Supercars.... living the dream or ultimatly a let down......
Discussion
Only guy that I ever knew that owned a Ferrari told me it was ultimatly a dissapointing experience. He said he couldn't fully enjoy the car, because ultimatly it attracted the wrong kind of attention all too often, and he was scared to leave it anywhere. He'd hat it keyed by some jealous scrote, and on many occasions found that people had jealously gobbed on it, which is quite disgusting.
So i was wondering, us dreamers that fantasize about one day owning our 'dream car', does the experience get easily soured? Rediculous running costs meaning they cant be used as much as you want, and then hideous depreciation if you do use them. I look in the classifieds and see 'almost brand new' cars up for sale, no milage, maybe £50k off list prices (thinking F599's for example).
I understand that if you're really seriously wealthy these factors wouldnt bother you so much, but those that have to save and sacrifice for years to get there, are they just 'show and shine' exhibit cars that owners are simply scared to use/abuse as they should be?
Would my dream turn out to be a bit of a let down, ultimatly?
The thoughts of the 'not super rich' supercar owners would be appreciated.
So i was wondering, us dreamers that fantasize about one day owning our 'dream car', does the experience get easily soured? Rediculous running costs meaning they cant be used as much as you want, and then hideous depreciation if you do use them. I look in the classifieds and see 'almost brand new' cars up for sale, no milage, maybe £50k off list prices (thinking F599's for example).
I understand that if you're really seriously wealthy these factors wouldnt bother you so much, but those that have to save and sacrifice for years to get there, are they just 'show and shine' exhibit cars that owners are simply scared to use/abuse as they should be?
Would my dream turn out to be a bit of a let down, ultimatly?
The thoughts of the 'not super rich' supercar owners would be appreciated.
If money were no object I still wouldn't have the likes of a Fezza or Lambo in this country. Somewhere like the South of France would be a fantastic place to enjoy cars like that, amazing roads, Route Napoleon, etc. In this country the majority of people would be jealous and also the roads are cr@p. IMHO of course.
I guess it also depends where you live and drive it.
My Dad owned a few (lesser) Ferraris and doesn't really use them although he is getting on a bit, but his vintage (30's) Bentley he has never had a bad reaction with and loads of people wave etc (it was a supercar in its day)
I owned a Griffith 500 which is an 'affordable supercar' IMO and it also drew positive reaction BUT yes I found it very frustrating having to use restraint all the time.
My Dad owned a few (lesser) Ferraris and doesn't really use them although he is getting on a bit, but his vintage (30's) Bentley he has never had a bad reaction with and loads of people wave etc (it was a supercar in its day)
I owned a Griffith 500 which is an 'affordable supercar' IMO and it also drew positive reaction BUT yes I found it very frustrating having to use restraint all the time.
On my 3rd Lambo now, and I've enjoyed every one of them. Yes, leaving it parked somewhere out of sight can be a bit nerve wracking, but if I am going somewhere where I need to do that, chances are that it is something where the Lambo isn't the first choice of transport anyway.
Driving in this country can be frustrating in any car, due to the sheer volume of traffic roads and all the speed cameras. Needless to say the vast majority of miles that I put on my last Lambo were done on the continent, and so far it's looking as if the same is going to be true of my current one.
Driving in this country can be frustrating in any car, due to the sheer volume of traffic roads and all the speed cameras. Needless to say the vast majority of miles that I put on my last Lambo were done on the continent, and so far it's looking as if the same is going to be true of my current one.
355 spider and 911 2.7. Rs both meet up to the dream ... Running costs if you have to ask then being honest don't bother it's not worth the stress.
And that not be being flippant but when I fist had a tvr years ago I worried about mpg and running cost, ruined the experience totally at the time ( love my griff 500 now though and wouldn't part with it not really a super car though but probably my fave)
I.e. Restoration on the rs was going to be circa 45k over 4 months turned out to be 78k over 5 months
Phib
And that not be being flippant but when I fist had a tvr years ago I worried about mpg and running cost, ruined the experience totally at the time ( love my griff 500 now though and wouldn't part with it not really a super car though but probably my fave)
I.e. Restoration on the rs was going to be circa 45k over 4 months turned out to be 78k over 5 months
Phib
355 spider and 911 2.7. Rs both meet up to the dream ... Running costs if you have to ask then being honest don't bother it's not worth the stress.
And that not be being flippant but when I fist had a tvr years ago I worried about mpg and running cost, ruined the experience totally at the time ( love my griff 500 now though and wouldn't part with it not really a super car though but probably my fave)
I.e. Restoration on the rs was going to be circa 45k over 4 months turned out to be 78k over 5 months
Phib
And that not be being flippant but when I fist had a tvr years ago I worried about mpg and running cost, ruined the experience totally at the time ( love my griff 500 now though and wouldn't part with it not really a super car though but probably my fave)
I.e. Restoration on the rs was going to be circa 45k over 4 months turned out to be 78k over 5 months
Phib
maniac0796 said:
I think to me, the biggest let down would never being able to fully enjoy all that power, unless I went to a track day, or the autobahn.
I don't buy that you'd never be able to use it properly on the road. You just need to get up early and/or take it somewhere remote, which is not that difficult really.There is something to be said for having a car you are not too worried about breaking/damaging. Kind of makes spanking it down a twisty b-road a bit more care free.
Once talking to a 'used' (previously cherished dear boy, previously cherished 
) supercar dealer he told me of his bitter dissapointment on owning his first F40. He absolutely despised it and told me it was the most 'overhyped' car ever.
Personally speaking all my current supercar wants would be perfectly useable in most situations my life puts me in and if I can afford to buy then some d
head scratching it would be no more annoying than a trolley dent.
911 RS
NSX
Ferrari 575M or 599 GTB
To name 4 that spring to mind, the NSX is perfectly achievable so perhaps I'll be able to report back here one day what it's like living with one.
) supercar dealer he told me of his bitter dissapointment on owning his first F40. He absolutely despised it and told me it was the most 'overhyped' car ever.Personally speaking all my current supercar wants would be perfectly useable in most situations my life puts me in and if I can afford to buy then some d
head scratching it would be no more annoying than a trolley dent. 911 RS
NSX
Ferrari 575M or 599 GTB
To name 4 that spring to mind, the NSX is perfectly achievable so perhaps I'll be able to report back here one day what it's like living with one.
maniac0796 said:
I think to me, the biggest let down would never being able to fully enjoy all that power, unless I went to a track day, or the autobahn.
This! It might sound silly, but my realistic dream car when i first started driving was a Honda S2000! I loved it. 10 years on, I now own one! and ok, its no supercar, merely a warm performance motor, but rarely does it get past the magical 6k revs, and even when it does, you very quickly reach licence losing speeds, and thats just with 238bhp!
Like I said in another thread, I had to let the Veyron go because it was ultimately too stressful leaving it parked on the road just waiting on some ned scratching it with a key. It couldn't be enjoyed in the city either, 30mph limit everywhere, 20 when the schools are opening and closing. Economy was gash too, single figures if I gave it a good heavy right foot. So much unwanted attention it wasn't even funny.
In the end I was glad to chop it in for a Panda, even had a few bob back in the part ex.
In the end I was glad to chop it in for a Panda, even had a few bob back in the part ex.
I got my 430 almost a year ago after dreaming about owning a Ferrari for almost 30 years since I was a kid. Has it lived up to my very high expectations? fk yeah! It's absolutely fking awesome and i'm loving every minute of it 
If you're feeling bored you can check out my blog on this very subject.
http://livngthedream.blogspot.com/
John.
k yeah! It's absolutely fking awesome and i'm loving every minute of it If you're feeling bored you can check out my blog on this very subject.
http://livngthedream.blogspot.com/
John.
Think you hit the nail on the head. If your remortaging your council house to buy a 355 then your destined to have a poor experience. You'll be driving it parking it in the worst areas that will attract the wrong attention.
If you got the money you won't have the same issues or the same conerns.
If you got the money you won't have the same issues or the same conerns.
EK993 said:
My F355 is by far and away the best car I have owned. Not dynamically, or indeed the fastest. It was the one that put the biggest smile on my face when I drove it, the one I always wanted to go into the garage just to have a look at. For me it 100% lived up to the dream no question.
Can't agree more!
My 'Dream Car' which I currently own is never a let down and never draws any negative attention, even when parked in a not so salubrious part of town. It puts a smile on my face every time I open the garage door to take it out. My E30 M3, was, is and will probably always be my dream car ever since I saw them racing round Donnington in the late 80's with Soper et al.
However, I guess it is true concerning the jealousy part in some circumstances because people (I am generalising here) are jealous of others who have more than they do and see it as somehow 'showing off' or 'rubbing their noses in it' or maybe even 'an affront' to them that one should dare perform a display of such ostentatiousness. I don't really know, just guessing because I'm not some jealous scumbag who would have that kind of mentality.
However, I guess it is true concerning the jealousy part in some circumstances because people (I am generalising here) are jealous of others who have more than they do and see it as somehow 'showing off' or 'rubbing their noses in it' or maybe even 'an affront' to them that one should dare perform a display of such ostentatiousness. I don't really know, just guessing because I'm not some jealous scumbag who would have that kind of mentality.
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