by a Ferrari or Lamborghini because I'd be too scared to do any work on them myself (half the fun of car ownership IMO), and frightened that I'd be disappointed with the experience value-for-money when the big bills started rolling in from a specialist/main dealer.
I bought purely on practicality. I wanted a car for trackdays and high-days. I wanted it to be fast enough to be exciting. I have a young daughter so I needed a 2+2. That pretty much narrows it down to a Cerbera or a 911 Turbo/GT3, and I find Porkers a bit soulless. Therefore, by a process of elimination, I ended up with the TVR.
I wasn't after a badge, and would've been actively put off by a Ferrari or Lamborghini because I'd be too scared to do any work on them myself (half the fun of car ownership IMO), and frightened that I'd be disappointed with the experience value-for-money when the big bills started rolling in from a specialist/main dealer.
I bought purely on practicality. I wanted a car for trackdays and high-days. I wanted it to be fast enough to be exciting. I have a young daughter so I needed a 2+2. That pretty much narrows it down to a Cerbera or a 911 Turbo/GT3, and I find Porkers a bit soulless. Therefore, by a process of elimination, I ended up with the TVR.
I bought the DB9 rather by default, I had a DB7 Volante that was great and the 9 is really the next step.
My first choice would be a Lamborghini and the Diablo fits into a similar price range to the Aston. Unfortunately I would not feel able to take a Diablo to work, shopping etc, so my use of it would be very limited. The DB9 feels different and I will take it most places.
Ideally I will eventually get a Gallardo Spyder, but still a bit too rich for me at the moment.
n/a
Interesting that you include Porsche in the list afterall for the most part they are mechanically no more significant than Merc, BMW or god-forbid, even Audi (couldn't resist Kenny). They have a sub-4 litre engine and the main model (the C2S) is c.£80k on the road. Less the GT/Turbos which are up there in terms of cost with Aston and the basic models of the Italian marques then cost isn't what makes them Supercars. Pedigree is what makes it for me and probably why Porsche gets an inclusion because those with a classic pedigree tend to have a unique shape (Bristol, Jenson or Rolls) perhaps with the added link to the race circuit? But ultimately just different to the majority of cars on the road. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy driving the MPV but I'm lucky on this occasion because I have a choice. I always wanted one and can now afford one but I would also like a Lambo, Fezza or a Bugatti (if forced!) so you never stop dreaming.
What is a supercar?
Is it do with the speed they can achive? to do with the cost? How many of them are on the road?
The lines between supercar and a fast car are a little blurry now, u can get a family estate from Audi that will be faster handle better than a older supercar and probably be qwicker than a few new supercars.
Let the debate begin
Is it do with the speed they can achive? to do with the cost? How many of them are on the road?
The lines between supercar and a fast car are a little blurry now, u can get a family estate from Audi that will be faster handle better than a older supercar and probably be qwicker than a few new supercars.
Let the debate begin
Monaro5.7 said:
What is a supercar?
Is it do with the speed they can achive? to do with the cost? How many of them are on the road?
The lines between supercar and a fast car are a little blurry now, u can get a family estate from Audi that will be faster handle better than a older supercar and probably be qwicker than a few new supercars.
Let the debate begin
I find that colour makes a difference when it comes to fast Audis too (banana yellow is particularly slow.....)Is it do with the speed they can achive? to do with the cost? How many of them are on the road?
The lines between supercar and a fast car are a little blurry now, u can get a family estate from Audi that will be faster handle better than a older supercar and probably be qwicker than a few new supercars.
Let the debate begin
Monaro5.7 said:
What is a supercar?
Is it do with the speed they can achive? to do with the cost? How many of them are on the road?
The lines between supercar and a fast car are a little blurry now, u can get a family estate from Audi that will be faster handle better than a older supercar and probably be qwicker than a few new supercars.
Let the debate begin
its a massive can of worms, my car has supercar traits it can out handle and out accelerate probably 80% of them. yet its not a supercar. neither is a lotus exige or a tvr which both have traits of the supercar but are classed as track/ sports and sports muscle car.Is it do with the speed they can achive? to do with the cost? How many of them are on the road?
The lines between supercar and a fast car are a little blurry now, u can get a family estate from Audi that will be faster handle better than a older supercar and probably be qwicker than a few new supercars.
Let the debate begin
slipstream 1985 said:
Monaro5.7 said:
What is a supercar?
Is it do with the speed they can achive? to do with the cost? How many of them are on the road?
The lines between supercar and a fast car are a little blurry now, u can get a family estate from Audi that will be faster handle better than a older supercar and probably be qwicker than a few new supercars.
Let the debate begin
its a massive can of worms, my car has supercar traits it can out handle and out accelerate probably 80% of them. yet its not a supercar. neither is a lotus exige or a tvr which both have traits of the supercar but are classed as track/ sports and sports muscle car.Is it do with the speed they can achive? to do with the cost? How many of them are on the road?
The lines between supercar and a fast car are a little blurry now, u can get a family estate from Audi that will be faster handle better than a older supercar and probably be qwicker than a few new supercars.
Let the debate begin
I bought mine through a need for speed....... then it came down to affordability and reliability/running costs. I saved hard for 5 years then took out a loan for a further 5 years to buy my first Porsche 911 Carrera (which is a sports car not a supercar), then fortunately lost nothing in depreciation over 5 years and traded up to the Turbo S (which is a supercar) which i'll be paying off for some time.... costs more than my mortgage in fuel alone, new, the car was twice what I paid for my house...... being car daft helps, dunno if that answers the OP's question.
I'd like something really exotic but realistically will never be able to afford it, would sell a kidney for cash/fuel/even larger turbos though!
I'd like something really exotic but realistically will never be able to afford it, would sell a kidney for cash/fuel/even larger turbos though!
I'm not sure that many of the cars I've owned over the past decade are considered 'supercars' (though one or two of them have cost enough to be!), but the reason I've owned them is that I meet nobody else on the roads here for most of the year, and I buy cars I like to drive on empty roads. I buy cars that will entertain me on said roads. An EVO 8 FQ would be quicker than the Aston, and more sure footed than a Caterham R500 - a Fezza might look much prettier than the Seven... but which would I prefer to drive on a Sunday morning?
Nout to do with 'supercar'... it's the drive that counts.
Most fun I've had (apart from the Sevens I've owned) has been in a Mini Cooper S.
The 996 911 turbo S that I owned was astonishing. But ultimately pretty boring (for me), as it was FAR better than I, or British roads will ever be!
Nout to do with 'supercar'... it's the drive that counts.
Most fun I've had (apart from the Sevens I've owned) has been in a Mini Cooper S.
The 996 911 turbo S that I owned was astonishing. But ultimately pretty boring (for me), as it was FAR better than I, or British roads will ever be!
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 25th August 18:40
Craigie said:
If it was me, I know it would be a red Ferrari just to achieve the boyhood dream, which type of Ferrari would probably not matter
That was sort of the background thinking to me paying for an F355 on Xmas Eve 2006 and pinching myself when it came off the transporter onto the driveway a week later on new Years Eve. I say "sort of" in so much as I was never that much into Ferrari. I had the bedroom posters of Countachs and Testarossas and Porsche Turbos when I was younger but MY supercar was always a wedge shaped Lotus Esprit Turbo, probably because even as a lad I appreciated that (a) they looked fabulous (b) they were cheaper and so potentially obtainable at some point in the future and (c) somehow a Lotus didn't seem so totally out of my league as would something as exotic as a Ferrari, Porsche or Lamborghini. Anyhow, roll forward a few years (3 Esprits, 2 elises and an exige) and during a mundane shopping trip Mrs R announced that she always wanted a Ferrari. Sounds daft but thats how it was. I don't think either of us had mentioned Ferraris before that. Next stage was setting a budget and seeing what fitted into it.
We narrowed it down to a Testarossa or F355 and initially would not have cared which it was. After a bit of research including a weekend trip to London to visit 2 of the large dealers so we could see lots of cars in all different spec we both agreed that the F355 not only ticked all the boxes but was a semi-sensible choice in as much as the depreciation would be bearable and they also seemed reasonably easy to sell if it turned out to be a bad idea. We agreed we wanted a typical "first Ferrari" spec of Red / Creme, Berlinetta, 6 speed manual, tubi sports exhaust, decat pipes, scuderia wing shields, challenge grill etc. We then realised we were totally out of out depth in trying to judge a good one from a bad one so took the (perhaps) unusual step of contacting one of the Brokers (Elms Collection) and saying "this is what we are looking for... can you source one?" 3 Months later the transporter arrived
First time we physically saw the car was a week after paying for it. First drive of it was reversing it off the lack of the waggon .... in the dark!Roll on another 3 years and the F355 was sold for roughly what it cost and headed off to a new owner in Australia, and a 360 Spider has taken its' place in the garage.
I think of myself as being quite lucky (many folk would consider it odd!!) in that I don't actually like the look of the current Lamborghini Gallardo or Murcilago so don't need to make a choice there. Also, whilst I love the look of the Diablo and Countach, especially seeing them close up at shows like the Hopeton House event earlier this month, I wouldn't really want to own one or at least have the responsibility for running one. Also (flame suit on?) despite having a Porsche 996 Turbo S, and appreciating that it is a wonderful sportscar I'm not sure if I would raise my hand if asked to vote on whether it was a "supercar" or not, so for me the only realistic game in town for me is Ferrari at the moment.
Getting a 2nd Ferrari is far easier since you tend to have a bit more experience of the marque. You also tend to meet far more Ferrari owners when you have a Ferrari than when you are initially looking to buy one so you can get more real world info and in-car experience. I wanted a convertible and prefer the 360 shape to the 430 shape. I guess it helps decide which you prefer if there there is a £20/30k difference but given that the performance of both would be far in excess of my ability to drive them then it was a fairly easy choice of which to go for. One year down the line and I still love it and can see it being a "keeper".
Wow.. need another coffee now.
Edited by renmure on Wednesday 25th August 19:01
Edited by renmure on Wednesday 25th August 19:02
OJ... said:
Monaro5.7 said:
What is a supercar?
Is it do with the speed they can achive? to do with the cost? How many of them are on the road?
The lines between supercar and a fast car are a little blurry now, u can get a family estate from Audi that will be faster handle better than a older supercar and probably be qwicker than a few new supercars.
Let the debate begin
I find that colour makes a difference when it comes to fast Audis too (banana yellow is particularly slow.....)Is it do with the speed they can achive? to do with the cost? How many of them are on the road?
The lines between supercar and a fast car are a little blurry now, u can get a family estate from Audi that will be faster handle better than a older supercar and probably be qwicker than a few new supercars.
Let the debate begin
I would class certain cars as supercars, both on badge, exoticness (is that even a word??) and price/performance. Ferrari, Lambo yes. Masarati...Khamsin, Bora yes, not sure about Merak and other modles. Some Porkers, bit not OJ. Some TVR could be up there.
I think if people stop in the street and go wow, then it's probably something special.....a bit like johnyC...he is special.
My philosophy on supercars:
What is a supercar? (rather than a super car).
Performance standards move on every year so dynamic ability is not the quailifier.Consider this scenario.
Its chucking it down with rain you are standing on the hard shoulder of the A8 and under your car is an expansive pool of oil and coolant, the engine bay is gently wafting steam across the nearside lane and you are waiting for the AA man. If you are still smiling uncontrollably and standing proudly at it's side exchanging waves with children in passing cars, then you my friend have a supercar.
Why did you buy it?
You will one day, hopefully not soon ,be lying in your nursing home near to death. You will turn your head to the pictures by your bedside and amongst them will be your long gone supercar. You will smile and think I had one of those and life was good......
Supercars - its all about emotion.
What is a supercar? (rather than a super car).
Performance standards move on every year so dynamic ability is not the quailifier.Consider this scenario.
Its chucking it down with rain you are standing on the hard shoulder of the A8 and under your car is an expansive pool of oil and coolant, the engine bay is gently wafting steam across the nearside lane and you are waiting for the AA man. If you are still smiling uncontrollably and standing proudly at it's side exchanging waves with children in passing cars, then you my friend have a supercar.
Why did you buy it?
You will one day, hopefully not soon ,be lying in your nursing home near to death. You will turn your head to the pictures by your bedside and amongst them will be your long gone supercar. You will smile and think I had one of those and life was good......
Supercars - its all about emotion.
6C4GTS said:
My philosophy on supercars:
What is a supercar? (rather than a super car).
Performance standards move on every year so dynamic ability is not the quailifier.Consider this scenario.
Its chucking it down with rain you are standing on the hard shoulder of the A8 and under your car is an expansive pool of oil and coolant, the engine bay is gently wafting steam across the nearside lane and you are waiting for the AA man. If you are still smiling uncontrollably and standing proudly at it's side exchanging waves with children in passing cars, then you my friend have a supercar.
Why did you buy it?
You will one day, hopefully not soon ,be lying in your nursing home near to death. You will turn your head to the pictures by your bedside and amongst them will be your long gone supercar. You will smile and think I had one of those and life was good......
Supercars - its all about emotion.
Exactly the way I see it. I always tell people that I would rather regret having lived the dream than to regret having not lived the dream, when I'll be gasping my last breath's on this plaet.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!What is a supercar? (rather than a super car).
Performance standards move on every year so dynamic ability is not the quailifier.Consider this scenario.
Its chucking it down with rain you are standing on the hard shoulder of the A8 and under your car is an expansive pool of oil and coolant, the engine bay is gently wafting steam across the nearside lane and you are waiting for the AA man. If you are still smiling uncontrollably and standing proudly at it's side exchanging waves with children in passing cars, then you my friend have a supercar.
Why did you buy it?
You will one day, hopefully not soon ,be lying in your nursing home near to death. You will turn your head to the pictures by your bedside and amongst them will be your long gone supercar. You will smile and think I had one of those and life was good......
Supercars - its all about emotion.
I'll throw in another similar thought to Baz.
A true supercar cant really be summed up in one definition but if it had to have one it would need to tick the following boxes
1/ You find yourself peaking round the garage door just because it looks amazing - even when its under a flourescent light at 3.00am and your standing in your pj's
2/ When even just taking it out to get a pint of milk you cant help but laughing out loud to yourself at the noise/acceleration and always (yep - always) get out thinking how lucky you are to own it.
3/ even just coming back with the milk your trying to get the arse twitchy (or at least wishing you were brave enough to try) cause they bring out the schoolboy and the devil in you - both at the same time.
4/ You know it makes peoples day when they see it from kids cycling down the road wobbling all over the pavement cause theyr waving and smiling at your car to complete strangers making jokes and conversation everywhere from the petrol station to tescos car park.
5/ Your eyes water at the servicing costs and the fact everytime it goes into the dealer you know its going to hurt - but you still dont care cause its yours and its there whenever you want it.
6/ You love it even when its broken
7/ By definition they are out of the reach of 99% of the population until they are at least 7 years old and the ultimate supercars may never be in the reach of even 1% of the population.
In my opinion its point 7 that makes a car a real supercar, my exige ticks all boxes 1 - 6 (i never have a journey where i dont come home smiling, slightly ashamed at my antics on the quiet roads, having thought about its reliability and having returned waves/thumbs up to at least 3 or 4 seperate groups of kids and had at least a smile from complete strangers).
The fact my exige doesnt tick box 7 makes it either an affordable supercar or a super car, but as much as I love the car - until I get everything above AND know I've bought something most people could only dream of I'll never have owned a real supercar.
Perhaps as Ive written this Ive answered what a real "supercar" is - ticks everybox a petrolhead wants but remains a distant wish to all but a very lucky few!
A true supercar cant really be summed up in one definition but if it had to have one it would need to tick the following boxes
1/ You find yourself peaking round the garage door just because it looks amazing - even when its under a flourescent light at 3.00am and your standing in your pj's
2/ When even just taking it out to get a pint of milk you cant help but laughing out loud to yourself at the noise/acceleration and always (yep - always) get out thinking how lucky you are to own it.
3/ even just coming back with the milk your trying to get the arse twitchy (or at least wishing you were brave enough to try) cause they bring out the schoolboy and the devil in you - both at the same time.
4/ You know it makes peoples day when they see it from kids cycling down the road wobbling all over the pavement cause theyr waving and smiling at your car to complete strangers making jokes and conversation everywhere from the petrol station to tescos car park.
5/ Your eyes water at the servicing costs and the fact everytime it goes into the dealer you know its going to hurt - but you still dont care cause its yours and its there whenever you want it.
6/ You love it even when its broken
7/ By definition they are out of the reach of 99% of the population until they are at least 7 years old and the ultimate supercars may never be in the reach of even 1% of the population.
In my opinion its point 7 that makes a car a real supercar, my exige ticks all boxes 1 - 6 (i never have a journey where i dont come home smiling, slightly ashamed at my antics on the quiet roads, having thought about its reliability and having returned waves/thumbs up to at least 3 or 4 seperate groups of kids and had at least a smile from complete strangers).
The fact my exige doesnt tick box 7 makes it either an affordable supercar or a super car, but as much as I love the car - until I get everything above AND know I've bought something most people could only dream of I'll never have owned a real supercar.
Perhaps as Ive written this Ive answered what a real "supercar" is - ticks everybox a petrolhead wants but remains a distant wish to all but a very lucky few!
johnycarrera said:
Such eloquent prose flipper!
Indeed 
Although does slightly head off in a different direction from the original OP Question
Craigie said:
Purely to cure my curiosity, I was wondering why do owners of these types of cars buy the ones you do? Is it brand loyalty, realising a dream or do you do a full comparison of cars?
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