Suggestions for a first supercar
Discussion
Lord.Vader said:
What about the lightweight Gallardo, Superleggera?
That sort of budget that’d be where I was looking or a V12 Vantage.
I found the Aston to be more of a GT than a sports car especially when you put it among the OP's choices.That sort of budget that’d be where I was looking or a V12 Vantage.
Edited by Lord.Vader on Tuesday 28th August 17:13
JapanRed said:
Thanks all,
Pixel - R8 V10 is also a good shout but is it in the same league as McLaren? If I drive past a McLaren I do a double take but not sure I do with R8’s? Appreciate the V10 will be a step up from the C4S though.
I love my R10 Plus, but no, I’d not out it quite at the level of a McLaren.Pixel - R8 V10 is also a good shout but is it in the same league as McLaren? If I drive past a McLaren I do a double take but not sure I do with R8’s? Appreciate the V10 will be a step up from the C4S though.
On the other hand, it sounds like F1 cars used to sound when they had the V10 engines, and makes me happy every time I walk past it.
If it’s going to take something more exotic to scratch that itch though then you’ll likely not be happy with what you might view as a compromise too far.
I'm in the same position but with a lower budget 
One word of advice is not to expect similar experience, tech, drive comfort as your Porsche for some of the older supercars on your list. Having checked out a 360 and early Gallardo they seriously feel like a big step back in time and the drive is seriously 'raw'. I have had a 996 Turbo before and even that felt more refined and modern than some of the cars on the list.
One word of advice is not to expect similar experience, tech, drive comfort as your Porsche for some of the older supercars on your list. Having checked out a 360 and early Gallardo they seriously feel like a big step back in time and the drive is seriously 'raw'. I have had a 996 Turbo before and even that felt more refined and modern than some of the cars on the list.
Thanks everyone. Gallardo Superleggera is a great shout. I do like manuals but will go for whatever is recommend for the car I eventually decide to go for.
James thanks for your honest review of the R8 V10. I do love the sound of the V10 but feel like I’d want something just a little more exotic.
Thanks for the heads up on some of the older cars being dated; this is the only thing that put me off a 996 Turbo when I was last looking 3.5 years ago.
James thanks for your honest review of the R8 V10. I do love the sound of the V10 but feel like I’d want something just a little more exotic.
Thanks for the heads up on some of the older cars being dated; this is the only thing that put me off a 996 Turbo when I was last looking 3.5 years ago.
BlackR8 said:
I'm in the same position but with a lower budget
One word of advice is not to expect similar experience, tech, drive comfort as your Porsche for some of the older supercars on your list. Having checked out a 360 and early Gallardo they seriously feel like a big step back in time and the drive is seriously 'raw'. I have had a 996 Turbo before and even that felt more refined and modern than some of the cars on the list.
It shows how subjective these things are.One word of advice is not to expect similar experience, tech, drive comfort as your Porsche for some of the older supercars on your list. Having checked out a 360 and early Gallardo they seriously feel like a big step back in time and the drive is seriously 'raw'. I have had a 996 Turbo before and even that felt more refined and modern than some of the cars on the list.
I had a 996 turbo at the same time as a 360. The 360 is in a completely different league to drive than a 996 turbo. Yes the turbo is more refined - but then it's more of a GT than a sports car. The interior was still quite frankly crap - Aston has a quality interior, 996 turbo was little better than most semi expensive Japanese cars.
The 360 certainly isn't 'modern' - you'll be lucky to get Bluetooth, you won't get parking sensors etc etc. But drive out down a clear twisty road and you're unlikely to care - at least I don't. It always puts a huge grin on my face and that's after 5 years of ownership.
Everything is subjective and I think it’s impirtant to sometimes step back and take a reality check.
Case in point: 99% of people would love my 997 C4S but, now I want something better such as Gallardo, but then someone else (Countach comment above) wouldn’t look twice at a Gallardo. In reality all these cars are great to own. It’s important not to forget that owning any of the aforementioned cars isn’t a right; whether we’ve worked hard to get the money or whether we’ve had it handed down from parents or whether we’ve won the lottery. I’m sure all our stories could be different had a coin toss gone the other way somewhere down the line.
I class myself as very fortunate to even be considering these cars.
Case in point: 99% of people would love my 997 C4S but, now I want something better such as Gallardo, but then someone else (Countach comment above) wouldn’t look twice at a Gallardo. In reality all these cars are great to own. It’s important not to forget that owning any of the aforementioned cars isn’t a right; whether we’ve worked hard to get the money or whether we’ve had it handed down from parents or whether we’ve won the lottery. I’m sure all our stories could be different had a coin toss gone the other way somewhere down the line.
I class myself as very fortunate to even be considering these cars.
JapanRed said:
Thanks everyone. Gallardo Superleggera is a great shout. I do like manuals but will go for whatever is recommend for the car I eventually decide to go for.
James thanks for your honest review of the R8 V10. I do love the sound of the V10 but feel like I’d want something just a little more exotic.
Thanks for the heads up on some of the older cars being dated; this is the only thing that put me off a 996 Turbo when I was last looking 3.5 years ago.
118k will get you in a low mile Gallardo Superlegerra LP570-4 with FLSH and sub 10k miles. Very much a buyer's market right now. James thanks for your honest review of the R8 V10. I do love the sound of the V10 but feel like I’d want something just a little more exotic.
Thanks for the heads up on some of the older cars being dated; this is the only thing that put me off a 996 Turbo when I was last looking 3.5 years ago.
Interesting the OP mentioned he’s not a millionaire but is gonna drop 6 figures on a car, made me think what is a reasonable % of ur net worth to have tied up in cars assuming you’re a petrolhead?
As for the decision I had a V10 plus R8 gen 1 which was a mighty thing the badge might not be exotic but that engine certainly is , changed into a V12VS a few months ago more special than the R8 inside and the engine and exterior on a level playing field with the V10 R8, 90-100 k gets you into the new R8 now too which is a lot of car for the cash. Drive whatever ones you fancy anyway huge amount of choice at that price point .
As for the decision I had a V10 plus R8 gen 1 which was a mighty thing the badge might not be exotic but that engine certainly is , changed into a V12VS a few months ago more special than the R8 inside and the engine and exterior on a level playing field with the V10 R8, 90-100 k gets you into the new R8 now too which is a lot of car for the cash. Drive whatever ones you fancy anyway huge amount of choice at that price point .
it's a really good point.
I think earnings versus how much you have under the mattress must be part of it.
I have 4 vehicles, and combined value they only just reach a basic supercar value.
I struggle to justify 100/150k for a car.........and I think my salary is considered towards the top end.
Maybe I'm too cautious.
I think earnings versus how much you have under the mattress must be part of it.
I have 4 vehicles, and combined value they only just reach a basic supercar value.
I struggle to justify 100/150k for a car.........and I think my salary is considered towards the top end.
Maybe I'm too cautious.
Selfish Gene I can relate to that. I’m extremely cautious with money and it will take a lot for me to take the leap into supercar territory.
Craigwww you raise an interesting point. My salary is £60k and my wife’s is £40k. Reasonable salaries but I’m fortunate enough to run a business on the side which earns us a bit more. We have 3 cars between us which we paid for in cash (cost £103k in total). It’s nice not having loans going out each month for them. So basically live on a combined wage of £6k a month which allows us to build up about £30k of savings per year (which we planned to pay off the mortgage but now I’m considering spending on yet another car)
Is it daft having 3 cars worth 100% of a years salary? A supercar would take this to 150% of our combined salaries...
Craigwww you raise an interesting point. My salary is £60k and my wife’s is £40k. Reasonable salaries but I’m fortunate enough to run a business on the side which earns us a bit more. We have 3 cars between us which we paid for in cash (cost £103k in total). It’s nice not having loans going out each month for them. So basically live on a combined wage of £6k a month which allows us to build up about £30k of savings per year (which we planned to pay off the mortgage but now I’m considering spending on yet another car)
Is it daft having 3 cars worth 100% of a years salary? A supercar would take this to 150% of our combined salaries...
Edited by JapanRed on Wednesday 29th August 13:51
RSbandit said:
Interesting the OP mentioned he’s not a millionaire but is gonna drop 6 figures on a car, made me think what is a reasonable % of ur net worth to have tied up in cars assuming you’re a petrolhead?
As for the decision I had a V10 plus R8 gen 1 which was a mighty thing the badge might not be exotic but that engine certainly is , changed into a V12VS a few months ago more special than the R8 inside and the engine and exterior on a level playing field with the V10 R8, 90-100 k gets you into the new R8 now too which is a lot of car for the cash. Drive whatever ones you fancy anyway huge amount of choice at that price point .
Depends on how much of a petrolhead?As for the decision I had a V10 plus R8 gen 1 which was a mighty thing the badge might not be exotic but that engine certainly is , changed into a V12VS a few months ago more special than the R8 inside and the engine and exterior on a level playing field with the V10 R8, 90-100 k gets you into the new R8 now too which is a lot of car for the cash. Drive whatever ones you fancy anyway huge amount of choice at that price point .
First car I bought was a Lamborghini. Lived in my girlfriend’s flat. Didn’t have enough money for food that week. I’ve still got that car 30+ years later.
JapanRed said:
Is it daft having 3 cars worth 100% of a years salary? A supercar would take this to 150% of our combined salaries...
I really think that is a question only you can answer, is down to your personal situation and what really makes you happy. If you have your heart set on a supercar and you can afford it, I would ignore the percentages and just get on and buy it. From a personal perspective I hankered after a decent car for years and in December 2016 I bought my R8 with my old man - I will never forget his face when I drove it off the forecourt! Five months later he passed away and I am so happy he got to see me in my dream car.
Life really is too short and has a nasty habit of biting you on the arse. You can't take it with you so just do it!
RSbandit said:
Ferruccio said:
Depends on how much of a petrolhead?
First car I bought was a Lamborghini. Lived in my girlfriend’s flat. Didn’t have enough money for food that week. I’ve still got that car 30+ years later.
Ha that’s quality , is it a Diablo?First car I bought was a Lamborghini. Lived in my girlfriend’s flat. Didn’t have enough money for food that week. I’ve still got that car 30+ years later.
(Diablo didn’t go on sale until 1990.)
RSbandit said:
Interesting the OP mentioned he’s not a millionaire but is gonna drop 6 figures on a car, made me think what is a reasonable % of ur net worth to have tied up in cars assuming you’re a petrolhead?
It is not so much what percentage of your net worth is sitting in a car but of much more significance is how much the car depreciated.Yes the dreaded D word often shunned by PHers but entirely relevant to decisions like this imo.
Never ceases to amaze me what huge amounts people lose out of taxed income on relatively humdrum cars around £30k.....never mind supercars.
Friend of mine lost £50k on a new 5 series McLaren in 5 months and not many miles. He is far from stupid and not immensely wealthy but you really have to be quite rich and or quite stupid to flush away that amount in such a short time and little use even on a car, in his case, you really would die for.
The joys of running an expensive car soon turns sour imo for most even wealthy people if that car is costing an arm and leg to them in depreciation.
This scenario does perhaps point to the sense in buying older cars which have flatlined depreciation wise...430, Gallardo whatever, but it is still possible to run some tasty newish stuff at relatively little money by buying and selling at the right time (i.e. seasonally) and hopefully by accurately predicting the market.
av185 said:
It is not so much what percentage of your net worth is sitting in a car but of much more significance is how much the car depreciated.
Yes the dreaded D word often shunned by PHers but entirely relevant to decisions like this imo.
Never ceases to amaze me what huge amounts people lose out of taxed income on relatively humdrum cars around £30k.....never mind supercars.
Friend of mine lost £50k on a new 5 series McLaren in 5 months and not many miles. He is far from stupid and not immensely wealthy but you really have to be quite rich and or quite stupid to flush away that amount in such a short time and little use even on a car, in his case, you really would die for.
The joys of running an expensive car soon turns sour imo for most even wealthy people if that car is costing an arm and leg to them in depreciation.
This scenario does perhaps point to the sense in buying older cars which have flatlined depreciation wise...430, Gallardo whatever, but it is still possible to run some tasty newish stuff at relatively little money by buying and selling at the right time (i.e. seasonally) and hopefully by accurately predicting the market.
Surely it's all relative & depends on the wealth. Yes the dreaded D word often shunned by PHers but entirely relevant to decisions like this imo.
Never ceases to amaze me what huge amounts people lose out of taxed income on relatively humdrum cars around £30k.....never mind supercars.
Friend of mine lost £50k on a new 5 series McLaren in 5 months and not many miles. He is far from stupid and not immensely wealthy but you really have to be quite rich and or quite stupid to flush away that amount in such a short time and little use even on a car, in his case, you really would die for.
The joys of running an expensive car soon turns sour imo for most even wealthy people if that car is costing an arm and leg to them in depreciation.
This scenario does perhaps point to the sense in buying older cars which have flatlined depreciation wise...430, Gallardo whatever, but it is still possible to run some tasty newish stuff at relatively little money by buying and selling at the right time (i.e. seasonally) and hopefully by accurately predicting the market.
To some, owning a dream car is worth the cost. Pretty much everything we enjoy has a cost!
I may spend 20k on a nice holiday that comes & goes in a couple of weeks, am I quite stupid too?
The only alternative to spending our taxed income on things we enjoy is to save or invest it. I'm not suggesting that people who save our stupid, I'm just someone who prefers to use my income to create memories not regrets.
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