Use Case Rule - Supercar Acquisitions

[SSO]

Earlier this year I met a wise experienced car connoisseur over zoom (it is 2020). This gentleman has owned a number of cars that have also passed through our garage over the years (including a Ferrari F50, 16M, McLaren 675LT) along with at least one that I can only dream of (McLaren F1). He introduced me to the “Use Case Rule” of car collecting. The essence of the rule is that every car in the collection has to have a clear unique use and role in your collection. The Use Case Rule is like many of the rules in our society, I had been cognoscente of the concept, mostly followed it without ever realizing it, but never studied or vigorously applied it. What I had vigorously applied to car collecting, was my well-developed “man math” skills. While “man math” is an integral part of the car buying process, it’s just that, a onetime process that doesn’t get revisited once the purchase is made. The Use Case Rule is one that is ongoing as it will continuously guide the development of your car collection. One note on the Use Case Rule, it doesn’t apply to what I would call Car Art Collectors for it to apply, “use” has to be a core element of the ownership experience.

Thoughts on the approach?

[carspath]

The Lady Doth Protest Too Much , methinks

PS : I suspect that you meant to use the word cognisant or even cognizant instead of cognoscente .
Cognoscente is a noun .

Edited by carspath on Monday 28th December 00:04

[MDL111]

It sounds like the approach I follow and kind of is reflected by my current cars. As always I think if the budget is higher it might make sense to double up cars with the same use (e.g. so you can drive them back to back and experience the nuances either of development of a model over time or the differences in approach by two manufacturers). Of course if you end up not driving one of them at all, then it might make sense to sell it and let somebody else enjoy the experience.

[ThePrincipal]

I follow this rule generally. My only issue is, I sometimes make up fairy-tale scenarios when I can use X car to justify the purchase of it: in the real world, it doesn't get used at all.

[Cheib]

I think the single most important thing about cars is how you use them and enjoy them. If you are worried about using a car because of mileage/value anxiety then buy something that isn’t an issue with or where the mileage cost won’t ruin the ownership experience.

[SSO]

ThePrincipal said:

I follow this rule generally. My only issue is, I sometimes make up fairy-tale scenarios when I can use X car to justify the purchase of it: in the real world, it doesn't get used at all.

I will confess to applying some of my "man math" creativity to "use case"

[Doofus]

Following the rule (or "Time, place purpose" as I call it), is the only way to keep car buying under control.

Each car has a specific purpose and there has to be a reason to choose one car over the others. Anything that duplicates another's 'time, place purpose' gets a maximum of six months to justify itself before it, or the car it replaces is sold on.

[orangeLP400]

I buy 'um cause I like 'um.

[Ferruccio]

Rule applies less if you collect one marque.

[Bispal]

Aren't cars like shoes? The more you have the less they wear out? You have to share the load

[JohnnyUK]

I haven't got a collection worthy of listing, but each of my seven has a USP - whether it's an interesting engine, or an estate, or a convertible.

Consequently, they're all quite different!

[TP321]

SSO said:

Earlier this year I met a wise experienced car connoisseur over zoom (it is 2020). This gentleman has owned a number of cars that have also passed through our garage over the years (including a Ferrari F50, 16M, McLaren 675LT) along with at least one that I can only dream of (McLaren F1). He introduced me to the “Use Case Rule” of car collecting. The essence of the rule is that every car in the collection has to have a clear unique use and role in your collection. The Use Case Rule is like many of the rules in our society, I had been cognoscente of the concept, mostly followed it without ever realizing it, but never studied or vigorously applied it. What I had vigorously applied to car collecting, was my well-developed “man math” skills. While “man math” is an integral part of the car buying process, it’s just that, a onetime process that doesn’t get revisited once the purchase is made. The Use Case Rule is one that is ongoing as it will continuously guide the development of your car collection. One note on the Use Case Rule, it doesn’t apply to what I would call Car Art Collectors for it to apply, “use” has to be a core element of the ownership experience.

Thoughts on the approach?

Yes it makes a lot of sense and i guess i too have followed it not so much in creating a car collection but in terms of what to buy. For example, i once had a Diablo, and for a lot of people this is an iconic car to own one day. But the reality was a car that was very difficult to use - very heavy clutch, non assisted steering. It simply wasnt a pleasure to drive and i sold it as a result. There is not point in such a car sitting in your garage not being used and simply racking up expensive servicing and repair costs.

On the other hand i can see why people love old 911s - light and agile and can be used daily without much fuss.

It has to be about the driving.

[anonymous-user]

Depends why you’re buying it. Recently I bought a Ducati 916 Senna with 1 mile on the clock. Not as a bike to use, but as a work of art and a very rare piece of factory fresh metal. So the use case rule definitely wouldn’t apply. One for the “garage queen” comment brigade....

[SSO]

Bispal said:

Aren't cars like shoes? The more you have the less they wear out? You have to share the load

I will have to try that one with Mrs SSO next time

[hornbaek]

TP321 said:

SSO said:

Earlier this year I met a wise experienced car connoisseur over zoom (it is 2020). This gentleman has owned a number of cars that have also passed through our garage over the years (including a Ferrari F50, 16M, McLaren 675LT) along with at least one that I can only dream of (McLaren F1). He introduced me to the “Use Case Rule” of car collecting. The essence of the rule is that every car in the collection has to have a clear unique use and role in your collection. The Use Case Rule is like many of the rules in our society, I had been cognoscente of the concept, mostly followed it without ever realizing it, but never studied or vigorously applied it. What I had vigorously applied to car collecting, was my well-developed “man math” skills. While “man math” is an integral part of the car buying process, it’s just that, a onetime process that doesn’t get revisited once the purchase is made. The Use Case Rule is one that is ongoing as it will continuously guide the development of your car collection. One note on the Use Case Rule, it doesn’t apply to what I would call Car Art Collectors for it to apply, “use” has to be a core element of the ownership experience.

Thoughts on the approach?

Yes it makes a lot of sense and i guess i too have followed it not so much in creating a car collection but in terms of what to buy. For example, i once had a Diablo, and for a lot of people this is an iconic car to own one day. But the reality was a car that was very difficult to use - very heavy clutch, non assisted steering. It simply wasnt a pleasure to drive and i sold it as a result. There is not point in such a car sitting in your garage not being used and simply racking up expensive servicing and repair costs.

On the other hand i can see why people love old 911s - light and agile and can be used daily without much fuss.

It has to be about the driving.

From a logical point of view this makes sense. In praxis I find it works the other way round. A collector car is driven very little (less than 1000 miles/year) so for me it has to be a bit of a challenge/theatre to drive the thing, as often the route is the goal rather than the destination. Covid has made a huge impact on my use of cars as various lock down regimes across Europe have severely impeded use in 2020. Most classic car rallies were cancelled so it will be very interesting to see how the 2020 standstill has impacted the drivability. The most quirky car to drive in my collection is an Aston Martin DB4 Series IV. It feels light and nimble, has an RS Williams upgraded 4.7L 3 SU carb engine and normally likes to be used. The more the better in fact. In 2020 I only had the chance to drive it for 1h. The one where I have no doubt that it will run 100% despite a long standstill is a 1957 MB 300 Roadster. The oldest car in the collection but the one that always works faultlessly. 2021 can‘t come soon enough.

[Don1]

Aren't you in danger of creating categories to ensure you get/keep what you desire?

What's worse, what happens when you turn the torch on your garage my friend, especially with the potential 765. 3 track or drivers cars (before you get to the icons), two convertible supercars... What a wonderful dilemma!

We just go can we afford it, can we garage it, do we want it.

[SSO]

Don1 said:

Aren't you in danger of creating categories to ensure you get/keep what you desire?

What's worse, what happens when you turn the torch on your garage my friend, especially with the potential 765. 3 track or drivers cars (before you get to the icons), two convertible supercars... What a wonderful dilemma!

We just go can we afford it, can we garage it, do we want it.

Isn't creativity a core part of the supercar acquisition process?

In terms of the obvious overlap in my modest collection, I try to rationalize that by keeping some of the cars at our place out west and some on the east coast. Hence limited overlap in each location.

[Don1]

A reasonable way to curate two separate collections.