RE: Mega-mile Murcielago: PH Heroes

[havoc]

gkw90 said:

I work for an OEM doing this kind of stuff, so have a reasonable knowledge. I do wince when some replacement parts cost as much as a deposit for a house!

I used to work for a couple of Tier-1s supplying a well-known premium British brand or two...and the mark-up the OEMs put on our prices for spares was shocking! Even more so when you consider one brands less-than-stellar reputation for longevity out of warranty...

[Fire99]

I still find the Murc. a bit conservative on the styling (but I was Diablo / 80's Countach fan) but the manual shift and organic nature of the car certainly float my boat.
Great to see one doing some serious work (despite the expense)

[gkw90]

annodomini2 said:

It's not just the tooling, it's the engineering cost as well, if it's not an off the shelf part then those creation and/or adaption costs (mainly testing and qualification)

Completely agreed, I think I put a comment in there briefly mentioning the R+D costs, but I don't have as much knowledge of that area to give any detail that would stand criticism. Being PH and all....

@Havoc, I'm sure we may have been in the same plants at some point! A lot of the OEM's tend to use the same people.

[blueST]

This phrase from the article "...having leveraged a property portfolio ..." explains why I'll never own anything more exotic than a crusty old Land Rover. I don't even have a clue what it means! I have an image of tyre levers being applied to a ring binder in an overcrowded filing cabinet.

[GEFAFWISP]

I've had the pleasure of seeing this car in the metal a few times, both at a shopping centre inside being used to advertise 6th Gear and also a few weeks ago it cruised past me on the M1 near Sheffield. Both times I was in awe of this beautiful machine, an absolute icon and a great car.

Huge respect to Simon for using this car as it was intended!

[NickCQ]

blueST said:

This phrase from the article "...having leveraged a property portfolio ..." explains why I'll never own anything more exotic than a crusty old Land Rover. I don't even have a clue what it means! I have an image of tyre levers being applied to a ring binder in an overcrowded filing cabinet.

Ha! It's just a posh way of saying loading up to the eyeballs with debt to fund consumption.

[BREMBOV6]

This is my no1. dream car....although maybe in yellow.

I also recall following SG54 in EVO it was always my favourite reading when it was in. Massive kudos for keeping it going! Hoping too do the NC500 soon it would be incredible doing it in a Murcielago!

[mattf93]

blueST said:

This phrase from the article "...having leveraged a property portfolio ..." explains why I'll never own anything more exotic than a crusty old Land Rover. I don't even have a clue what it means! I have an image of tyre levers being applied to a ring binder in an overcrowded filing cabinet.

Haha! I get what you mean!

I think he means he used it as guarantee/collateral against the car should he fail to make payments.
No different to leveraging something or someone against a house or other high value purchase etc.

[will_]

I remember seeing this at Le Mans years ago - well done Simon for biting the bullet and keeping it alive.

[blueST]

Did it once have a Union Flag vinyled onto the roof? Think I saw it years ago on the M62.

[Dagnut]

I've had the same brush for 20 years...in that time it's had 5 new heads and 10 new handles but it's still going strong

[C7 JFW]

This was pretty much the high point of reading Evo mag for me a while ago.

It also set the scene that you actually could run something as insane as this long-term. I appreciate that it's a comical running cost, but then you only live once.

Tremendous bit of kit, even better that it's still going.

PH Hero - agreed.

[Dream355r]

Well done! Truly captures the essence of EVO ( which seems to have been lost of late) in the way Simon relates to the car and how he treats it. Brilliant. The thrill of owning and driving ie using a supercar.

And Simon, if bringing to Scotland please bring to tartan tarmac and let Scottish fans say hello 😋

Edited by Dream355r on Thursday 6th April 22:55

[yojik]

Great article! Would be even better if later there would be detailed review / history of what has been changed during that period of driving miles.. Do you think it would be possible?

[Mannasaurus Rex]

simonspider said:

Mannasaurus Rex said:

My all time favourite car. Although personally I'd have mine in Giallo Orion and on its original wheels... Not that I need to worry about such things.
And I'm sure I've sat in this very car at the NEC about 10 years ago, did it have black stripes at one point?

You did indeed. That was the launch of 6th Gear at MPH'06. Long time ago.
Original wheels don't fit anymore thanks to the larger brakes. But you are right, they are very Countachish.

Yep I like the car so much I even made an account just to comment. And should you read this, I'm curious how LP07 EVO is doing.

[mattf93]

Had the pleasure of speaking briefly with Simon, who had stayed in his car unlike most and was reading the Sunday Paper! haha

Interesting talking about the life the car has had and it being his daily driver - quite a cool car to daily. Interestingly at SCDs secret meet it was the only Murci there!

[mattf93]

[caferey98]

Just love this story. Feels almost human in a mechanical sort of way?!

[mattf93]

258,000 Miles and still going strong! Clearly must love his Murci still if he's dailying the car!

In a mileage sensitive motoring world its nice to see someone say F U to the establishment!

[amgmcqueen]

Still such a good looking car! These sound incredible in real life too