RE: Prior Convictions: sensible supercars
Discussion
For the first time in my life I think I have got the multi car thing figured out.
1. Family SUV used mainly by her indoors, small enough to park, but with a proper auto and buggy sized boot - bmw x3
2. Dented daily work car for me that never gets cleaned, economical, reliable, auto - volvo s60 d5
3. Garaged Weekend toy / long distance GT for me - Mustang GT
I think the trio works at the higher end of the income scale as well, you just upscale the values invested in each. Keep one for family duties thats still practical enough to park. One for getting dented, and one at the fun end of the scale.
Every time I see someone trying to park the latest McLaren or Ferrari at the local coop then struggle to open the door far enough to get out, I wonder if being their driveway gates they have a clapped out monado lurking for the practical stuff.
Back to the point however. If Bentley et al produced an X3 sized SUV they would be onto a winner. Just make sure it fits in parking spaces!
1. Family SUV used mainly by her indoors, small enough to park, but with a proper auto and buggy sized boot - bmw x3
2. Dented daily work car for me that never gets cleaned, economical, reliable, auto - volvo s60 d5
3. Garaged Weekend toy / long distance GT for me - Mustang GT
I think the trio works at the higher end of the income scale as well, you just upscale the values invested in each. Keep one for family duties thats still practical enough to park. One for getting dented, and one at the fun end of the scale.
Every time I see someone trying to park the latest McLaren or Ferrari at the local coop then struggle to open the door far enough to get out, I wonder if being their driveway gates they have a clapped out monado lurking for the practical stuff.
Back to the point however. If Bentley et al produced an X3 sized SUV they would be onto a winner. Just make sure it fits in parking spaces!
Edited by ducnick on Saturday 23 September 10:38
I think driving a specced up mini instead of a supercar makes a lot of sense in a big town.
There's something called the Renault Clio Initiale Paris which is a full option, special edition Clio. Does well amongst the financiers crowd in La Defense even though they can afford or have also a Porsche or the likes.
One thing that wasn't mentioned: putting lots of miles on a supercar tends to hurt a lot in your pocket.
Basically these vehicles already exist: full option Mini's, Merc A45 AMG, mentioned Clio, Abarth 695, BMW 140i... They are frequently made within car manufacturers of groups of car manufacturers that also produce supercars and am sure sold a lot to the same people. None are yet called Ferrari, Porsche or else because putting an actual supercar badge on a mini spoils the name (or so the manufacturers think).
Fiat came close with naming one of their special 500 version Tributo Ferrari by the way.
There's something called the Renault Clio Initiale Paris which is a full option, special edition Clio. Does well amongst the financiers crowd in La Defense even though they can afford or have also a Porsche or the likes.
One thing that wasn't mentioned: putting lots of miles on a supercar tends to hurt a lot in your pocket.
Basically these vehicles already exist: full option Mini's, Merc A45 AMG, mentioned Clio, Abarth 695, BMW 140i... They are frequently made within car manufacturers of groups of car manufacturers that also produce supercars and am sure sold a lot to the same people. None are yet called Ferrari, Porsche or else because putting an actual supercar badge on a mini spoils the name (or so the manufacturers think).
Fiat came close with naming one of their special 500 version Tributo Ferrari by the way.
If Aston Martin made a Golf sized hybrid or electric car with Aston martin luxury for £60k it would definitely sell! See BMW i3 and i8 for reference. Worlds apart but well made and great sellers for what they are. The new Mini E range will prove that luxury(Ish) electric cars are going to be very popular.
mmcd87 said:
Interesting comments on the Cygnet. There is a Toyota IQ in our driveway and if you've ever driven one its easy to see why it was chosen as a base for the Cygnet. The car is built and spec'd more like a Lexus than an entry Toyota, and admittedly was priced as such. Saying an old mini would do the same job as the Cygnet was tasked with is madness - thats a classic car without 9 airbags, ability to cruise quietly at 70mph, 50mpg, rattle free etc. IQs are as refined and can be spec'd to a level of cars several classes up of similar age.
Great value second hand now too if you fancy something a bit different. Excellent town / 1st car and superbly engineered if thats your thing. With a small driver, we've had 4 adults in ours for a short trip too. Can't really fault them and would buy one over an Aygo any day.
If i had a supercar and needed a NEW small car I think I'd go 500 Abarth.
I agree completely! After my Golf R lease ended I bought myself a cheap little IQ (auto) as a stop gap car, thinking i'd keep it a couple of months or so until I found another good lease deal. A year and a bit later and I still have the IQ and I can't see myself getting rid of it anytime soon. They're just so cheap to run, £0 road tax, 50mpg, low insurance and like you said, fully kitted out! (Keyless entry, auto-lights/wipers, electric mirrors, mp3 etc...) Great value second hand now too if you fancy something a bit different. Excellent town / 1st car and superbly engineered if thats your thing. With a small driver, we've had 4 adults in ours for a short trip too. Can't really fault them and would buy one over an Aygo any day.
If i had a supercar and needed a NEW small car I think I'd go 500 Abarth.
Anyway, having the IQ has really opened my eyes to the Cygnet, Aston Martin levels of luxury in a smart car sized car, what's there not to love as a daily?
For anyone saying it's not got enough power either, 97bhp/920kg is actually really quite fun to raz around (and pairs very well to the cvt box)!
I guess the firm prices even after all this time speak for themselves.
I could walk past an expensive car to drive to work or the shop if I feel my car is going to be squeezed into a tiny space in a dodgy part of town and wrecked, however...
1) An expensive small car will have somewhat of the same issue (less so but still)
2) Currently, having a Lamborghini says: I'm pretty rich, I like cars and I bought something a bit nuts because I don't care what you think. If they make a tarted up Golf it will still work for one generation and then the Lamborghini name will be tarnished, they will lose their credibility and cachet as a premium supercar manufacturer and their sales will drop through the floor as everyone buys a Golf/Ferrari depending on car type desired.
It's a guff idea. I know manufacturers want to be all things to all men these days but they need to remember their area of expertise and not ruin their name. This is especially the case when they are already part of a larger conglomerate that already fills the other niches with their other brands!
1) An expensive small car will have somewhat of the same issue (less so but still)
2) Currently, having a Lamborghini says: I'm pretty rich, I like cars and I bought something a bit nuts because I don't care what you think. If they make a tarted up Golf it will still work for one generation and then the Lamborghini name will be tarnished, they will lose their credibility and cachet as a premium supercar manufacturer and their sales will drop through the floor as everyone buys a Golf/Ferrari depending on car type desired.
It's a guff idea. I know manufacturers want to be all things to all men these days but they need to remember their area of expertise and not ruin their name. This is especially the case when they are already part of a larger conglomerate that already fills the other niches with their other brands!
TdM-GTV said:
I could walk past an expensive car to drive to work or the shop if I feel my car is going to be squeezed into a tiny space in a dodgy part of town and wrecked, however...
1) An expensive small car will have somewhat of the same issue (less so but still)
2) Currently, having a Lamborghini says: I'm pretty rich, I like cars and I bought something a bit nuts because I don't care what you think. If they make a tarted up Golf it will still work for one generation and then the Lamborghini name will be tarnished, they will lose their credibility and cachet as a premium supercar manufacturer and their sales will drop through the floor as everyone buys a Golf/Ferrari depending on car type desired.
It's a guff idea. I know manufacturers want to be all things to all men these days but they need to remember their area of expertise and not ruin their name. This is especially the case when they are already part of a larger conglomerate that already fills the other niches with their other brands!
But in a world where we have Lambo, Maserati, RR, Bentley, Ferrari (?) SUVs, isn't that already happening?1) An expensive small car will have somewhat of the same issue (less so but still)
2) Currently, having a Lamborghini says: I'm pretty rich, I like cars and I bought something a bit nuts because I don't care what you think. If they make a tarted up Golf it will still work for one generation and then the Lamborghini name will be tarnished, they will lose their credibility and cachet as a premium supercar manufacturer and their sales will drop through the floor as everyone buys a Golf/Ferrari depending on car type desired.
It's a guff idea. I know manufacturers want to be all things to all men these days but they need to remember their area of expertise and not ruin their name. This is especially the case when they are already part of a larger conglomerate that already fills the other niches with their other brands!
Surely the reality is that there isn't a single, profitable market the manufacturers haven't explored.
Makers ranges used to consist of three or four models with two or three trim levels.
Now look at BMW, Audi, Mercedes. The list of there offering is incredible.
We used to have the 3, 5 and 7 now you have the 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and soon to be 8 in coupe, 2 door, 4 door, estate, convertible.
If you go in a dealer now and ask for some weird combo chances are they will have it. Every niche is filled.
If it isn't it soon will be or there are insufficient customers to make it worth the bother.
This is PH, we are into cars, most aren't and certainly not enough that companies care.
There are already loads of small, luxury cars, every mainstream manufacturer has them.
Makers ranges used to consist of three or four models with two or three trim levels.
Now look at BMW, Audi, Mercedes. The list of there offering is incredible.
We used to have the 3, 5 and 7 now you have the 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and soon to be 8 in coupe, 2 door, 4 door, estate, convertible.
If you go in a dealer now and ask for some weird combo chances are they will have it. Every niche is filled.
If it isn't it soon will be or there are insufficient customers to make it worth the bother.
This is PH, we are into cars, most aren't and certainly not enough that companies care.
There are already loads of small, luxury cars, every mainstream manufacturer has them.
It’s a weird one. Been running a tuned and modified Audi S7 alongside a Smart Fourtwo Brabus. My commute of 7 miles each way meant the Audi was barley warming up (16mpg), so the Smart was getting way more use, in the end I recently decided to sell the Audi. When using the Audi for weekends and longer journeys it seemed like a rocket ship compared to the Smart, but the Smart is so practical, fun and easy to weave down the lanes, easy to park, nippy, bordering on too fast for its size, and economical (at least 3-4 times the mpg). Finally the Audi cost 6 times the value of the Smart. So why now am I almost immediately over the smart and missing my unused, expensive to run depreciating Audi like crazy? What is wrong with me [url]. Sorry I don’t have a picture of the smart, it’s just a boring, small, cramped, smart car, use your imagination... Come back Audi
|https://thumbsnap.com/kv37wHJM[/url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/kv37wHJM[/url]Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:45
Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:47
Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:51
Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:52
Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:54
Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:55
It’s a weird one. Been running a tuned and modified Audi S7 alongside a Smart Fourtwo Brabus. My commute of 7 miles each way meant the Audi was barley warming up (16mpg), so the Smart was getting way more use, in the end I recently decided to sell the Audi. When using the Audi for weekends and longer journeys it seemed like a rocket ship compared to the Smart, but the Smart is so practical, fun and easy to weave down the lanes, easy to park, nippy, bordering on too fast for its size, and economical (at least 3-4 times the mpg). Finally the Audi cost 6 times the value of the Smart. So why now am I almost immediately over the smart and missing my unused, expensive to run depreciating Audi like crazy? What is wrong with me [url]. Sorry I don’t have a picture of the smart, it’s just a boring, small, cramped, smart car, use your imagination... Come back Audi
|https://thumbsnap.com/kv37wHJM[/url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/kv37wHJM[/url]Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:45
Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:47
Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:51
Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:52
Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 10:54
Edited by dom1102 on Sunday 24th September 11:23
Well, I really can understand using the smart more as the other cars, small and nimble, enough space inside, AC for summer, not as quick as the others, def not good looking, but immensely practical and still enough fun per mile.
Clearly understand why you sold the A7, Just can not get rid of my fleet as they have to serve for different needs or wants.
But they are too cumbersome for daily town use, fear for parking dents, no AC, horrendous thirst, not warming up properly on the way to work, not compatible for certain customers etc etc
The best would prob be a 595 or thereabouts because it looks the part, but wifey insists it is for the younger type, so out of question.
Just ordered a smart electric, let's see how this will pan out.
Clearly understand why you sold the A7, Just can not get rid of my fleet as they have to serve for different needs or wants.
But they are too cumbersome for daily town use, fear for parking dents, no AC, horrendous thirst, not warming up properly on the way to work, not compatible for certain customers etc etc
The best would prob be a 595 or thereabouts because it looks the part, but wifey insists it is for the younger type, so out of question.
Just ordered a smart electric, let's see how this will pan out.
I love the idea of a small luxury car.
My current second car is a Citroen C1, bought for a bit of practicality when I had a V8 Vantage. That car actually wasn't too bad to park, however it's since been replaced by a Jag XJ which is simply too big for most car parks.
I've now got a Fiesta Vignale on order, as I was impressed by the new Fiesta, and the newer interior is a vast improvement over the outgoing model
My current second car is a Citroen C1, bought for a bit of practicality when I had a V8 Vantage. That car actually wasn't too bad to park, however it's since been replaced by a Jag XJ which is simply too big for most car parks.
I've now got a Fiesta Vignale on order, as I was impressed by the new Fiesta, and the newer interior is a vast improvement over the outgoing model
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff