I Suddenly Want A Spyker

"TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut" (twincharged)
05/01/2014 at 14:21 • Filed to: spyker, spyker c8 aileron

And I think I know why.

This is a C8 Aileron. It costs Ł194,000 or about US$328,000. That's more than a Ferrari 458. And a McLaren 650S. It has 400bhp, which as you can gather, is less than both the Ferrari and McLaren. According to the internet and YouTube videos I've scrutinised, I also gather that its driving dynamics are not on the same level as the Ferrari and McLaren. Some may even say it is not particularly attractive - that big front grille is too fish-like, those side vents are too bulbous and those headlights are too glitzy.

In addition, everybody these days is talking about Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Lamborghini, Pagani, Bugatti, Koenigsegg. They are the 21st century's equivalent of the poster - they have become the desktop wallpaper. Everyone wants one, and everybody who can afford one usually has one. ( I'm generalising, don't shoot me down pls ).

If you've made it, you have one of those cars. Knightsbridge, London is a great example to see this. That's why carspotters go there all the time to take pictures of these supercars. I even follow some of these people on Instagram. I see the big shots all the time - Ferrari 458, McLaren 12C, Aventador, Huayra, Veyron and so forth. People flock to see them, and they get all the attention.

But the thing is this - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! about any of that.

Because one thing I've noticed is this - amongst all the Knightsbridge supercar photographs that have graced my retinas, I've only ever seen a Spyker once. But boy did it catch my eye.

Sure, based on figures alone, it's down on performance compared to its rivals. But the thing is, a Spyker is not about performance. It's not about speed. It's not about handling. And it's certainly not about lap times. Whereas the competition excels in all things relevant to performance cars, a Spyker excels in something else. Something less physically tangible.

It makes you feel truly special.

Owning a Spyker shows you have taste. Its competition seems almost vulgar in comparison. They may have the bragging rights to the highest speed achievable along the hangar straight at Silverstone, but none have quite the same magic as a Spyker when parked outside that little restaurant you know that serves some of the nicest food around. A Spyker makes you look and feel totally different from the others. And then there's the interior.

Have you ever seen anything as exquisite as that in a modern car before? I think not. That exposed gear linkage. Those green dials. The aluminium. The jet engine-like vents. The chrome detailing. In fact, let's have a look at that gear linkage again.

This is a car for people who want to look good doing 20mph, rather than 200mph. A car for people where speed and performance doesn't always matter. A car for people that prefer not to run with the pack and would rather stay out of the mainstream, that mainstream being the heated supercar battle of the 21st century. Its appearance is noteworthy, but not so noteworthy as to be classified as something ostentatious and pretentious - it has real quality and thought to its design. It doesn't shout it with wild colours and shapes, but at the same time, you know it's there.

And for those times when you do want to go a little bit faster, that 4.2l Audi V8 is always there to push you where you stylishly need to make your appearance. Yes, it costs more, but what you get in return is one hell of a distinctive car. To me, a Spyker is more an extension of your style, rather than an object that wildly proclaims your wealth and success. And that reason is why I would prefer a Spyker over its rivals. It's different and, it's the word that keeps coming back to me. It's special.

Nulla Tenaci Invia Est Via - For The Tenacious, No Road Is Impassable

(This is my first big writeup. Pls don't hurt me, I hope I don't sound dumb.)

DISCUSSION (19)

JR1 > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/01/2014 at 15:42

This car on the Top Gear cool wall would be ice cold. Justin Bieber, 50 cent, Flo Rida. These are the kind of people that would not be driving this car.

wiffleballtony > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/01/2014 at 16:36

I may be alone in this opinion, however I believe once a car crosses the 100k mark the performance becomes less and less relevant, because the chances of hoonage decrease with the cost and the owner who can afford it.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > JR1
05/02/2014 at 12:08

Precisely. In my opinion, not enough interesting people can own a mainstream supercar. It's got to be something very unique.

OPPOsaurus WRX > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/02/2014 at 12:16

I'd definitely take one of these over a 458. It would still be faster than 99/100 cars you would encounter. The Dakar, although a little oddly proportioned is also awesome.

duurtlang > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/02/2014 at 12:29

Added bonus: it's a domestic. At least for me it is.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > duurtlang
05/02/2014 at 12:37

Kinja'd!!!

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/05/2014 at 23:23

One of my friends has a C8 Laviolette. It's spectacular.

LongbowMkII > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/06/2014 at 07:25

They still sell these as new? getting a little long in the tooth.

But that gear linkage. Hrngh

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > LongbowMkII
05/06/2014 at 07:32

Not that long actually. Even though the C8 name was introduced was introduced on the Spyder in 2000, the C8 Aileron has only been in production since 2009.

yeah, that guy > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/06/2014 at 07:50

I never see them. But I saw a few once at a mall, on display. I will say, they look exquisite in person. Just a different build than everything else. Get one.

litho > duurtlang
05/06/2014 at 08:18

Yup, your name has two of the same vowels next to each other. Definitely Dutch.

Nick Goddard > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/06/2014 at 09:30

That exact same line of thinking is why the Victor Muller makes Spykers. I read an interview with him in Autocar, and he said basically that he'd owned all the normal fancy cars but wanted something that felt handmade and special.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez
05/06/2014 at 13:12

..........JEALOUS.

PROTECH > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/09/2014 at 13:29

We had one for years at a the dealer I use to work for. Drove it many times to events and shows. It feels like a kit car at best. It attracts TONS of attention, but compared to a Porsche, Audi, Ferrari or any of the like, there is no comparison. I actually put the one we had on a dyno, the "400" hp is was actually a best of 274 to the rear wheels.

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/11/2014 at 02:24

Kinja'd!!!

Wait, but how does this thing work? AND WHAT IS IT?!

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/11/2014 at 02:24

Kinja'd!!!

WHERE ARE THE PADDLES?!

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
05/11/2014 at 02:24

Kinja'd!!!

AND FOR GOD'S SAKE, WHICH ONE OF THESE PUTS IT IN DRIVE?!

SpykerLover > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
01/21/2015 at 22:28

I think this article has it all wrong, but as one of only 25o owners in the world, what do I know? I have Ferraris and Porsches with nearly 600hp. The idea in this article that Spyker is all about style or posing comes from not having seat time. I've put 10,000 miles on mine in 7 years (my Spyker C8 Spyder is a 2006 bought in 2008), and I choose it over all the others in my garage because it is the most fun to drive, not to park outside a restaurant. It's balanced, agile, lightweight, and unassisted. There's nothing like it style-wise (except the Huayra), but in a world of overpowered super cars that are too capable, the Spyker captures the raw sports experience so thrilling to those of us who have petrol in our veins.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > SpykerLover
01/22/2015 at 04:12