Do you/Can you, really enjoy DRIVING your supercar anymore?
Discussion
This thread appears to have been created on the assumption that people who buy supercars only buy them for the performance, and again assuming that you can only enjoy the performance if you're driving at close to 200mph.
There's more to supercar ownership than simply wanting to redline every single gear, and equally you can get enjoyment out of driving at legal speeds.
If we are talking about the DRIVING experience (which we are by definition of the thread title ) , what else is there to a supercar, than a supercar's performance ?
Surely it's not the luxury seats or the stereo system that made you want a 720S.
So why bother ?Surely this logic can be applied to a lot of cars out there, the typical modern hot hatch will take you into licence losing speeds pretty quickly, and you certainly can't extract their full performance legally.
Some people just like nice things, with performance to use when possible. For some reason there seems to be an underlying theme in this thread that unless you can drive at the limit at all times there's zero enjoyment to be had....
There's more to supercar ownership than simply wanting to redline every single gear, and equally you can get enjoyment out of driving at legal speeds.
carspath said:
If we are talking about the DRIVING experience (which we are by definition of the thread title ) , what else is there to a supercar, than a supercar's performance ?
Surely it's not the luxury seats or the stereo system that made you want a 720S.
So why bother ?
Some people just like nice things, with performance to use when possible. For some reason there seems to be an underlying theme in this thread that unless you can drive at the limit at all times there's zero enjoyment to be had....
Edited by I like Hands up deals on Sunday 24th June 21:39
RamboLambo said:
Some people by Rolex watches and some by Casio - they both tell the time
You pays your money and take your choice.
With a lot of people it will be more a status symbol than the drive that matters, hence pointlessly hanging around in central London making youtube videos etc...
Or Exeter High StreetYou pays your money and take your choice.
With a lot of people it will be more a status symbol than the drive that matters, hence pointlessly hanging around in central London making youtube videos etc...
Jules360 said:
RamboLambo said:
Some people by Rolex watches and some by Casio - they both tell the time
You pays your money and take your choice.
With a lot of people it will be more a status symbol than the drive that matters, hence pointlessly hanging around in central London making youtube videos etc...
Or Exeter High StreetYou pays your money and take your choice.
With a lot of people it will be more a status symbol than the drive that matters, hence pointlessly hanging around in central London making youtube videos etc...
Update from the South of France. I really enjoyed driving the 458 down here. I really didn’t enjoy being stuck in traffic in it for several hours on Friday trying to get to Paul Ricard. However things improved massively Saturday and Sunday and I did enjoy driving to and from the circuit and of course I loved the masses of thumbs up and kind comments from the Tifosi who were out in force. Off to St Tropez now. Will report further on the enjoyment factor.
There is something to be said for slower cars which is why the MX5 gets love on PH
I have a Maserati Granturismo and a Porsche Boxster S 987.1, obviously neither are supercars although they are super cars.
You can wring both of them out up to 3rd gear without risking prison.
The Masser, outside of Knightsbridge / Kensington / Exeter(!) does get a lot of looks and the sound is pure supercar even if the rest is merely 'exotic'
I'd say the same for the Aston Vantage and R8 (with an exhaust), they give you a lot of the supercar package but without the huge pricetag and the 'lacking performance' actually makes them fun in my opinion
Are they as special or as much of an event to drive as an actual supercar? No.
Another aspect of the supercar experience that Ferarri / Maclarren & Lambo provide, is the big bills, you won't be disapointed with the Maserati!
I have a Maserati Granturismo and a Porsche Boxster S 987.1, obviously neither are supercars although they are super cars.
You can wring both of them out up to 3rd gear without risking prison.
The Masser, outside of Knightsbridge / Kensington / Exeter(!) does get a lot of looks and the sound is pure supercar even if the rest is merely 'exotic'
I'd say the same for the Aston Vantage and R8 (with an exhaust), they give you a lot of the supercar package but without the huge pricetag and the 'lacking performance' actually makes them fun in my opinion
Are they as special or as much of an event to drive as an actual supercar? No.
Another aspect of the supercar experience that Ferarri / Maclarren & Lambo provide, is the big bills, you won't be disapointed with the Maserati!
jakesmith said:
......
I'd say the same for the Aston Vantage and R8 (with an exhaust), they give you a lot of the supercar package but without the huge pricetag and the 'lacking performance' actually makes them fun in my opinion
Are they as special or as much of an event to drive as an actual supercar? No.
Another aspect of the supercar experience that Ferarri / Maclarren & Lambo provide, is the big bills, you won't be disapointed with the Maserati!
I sold my Aston Vantage because it wasn't scary enough. Coming from a TVR Tuscan it looked and sounded great but lacked any real ability to thrill. My 570s does thrill even at 50% and has proved to be cheaper than either the Tuscan or the Aston to service over the last 12 months.I'd say the same for the Aston Vantage and R8 (with an exhaust), they give you a lot of the supercar package but without the huge pricetag and the 'lacking performance' actually makes them fun in my opinion
Are they as special or as much of an event to drive as an actual supercar? No.
Another aspect of the supercar experience that Ferarri / Maclarren & Lambo provide, is the big bills, you won't be disapointed with the Maserati!
So yes, I do really enjoy driving it and part of that is knowing that the car has much more potential than I have skill.
The Surveyor said:
I sold my Aston Vantage because it wasn't scary enough. Coming from a TVR Tuscan it looked and sounded great but lacked any real ability to thrill. My 570s does thrill even at 50% and has proved to be cheaper than either the Tuscan or the Aston to service over the last 12 months.
So yes, I do really enjoy driving it and part of that is knowing that the car has much more potential than I have skill.
I have looked at Astons a couple of times as I grew up lusting after DB5s and 6s. Every time though I have come away thinking to drive they are no better than an M3 or similar. Much more special but not any more exciting to drive.So yes, I do really enjoy driving it and part of that is knowing that the car has much more potential than I have skill.
Just my personal opinion of course.
ntiz said:
The Surveyor said:
I sold my Aston Vantage because it wasn't scary enough. Coming from a TVR Tuscan it looked and sounded great but lacked any real ability to thrill. My 570s does thrill even at 50% and has proved to be cheaper than either the Tuscan or the Aston to service over the last 12 months.
So yes, I do really enjoy driving it and part of that is knowing that the car has much more potential than I have skill.
I have looked at Astons a couple of times as I grew up lusting after DB5s and 6s. Every time though I have come away thinking to drive they are no better than an M3 or similar. Much more special but not any more exciting to drive.So yes, I do really enjoy driving it and part of that is knowing that the car has much more potential than I have skill.
Just my personal opinion of course.
A friend of mine who runs an entry-level F-type V6 said "it's all you really need", but I disagree and so do many others. It's not just about outright power, but the sound too. Plus the V8 R looks more aggressive and sits better than the V6, in my opinion.
A44RON said:
ntiz said:
The Surveyor said:
I sold my Aston Vantage because it wasn't scary enough. Coming from a TVR Tuscan it looked and sounded great but lacked any real ability to thrill. My 570s does thrill even at 50% and has proved to be cheaper than either the Tuscan or the Aston to service over the last 12 months.
So yes, I do really enjoy driving it and part of that is knowing that the car has much more potential than I have skill.
I have looked at Astons a couple of times as I grew up lusting after DB5s and 6s. Every time though I have come away thinking to drive they are no better than an M3 or similar. Much more special but not any more exciting to drive.So yes, I do really enjoy driving it and part of that is knowing that the car has much more potential than I have skill.
Just my personal opinion of course.
A friend of mine who runs an entry-level F-type V6 said "it's all you really need", but I disagree and so do many others. It's not just about outright power, but the sound too. Plus the V8 R looks more aggressive and sits better than the V6, in my opinion.
As you say, the same with the V6 F Type, a great sports car, but not quite the 'turned up to 11' madness which the V8 R dishes up. It's that real extra lunacy which makes a car more thrilling.
willy wombat said:
Here in St Tropez I have abandoned the 458 for a few days but the valet parkers keep moving it around in front of the hotel (always in a prominent position of course) so I think they are really enjoying driving it.
If it appears covered in dust one evening it's because they've had a lunchtime detour to Bagatelle 
I enjoy washing mine as much as I enjoy driving it. But last weekend I had the pleasure of driving families along a runway as part of charity family day...it's just fabulous to see kids, mums and dads having such a great time when life has dealt them a really awful hand. It's humbling to be honest and always reminds me how lucky I am and hopefully if I ever end up in that position some of you will be out there doing the same thing. If you have the opportunity I can highly recommend it.
Then there are the Sunday morning drives out along empty country roads that twist and turn over the Yorkshire Moors, which, after a week working in London make the hard work feel worthwhile. Walk along the beach, grab some brekkie and then drive home when everyone else is just setting out for the day. Can you enjoy driving your supercar anymore? Hell yes! I do.
Then there are the Sunday morning drives out along empty country roads that twist and turn over the Yorkshire Moors, which, after a week working in London make the hard work feel worthwhile. Walk along the beach, grab some brekkie and then drive home when everyone else is just setting out for the day. Can you enjoy driving your supercar anymore? Hell yes! I do.
The Surveyor said:
The Aston V8 Vantage is still a great car but it's a GT, not a sports car, and certainly not a supercar alternative. It's thrills are dished up like a well oiled massage rather than a punch in the chops.
As you say, the same with the V6 F Type, a great sports car, but not quite the 'turned up to 11' madness which the V8 R dishes up. It's that real extra lunacy which makes a car more thrilling.
The V12 Vantage is quite raw and demands respect. The great thing though is that it is still exciting at slow speeds. It is fast but not so quick that you can’t keep your foot down and did I mention the sound that it makes. If you think the V8 Vantage is not exciting enough I would suggest you try one with 12 cylinders and preferably a manual gearboxAs you say, the same with the V6 F Type, a great sports car, but not quite the 'turned up to 11' madness which the V8 R dishes up. It's that real extra lunacy which makes a car more thrilling.
Hello everyone, and thank you all for responding.
When I started this thread , it was to get other people,s opinions , as to whether being limited by legislation , to driving a supercar at a fraction of its potential was a source of frustration , and whether this level of frustration was sufficient to make one question the validity / worth of supercar ownership .
I would not have posed this question 20 years ago , but with each passing year this question seems to be more relevant .
I fully accept that there are many different ways of appreciating having a supercar , or for that matter , any car , but I am asking a very specific question here : Does being limited to driving a car to a fraction of its potential , rob you of enough of the joy of driving to make you question its DRIVING worth ——- this applies as much to a Veyron as it does to a Yaris , except that the limits kick in much earlier in the Veyron , so the question becomes relevant earlier on in the case of the Bugatti cf the Toyota .
Andy 74 ....... humbling indeed , and very true.
Wombat .... we seem to be living in parallel , but inverse multiverses.
I have just driven down through Holland , Germany , and Austria to Bologna /Sant Agata to visit the two L museums for material , and then caught the L Accademia at the Misano Raceway . All this in a NOT supercar .... but in the last 6 cylinder 981 Boxster to be sold in the UK.... so a far cry from a 458 , and my experience has reinforced the validity of my question .
Holland was a spaghetti tangle of nose to tail cars .
Germany , essentially a network of roadworks , and any de restricted section was very short and traffic laden.
Austria had plenty of traffic police
The best bits were the A roads in Italy , that was fun , but I would not have wanted a wider or more powerful car , and even so I could only use less than half the available gears.
And all roundabouts , anywhere , in anything , are fun .
( Interestingly , a fellow guest with a TdF 458 , was of exactly the same opinion ....... but then we are both old , and maybe already living in the wrong era . )
Wombat , sacrilege , no valet parker comes near any of my cars , and no valet detailers either.
When I started this thread , it was to get other people,s opinions , as to whether being limited by legislation , to driving a supercar at a fraction of its potential was a source of frustration , and whether this level of frustration was sufficient to make one question the validity / worth of supercar ownership .
I would not have posed this question 20 years ago , but with each passing year this question seems to be more relevant .
I fully accept that there are many different ways of appreciating having a supercar , or for that matter , any car , but I am asking a very specific question here : Does being limited to driving a car to a fraction of its potential , rob you of enough of the joy of driving to make you question its DRIVING worth ——- this applies as much to a Veyron as it does to a Yaris , except that the limits kick in much earlier in the Veyron , so the question becomes relevant earlier on in the case of the Bugatti cf the Toyota .
Andy 74 ....... humbling indeed , and very true.
Wombat .... we seem to be living in parallel , but inverse multiverses.
I have just driven down through Holland , Germany , and Austria to Bologna /Sant Agata to visit the two L museums for material , and then caught the L Accademia at the Misano Raceway . All this in a NOT supercar .... but in the last 6 cylinder 981 Boxster to be sold in the UK.... so a far cry from a 458 , and my experience has reinforced the validity of my question .
Holland was a spaghetti tangle of nose to tail cars .
Germany , essentially a network of roadworks , and any de restricted section was very short and traffic laden.
Austria had plenty of traffic police
The best bits were the A roads in Italy , that was fun , but I would not have wanted a wider or more powerful car , and even so I could only use less than half the available gears.
And all roundabouts , anywhere , in anything , are fun .
( Interestingly , a fellow guest with a TdF 458 , was of exactly the same opinion ....... but then we are both old , and maybe already living in the wrong era . )
Wombat , sacrilege , no valet parker comes near any of my cars , and no valet detailers either.
Morning, I think maybe your last comment re valet parkers shows we have a bit of a different attitude to cars. Certainly I try to look after mine, but I am not precious about them and am happy to have them valet parked. Sorry to hear about your tortuous trip South. We just came down throughout France and, other than round Lyon which is always bad, speed was only limited by whether I wanted a deep and meaningful conversation with the gendarmes. Touching on your other point. The fact that I can’t use the car’s maximum speed doesn’t frustrate me. My d/d is an Audi S4 and I can’t use that car’s top speed either. I will give you my final comments when I get back to the UK but overall, so far, I genuinely have really enjoyed driving the 458 on this trip. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
I've been using mine all week and I'm very much enjoying it, whether using its performance, which I will do - it's why I have it, or simply enjoying the scenery and fantastic weather with the roof down. My Dad had a stroke last week and it really made me think about what's important; family & friends and making the most of the time we have.
Don't over-think things too much and just enjoy the good moments.
Don't over-think things too much and just enjoy the good moments.
Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff