A Rant About The Veyron

"MtrRider Just Wants Doritos" (MtrRider) 10/30/2013 at 16:08 • Filed to: None

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I think the Bugatti Veyron is an awful car. I don't see how it costs so much and VW still claims they lose money on them. I don't like the way it looks. But mostly, I hate what it stands for.

The ultimate supercar. It is not the ultimate supercar. It is the ultimate muscle car, but unlike muscle cars it offers nothing in the way of value.

The Veyron is overpriced, overweight, has an emphasis on horsepower over all else. It is beaten around tracks by an embarrassing array of cars, almost all of which are cheaper and less powerful. It's not that rare because they built so many (over 300), and they have to keep making special editions to move them. They are the ultimate showoff car for rich dudes that want you to know hes the richest motherfucker on the block with the fastest, most powerful car, but that doesn't mean he has to know how to drive. It understeers like the overweight pig it is and the engine/exhaust sounds like shit. It's exorbitant and exclusive, but not in the way a Pagani or Koenigsegg is although it costs just as much.

The engine is, at best, a bigger version of the W12 found in Bentleys and the VW Phaeton. The transmission is a nice Ricardo unit that was something special in its day, but now other gearboxes such as PDK, have caught up. They claim it is super expensive, but the Ford GT also had a Ricardo box capable of withstanding over 1000 hp, and that car cost a fraction of the Veyrons price and they came out at about the same time, although the GT was a manual rather than a dual clutch.

It costs over a million dollars. For that kind of money, you would expect the use of the best materials. In the 1990s, the million dollar Mclaren F1 pioneered the use of carbon fiber and gold in its construction, and had a very basic, driver oriented interior. The Veyron uses aluminum all around (again, like the $150,000 Ford GT), with an emphasis on a luxurious interior (which, according to Matt Farah, sourced its interior from the same company that did the Ford GTs interior). If I wanted a heavy, leather filled GT car I could have gotten a Bentley. You know, the one with that W12 we were talking about earlier?

They claim to have spent a lot of time working on the aerodynamics to get it stable at over 250 mph. It has trick aero bits and a suspension that lower in its "top speed mode". Very cool. But the Ford GT has aerodynamics that are also stable that over 270, as proven by the GT that just went !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in Texas, and they didn't crow about spending tons of money in the wind tunnel to do it.

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I don't see how VW loses money on this car. I don't think it's worth what they are asking for it, and the depreciation of the Veyron shows that I'm not alone. I'm probably going to take some heat for this post, because to some the Veyron is the holy grail of automobiles, baptized by Jeremy Clarkson, and to them nothing can beat it. Except this $61,000 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

highmodulus > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:09

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For Sweden > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:10

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It's not that rare because they built so many (over 300)

Huh?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > For Sweden 10/30/2013 at 16:12

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lol, that reads like a waymoe quote.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > For Sweden 10/30/2013 at 16:12

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Compared to other million dollar hypercars that is a lot. How many cars a year does Pagani or Koenigsegg make? A dozen, maybe. Bugatti cranks out 50 of these a year, and is starting to have a hard time finding buyers. They aren't hard to find is what I'm saying.

gometz > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:14

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Well, to be fair, you used a CGI rendering, a terribly done one at that.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > gometz 10/30/2013 at 16:16

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I was lazy picking photos I admit.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:16

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The engineering that goes into it is actually quite impressive. To have a turn-key car with 1000 horsepower is quite a feat. Many other cars that accomplish this have an engine life measured in hours, rather than miles. This car wasn't built as a track monster, it was built to be daily-driveable and to break a production car top speed record. It does this very admirably.

W16, 4 turbo's, heavy weight. It takes a lot to make that go fast, reliably. Sure you can build a Ford GT for the texas mile, but I bet that thing would be a nightmare to daily drive.

Do I like the Veyron? No. I think it looks horrendous. But I do admire it.

You are right on one point, it is the ultimate show-off car for the rich, but it is also quite a show-off car for VW/Bugatti.

offroadkarter > For Sweden 10/30/2013 at 16:17

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I can say I've never seen a veyron in person, I'd say they are rather rare

DrivesaCorolla > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:18

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I've been sick of the Veyron for a long time.

I don't want to judge the looks because I've never seen one in person, but the fanboyishness for the car itself needs to get a rest.

Great, it holds the fastest production car record, for a straight line. And thats about all it can claim any more. Its a toy, meant for nothing but showing off, with no actual on track performance figures.

Its practically an old american muscle car in terms of performance, goes great in a straight line... corners are another story.

EL_ULY > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:18

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its funny to me that every 13 year old on every car video on Youtube has to compare something to the Bugatti Veyron. Or a BMW. When its about speed, nothing is faster that a Veyron or Agera R. When it comes to handling, nothing is better than a BMW (according to the "experts" on Youtube). One of the most popular (or THE most popular) video on YouTube is a drag race between a BMW M3 and Bugatti Veyron right at 50 million views. Does not surprise me at all.

Just read the comments for a good laugh :]

xxxxxx > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:19

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All I can say is that I agree. 100%.

timateo81 > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:19

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His Stigness > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:21

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Is this what I sound like?

His Stigness > For Sweden 10/30/2013 at 16:22

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For Sweden is this what I sound like in my "German Superiority" pieces?

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 10/30/2013 at 16:23

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Having a turn key car with 1000 hp isn't that hard if you are using a 8 liter DOHC engine with 4 turbochargers. I'm particularly unimpressed with the engine actually, it has a relatively low hp number and 4 turbos make it sounds like a commercial vehicle. It may be low boost for longevity, but that's no excuse in modern cars. With Nissan GTRs and Ecoboosts and Mclaren all making tons of power from lesser engines, and still doing it reliably and for way less money. Where is the engineering? VW probably could have modified the W12 to make the power, or made way more with what they have. Engineering isn't engineering if you do what's easiest, and if you have $20,000 tires that only last a couple thousand miles if driven easily, who cares about maintenance costs?

quarterlifecrisis > His Stigness 10/30/2013 at 16:24

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Well....now that you said it...I did kind of check the author after I read it....

Still busting balls.

dogisbadob > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:24

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300 is totally not rare, like you see one on every block

haha

Speedmonkey > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:24

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I totally agree with you, and got flamed for suggesting so recently!

maximillious > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:27

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Here is a Boddingtons for your awesome post. It may not be the Most expensive beer in the world or the fanciest or even the strongest but god damn it its tastier than many of those and it costs a hell of a lot less.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > His Stigness 10/30/2013 at 16:27

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Y...Yes.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > maximillious 10/30/2013 at 16:28

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Why thank you! There's nothing I enjoy more than a good value!

Chteelers > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:31

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Pretty sure that's a Lambo, dude.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Chteelers 10/30/2013 at 16:33

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Chteelers > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:34

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Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:37

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All the of the cars you mention have 1/3 to 2/3's the power of the Veyron, those engines and transmissions would be heavily strained at Veyron power levels.

Let's say we turn the Veyron up to 1800 horsepower, that's when we'll start seeing it be as strained as the GTR would be at 1000.

At the end of the day what does it matter? The GTR is built to be fast around a track and the Veyron is built to be the fastest production car available (at the time that it was first made). It also features leather everywhere and diamond studded gauges. It is a luxury vehicle. A GTR is the video games of vehicles. It does indeed appeal to the very rich. Do you think someone like that wants to get into a hopped up 1500 horsepower 3.8 liter v6? No. Should they want to hop into a Veyron? I don't think so. Haha.

When I say turn key, I mean, some rich dude can get into the plushy seat and have a positively serene driving experience as he stares at his diamond studded speedometer while driving it into a lake.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 10/30/2013 at 16:44

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I was talking purely engines. I know a Nissan GTR has a awful interior when compared to a Veyron. If the GTR engine were scaled up to 8 liters, it would make more than 1k hp. I don't think diamond studded gauges are an engineering feat and should not be in this discussion, and the Veyron isn't the most engaging car to drive either from what I've heard. I was merely using it as an example of what happens when engineers (not engines!) are pushed.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > His Stigness 10/30/2013 at 16:46

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Except I wrote multiple paragraphs giving tangible reasons for why I don't like this car. You have no real reasons for your bias.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:53

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Haha, so anyways, you think cars that there was only 300 made of aren't rare?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:55

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You are arguing the Veyron isn't that great an engineering feat, while actually it is quite a marvel of an engineering feat. You were not talking purely engines.

poop_steam > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:56

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pshhh! I did 254 in the eighties with a microwave control panel for a dashboard!

as a callaway fan i've thought the veyron was over-rated from day one.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 16:57

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All your points are valid.

However, you are trying to compare the Veyron to cars that are not designed to do the same thing.

You really do have to look at the Veyron like the Concorde. Was it the best way to fly? No, probably not. But, they asked the question, "Can we do it?" They said "Yes," and then found a way to make it work.

I'm not saying yo have to like it. However, it still deserves some respect because at the time, it was the absolute bleeding edge of technology.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 10/30/2013 at 17:04

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No, they are extremely rare on the street and not a lot of people have them.

B ut people aren't fighting over them.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 10/30/2013 at 17:11

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You brought up plushy seats and diamond studded gauges. I brought up a engine much smaller than the Veyrons, making over half the power and costing a tenth of the price. I also brought up the Mclaren.

Your boy, BJR > His Stigness 10/30/2013 at 17:33

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Sorta.

His Stigness > quarterlifecrisis 10/30/2013 at 17:42

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I hope your kidding somewhat because I hope I don't sound that bad. And if I do I hope it's only because sarcasm is sometime very thinly veiled and people take me too seriously at times. I thought he was serious throughout the entire piece and found it extremely ridiculous, especially the part about it being "too common" because they make 300.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 10/30/2013 at 17:45

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I don't think the Veyron compares to the Concorde. See, there are a lot of fast supercars. The Veyron topped them all, but didn't really do anything other than go really fast in a straight line with a money's-no-object attitude. There were no other Mach commercial airliners, and there still aren't to this day. The day Bugatti builds a 200 mph bus I will be extremely impressed.

His Stigness > Your boy, BJR 10/30/2013 at 17:47

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Damn it!

His Stigness > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 17:48

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No I've got reasons, and they're very good reasons, to me. Just like you think 300 cars is a lot, whereas I think that's not, at all.

quarterlifecrisis > His Stigness 10/30/2013 at 17:52

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You really aren't that bad. I think it was maybe Dusty Ventures and you that had some back and forth in comments one day where he gave you some tips...which appeared to be completely disregarded the next day in the 911 GT3 vs C6.R post, doesn't do much for the "serious satire write" bit. I know my opinion isn't worth a shit when it comes to critiquing someone else's writing, but the general fanboi attitude is evident through and through. Which is fine, we're all entitled to that, but the thing to remember when writing for the masses is that the masses all don't have the same hard on for a few generation old C class that you do. I consider myself incredibly diverse when it comes to my taste in cars, and while there are things I wouldn't buy and wouldn't recommend; I generally won't ever force an opinion on someone. It's no different than NASCAR vs. F1, or for those of you without 10w-30 in your veins, politics or religion. The key to appealing to the crowd is not isolating members of the crowd...

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > His Stigness 10/30/2013 at 17:53

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I didn't say 300 cars is a lot. It isn't. But there are other cars, like Paganis, 'Seggs, the Veyron Super Sport and the Aston One-77 that are rarer. You have absolutely no real, solid reasons for your bias. And if you do, please share them.

Your boy, BJR > His Stigness 10/30/2013 at 17:57

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Well, hey, live and learn.

His Stigness > quarterlifecrisis 10/30/2013 at 18:01

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Dusty Ventures offered some advice about scaling back the German bit for a while and work on other stuff. He gave me this advice in the American post that got promoted on Saturday and the posts on Sunday were written at the same time as the American post so they did not receive any of his advice. The second goes for the 911 vs Corvette price that I did earlier.

I don't try and force my opinion on others, but can understand it coming across that way. The mistake I've made is not caring if people disagree with me and not writing for a general audience, but myself and the few who happen to agree with me on a few points.

His Stigness > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 18:30

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Ok here are my reasons for preferring German cars over American and Japanese. After driving American and Japanese cars, and using a new American car as my daily driver, I realized I wanted something quieter, more comfortable, more powerful, more refined, better fit and finish, better interior quality (less hard plastic) and more fun. My criteria led me to German cars because that's what they're known for. I did however not care about reliability because I was willing to give it up in pursuit of everything else. In direct comparisons I prefer German cars over American or Japanese because the German had an above quality where the Japanese or American did not. In the case of the Jetta versus Civic I think the Jetta is miles more comfortable, mainly with just the seats. I found it to be a tad quieter, it rode better, and I liked the way it looked. The same goes for the Accord vs Passat except the Accord has better interior materials. I've also driven a Chevrolet Cruze extensively and I liked it a little more than the Civic, but still preffered the Jetta because it was more comfortable, had air vents pointed at me instead of my hands on the steering wheel, and it rode better. I was very disappointed by the Cruz because I rented it with high hopes, so it had a fighting chance, but in the end I still liked the Jetta a little bit better.

Going a little more broad I prefer German transmissions (specifically the clutch) to American and Japanese because I do not like the short clutches found in the American and Japanese cars and prefer the longer German clutch. Going back to the Civic versus Jetta the clutch in the Jetta is long and to me offers way more feedback allowing me to shift quicker, more smoothly, and also start out incredibly smooth because I can modulate the clutch better than in a Civic.

Are these direct comparisons enough to convince you that I do not just follow the Germans blindly but do prefer them for specific reasons.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > His Stigness 10/30/2013 at 19:05

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You cannot say you like cars from one country more than another, because car companies are not all state run organizations with strict guides on how to build cars. Every company has made shitty cars, every company has made great cars and most fall in between. Your quality preferences are unspecific and sound biased to me- as if, when you get into a Jetta, you like it more because you want to like it more. You want it to be better built, so you start thinking it is. It's an easy trap to fall into (I've done it before), and you will grow as a person and as an enthusiast when you recognize and admit you're doing it.

In direct comparisons I prefer German cars over American or Japanese because the German had an above quality where the Japanese or American did not.

Do you see what I mean? You admit you are willing to sacrifice reliability for a German car, but you still maintain they are the best. They aren't and can't always be the best.

I wanted something quieter, more comfortable, more powerful, more refined, better fit and finish, better interior quality (less hard plastic) and more fun. My criteria led me to German cars because that's what they're known for.

You didn't want a German car, you wanted a luxury car. Somehow you got it ingrained into your head that German = luxury and everything else is cheap. Yes, a BMW or Mercedes is going to be nicer than a Cruze. But the Jetta has been panned for being so cheap inside.

I prefer German transmissions

No. You prefer long clutch throws.

His Stigness > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 19:18

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But I can say I like certain cars and carmakers more than others. Volkswagen and Mercedes make more cars I like than say Honda or Toyota. I like these brands more because they have a higher percentage of cars I like as opposed to the ones I don't, if that makes any sense.

In the case of the Jetta the seats and the ride are really what do it for me. Yeah the interior of the Jetta is crap because it's all hard plastics, but it's not like the Civic has a dashboard covered in leather.

I never said German cars are the best, and if I have in the past I don't mean it seriously. I just like German cars the most and think they're the best fit for what I want.

Yeah, I wanted a luxury car, and it just so happens I found German cars to have the best luxury cars in my price range, which wasn't much.

Ok I was generalizing a bit with the transmissions, but that's why I offered specifics, like the Jetta vs the Civic. Because cars are all pretty much the same now you can generalize when it comes to manual transmissions. But, I have driven a lot of manual cars and they all range in age, price, brand, and so on. I've noticed that American and Japanese/Asian clutches tend to be very short and devoid of feel, even the much loved S2000, I hate the transmission in that. Whereas all the German cars I've driven, Volkswagens and Porsche's, the clutch throw is much longer, has more feel, and the gear changes feel better.

candyfobreakfast > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 19:43

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I agree with your points. What this is is a show off car for both VW and the owners. But to be honest, if I had the money I'd buy one. Not necessarily to show off, but to get the royal treatment wherever I go. That is probably the most interesting aspect of the car to me.

For example: Roll up to the Audi dealer in a late model Subaru and they won't let you sit in an A3. Roll up to the Audi dealer in a Veyron and they are prepping every single car for you to test drive. This can apply anywhere really, restaurants, clubs, etc; it can get you into exclusive places you wouldn't have been able to before, and be treated with a level of respect you never have seen before. I think that alone is worth the price of admission.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > candyfobreakfast 10/30/2013 at 22:49

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I don't think you need a Veyron to get 5 star treatment. You don't need a flashy car to look rich. A fitted suit and a nicely maintained, used (only you know that part) luxury car will get you in the door at most places. And you need to spend money like you have money- big tips, don't skimp on meals, order the steak, you deserve it.

And an Audi dealer that won't let somebody in a A3 isn't going to be around for long. Those things are lease specials. Now, an R8 V10+...

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/30/2013 at 23:52

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candyfobreakfast > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos 10/31/2013 at 00:50

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LOL! You sound like the luxury on a budget dude. Sorry bro, the world isn't as nice as you think.