Does it ever stop feeling special?
Discussion
I am 3 weeks into ownership of an R8 (Gen 1 V8 Manual) I know there is some debate on if its really a supercar or not but to me it is and I am completely smitten with it. Took it out today, parked up and just kept looking back at it as I was walking into the shops to do my errands, it just kept making me smile. To those who have been at this longer than me, do you still do this? Does it stop feeling special?
I think the secret to keeping them feeling special is not to drive them everyday.
I worked for Lotus many years ago and had an Esprit Turbo SE as a company car. It quite quickly lost its appeal when I was using it in all weathers and doing circa 2k miles a month.
In contrast, I recently sold a V10 R8 that I had owned for 7 years and put an average of 1500 miles a year on it. Because of that it still felt special every time I drove it and was one of the main reasons for keeping it so long.
I worked for Lotus many years ago and had an Esprit Turbo SE as a company car. It quite quickly lost its appeal when I was using it in all weathers and doing circa 2k miles a month.
In contrast, I recently sold a V10 R8 that I had owned for 7 years and put an average of 1500 miles a year on it. Because of that it still felt special every time I drove it and was one of the main reasons for keeping it so long.
Trev450 said:
I think the secret to keeping them feeling special is not to drive them everyday.
I worked for Lotus many years ago and had an Esprit Turbo SE as a company car. It quite quickly lost its appeal when I was using it in all weathers and doing circa 2k miles a month.
In contrast, I recently sold a V10 R8 that I had owned for 7 years and put an average of 1500 miles a year on it. Because of that it still felt special every time I drove it and was one of the main reasons for keeping it so long.
Absolutely this. Until March this year my AMG GTC was my main car and whilst I love it the feeling of it being an event wore off pretty quick when driving in all weathers or just sat in traffic when off to the shops. I worked for Lotus many years ago and had an Esprit Turbo SE as a company car. It quite quickly lost its appeal when I was using it in all weathers and doing circa 2k miles a month.
In contrast, I recently sold a V10 R8 that I had owned for 7 years and put an average of 1500 miles a year on it. Because of that it still felt special every time I drove it and was one of the main reasons for keeping it so long.
Getting a comfy daily in March and so only driving the big merc for fun has made it feel special again.
And yes, I do often park it up and look back at it
I'm into year 4 of my R8 V10 ownership and it feel as special as the day I got it, and I diver her as my daily in the dry(not salted) months. Just such an epic car and I've found nothing that can replace her for similar money and would deliver the same thrill and passion, without pointlessly opening up my wallet to Lambo garages and getting a 6 year+ older car (gallardo).
btw - I have heard an R8 V8 with a Milltech exhaust and it sounded sublime, even at parking speeds.
btw - I have heard an R8 V8 with a Milltech exhaust and it sounded sublime, even at parking speeds.
Trev450 said:
I think the secret to keeping them feeling special is not to drive them everyday.
I worked for Lotus many years ago and had an Esprit Turbo SE as a company car. It quite quickly lost its appeal when I was using it in all weathers and doing circa 2k miles a month.
In contrast, I recently sold a V10 R8 that I had owned for 7 years and put an average of 1500 miles a year on it. Because of that it still felt special every time I drove it and was one of the main reasons for keeping it so long.
Maybe - but depends on the car. I worked for Lotus many years ago and had an Esprit Turbo SE as a company car. It quite quickly lost its appeal when I was using it in all weathers and doing circa 2k miles a month.
In contrast, I recently sold a V10 R8 that I had owned for 7 years and put an average of 1500 miles a year on it. Because of that it still felt special every time I drove it and was one of the main reasons for keeping it so long.
Subaru P1. The more miles I put on it, the deeper the love affair. Still sad I traded it in after 88k miles. Not so with my 22b (as much as I might want to still have it due to value) ... The flared wings and body shape looked amazing, but I felt the P1 was much the better car.
The Nissan GTR felt a little like a one trick pony after a while. Definitely less special as you piled on the miles. Characterful and fun but just too heavy and lacking feel.
Similar performance figures but the Ferrari FF gives more of a reveal each time. More feel, Different noise at low revs, ballistic at full tilt gear change. Perhaps the NA engine. I could drive it every day and learn a bit more each time.
So some cars I just want to keep driving forever - but some become just another daily driver. It's not a badge thing - just how it works. Weird eh?
Smifffy said:
Trev450 said:
I think the secret to keeping them feeling special is not to drive them everyday.
I worked for Lotus many years ago and had an Esprit Turbo SE as a company car. It quite quickly lost its appeal when I was using it in all weathers and doing circa 2k miles a month.
In contrast, I recently sold a V10 R8 that I had owned for 7 years and put an average of 1500 miles a year on it. Because of that it still felt special every time I drove it and was one of the main reasons for keeping it so long.
Maybe - but depends on the car. I worked for Lotus many years ago and had an Esprit Turbo SE as a company car. It quite quickly lost its appeal when I was using it in all weathers and doing circa 2k miles a month.
In contrast, I recently sold a V10 R8 that I had owned for 7 years and put an average of 1500 miles a year on it. Because of that it still felt special every time I drove it and was one of the main reasons for keeping it so long.
Subaru P1. The more miles I put on it, the deeper the love affair. Still sad I traded it in after 88k miles. Not so with my 22b (as much as I might want to still have it due to value) ... The flared wings and body shape looked amazing, but I felt the P1 was much the better car.
The Nissan GTR felt a little like a one trick pony after a while. Definitely less special as you piled on the miles. Characterful and fun but just too heavy and lacking feel.
Similar performance figures but the Ferrari FF gives more of a reveal each time. More feel, Different noise at low revs, ballistic at full tilt gear change. Perhaps the NA engine. I could drive it every day and learn a bit more each time.
So some cars I just want to keep driving forever - but some become just another daily driver. It's not a badge thing - just how it works. Weird eh?
I've used both of my McLaren's as almost daily's and they never stopped feeling special.
Having said that :
In the last few months, I've used my 650 much less. I think I've done about 250 miles since the service at the end of October. And it does feel different now. Sometimes it's a couple of weeks between use - which I don't think ever happened before with either car - and it feels almost like it did when I first bought it. So it feels very very special again.
Having said that :
In the last few months, I've used my 650 much less. I think I've done about 250 miles since the service at the end of October. And it does feel different now. Sometimes it's a couple of weeks between use - which I don't think ever happened before with either car - and it feels almost like it did when I first bought it. So it feels very very special again.
The best part about using a special car as a daily, R8 V10 on my case, is that apart from the fact you are driving something special with nearly 600BHP under your foot, that a lot of people really, really like, you also, well I do, feel really bloody lucky that I can do this . I pretty much pinch myself often. Most people don't get to experience this.
davek_964 said:
I've used both of my McLaren's as almost daily's and they never stopped feeling special.
Having said that :
In the last few months, I've used my 650 much less. I think I've done about 250 miles since the service at the end of October. And it does feel different now. Sometimes it's a couple of weeks between use - which I don't think ever happened before with either car - and it feels almost like it did when I first bought it. So it feels very very special again.
Has AB been on the phone about selling it ?Having said that :
In the last few months, I've used my 650 much less. I think I've done about 250 miles since the service at the end of October. And it does feel different now. Sometimes it's a couple of weeks between use - which I don't think ever happened before with either car - and it feels almost like it did when I first bought it. So it feels very very special again.
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