Supercar vs Super saloon

[c3m]

I'm in a bit of a dilemma after selling my Cayman GTS 4.0 – I'm now on the lookout for another car that provides more drama and thrills.

The problem is that I only get to drive my cars on the weekend (WFH or office during the week) and with family duties and work, any two seater basically means it will get used 5 times a year at most.

My options are to go for something like a McLaren / Ferrari, drive it 5 times a year and accept it will get very little usage – it would provide the drama but as a minimalist, I'd get quite frustrated that it will just be sitting gathering dust, not getting used, having to deal all the additional hassle of having yet another car.

The alternative would be to get the likes of an RS4 / M3 Touring. I can use it each weekend for family trips, so it would see a lot more use and it means no need to add another car to the fleet. The downside being the lack of drama compared to a supercar.

I'd love to hear anyone who has experience / opinion.

[RSbandit]

Given what you’ve said I think a fast family car might work better at least you’ll use it alot more and get the enjoyment from it. Cars like McLarens in particular need to be driven regularly they seem to work better with regular usage. Having one sitting idle even if it’s kept on a charger not the best approach imo.

[murphyaj]

Don't really see the point of buying a car you can't use, other than an expensive lawn ornament. I get the drama argument, but a supercar will provide precisely zero drama if it is sat at home. Then there is the other point that no car likes being sat around, tyres go hard, rubber dries out, batteries go flat, moisture can seep in, unused cars can develop a catalogue of problems.

How practical does the practical car need to be? If it's just a case of needing some seats would something like a an Aston DB11 coupe/Volante or Rapide, Maserati GT / Gran Cabrio, Ferrari California do the job? Still have seats you can squeeze a couple of kids in (or adults in the case of the Maserati) but a lot more "special" than a BMW or Merc no matter how fast they may be.

Edited by murphyaj on Tuesday 18th February 16:52

[MDL111]

if you only need 4 seats, I would get a 456, 612, FF, Lusso, Gransport, or a 911 Touring with rear seats (I think in the UK you can have those installed, right?) - take your pick. Otherwise I would get the 2 seater and accept you won't use it all that much. RS4, M3, M5 etc are daily cars that imo do not feel special enough to warrant weekend-only use.

[murphyaj]

The Dadcars youtube channel might be worth a watch in your case. Family cars don't need to be boring.

https://www.youtube.com/@dadcars

[wyson]

c3m said:

I'm in a bit of a dilemma after selling my Cayman GTS 4.0 – I'm now on the lookout for another car that provides more drama and thrills.

The problem is that I only get to drive my cars on the weekend (WFH or office during the week) and with family duties and work, any two seater basically means it will get used 5 times a year at most.

My options are to go for something like a McLaren / Ferrari, drive it 5 times a year and accept it will get very little usage – it would provide the drama but as a minimalist, I'd get quite frustrated that it will just be sitting gathering dust, not getting used, having to deal all the additional hassle of having yet another car.

The alternative would be to get the likes of an RS4 / M3 Touring. I can use it each weekend for family trips, so it would see a lot more use and it means no need to add another car to the fleet. The downside being the lack of drama compared to a supercar.

I'd love to hear anyone who has experience / opinion.

Is a supercar club membership an option? Something like Autovivendi?

[MDL111]

I assume given you have not brought up a 911 yourself, the rear seats are probably too small for your use case. So that leaves the Ferraris and a Gran Tourismo (not sure how big the Gransport rear seats are, I think bigger than 911, but not huge)

[Freakuk]

Personally I think it would be a waste to have an expensive car sat there for other than 5 weekends per year, still needs insuring, servicing and will probably be depreciating, and without a good run you run a risk of problems due to lack of use.

As for a fast daily, I noticed Alfa wasn't on your list or a 911 as others have said.

I was a Porsche guy for a few years then wanted to get into a big V8 before they were extinct and bought a new C63S a few years ago, amazing performance, but felt big and not nimble, visceral compared to a Porsche. I eventually moved back and albeit quieter and slower it's so much more engaging.

This is a bit I think you won't get from a fast saloon/estate, but the compromise is you can use it daily.

[ex-devonpaul]

My first thoughts were FF or Maserati Granturismo. The Gransport has 4 good seats if you are under 5'10, but the newest ones are nearly 20 years old and the the OP's other ideas suggest a good budget.

Otherwise the Aston Rapide, Panamera, or going left field I don't know what the rear seats are like in a Taycan/Audi E-tron GT RS.

[Bispal]

I would always go for the special car first. But you can get both. You don't need to buy a new (ish) M3 touring. I just got this C63AMG to go with my 675LT and I am blown over by it. Such a special car for a smallish estate. A 650s & C63 could be had for under £100k satisfying both requirements.

[Trikster]

Here's a left field idea that I've been going down - love having had the supercars etc but now finding can't really enjoy them and stretch their legs on UK roads.

So I've gone back to fun light cars - have a couple of MX5s for blatting around the back lanes of a weekend - ok, not the quickest of things but handle and the smiles are great (OK, I then took one to Rocketeer, spent a small fortune, and it's got 300bhp now, but its so much more usable that anything I've had with a 'badge' on it) Have also gone through a Mk1 TT, MK1 MR2, Clio 172 Cup in the process, getting back to enjoying the handling of these cars

Then get your fast practical car too...

Don't think I need to hand my pistonheads card in just yet

[cgt2]

I was going to suggest similar. Panamera Turbo for £20k. Will do the job very nicely

[Wayno]

If you have the garage space then an older, analogue sports car (with appreciation potential - e.g. 996 GT3) + something like a C63 would be my choice. Ticks both boxes and less chance you’ll feel like you are missing out.

[MDL111]

if we are going with 2 cars (and they can be older), then I'd suggest going for an E39 M5 and a manual 360 or as above a 996 GT3 for a reasonable total budget. Or if the budget is higher then a manual 355 GTS. At least you can still enjoy all of these at reasonable speeds...

[DeejRC]

Annoyingly, this is a thread I have experience with.
For “grown up reasons” I chose a Macan Turbo, the full fat 440HP one over something sillier a cpl of yrs ago. I thought it would be the sensible compromise, practicality with give n take country road ground covering ability second to nothing else out there.
It is a very good car.

OP…let me tell you that I have hated it every single day since. I hate that it’s not silly. I hate that it’s practical. I hate that it’s a compromise. I hate that it has 4 doors and 4 seats and 75% of those are wasted for 60% of the time so that I can accommodate other ppl. Yes, the other ppl may be my family but well, fk em, when it comes to the matter of real cars. Most of all I hate myself for giving in, compromising and choosing to be practical over being my normal real self. It just means you have become a sell out and you might aswell accept you are a glorified Vauxhall Meriva driver.

If you buy a super saloon estate thing, that will basically make you a glorified Passat driver. Trust me on this, you will hate yourself and that 7yo who looks back at you from the mirror each morning will never forgive you until you get a real car again.

Or you can be one of those mature grown up ppl I’ve heard about

[Billy_Rosewood]

Whs.

Get the supercar. Use it 4 times a year. And enjoy the experience of that knowledge that you own a supercar for the rest of the year. Nothing else will come close.

You have the rest of your life to own something practical.

[b8575]

I was in the same position, toying between the ideas of getting a 12C or something a bit more practical. Ended up with an Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio and, I’ve got to say, I love it. It’s ridiculously quick, handles well, kids love it and sounds pretty awesome. It’s more of an event than the 997 I had before. Will I regret not getting a 12C? Maybe, but I’ll get to use this a lot more

[MadsMan]

After my Cayman R suffered a similar fate once my daughter was born I swapped to a 991.1 GTS, which I loved, and it did work for us with some compromises...but then I swapped to an FF. Not only is the FF genuinely practical, I find it much more of an experience than anything else I've ever owned.

I've also got a C63 like Bispal, which is an awesome car but its not an FF, although of course its about a quarter of the price and also relatively economical in comparison! Depends om budget...

[supersport]

DeejRC said:

Annoyingly, this is a thread I have experience with.
For “grown up reasons” I chose a Macan Turbo, the full fat 440HP one over something sillier a cpl of yrs ago. I thought it would be the sensible compromise, practicality with give n take country road ground covering ability second to nothing else out there.
It is a very good car.

OP…let me tell you that I have hated it every single day since. I hate that it’s not silly. I hate that it’s practical. I hate that it’s a compromise. I hate that it has 4 doors and 4 seats and 75% of those are wasted for 60% of the time so that I can accommodate other ppl. Yes, the other ppl may be my family but well, fk em, when it comes to the matter of real cars. Most of all I hate myself for giving in, compromising and choosing to be practical over being my normal real self. It just means you have become a sell out and you might aswell accept you are a glorified Vauxhall Meriva driver.

If you buy a super saloon estate thing, that will basically make you a glorified Passat driver. Trust me on this, you will hate yourself and that 7yo who looks back at you from the mirror each morning will never forgive you until you get a real car again.

Or you can be one of those mature grown up ppl I’ve heard about

This.

[supersport]

Get the proper car and take one kid at a time, sorted used every week.