[trixman]

This has been bought up on numerous forums and threads, the dropping price of supercars in the current climate and whether its viable.

Big difference for me is that a good friend of mine is actually doing it. He's got his Z4MC up for sale on PH, when it sells he's going for a F360/aston vanquish. Now, he doesn't earn 'that' much money, nowhere near enough to buy one new or even 'true' second hand values.

I've tried the 'if you couldn't afford to buy it new, you can't afford to run it' argument to no avail. Im worried it'll cripple him when a big bill comes in.

Would you fight it or egg him on?

[Bimmer Nerd]

here is the way i see it, selling a Z4 and making payments on your f360/vanquish yea its going to be an amazing change, and if he can handle the monthly payments good for him, but when your BUYING a car and (god forbid) something happens to that ferrari or aston, guess who HAS to fix it ??? yea you got it right himself and i am pretty sure as you said "he does NOT make that much money" he will have to dig that money up from his (a hole) to fix it in order to get to work. and yea that saying about 'if you couldn't afford to buy it new, you can't afford to run it' is ABSOLUTELY true in this situation.

[2K5 325i]

F360's are not driven by pussies. Convince him to buy a "new" (less than 100 mileage) one, or tell him he's picking up somebody else's scraps. A Vanquish is just so f()cking gangster, IMO it doesn't matter if it used or not- I would kill for one of those even if it would financially break me.

If he still wants to go big, tell him to get the best entry level Supercar available out right now.

2009 Audi R8. < $120,000.00

Supercar looks, Supercar performance, sports car price ticket.

That's the best bang for the buck, except for the GTR... but god forbid I bring that car up,
-Chris

[mikem]

Running a Z4MC isn`t cheap if bought new, especially when you look at the depreciation.

Ultimately it`ll depend on how much use the supercar gets, if bought sensibly, very low price, just after a major service (incl belts for the Fezza) and mileage is kept low it shouldn`t cripple him providing it comes with a warranty or he knows a good Indy.

Clutches are expensive and the F1 G`box hammers them if used hard, tyres and brakes will obviously be more than the Z4 (but no more than Cups or a Brembo BBK and quite simple to replace).

Don`t know anything about the Aston but its bigger and heavier so expect it to wear through things quicker and while I`ve seen a few Ferrari specialists, I`ve only ever seen one AM specialists on my travels (Sussex, I think and it looked to be closed down).

[dxb335d]

He is better off with a 996 turbo x50, WIll murder a 360 on the road and far more reliable.

[Porscha!]

Go for it Sometimes you have to do these things, though I would certainly go for the Ferrari over the Aston Martin (only because I'm not a big AM fan!) or what about a Lamborghini Diablo!

You regret more what you haven't done rather than what you have, so even if it did end up crippling him, he will most likely after a while look back fondly on the car and be glad that he had it (even if it was only for a short time).

Porscha - been there done that Survived and found my love for Classics again, afterwards.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Porscha!

Go for it Sometimes you have to do these things, though I would certainly go for the Ferrari over the Aston Martin (only because I'm not a big AM fan!) or what about a Lamborghini Diablo!

You regret more what you haven't done rather than what you have, so even if it did end up crippling him, he will most likely after a while look back fondly on the car and be glad that he had it (even if it was only for a short time).

Porscha - been there done that Survived and found my love for Classics again, afterwards.

I very much doubt he will look back fondly, if he lost his house because of not paying the mortgage, splits up with his wife who runs away with the kids because he spent the kitched and Xmas money on a service.

There would be some fond memories from before the ferrariu arrived.


SO end of it is, he needs to have not only the cash to buy it, but some in reserve for failures and services.

[trixman]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

He is better off with a 996 turbo x50, WIll murder a 360 on the road and far more reliable.

He said he tried one, didn't like it. I suppose when your thinking supercar you don't think of the 996 nowadays, I know they are, but as I said in the other thread, having the Caymans and Boxters made it less special when put next to Gallardo's and Fezzas.

Originally Posted by mikem

Running a Z4MC isn`t cheap if bought new, especially when you look at the depreciation.

Should have mentioned. He's 30, single, no kids, own business and second job on the side. Also he didn't but it new, bought for 30k around 3-4 months ago, up for around 24 now I think.

Originally Posted by 2K5 325i

If he still wants to go big, tell him to get the best entry level Supercar available out right now.

2009 Audi R8. < $120,000.00

Supercar looks, Supercar performance, sports car price ticket.

That's the best bang for the buck, except for the GTR... but god forbid I bring that car up,
-Chris

Lol. I think I should have quoted the budget. Its 50kish pounds, which given the next few months, should see him in an Vanquish/360/possibly Gallardo?
That's the scary part, the depreciation is so high but the running costs are still there.

Have to say, if I was in his position I'd probably do the same, but still can't help feeling he's coming in for a world of pain!

[Porscha!]

What about a Ferrari 348 / 355? Will cost a lot less to buy so can save the rest of the money for maintenance, best of both worlds?

[trixman]

Actually already mentioned that one! (probably cause that's what I was looking at before I spent it on other toys).

He really is going for maximum flash attack, something that people will say 'christ, look at that loaded flash bastard' when he pulls up.... until he asks if he can borrow some money for a drink cause he's had to put petrol in on the way there.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by trixman

He said he tried one, didn't like it. I suppose when your thinking supercar you don't think of the 996 nowadays, I know they are, but as I said in the other thread, having the Caymans and Boxters made it less special when put next to Gallardo's and Fezzas.



Should have mentioned. He's 30, single, no kids, own business and second job on the side. Also he didn't but it new, bought for 30k around 3-4 months ago, up for around 24 now I think.



Lol. I think I should have quoted the budget. Its 50kish pounds, which given the next few months, should see him in an Vanquish/360/possibly Gallardo?
That's the scary part, the depreciation is so high but the running costs are still there.

Have to say, if I was in his position I'd probably do the same, but still can't help feeling he's coming in for a world of pain!

You never mentioned a gallardo. I only mentioned the 996 turbo as its old and out of production like the 360.

If the Gallardo is on the list, he in my opinion should go with that. Audi build quality and all that. Faster than the 360 too.

[trixman]

He didnt to be fair, just something I noticed myself with recent prices going the way they are. Was looking around my previous budget of not too long ago, thinking at the time 'oh, I could just about get into a nearly new e92 M3'... now I could have bought some serious exotica, painful to think... even more painful for those that did I'd imagine.

[Steve A]

Tell him to buy an M6. Itll murder all the others for pace including the lambo. Can get a good un for 40k with warranty, its as reliable as a 320d. Looks the dogs, gets loads of attention (positive) and shouldnt cripple him.

Best car in the BMW range and has bags of kudos.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Steve A

Tell him to buy an M6. Itll murder all the others for pace including the lambo. Can get a good un for 40k with warranty, its as reliable as a 320d. Looks the dogs, gets loads of attention (positive) and shouldnt cripple him.

Best car in the BMW range and has bags of kudos.

+1.

I love da Emsix.

[Steve A]

Carl im sure themsix loves you too

[trixman]

Possibility, still think any BMW won't really do the trick. Remember, we aren't talking common sense or even the most performance here, it's pure show (something that would rate 100000/10 on the cockometer)

[Gibbo]

Put the money in his business and make a success of that for the longer term benifits.

[trixman]

Ah... for the voice of reason.

That is the question isn't it, whether to go with what seems sensible or live the dream. Suppose for a young-ish guy with enough cash the lure of an affordable supercar might be a little too much!

[mikem]

Surely if he`s in an M car now, natural progression would be a 335d ? No ?

[trixman]

awww, poor Carlos getting a right one tonight eh. I really am going to have to try a D to see what the fuss is all about. Bit scared I might like it a bit too much though

[Porscha!]

Trust me you'll love your i even more

[sheps]

Just got in, and am a lot hammered, but will try and make some sense.

I ran a Ferrari 348ts as a weekender a couple of years ago - was a personal goal to own a Ferrari before I was 30.

At times it was fantastic. Other times were misery - mostly when anything went wrong, which was often. My last service was a cambelts one (engine out) which came to somewhere around £6k.

Looked great, eveyone lokked (which is obviously what your mate is looking for) but, all in all, not a totally joyful experience.

In three years of ownership I probably sent £9k, and I had a good one.

If he's set on buying a Ferrari, tell him to buy last of the 355's, not an early 360. a 360 or Gallardo (especialy a Gallardo) at £50k will be an absolute hound. He'll drop £10k in maintenance in year 1.

One more piece of advice - avoid the garage queens that average 500 miles per year - they always go wrong once you pile some miles on. Go for something that's done 5k per year and has a stack of main dealer or well reputed indy history (preferably someone like Verdi's).

When I got rid of mine I always said "I you can't afford t buy it new, you shouldn't try and run a use one".

I'm now saving for a 360 CS. Could I ever afford £140k on a car? No, but I'm a hypocrit, so feel free to discard all of my words.

Focker, OUT