Why Do We Give a Shit About Supercars?

"Justin is driven" (justinisdriven)
05/30/2014 at 12:31 • Filed to: supercars, rants

There's been plenty of buzz lately about the latest wankfests technological masterpieces being released by McLaren, Porsche, and Ferrari. But for 99% of us, these cars are completely irrelevant. So why do we give a shit?

I mean, what is the purpose of a supercar, really? In the past, it was to own the fastest thing on the road - a bombastic, eye-catching symbol of your prowess at the helm of both automobile and slush fund.

Not so much anymore, though. The 918, P1, and (ugh) LaFerrari are fast. They're technologically advanced. They're benchmarks for their respective companies. And they're completely and utterly pointless. Now, the supercar is simply a strap-on for the uber-rich, conspicuous consumption at its most conspicuous and least meaningful.

If you had $1.5 mil to spend on getting the absolute best car in the world, would you buy one of these three? You'd be an absolute moron if you did. If you want to go extremely fast in a car, there are much cheaper, much better !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . If you want to cruise around in comfort and speed while catching the eye of everyone around you, there are !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of better choices that won't immediately mark you out as a neaveau-riche douche bag. If you want thrills, that kind of money can buy some of the most thrilling machines ever made.

Let me put it this way: 918 or a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ?

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See, one million dollars is an insane amount of money, and sometimes those of us who will struggle to make that much in half our lifetimes forget that. These cars make no sense as a value proposition.

And because of their digital, TCS, PCM, flappy paddle DCT nature, they don't make much sense for those of you who are screaming "Passion! it's all about passion for cars and driving!" either. Drivers want their cars analog for the most part. Sure, we like going fast, but (again) 99% of us will ever drive these things, and if we did, we'd never be able to access the performance available in these cars - especially not on the street.

So why does anyone buy one of these things? What is it that the 918, P1, and Laferrari are good at?

Being new. Being "the best". Being the Most Expensive.

That's it. It's all about showing off. Nobody who buys one of these things will ever push it to its limits more than once.

They're just trophies. Made to be parked, displayed, and polished. Made to guarantee a valet spot in front of the best restaurant in LA, Monaco, or London. Made to be gawked at (and argued over) by the internet and the plebes.

How goddamn boring. Why do we care again?

DISCUSSION (80)

catkam623 misses his 944 > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:36

You have several great points in there but too answer your question the real reason why we care is three basic things. 1 it signals what the future has in store for the automobile and how hybrid technology is going to be integrated into our performance cars. 2 these are technological masterpieces that have unbelievable levels of engineering and imgenuity put into them. 3 these cars also represent something we can't have and for many of us something we aspire to have.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:36

Kinja'd!!!

For that money, Two F-86 Sabres > FW-190

Just sayin'

Tom McParland > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:37

You are correct, hyper-cars are all about bragging rights.

"We built it because we can." or "We built it because those other guys made one and we need to make a better one."

That being said, companies that are building these have a reputation for pushing the boundaries of performance and technology. It is a showcase of their capabilities, a very expensive PR campaign if you will....and hopefully that tech will find its way into models that mere mortals can afford.

EL_ULY > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:38

they are definitely cool to see and what not. I can respect the technical side of them.... but.... if a clean Pontiac G8, MR2, or any other of our hero cars drives by, most likely i'll pay more attention to it for sure. If riding with someone, I know i'll talk more about it than is some old guy in his regular silver F430 spyder or Gallardo.

Example:

"oh dude look, a Gallardo, neat. Looks like a 2003 or 4" ......

...."DUUUUUUUUDE!!!!!! Now that is a clean GTO! 6.0?... yup. Dang that is a good set up. Those wheels fit it perfect. I have a friend that has one and (story). Dude that is hella clean, check on CL if there are any ones in that color for cheap"

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:39

Because they are awesome and gadget-y and amazing and gaaahhhhh you don't have to be able to buy a car to appreciate it. I really like those Japanese cars that look like Fords. But I can't buy one. WHAT'S THE POINT OF OTHER COUNTRIES AND DEMOGRAPHICS?!

HammerheadFistpunch > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:39

They exist only to be the best and produce or maintain prestige for a brand in my opinion. I see supercars like I see Space tourism. fascinating technologically, but otherwise hilariously .

mr_gofast > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:39

for those that own something that pricey or in that description of a supercar its because most likely they earned their cash and want to spend it how they like, sure a supercar is the most impractical investment ever designed, but these people aernt in this game for investment - its for the joy of owning a piece of art that you can call your own and that you can customize to whatever specs you want. Yes for sure being able to brag that it goes fast is a nice touch, most expensive or most hp is the same thing, but if you love cars, and you can afford to buy them you will - thats it...top speed or top hp or whale skin intereior be damned. We just love cars.

yes its be noted that ppl who earned their money can still be dicks and douches when it comes to cars, anyone can - money doesnt make you a douche it just brings it out from its hiding place.

Jonathon Klein > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:40

This is why. http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2014/why-we-ne…

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > Tom McParland
05/30/2014 at 12:40

They can keep their bragging rights, I'll be too busy having a blast in a Cayman GTS to care.

Kinja'd!!!

RazoE > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:41

Because they inspire you to do something great with your life and hopefully earn the right to some day own one. Don't you have any dreams? Geez.

Justin is driven > Tom McParland
05/30/2014 at 12:43

That's why they build them, but why do we care? Other than the oooo... neat factor, they just don't hold much interest - especially lately.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:43

If Christian von Koenigsegg wasn't so damn enthusiastic, interesting, and charismatic...

dogisbadob > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:44

I lol'ed at wankfest. Mitsubishi Wanker (Pajero).

You can get the absolute best car in the world for $3000

Kinja'd!!!

Justin is driven > Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager
05/30/2014 at 12:44

True Dat! those are projects though, right? Not flying planes?

GhostZ > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:44

Because the McLaren F1 is the exception to the rule, and we keep waiting for another one to be built.

Tom McParland > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:44

I guess it is all relative, I care more about cars that I can actually afford but I respect the technology of the new breed of hyper-cars. But yeah they don't excite me much.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:45

1. McLaren makes electronics for just more than supercars.

2. Porsche is owned by VW, so the hybrid tech will trickle down.

3. Because they are cool.

4. Because fuck you, I wont do what they tell me.

HMMMA > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:45

Well Mclaren, Porsche and Ferrari all have support programs for owners who want to track their cars and a quick youtube search reveals that P1 and Laferrari owners are already taking there cars to the track. I personally think that super-cars are like art, they exist mostly to glorify their creators and demonstrate what they are capable of making and they do a damn fine job at it. I think if super-cars didn't exist, we'd all be driving beige shitboxes and suicide would be much more common.

CalzoneGolem > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:45

Well, Top Gear drives them so there's that.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:46

I'm fairly sure they are flying. The don't have that Second World War sheen driving up their prices like the older warbirds.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:46

Just because a bunch of uptight Mr. Moneybags own some of these cars as art pieces doesn't mean all of them are parked and stared at. The 918 and P1 are the absolute peak of what we can do right now within the confines of road legality. They are engineering showcases and I'm sorry if that doesn't excite you, but given the choice between a radical and a 918, I'd take the 918 every day of the week. If I wanted a "radical" driving experience, I'd chop up a miata or a boxster and make my own race car with a license plate.

Fine, it is a bit of a pissing contest. So is everything in the automotive world. "Oh but why waste money on that when for less money you can get _____" "Well why would you buy that, it's just so heavy when compared to _____ which has the curb weight under 2800 lbs" and so on. You can see conversations like that happen all the time on this very website. The hypercar one is about who has more toys and more power. I fail to see how it's any different than the dick stroking that happens when you get a bunch of miata owners together gawking about how "light and pure" their car is or a bunch of old Audi enthusiasts (such as myself) having wet dreams over the days when Audi used the inline 5 and the first quattro system to change the rally game. Wherever your passion lies, and if you have the means for it, you do it. Who are you to say that a guy who dreamed his whole life of owning a ferrari is a douchecanoe for buying the hypercar because you don't like that particular pissing contest? He could be a douchecanoe for other reasons, true, but he isn't automatically one for buying the most expensive ferrari.

Justin is driven > HammerheadFistpunch
05/30/2014 at 12:46

But what are they the best at? Certainly not performance. Definitely not value. And arguably, not even aesthetics.

The only thing hypercars/ supercars are the BEST at is drawing attention to your massive bank account/ ego.

BrtStlnd > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:48

You have no idea what these cars are going to do once they've been purchased, and even if they get relegated to Cameron's dad's garage in Ferris Bueller... why does that make them pointless? These are exercises in extreme engineering, and are immensely important in moving the automotive landscape forward.

Zip up your fly, your disdain for people with money is showing.

Mikeado > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:48

Because they're exciting, bold and in terms of engineering almost pornographic (especially Pagani). If I limited myself to only taking an interest in cars I could afford, I would be narrowing my sights down pretty far and boring myself to death. For me they don't have to be the ultimate fastest bestest in the universe. I love all three of the hybrid hypercars (the 918 is the most "relevant" - fuck me that's a depressing term - because it's a full hybrid) and I love what went before them.

McLaren said of the P1 that the vast majority of their customers want to go to the track with their car. The same is less likely to be true of the 918, but I bet there'll be a LaFerrari or two around Dubai Autodrome on a quiet day.

Yes, there are poseurs, but they are not the only customers and it's cynical to think so. Dream cars will always have a place and their purpose to push performance and link racing technology to the road while it's still new and expensive will always be necessary. They also continue to make great posters and calendars.

I give a shit about supercars because they're exciting. They're dramatic. They're stupid fast and imagining what they're like is something I still enjoy. They also feed much of my YouTube browsing, if not all of it. The real world is what bores me.

Viking03 > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:49

Your train of thought is completely lost on me. I grew up with the Countach hanging on my wall. It was an object of desire, a wonderful piece of art, and not only that, it was an exercise in what was possible. Who cares if I never get to own one, or a P1 for that matter. Supercars are what dreams are made of, and that is the whole point of them for me.

I don't particularly care what kind of person buys these cars. The fact that they exist and are an object of lust and desire is what I celebrate about them. The engineering in them is a spectacular feat and something to be applauded. Your argument reeks of the same type of complaints that Top Gear doesn't test enough cars that regular people can afford. Who wants to see reviews of regular cars that I can see everyday and test drive for myself? You can look up the specs for yourself and decide which car is better for you. I want something to lust after and something to excite me. I couldn't care less which four door sedan gets the best gas mileage. Consumer Reports and a thousand other car reviewers exist for that type of information.

HammerheadFistpunch > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:50

performance is arguable. it depends on the track, but I would wager there are tracks were these are the fastest cars you could drive home afterwards.

BrtStlnd > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/30/2014 at 12:51

COTD

The Revengel > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:52

Well elaborated stance. I happen to disagree with it, but it is well supported.

Why do we care?

Because of the technology trickle-down. Because of the innovations that may steer us in a new direction. Because some of us might drive these cars not on a road, but in a simulation. A simulation is not the same as the real thing - I am very clear about that - but these cars matter quite a bit.

These three (and others like them) are not about value for a buck. Flame the Camry and Accord all you want, but they have that value for a buck thing covered. These Hypercars are a statement of what direction the automotive industry thinks we are headed in. It is a time capsule the same way that a Miura or a 300 SL Gullwing (or the 300 SLR Gullwing that sits on my windowsill) is. How practical were those cars? But we lust after them every day.

DCT? Hybrid Drive? Paddle-me-boi? Sure, most of us Oppos may prefer a Row-Your-Own transmission, but these other options are superior in terms of shift time. My kids will likely grow up learning to drive a sequential or paddle shift and may even have kids who never see a clutch pedal.

Is that their loss? I'd say no.

The automotive industry advances, sometime in fits and starts while others in bounds, and as the industry moves forward some things are left behind while other things are embraced. Active aero. independent suspension. Disk brakes. ABS. The list goes on.

Dr. Mrs. at times wishes that technology stopped in 1985 (kind of like the song) because that's when she had the most fun with her video games, music, etc. However she does not complain about her gas mileage in her current car vs. the old, loves the bluetooth and the improved handling our 2014 has over the 2000 that we no longer have.

I'm not suggesting that people should love La Ferrari the way I do. I'm not suggesting that if you prefer other options for spending a Bruce Wayne/Tony Stark dollar bill you're mad.

I'm presenting why these cars are not only important - as a time capsule, a statement and a potential sign post - but why we should care.

Granted just an opinion,

Revengel

Justin is driven > HammerheadFistpunch
05/30/2014 at 12:53

Why drive home? If you have a mil to spend, go get yourself whatever you want and a rig to tow it home, and a couple guys to drive you home after you exhaust yourself driving on track. Also, there several radicals that are street legal, so if you're a masochist (and you are if you want to drive home after turning supremely fast laps all day) you can drive it home.

catkam623 misses his 944 > Viking03
05/30/2014 at 12:57

is that your dodge charger in that picture? Because dear lord that thing is pretty.

JR1 > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:58

Screw the hyper cars this is how you spend a million dollars:

Kinja'd!!!

RacecaR > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/30/2014 at 12:58

I was going to make the same comment, just not as lengthy, in-depth, and well thought out. So kudos to you sir!

mr_gofast > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 12:59

please explain how they are NOT the best at performance? in their technology/price bracket only their contemporaries can match them or beat their stated stats. As much as you wish it so, a 918 is one of the fastest hybrid vehicles on the road, a P1 is a hybrid showcase with acceleration and handling to match its tech, these cars you are not intersted in (which is fine) are performance benchmark creators - not followers.

WolfmanJimCBW > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 13:00

It's all about your perspective on things. I know if I had the money I would buy a P1. They don't have a practical purpose other than to be showy, and I'm okay with this. I have long felt though that automobiles serve as a really great test bed for new technology though and I feel these hybrid hyper-cars really showcase phenomenal technology, but the same can be said about the R35 as well which is 1/10th the cost.

willkinton247 > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 13:00

These are engineering masterpieces. Manufacturers use these to push the limits of what we can do, and eventually that does trickle down. That is why they are important. A

Also, people spend more money on Picasso's sketches than these cost, and that's just to put them on their wall.

Justin is driven > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/30/2014 at 13:05

Im saying that guy's a douchecanoe because he bought that car purely to show off. Anybody who buys anything purely for the purpose of showing off how rich they are is a douchecanoe. Period. These cars are only the best at that one thing: showing off.

If you wanted a driver's car or something truly beautiful, there are literally hundreds of better choices. And sure, I guess someone might look at a 918 and go "Jesus, look at that thing! It's the most beautiful shape I've ever seen!", but really, not too likely. The likelihood of that person also having a spare million to throw around is even smaller.

offroadkarter > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 13:06

Someone who can afford a 1 million dollar ferrari can afford to buy a plane if they desire.

Sure, you can buy an old fox body, throw a pile of cash at it, and have a car that will outrun exotics in a straight line, but you're still in a 25+ year old mustang. Exotics are speed, handling, power and build quality all wrapped up in one. I know enough people who won't take their base model mustangs or corvettes out in the rain, its not like its JUST exotic owners. I can also tell you now I know a certain google executive who has not only taken his 456 and MP4-12C to the 1/4 mile track, he and his wife have raced their 599-XX on the road course to.

Justin is driven > willkinton247
05/30/2014 at 13:09

Isn't that what racing is for? Aren't you just buying the beta version of old F1 technology?

Picasso's sketches are one-off creations from a single person who most people consider one of the best ever at what he did, And they appreciate like crazy while requiring really very little maintenance to enjoy. Besides, cars are not art objects. They are machines, and they should be used as such. Preserve, repair, restore, absolutely, but USE first and last.

Justin is driven > mr_gofast
05/30/2014 at 13:18

Look, anyone with a big block nova, some nitrous or turbos, and a set of slicks can be faster than any of these cars stoplight to stoplight for less than 1/10th the price. On a winding road, you can find bulletproof rally cars for pennies compared to these things that will leave them for dead. On a racetrack there are lots of solutions that get you to superfast laps for waaaaaaaaay cheaper and easier than any of these cars. A 5 year old corvette with a blower, suspension and r-compounds. A radical. Any number of other turnkey racecars.

They're a compromise, but they try to claim that they aren't. They're too heavy, too complex, and too expensive to be "the fastest" at anything. It's impressive to try to do everything with one platform (and really, the tech is incredible), but it's also pointless if you have the money to buy all of the platforms that are better at those things. That's the point - for whatever you want to do that these cars claim to be good at, there are many, many solutions that are superior and cheaper.

If you wanted to do any of those things, and you had a million dollars, you would be an idiot to choose one of these cars. However, if you wanted to let everyone around you know that you had an extra million dollars weighing down your bank account, there is no better way to do that.

Justin is driven > offroadkarter
05/30/2014 at 13:26

Good for them. The first two cars cost about a third of what any one of these cost, and the 599xx is a track only car - it's even more ridiculous than these three, but at least it's focused, and it's not an ornament. You can't really show it off unless you're inviting a bunch of friends out to Laguna Seca for a trackday or something.

And yeah, there are plenty of guys happy to only drive their automatic 'vette convertibles in the sunshine, and yeah that's pretty ridiculous, but at least that thing didn't cost as much as a goddamn mansion.

mr_gofast > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 13:28

except your Nova with a BBC and blower and all that accessories is fine - if all i want is bragging rights for top speed. I want a piece of art, that is mine, customized like i want it, does the top speed gig really well but I reiterate - WE(the buyers with money) LOVE CARS - we dont care that we can get a fast car for 1/10 the price - the money was never the object - the lust for a beautiful piece of art is the issue - never the stats.

William Byrd > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 13:33

You defeat your own argument by calling them "benchmarks for their respective companies". That alone is likely validation of their existence. If these three companies each trickle some of this tech down to their lesser cars, it was likely worth it.

Covered some of this ground, with a different flavor, awhile back .

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 13:35

A small point: Supercars are flashy. They're showcases of technology, aesthetics, and economic status. The person buying the Ferrari for its performance and the person that wants it because he likes how people look at him in it are indistinguishable. You mentioned a Radical as an alternative, but let's be honest, no one is taking a Radical to a night club. They're not taking one to the office. They're not taking it on a date. They're taking it on the track as a purpose-built racer. Also, the looks of a fiberglass kit-car leave a lot to be desired in my opinion, especially against the likes of the 918, P1 or LaFerrari.

Also, these cars are investments. Very limited production runs mean that they'll be the examples that appreciate in time. A Mclaren F1 was less than $1 million brand new in '94. Now? You'd be hard pressed to find one for 4x that. The same goes for the Ferrari F40, Enzo, Porsche 959, and every other extreme example of supercar produced in low volume. They can absolutely be about value. Just because it's unattainable for you doesn't mean that someone else isn't making money from it.

"Drivers want their cars analog for the most part."

That just isn't true. Drivers want a good experience and they want to stay alive. Have you ever driven a 700hp car with no driver aids? It's pretty insane and things can go wrong very, very fast if you don't have the reflexes and experience to set it right. You want a car that compliments and adapts to your driving style, not one that throws you to the lions if you get overzealous with your right foot. It's fine to want analog in a car with 180hp and a 5-speed, but to have the same thing in something with 4 times the power, then selling it to anyone with a driver's license is asking for trouble.

Viking03 > catkam623 misses his 944
05/30/2014 at 13:37

It is. One day I will have her back together. In the paint booth right now. Hopefully it will be fully painted today.

offroadkarter > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 13:56

simple answer, if you can afford a 918 or P1, you can afford to not give a fuck about how others view your car.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 14:06

Okay, so what about all the "holier than thou" on this website who buy an old brown diesel wagon? Yes they're "practical" but not all of us have families and that wagon body adds weight and wastes gas JUST so we can brag to a limited audience. There is no difference.

Justin is driven > offroadkarter
05/30/2014 at 14:14

But that's the point, why woudl you buy one if you didn't give a shit what others thought? I guess "because I want it" is a decent answer, but really? These are the best cars in the world for you at $1million ? I have a hard time believing that.

Meatcoma > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 14:20

So, if you had a million dollars you still could not afford a million dollar car. Because you would not have money for taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance and fuel. Let's not forget that even seeing a 8 year old kid - on a bike where the ends of the grips on the steering bar are worn off, within 100ft of your car would give you one of the following A. Aneurysm, B. Heart Attack or C. Stroke.

Justin is driven > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/30/2014 at 14:22

What?

Nobody who owns a brown diesel wagon is "holier than thou". Buy whatever the hell you want, but if you want it because it makes you look rich, you're a douche. Period. Has anyone ever bought a jalopnik special solely to impress anyone else? If they have, they didnt spend a million dollars, and they probably had a lobotomy at some point in there life. God knows the old Mercedes wagon doesn't exactly bring all the girls to the yard.

Also, wagons are neat because they're useful and practical and some people prefer the look. That's it. The joke is that they're Jalopnik's favorite car because people here tend to be (or used to be) pretty eccentric/ out of touch with what the average car buyer wants.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 14:52

So if I'm rich and I want one of the best cars out there, I'm a douche......BUT I can buy whatever the hell I want.....I just look like a douche if I do. Wow. Okay.

This whole article is about money with you. It's okay to try and impress someone so long as they don't spend a lot of money, right? Granted, and like I said, the usual enthusiast tries to impress a much less general audience. But still, I've seen plenty of people on here idolize some really terrible ideas and cars simply to impress others.

I guess what I don't get here is why you think you speak for all enthusiasts. You discredit a supercar being bought for the driving experience because most supercars aren't analog enough. But what if I *want* to drive the starship enterprise with a plate on the back? What if I *want* computers and buttons and lights and laser headlights and cameras on my toy? You ask why someone would spend millions on a supercar when for much less you can get something like a radical SR8. Okay let's get one thing straight here - a radical is as much a roadcar as a timberwolf is a chihuahua. There's some distant relation in the bloodline but be real for a second here, they're not the same. I've driven a car with a roof on coilovers. I can't imagine the radical would be any more comfortable with less seat and bodywork. In that case, the supercar can often go fast on the track (if you bought the right one) and then take you home in comfort. Porsche 911 GT3, Ferrari 458, McLaren MP4-12C......all will kick ass at the track like your go kart with a stupid wing and uncomfortable seat, and then all will drive you back home without shattering your spine when you run over a leaf.

You keep trying to make sense of these cars from a value standpoint which was an idea doomed to fail from the start. NO ONE bought a new lamborghini thinking "by golly did I get a good deal on this baby!"because they exist to be ludicrous. That is the point of a supercar. Blow someone's mind in some way. The veyron's top speed, the 918's hybrid tech, the aventador's soul being the same as a 12 year old boy on a sugar high, the LaFerrari........eeeeemmmmm......it has a silly name! And by all means, you can dislike supercars. I won't stop you. But don't try and speak for all of us with your own preferences. If you want a pure analog, cheap experience, caterham will find some way to stick around. As for me, I want laser beams and jet thrusters on soemthing painted orange that is likely to catch fire. Bonus points if it has an ejector seat.

Justin is driven > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/30/2014 at 15:12

None of that has anything to do with driving. It has to do with owning a car that is a toy.

Also: you're only a douche if you buy something for the sole purpose of looking rich. If you buy a LaFerrai because it reminds you of the starship enterprise, you didn't buy it because you want other people to know you're a billionaire. You're not a douche.

My argument would be, why not just go buy something that can take you close to space and that has an actual ejector seat for the same price? Because for a million dollars, you can buy a whole lot of stuff that does it better.

Nobody buys a car like this for the thrill of driving it, because you don't realy drive any of these cars. They buy it for the thrill of riding in it and being seen in it.

Also, buying a car to impress others is just as bad as buying a car to look rich - they're basically the same thing. It's all about motivation. There's lots of douches in the car world - guys who build or buy shit because they think it will make their e-peen bigger - and not all of them drive hypercars. I just brought these cars up because I think that their sole purpose is to be owned by douche bags who want to be seen in them.

catkam623 misses his 944 > Viking03
05/30/2014 at 15:31

Oh that's fantastic what's it like having one? And what color are you painting her?

Mikeado > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/30/2014 at 15:47

That's it, everyone go home. This guy wins.

Mikeado > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 15:48

Hey look! Supercar owners! Realising their cars' potential! Fancy that.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 16:05

I think you're missing the point entirely.

First, your point about going faster for less is simply false...the slowest of these, the 918, is still quicker than a Veyron SS in a straight line and will likely embarrass it around a track. The more powerful and lighter LF and P1 will go beyond even that.

It's about enjoying the technology and the beauty of the engineering. I don't get what's not to get about this.

I see this same argument by people who can't afford nice things all the time (and I'm one of them, trust me I'm poor as shit currently) and I will never get it. I like these cars not because they're expensive or because people will think I'm cool if I'm driving one. I am in love with the design, the sound, the speed, the technology, they are the pinnacle of the automobile. To argue otherwise is honestly untrue and unfair.

I enjoy wearing nice clothes because I like the way they feel, fit, and look. Not because I want to impress other people with how much I spend on clothes. I like BMWs because they provide the best mix of things I value in a car for the best price. I own an old one now, although hoping to get a new one after my career changes direction here shortly. I like Breitling watches because they're exquisitely designed and beautiful. Not because other people are impressed by them.

I just don't get what's not to get, I guess. You sort of make it sound like you can't possibly like these cars for what they are, and that you must be a rich asshole for liking them. That's just not true. Why is it so hard to believe that you can want a car because it's the most amazing 4 wheeled vehicle ever made? You make very subjective statements and present them as fact and use them as reasons for why we shouldn't like these cars...yet these are only your views.

Now excuse me while I go lust after the 918 some more.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 16:06

I cannot wrap my head around your argument that the current crop of super cars somehow "doesn't perform"...are you....sure you know what cars you're speaking about? Again...your statement might be indicative of what you might use a super car for but not the rest of us.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
05/30/2014 at 16:09

Best possible reply. Thanks for that.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 16:10

You need to stop saying these cars are only good for showing off...that's the most idiotic thing I've seen.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez
05/30/2014 at 16:11

Great reply, agreed 100%. I find that most of the people who call for "analogue" super cars haven't ever driven anything with more than 200-250 hp. I'll tell you what, I've driven a 600 hp C63 and that was a bit scary...and that's not even that extreme compared to what's out there.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 16:16

It's really not anyone's problem if you believe it or not. They are. Just because you can't afford them, doesn't mean they aren't. Simple as that.

BrtStlnd > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 16:31

How do you know who buys a car for the sole purpose of looking rich and who doesn't? Are you conducting exit interviews at the Ferrari store?

Justin is driven > BrtStlnd
05/30/2014 at 16:42

Call it a solid guess.

Justin is driven > BrtStlnd
05/30/2014 at 16:44

Sorry, it's a disdain for people with money who need desperately to show others exactly how much they have. There is a difference.

Jay Leno: no disdain. Kim dotcom: Mad disdain yo.

Edit: Really? Super important in moving he automotive landscape forward? I'm pretty sure that's what racing is/ was for. No manufacturer makes a hypercar to push technology forward, they do it to wag their dicks in their competitor's faces. Is it a coincidence that these three companies simultaneously developed and implemented KERS systems in their halo cars? No. It's marketing.

BrtStlnd > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 16:46

So you don't have any information, just speculating about a group within car culture that you have no interaction with.

BrtStlnd > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 16:47

Well I would make a suggestion then... save your hate for the actual douchebags, not the cars themselves. They are anything but boring.

Justin is driven > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment
05/30/2014 at 16:48

Look, I can't afford a spec miata right now, but that has nothing to do with how good these cars are or aren't.

Justin is driven > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment
05/30/2014 at 16:50

Yeah it's scary because you never put in the time or effort to be able to use 600 horsepower. That's the point. If you can't drive it with no electronics, you shouldn't be driving it at all.

Viking03 > catkam623 misses his 944
05/30/2014 at 16:58

It was in pretty sad shape when I first got it. I drove it around a little and it was pretty aweful to drive, but everything was falling apart. That will finally be fixed. Ownership is amazing. It is a car that stands out no matter where you are. I still smile every time I see her. Here is a shot of the paint today mid paint job. I am going to have a little red trim up front also, but actually very subtle. I had the bumpers tucked and painted black also. It is going to come out amazing.

Kinja'd!!!

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 17:13

Scary was a bit of an overstatement...It was a friends' car that I drove multiple times, I was plenty comfortable after the first time.

I'm a plenty good driver, I don't think I have anything to be scared of. I don't care who you are, you aren't getting the most out of a 918 or P1 with no driver aids. Its impossible.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 17:13

No, it doesn't...but it seems to be clouding your opinion of how good they are.

catkam623 misses his 944 > Viking03
05/30/2014 at 17:24

oh that is fantastically gorgeous the red trim is just so classically awesome. Two more questions what year is it and you do have a manual right? If so what's the transmission like.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 17:24

That's why I love to read Speedhunters, a lot of cars made their by average people.

mr_gofast > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment
05/30/2014 at 17:31

justin im starting to see the trend here, You think supercars are worthless cause of the price tag and the persona/stigma that are attached to them. you refuse to accept the notion that they be considered art pieces with exceptional stats on the track or the road, you insist on painting super cars fans/owners with the same brush. I think youre plain jelaous you cant have one and it pisses you off. We fans acknowledge and accept that we will most likely never touch or own any of these hyper cars in our lifetime, but we dont go around bemoaning and bitching about people that can.

mr_gofast > Justin is driven
05/30/2014 at 17:31

Viking03 > catkam623 misses his 944
05/30/2014 at 17:32

Kinja'd!!!

It is a 1969. It had an auto when I bought it, but I tossed that first thing. That's the only way I have driven it. It now has a TK600 Tremec 5 speed manual mated to a lightly used 6.1 Hemi. Here is the shifter I got for it. I will post full pics on Oppo when she comes out of paint.

catkam623 misses his 944 > Viking03
05/30/2014 at 17:37

That is just gorgeous I always wondered why anyone would get one in an automatic and am thankful to see one less tragedy on the road. I'm now very excited to see it in paint, post soon.

Justin is driven > mr_gofast
05/30/2014 at 20:02

I have done zero painting in this thread.

Art pieces is an interesting way to think about hypercars. What does hypercar art say, I wonder?

I'm just saying that these cars seem purpose built to showoff, and that that's boring. Did you even read the article? My point was that they are pointless exercises in marketing that people buy for the express purpose of looking rich. There are better ways to do everything that a hypercar does well.

This has nothing to do with money except that I think billionaires are idiots if they buy hypercars, or they're poseurs, which is worse. It's just not how I'd spend my money.

Justin is driven > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment
05/30/2014 at 20:03

Have you ever driven a hypercar, Evan? Have you ever driven anything that approaches the kinds of performance these things provide? Like.. a GT3 cup car, or a formula ford?

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Justin is driven
05/31/2014 at 14:09

I've driven a Formula Ford and a 911 SC race car...what does that have to do with the point you made in your post?

GenericSpoon > Justin is driven
05/31/2014 at 22:02

I WANT THAT TA-4J SKYHAWK. AND THAT P38. AND THAT P51.