Debunking the PH Supercar Badge of Honour
Discussion
Some on the PH Supercar Forum take it as a Badge of Honour to state that their supercars have been driven xxxx miles within a timeframe of yyyy weeks , OR suggest of their supercars : '' Just Drive it '' .
I suggest that neither of these approaches has much to recommend for themselves .
Instead I would suggest that driving a car in its most appropriate setting , and when the driver is in the correct mindset , allows the driver to best extract the essence of that car .
This might mean that the car is used a lot less than it otherwise would be , but at least the car is being used appropriately .
There is little to learn , or enjoy , from driving a supercar in Mayfair .
When I am driving to work , all I want is a car that will get me there in the most unstressed condition possible , so that I can get on with the day's job .
Now , unlike 20 years ago , I find that I can best enjoy my cars abroad --- because the roads are less congested , and because legislation in some countries allow for the cars to be exercised .
This automatically means less mileage covered in the UK , but I am entirely unfussed by this .... the anticipation simply stokes the desire .
And when I am driving for pleasure , I will take the time to find out the most appropriate road for the chosen car , and more importantly the best time of the day to enjoy that road .
Simply looking at mileage covered , or seat time , gives little indication of the enjoyment that can be extracted from a car .
This thread was a long time coming , but I am initiating this thread now after I reading the '' Low mileage and Values '' thread that was posted on Monday .
In response to that thread I wrote :
'' The OP's primary message is that the are distinct disadvantages in not enjoying your car for the moving vehicle that it is because of a fear of losing money .
I entirely agree with that .
The secondary unspoken message is that the car should be used a lot , and this is where I entirely disagree .
The car should be used APPROPRIATELY .
And if circumstances dictate ( time , roads , state of mind ) , and the car is driven little so be it .
I have no experience of the rarefied world of Hypercars , but using any car in an ‘’ inappropriate “ setting purely to use it , and to simply give credence to being a “ Supercar Enthusiast Driver ‘’ , is almost as much of a folly as being the victim of the “ Tyranny of Low Mileage “ club that the OP so enthusiastically denigrates .
Sorry to spoil the party .
Incidentally if you buy a car to keep , mileage and depreciation are totally irrelevant ..... and simply dont appear on the radar .
I think that there might be value in a new thread to examine the PH badge of honour that is
“ just drive it “
OR
“I drive it xxxx miles every yyyy weeks “
I would say “ drive a car ( for pleasure ) in the appropriate setting , so that you have the best chance of extracting some special essence of that particular car “
This ethos is as applicable to an MX5 as it is to a Chiron . ''
Surely it is time we stopped worshipping at the altar of using a microsurgical scalpel for a job where a chainsaw would be more appropriate ?
I suggest that neither of these approaches has much to recommend for themselves .
Instead I would suggest that driving a car in its most appropriate setting , and when the driver is in the correct mindset , allows the driver to best extract the essence of that car .
This might mean that the car is used a lot less than it otherwise would be , but at least the car is being used appropriately .
There is little to learn , or enjoy , from driving a supercar in Mayfair .
When I am driving to work , all I want is a car that will get me there in the most unstressed condition possible , so that I can get on with the day's job .
Now , unlike 20 years ago , I find that I can best enjoy my cars abroad --- because the roads are less congested , and because legislation in some countries allow for the cars to be exercised .
This automatically means less mileage covered in the UK , but I am entirely unfussed by this .... the anticipation simply stokes the desire .
And when I am driving for pleasure , I will take the time to find out the most appropriate road for the chosen car , and more importantly the best time of the day to enjoy that road .
Simply looking at mileage covered , or seat time , gives little indication of the enjoyment that can be extracted from a car .
This thread was a long time coming , but I am initiating this thread now after I reading the '' Low mileage and Values '' thread that was posted on Monday .
In response to that thread I wrote :
'' The OP's primary message is that the are distinct disadvantages in not enjoying your car for the moving vehicle that it is because of a fear of losing money .
I entirely agree with that .
The secondary unspoken message is that the car should be used a lot , and this is where I entirely disagree .
The car should be used APPROPRIATELY .
And if circumstances dictate ( time , roads , state of mind ) , and the car is driven little so be it .
I have no experience of the rarefied world of Hypercars , but using any car in an ‘’ inappropriate “ setting purely to use it , and to simply give credence to being a “ Supercar Enthusiast Driver ‘’ , is almost as much of a folly as being the victim of the “ Tyranny of Low Mileage “ club that the OP so enthusiastically denigrates .
Sorry to spoil the party .
Incidentally if you buy a car to keep , mileage and depreciation are totally irrelevant ..... and simply dont appear on the radar .
I think that there might be value in a new thread to examine the PH badge of honour that is
“ just drive it “
OR
“I drive it xxxx miles every yyyy weeks “
I would say “ drive a car ( for pleasure ) in the appropriate setting , so that you have the best chance of extracting some special essence of that particular car “
This ethos is as applicable to an MX5 as it is to a Chiron . ''
Surely it is time we stopped worshipping at the altar of using a microsurgical scalpel for a job where a chainsaw would be more appropriate ?
Edited by carspath on Wednesday 16th September 18:48
Interesting post - I agree everybody should use their car as they please, but having said that In my personal opinion owning a car and not driving it or only driving it “when the setting is right and Christmas and Easter fall on the same day” seems kinda pointless to me. I’d rather drive a supercar to the supermarket than a diesel golf - even if I can’t use the car to its capability in that setting / put differently by that reasoning I should trailer the car to a track and exclusively use it there as using it as intended on the road is highly irresponsible imo
The sole reason I don't own a full-on supercar is usability. If I can't get use out of a car I don't particularly want to own it.
More specifically, I would detest leaving a fancy car in the garage while clumping about in some "daily driver".
My solution is to own sports cars that fit my life here and now rather than some aspirational dream or rose-tinted view of a bygone golden age.
More specifically, I would detest leaving a fancy car in the garage while clumping about in some "daily driver".
My solution is to own sports cars that fit my life here and now rather than some aspirational dream or rose-tinted view of a bygone golden age.
A super car is still a car and like any other car there is no right or sub-optimal time to get behind the wheel.
Mileage is only a consideration if you are (1) treating the car as an asset / investment; or (2) as I found myself earlier in my career, not financially secure yet and therefore stressing after stretching to obtain what for many of us are objects of desire.
Yesterday with the sun out I felt like taking the 458sp for school pickup. Speed bumps, heavy traffic, tight roads with cars parked both sides, pot holes... who cares?
Mileage is only a consideration if you are (1) treating the car as an asset / investment; or (2) as I found myself earlier in my career, not financially secure yet and therefore stressing after stretching to obtain what for many of us are objects of desire.
Yesterday with the sun out I felt like taking the 458sp for school pickup. Speed bumps, heavy traffic, tight roads with cars parked both sides, pot holes... who cares?
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