At what point are you affluent enough to buy a supercar?
Discussion
Couple of observations from my experiences over the years:
They are not as much fun when you can actually afford them. It makes them feel a lot less special as it just adds that extra level of aspiration and achievement when its a bit of a struggle.
It's the worst to have one and not be able to afford to really use it when you want to, as its such a big general expense.
The cars i look back most fondly on are the ones i used the most or at least did the most memorable things in, not the most expensive ones.
Don't gamble you life on one, markets change quickly and you could be stuck with it.
If its worth it to you, then its worth it, so long as you can afford it and to live, and are happy with the sacrifices needed to own it then you are all good.
Most of the supercar owners on here 20 years ago were rolling round in battered old corsas so they could afford the special one for the weekend.
Having several nice cars now almost seems normal and I'm not sure it is. Not sure you need to be that affluent to afford one its just priorities if the sums add up.
They are not as much fun when you can actually afford them. It makes them feel a lot less special as it just adds that extra level of aspiration and achievement when its a bit of a struggle.
It's the worst to have one and not be able to afford to really use it when you want to, as its such a big general expense.
The cars i look back most fondly on are the ones i used the most or at least did the most memorable things in, not the most expensive ones.
Don't gamble you life on one, markets change quickly and you could be stuck with it.
If its worth it to you, then its worth it, so long as you can afford it and to live, and are happy with the sacrifices needed to own it then you are all good.
Most of the supercar owners on here 20 years ago were rolling round in battered old corsas so they could afford the special one for the weekend.
Having several nice cars now almost seems normal and I'm not sure it is. Not sure you need to be that affluent to afford one its just priorities if the sums add up.
topjay said:
Couple of observations from my experiences over the years:
They are not as much fun when you can actually afford them. It makes them feel a lot less special as it just adds that extra level of aspiration and achievement when its a bit of a struggle.
It's the worst to have one and not be able to afford to really use it when you want to, as its such a big general expense.
The cars i look back most fondly on are the ones i used the most or at least did the most memorable things in, not the most expensive ones.
Don't gamble you life on one, markets change quickly and you could be stuck with it.
If its worth it to you, then its worth it, so long as you can afford it and to live, and are happy with the sacrifices needed to own it then you are all good.
Most of the supercar owners on here 20 years ago were rolling round in battered old corsas so they could afford the special one for the weekend.
Having several nice cars now almost seems normal and I'm not sure it is. Not sure you need to be that affluent to afford one its just priorities if the sums add up.
I can afford mine and bloody love it. But I totally agree, I don't see the point in owning one and not using it.They are not as much fun when you can actually afford them. It makes them feel a lot less special as it just adds that extra level of aspiration and achievement when its a bit of a struggle.
It's the worst to have one and not be able to afford to really use it when you want to, as its such a big general expense.
The cars i look back most fondly on are the ones i used the most or at least did the most memorable things in, not the most expensive ones.
Don't gamble you life on one, markets change quickly and you could be stuck with it.
If its worth it to you, then its worth it, so long as you can afford it and to live, and are happy with the sacrifices needed to own it then you are all good.
Most of the supercar owners on here 20 years ago were rolling round in battered old corsas so they could afford the special one for the weekend.
Having several nice cars now almost seems normal and I'm not sure it is. Not sure you need to be that affluent to afford one its just priorities if the sums add up.
When my 911 was built it cost more than many houses. Apart from the truly bonkers cars, this is no longer the case and so its not surprising that many more people can afford them.
I don't think I saw a 911 until I was in my 20s, probably didn't see a Ferrari until much later. Certainly growing up on the edge of the Fens there were not many of these cars around.
Now they are everywhere.
supersport said:
I don't think I saw a 911 until I was in my 20s, probably didn't see a Ferrari until much later. Certainly growing up on the edge of the Fens there were not many of these cars around.
You only didn't see 911s in the Fens as back then most of them had gone backwards into the ditches 
As for Ferrari, their sales were 3-4k/year in the 80s and 90s, compared to 3x that now. How many are in the UK I don't know, but of the 250k or so ever made, about 100k of that has been since 2010.
jm8403 said:
Eatpies99 said:
What an interesting thread. For comparison to some posts here....
I bought my 458 in January. £135k. I earn less then £100k. It costs me about £1000 a month. I don't invest any money other then my pension. But man I love driving that car.....
How does it cost that? How much deposit is that if you don't mind?I bought my 458 in January. £135k. I earn less then £100k. It costs me about £1000 a month. I don't invest any money other then my pension. But man I love driving that car.....
- pistonhead
I still remember picking up my 355 12 or so years ago and just being so excited - even sitting in traffic on some godforsaken English highway
And after that so many more memories in that car - like driving it up a hill in Luxembourg in the snow on summer tyres / sideways all the way
Or driving along the coast somewhere in Spain on perfect tarmac with no other cars around
Memories I will cherish forever and the bills are a distant memory that is just not important in the bigger picture
DevonPaul said:
supersport said:
I don't think I saw a 911 until I was in my 20s, probably didn't see a Ferrari until much later. Certainly growing up on the edge of the Fens there were not many of these cars around.
You only didn't see 911s in the Fens as back then most of them had gone backwards into the ditches As for Ferrari, their sales were 3-4k/year in the 80s and 90s, compared to 3x that now. How many are in the UK I don't know, but of the 250k or so ever made, about 100k of that has been since 2010.
Never affluent enough…especially with a blood sucking ex 
I find whatever my budget is (as in pay for outright and have money for running and repairs) …I tend to want the car thats in the next bracket…its then a case of weighing up whether something else gives or remain sensible….and I’ve done both in the past…fast cars tend to screw with my sense of reason
I find whatever my budget is (as in pay for outright and have money for running and repairs) …I tend to want the car thats in the next bracket…its then a case of weighing up whether something else gives or remain sensible….and I’ve done both in the past…fast cars tend to screw with my sense of reason
Late to this thread and confess that I haven't read though it but for me I had a lump sum from the Army (and a bit more) and wanted a supercar that I could enjoy for a couple of years without losing any money.
I bought my F430 well but I will lose money. Do I care? Not really, the car has been an absolute riot and I'll be sorry to see it go, I can't afford to write off 80+k in a car and need that money back. In the meantime..
I bought my F430 well but I will lose money. Do I care? Not really, the car has been an absolute riot and I'll be sorry to see it go, I can't afford to write off 80+k in a car and need that money back. In the meantime..
Finances are different person to person, outlook to outlook.
Super basic litmus test for myself is: "Do I need to change my lifestyle (including what I'm doing with my long term savings etc) to accomodate this?", if yes - it's a no go. If no, it's fine.
With that being said, it doesn't mean it's NOT ok for you to change your lifestyle, save and afford the monthlies - you do you. It all comes down to your personal comfort levels and circumstances in life. I do not exceed 25% of my annual post-tax on "fun" stuff, and purchase in cash, but those rules are arbitrary and usually a guideline as I pay myself and can do some really dumb s
t if I set my mind to it.
Outlook? My dad died in his early thirties (I was 3!) to lung cancer - and didn't get to experience the majority of his life. We expended whatever he had put away in all sorts of experimental treatments and the usual bks. Mum was widowed, broke, and struggled for most of my childhood.
So, I'm often torn. I've seen broke. And I've seen how quickly life changes and people go. Let your heart win sometimes. But not all the time!
Super basic litmus test for myself is: "Do I need to change my lifestyle (including what I'm doing with my long term savings etc) to accomodate this?", if yes - it's a no go. If no, it's fine.
With that being said, it doesn't mean it's NOT ok for you to change your lifestyle, save and afford the monthlies - you do you. It all comes down to your personal comfort levels and circumstances in life. I do not exceed 25% of my annual post-tax on "fun" stuff, and purchase in cash, but those rules are arbitrary and usually a guideline as I pay myself and can do some really dumb s
t if I set my mind to it.Outlook? My dad died in his early thirties (I was 3!) to lung cancer - and didn't get to experience the majority of his life. We expended whatever he had put away in all sorts of experimental treatments and the usual b
ks. Mum was widowed, broke, and struggled for most of my childhood. So, I'm often torn. I've seen broke. And I've seen how quickly life changes and people go. Let your heart win sometimes. But not all the time!
mirsgarage said:
Finances are different person to person, outlook to outlook.
Super basic litmus test for myself is: "Do I need to change my lifestyle (including what I'm doing with my long term savings etc) to accomodate this?", if yes - it's a no go. If no, it's fine.
With that being said, it doesn't mean it's NOT ok for you to change your lifestyle, save and afford the monthlies - you do you. It all comes down to your personal comfort levels and circumstances in life. I do not exceed 25% of my annual post-tax on "fun" stuff, and purchase in cash, but those rules are arbitrary and usually a guideline as I pay myself and can do some really dumb st if I set my mind to it.
Outlook? My dad died in his early thirties (I was 3!) to lung cancer - and didn't get to experience the majority of his life. We expended whatever he had put away in all sorts of experimental treatments and the usual bks. Mum was widowed, broke, and struggled for most of my childhood.
So, I'm often torn. I've seen broke. And I've seen how quickly life changes and people go. Let your heart win sometimes. But not all the time!
Even if you do need to change your lifestyle, it may be worth it, each to their own Super basic litmus test for myself is: "Do I need to change my lifestyle (including what I'm doing with my long term savings etc) to accomodate this?", if yes - it's a no go. If no, it's fine.
With that being said, it doesn't mean it's NOT ok for you to change your lifestyle, save and afford the monthlies - you do you. It all comes down to your personal comfort levels and circumstances in life. I do not exceed 25% of my annual post-tax on "fun" stuff, and purchase in cash, but those rules are arbitrary and usually a guideline as I pay myself and can do some really dumb s
t if I set my mind to it.Outlook? My dad died in his early thirties (I was 3!) to lung cancer - and didn't get to experience the majority of his life. We expended whatever he had put away in all sorts of experimental treatments and the usual b
ks. Mum was widowed, broke, and struggled for most of my childhood. So, I'm often torn. I've seen broke. And I've seen how quickly life changes and people go. Let your heart win sometimes. But not all the time!
supersport said:
DevonPaul said:
supersport said:
I don't think I saw a 911 until I was in my 20s, probably didn't see a Ferrari until much later. Certainly growing up on the edge of the Fens there were not many of these cars around.
You only didn't see 911s in the Fens as back then most of them had gone backwards into the ditches As for Ferrari, their sales were 3-4k/year in the 80s and 90s, compared to 3x that now. How many are in the UK I don't know, but of the 250k or so ever made, about 100k of that has been since 2010.
andyhawes said:
supersport said:
DevonPaul said:
supersport said:
I don't think I saw a 911 until I was in my 20s, probably didn't see a Ferrari until much later. Certainly growing up on the edge of the Fens there were not many of these cars around.
You only didn't see 911s in the Fens as back then most of them had gone backwards into the ditches As for Ferrari, their sales were 3-4k/year in the 80s and 90s, compared to 3x that now. How many are in the UK I don't know, but of the 250k or so ever made, about 100k of that has been since 2010.
rawenghey said:
Wow, 300 grand is a big income man. Sounds like you have kids or an expensive (ex)misses
Yeah I have to agree. How on earth can you not afford a 100k mclaren 570 earning that sort of money!You must spoil your loved ones dearly and probably have your priorities right which is wrong on this forum
This is a very interesting subject for many of us daydreaming petrol heads.
Many of us dream of owning a supercar and I was considering an entry level one and still do. But I just realistically just couldn't afford the potential repair bills. Especially after speaking with a local owner of a 650s who had his car in for a service and ended up needing some consumables and repairs done and the bill was £15k+ the car has only done 7k miles!
Still, I'm not one of the internet's Mclaren bashers, one would still be at the top of my list.
For driving thrills, I decided to stick with an Ariel Atom. I now have a 22plate £95k spec one in my garage that many will think is mad for a 4pot in some scaffolding. But residuals are very very strong, upkeep is next to nothing, it's as quick as most things on the road (sequential gearbox helps) and pretty much quicker than anything on track (1m 33s at Anglesey by some casual track day owners!)
Certainly, far far away from a supercar but it will turn as many heads and put a big smile on your face (when weather allows)
likesachange said:
Especially after speaking with a local owner of a 650s who had his car in for a service and ended up needing some consumables and repairs done and the bill was £15k+ the car has only done 7k miles!
Still, I'm not one of the internet's Mclaren bashers, one would still be at the top of my list.
I always say that McLarens are the Range Rover(Vogue) of the supercars. When they work, they’re an incredible place to be that certainly won’t leave you to be found wanting…….but they just have that reliability issue that is always at the back of your mind.Still, I'm not one of the internet's Mclaren bashers, one would still be at the top of my list.
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