Too much value, not enough cash...
Discussion
Just reading the latest EVO, in which this month's Buying Guide features the legendary E39 M5.
A virtual £60k car new which even today, is claimed, if fully wrung out, might just about keep up with Audi's nuthouse RS6 and Merc's simply sanitarium-bound E55 AMG. And yet one which is still feted as a significantly more rewarding drive.
It is possible to buy a 2-3 year old, low mileage example for £30-£35k. Hardly breaking news to PHers who keep their eyes on such things but incredible vfm, nonetheless.
Even more startling is the depreciation now affecting truly phenomenal supercars from the highest halls of awesome repute.
I'm talking not just about RHD F355s with tip top provenance which are now fetching as little as high £40ks...or the sublime F456GTs, early examples of which are doing the biz for insanely comparable amounts.
No; it seems that not even the mighty Maranello 550 is exempt from the attentions of Father Time.
20-odd k mileage examples (right hookers) for £60-70K, easy. Give 'em another few months and I'm sure they'll be commonly at under £60k.
So what's happening? Well I blame VW-Audi.
For me, the ubiquity of their 5.0 V10 blueprinted block, which seems to be found one way and another in every contemporary 'marque of distinction' to borrow an ad term - and the associated effortlessness of hyper performance derived therefrom - is making previously God-like high performance, slightly less powerful chariots seem, well, passe.
So if you're not bothered with buying into the Fish Pants new world plan for homogenised power planted and relatively dull domination, just keep your eyes peeled in the second hand sections.
I think a golden age of relatively affordable, characterful supercar performance is just around the corner.
(The exception being, I must say, the boys from Stuttgart. I'm no fan of their nasty interiors but the new Brabus 6.3 litre V12 Bi-Turbo with 640 bhp and over 700 ft/lb of torque is an unequivocal deliverer of massive and instantaneous swooning.)
Oh alright - and TVR!
A virtual £60k car new which even today, is claimed, if fully wrung out, might just about keep up with Audi's nuthouse RS6 and Merc's simply sanitarium-bound E55 AMG. And yet one which is still feted as a significantly more rewarding drive.
It is possible to buy a 2-3 year old, low mileage example for £30-£35k. Hardly breaking news to PHers who keep their eyes on such things but incredible vfm, nonetheless.
Even more startling is the depreciation now affecting truly phenomenal supercars from the highest halls of awesome repute.
I'm talking not just about RHD F355s with tip top provenance which are now fetching as little as high £40ks...or the sublime F456GTs, early examples of which are doing the biz for insanely comparable amounts.
No; it seems that not even the mighty Maranello 550 is exempt from the attentions of Father Time.
20-odd k mileage examples (right hookers) for £60-70K, easy. Give 'em another few months and I'm sure they'll be commonly at under £60k.
So what's happening? Well I blame VW-Audi.
For me, the ubiquity of their 5.0 V10 blueprinted block, which seems to be found one way and another in every contemporary 'marque of distinction' to borrow an ad term - and the associated effortlessness of hyper performance derived therefrom - is making previously God-like high performance, slightly less powerful chariots seem, well, passe.
So if you're not bothered with buying into the Fish Pants new world plan for homogenised power planted and relatively dull domination, just keep your eyes peeled in the second hand sections.
I think a golden age of relatively affordable, characterful supercar performance is just around the corner.
(The exception being, I must say, the boys from Stuttgart. I'm no fan of their nasty interiors but the new Brabus 6.3 litre V12 Bi-Turbo with 640 bhp and over 700 ft/lb of torque is an unequivocal deliverer of massive and instantaneous swooning.)
Oh alright - and TVR!
Hark!!! 
as the gap in cash terms reduces between swapping a y/o Lexus to a similar aged M5, is the gatekeeper of Derestrictor towers soon to deafened by the noise of BMW's M series V8 roaring out the gate every morning as opposed to the near silence of a Lexus?
Cash is seriously king at the moment on the car front. Shame I've spent out.
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 4th July 23:56
as the gap in cash terms reduces between swapping a y/o Lexus to a similar aged M5, is the gatekeeper of Derestrictor towers soon to deafened by the noise of BMW's M series V8 roaring out the gate every morning as opposed to the near silence of a Lexus? Cash is seriously king at the moment on the car front. Shame I've spent out.
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 4th July 23:56
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