On the Road to Greatness (and a dance with the Devil)

"toadterror" (toadterror) 04/03/2014 at 21:33 • Filed to: None

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So Oppo, lately I've been thinking about, you know, supercars and stuff. And how awesome would it be to own one, but also just how serious it would be. Because while supercars are fun, they're also an oxymoron, they're Serious Fun.

If I won a big fat pile of cash tomorrow, have no fear that a supercar or four would be on my shopping list, along with, obviously, a fast wagon and numerous other mechanical masterpieces -

HOWEVER

There's no way I would even start looking for my first supercar for AT LEAST 12-18 months.

Here's why:

I've driven lots of slow cars, some kinda quick cars, and a couple of quite fast cars, but never, repeat NEVER, a Super Car.

The closest experience I've had to it would be when I was a pissing-my-pants-with-excitment 21 year old. My friends dad had a Diablo VT (the 6.0L one with the 300 ZX headlights) and it was yellow, it was manual and it was amazing - He also had the worlds most understated plate. I experienced what strapping into a Saturn V must have been like; let's say, quite exciting .

Anyway first we get some gas (an experience in itself) then we went for a little drive. Couple of minutes later we get to some lights, long straight road ahead of us. I look over at the driver. He's grinning. I know what's going to happen..

We set off like continental drift. I'm talking slow. Basically babying it off the line. Cars in the lane next to us are gliding past us. To say I'm underwhelmed is an understatement.

Looking over, my driver's just grinning, he's still in first too, the engine's starting to make itself known. As we hit 50kph he simply nails it. NAILS IT.

We fly past the cars to our left - they must feel like some bug-smashing navy puke hornet during a SR-71 ground-speed check - snick, second gear, ROAR, snick, third, ROAR -

In about the time it takes to read that we were going very fast. He's off the gas and we're slowing down - there's a bend ahead, the exhaust crackling and barking and popping. Back to legal speed (and back into second gear) we come around this right hander and he gives it the boot and -

SNAP - we're going the wrong way, we're going the right way, we're going the wrong way, there's squealing, there's smoke, we aren't moving and we're looking back the way we've just come.

Four huge, still smoking, black spiralling skid-marks lead from our nose to the exit of the corner 60 feet back up the road like trails of gunpowder. We didn't say anything for quite a while.

Well, maybe the odd "Holy (pause) Fucking (long pause) Shit".

We hit nothing and apart from some serious heart rates, some missing rubber and a bit of a bruised ego.

Anyway, I came away from that experience with the utmost respect for fast cars, which leads me to my original point (you know, the one about not buying a supercar right away)

I would want to learn. My first purchase (and step on the road to greatness) would be to buy an MR2.

I've driven them a couple of times now and know they really like to be driven smoothly but that's no way near enough seat time for what I've got in mind. So my first learning curve would be to just get use to a mid-engine layout. I would daily it, I would track it, I would learn. Probably build it up starting with the brakes and tyres.

Once I felt comfortable with that I'd probably go for a Cayman.

Repeat learning progress and then, and only then would I start to think about...

The Mclaren.

Now apart from you lucky gents who have a supercar already, what would be on your road to greatness?

Manuél Ferrari > toadterror 04/03/2014 at 21:40

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I've been researching the crap out of exotic cars in the $200-350K range.

If I'm able to finance them one day I will go Ferrari.

And the reason isn't which cars drive the best. The reason is making money. People have been ordering new 458s and F12s, driving them for a month or two, then flipping them for a profit.

The only thing cooler than owning a supercar is flipping supercars for a profit!

Your boy, BJR > toadterror 04/03/2014 at 21:44

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to

Because if the money dropped into my lap, I'd buy a Testarossa ASAP.

toadterror > Manuél Ferrari 04/03/2014 at 21:45

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Good-luck with that man. I'd go for near classics as an investment my self, but hey

Manuél Ferrari > toadterror 04/03/2014 at 21:46

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Near classics are better

But new Ferraris require zero effort. If you have the finances to pull it off.

Have you seen how much slightly used 458 spiders still go for? It's crazy how expensive they are considering the replacement is probably no more than 2 years away.

toadterror > Your boy, BJR 04/03/2014 at 21:47

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Personally I don't do drugs.

Your boy, BJR > toadterror 04/03/2014 at 21:47

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SSSSSHHHHH!!!!!

its a secret

toadterror > Your boy, BJR 04/03/2014 at 21:53

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Not with a bright red Testarossa it's not..

Your boy, BJR > toadterror 04/03/2014 at 21:54

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maybe I need something more subtle then…….

toadterror > Your boy, BJR 04/03/2014 at 21:56

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Actually make me laugh out loud.

CAcoalminer > toadterror 04/03/2014 at 22:29

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So if we already one supercars we can't participate?

toadterror > CAcoalminer 04/03/2014 at 22:31

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No no no please do! How's your 12c? Also, did you build yourself up to it?

CAcoalminer > toadterror 04/03/2014 at 23:15

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Alright. The 12c is doing great. I'm closing in on 16,000 miles with her and she has been nothing short of magnificent so far. Now I just have to decide whether I'm keeping her or moving up to the 650S, but that's a decision that won't be made for a few months.

Considering the fact that I'm in my 70s now, I'd say I've more than built myself up to it. Haha. I've owned a lot of cars in my time but the first one that I was truly proud of was my 1965 DB5 that I bought back in '67. I guess you could say it was the first cool car that I bought with my own money. I truly loved that car and even though it seemed to develop a new problem at least once a month, I will never regret owning it. I'm truly amazed at how modern cars can be so powerful and technologically advanced, yet reliable. We really have come quite a long way.

I see that you posted a Volcano Red 12c in your main post, is that the future goal?

CAcoalminer > Manuél Ferrari 04/03/2014 at 23:49

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I'm sorry but this just isn't true. For starters, the only time none special edition Ferraris like the 458 and F12 go for more than their MSRPs is if they are purchased very early in the first year of production. To have an opportunity to purchase one of these early production builds takes years and a lot of money, as previous ownership plays a heavy role in getting your car before others. For instance, if you were to walk into a Ferrari dealership today, spec an F12 with a salesman, and ask when it would be delivered, then he or she would probably tell you 2-3 years from now. By that time, the market would be flooded with F12s (keep in mind this is all relative) and your strategy to drive the car for a while and then flip it for a profit would be ruined. The only modern Ferraris that have gone up in value recently have been the Enzo and 599 GTO and both would have been nearly impossible for a first time buyer like you to purchase new.

However, there is hope. The Ford GT is in your $200-350,000 range and has been rapidly increasing in value over the last 2-3 years. In fact, within the last month, all of them have increased by $10-15,000 regardless of mileage. If I was buying a car with the hopes of driving it and turning a profit, that's the way I would personally go.

toadterror > CAcoalminer 04/03/2014 at 23:51

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That's awesome, what colour was your DB5? Silver I'm guessing but feel free to surprise me. Bet you wish you still had it. The problem development sounds like my Peugeot. Still love it though.

Yeah I spent far to long on the 12c configurator and finally decided it would be the Volcano Red. Definitely future goal too, I will make it so. Second choice would have to be the silver. The car just looks so purposeful in silver.

CAcoalminer > toadterror 04/04/2014 at 00:08

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Unfortunately no surprises. She was Silver Birch (exactly like the Bond car) with a black interior. I do wish I still had it and have considered adding another one. However, for the prices they're charging for them now, I could buy a few more interesting new cars.

Yes, I definitely lost my temper with her more than once. What model Peugeot do you own?

Great color choices. I especially love the Volcano paints as they have so much depth to them and make the car look absolutely stunning. Also, I have no doubt that with hard work and a little bit of luck, you'll be driving one very soon.

toadterror > CAcoalminer 04/04/2014 at 00:44

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I hear you, hard at work already, thanks for the support!

I was going to say, you'd be sitting on a nice nest-egg if you still had it parked up. Yea the colours just sink down and down. Uh, googling them now, drool worthy.

Um a 1989 309 SRi, step down from the 309 GTi. It came with the same 1.6L 115bhp engine as the first gen 205 GTi. Drives like a gem, by far the most neutral handling front-wheel-drive car I've ever driven. Rattles like a maniac but it holds together. It's no 12c.

The picture's from a while back. I installed big, fat BOSCH rally-lights in it last night too! Was raining today so no pictures of it currently, but soon!

CAcoalminer > toadterror 04/04/2014 at 07:14

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You're welcome and yes the paints are very enticing.

Very cool. I don't think I've ever seen one in the U.S. Do you live in Europe?

toadterror > CAcoalminer 04/04/2014 at 07:20

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New Zealand my friend, have you been here?

CAcoalminer > toadterror 04/04/2014 at 07:26

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Ah yes how ignorant of me. Unfortunately, I haven't been to New Zealand but my friends have told me that it is absolutely beautiful, especially a certain Mountain that escapes me at the moment.

Manuél Ferrari > CAcoalminer 04/04/2014 at 13:49

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I totally agree that it's risky. And I understand the previous customer dynamics. The moar Ferraris you buy from them the higher up in the queue you when a new model is released and you place an order.

But I've noticed something interesting - their hot cars are selling for over MSRP late into the model's run. Check out this 458 Spider for sale near me:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/…

Doesn't seem insanely high optioned. What would the cost have been to order this car?

Also I forgot to mention - I know that my crazy plans may not work. But I'm OK with that cause A) my real estate and stock investments haven't done so great and B) I love Ferraris so just breaking even or minimizing how much I lose to depreciation by churning and burning them would be cool