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11-08-2012, 07:12 PM | #67 | |
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1. Balanced dynamic performance in all its aspects 2. A feast for the senses... looks, sound, ergonomics, etc 3. Reasonably exclusive 4. Comfortable for medium length drives 5. Some degree of utility These last two really reflect how I use the car. I need something that is fun but that I can take to our vacation home on the coast which is just over two hours away. There have been times when the trunk of my M3 is full and I think to myself that I am glad I have the space so I can enjoy my fun car on my fun weekend getaway. Again, if this were a Gallardo, it would sit in the garage all weekend while I was away frolicking at the coast, wishing that I had my Gallardo!!! The 2 hour drive to the coast for me is pure driving bliss, and yet if my fun car were an exotic, it would likely have to remain tucked away. Again, my point is that the real opportunities for driving exotics are so limited that I am questioning the worth of it. I am thinking of 4 possible cars based on what is out right now to replace the M3 in a couple of years (other than possibly another M3) 1. AM Vantage 2. 991 4S 3. Panamera GTS 4. M6 But again....I still question whether the driving experience is going to be much better. And a car that will give me a significantly better driving experience is much less drivable in real life.
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11-08-2012, 07:25 PM | #68 | |
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I guess part of it for me is that I didn't come from from money, nor has it come easily to me. It has been hard earned, so although I can afford certain things, I always look for value, to a certain degree anyway
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11-14-2012, 12:57 PM | #69 |
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I dont think ive ever read such a viewpoint as this when it comes to exotics that one can afford.
Definitely makes you think do you REALLY want what you wish for. OP presents a ton of great insight and thought than just jumping the gun because you can. Intelligent and intriguing. Much respect. |
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11-14-2012, 08:31 PM | #70 | |
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11-14-2012, 08:37 PM | #71 |
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There are always exceptions.
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11-14-2012, 11:07 PM | #72 |
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Arguing that am M3 is more practical than a Ferrari or a McLaren is sort of like arguing that a Citizen Eco Drive keeps better time than a Patek Philippe or a Rene Dubuis. If you make that argument you are probably missing the point.
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11-15-2012, 07:44 AM | #73 | |
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The watch analogy is not adequate IMO. Most daily tasks can be successfully accomplished using any type of watch, but that may not be the case with a low to the ground, loud, 2 seater supercar. If you only drive it 5 times a year, is it better to stay with the M3 as a daily driver and derive X% of the satisfaction? To me, if you can truly afford and exotic then you probably can afford an M3 also. Problem solved.
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11-15-2012, 02:07 PM | #74 |
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I bought and sold a gt3 after 2 months, it was a great car just way too uncomfortable to drive frequently. I just replaced it with a 2011 Audi r8 5.2 FSI. An affordable super car that you can drive everyday. What a car!!!
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11-15-2012, 02:37 PM | #75 |
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Two things. First of all I enjoyed everyone's input on this subject. Secondly, I think it is more about the driving experience than the actual car, although looks do not hurt either! I thought I wanted a vet, many years ago and took a test drive in a used vet with an asking price of around 80K The bottom line was I just did not like the feel of the whole experience, although the car "looked cool". It just was not fun. The vet interior was so cheap. The 2013 M3 is very comfortable and fun to zip around in and I mean ZIP! It always feels right. If I really need super car power, all I have to do is bolt on a SUPERCHARGER and adios amigos to just about anything on the road and the price is reasonable plus I still have a car that can corner very well! The M3 is a solid package. Plus, you can get maintenance done in a pinch, unlike so many exotics.
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11-17-2012, 03:36 AM | #76 |
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Blah blah blah. The 458 makes me crack a fat everytime I see one. I couldn't give a shit if it wasn't as good a daily as an m3, I'll swap them over in a heart beat if I could.
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11-17-2012, 05:23 AM | #77 | |
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What's the benefit of a $10k watch if you never actually wear it because you are afraid of every little scratch. On the other hand, you could get a $1k watch (still not cheap, but not over-the-top, much like an M3) and wear it much more often.
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11-17-2012, 05:41 AM | #78 |
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I agree. Many of us are driven for "more". I have been my whole life. But what happens when you get to a point where going to the next step also starts getting you disproportionately greater potential hassles, or seriously diminishing returns? Isn't it better to remain in life's "sweet spot"?
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11-17-2012, 09:59 AM | #79 | |
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11-17-2012, 12:49 PM | #80 |
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i had the pleasure of driving a 458 Italia for about an hour a few months back. it's a very comfortable, livable car that will put a grin on your face that an M3 never will. it's not any lower than my kW equipped M3, and the 7-year maintenance eliminates the biggest objection to owning a Ferrari.
the only downside is 2 less seats and it's not for people who don't like attention. it may be diminishing returns performance-wise, but the car gives you a feeling that no BMW does |
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11-17-2012, 02:47 PM | #81 |
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Well, to throw a wrench in the cogs of that... The 7 year maintenance with Ferrari is awesome; I agree. However, not every city has a Ferrari dealership and I believe he stated the nearest dealer is ~85 miles away. I'm not up to snuff on the Ferarri service intervals, but I'm guessing they are much smaller than an M3's and a 170mile round trip for service adds up.
That being said, if I honestly could afford a 458 Italia and not have to worry, I would get one in a heartbeat. When reality sets in, I know that the M3 is about as high of ownership as I will achieve and be comfortable. I don't make 250k+ and I don't have the disposable income to support the Ferrari lifestyle. |
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11-17-2012, 03:38 PM | #82 | |
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This is a good question, I'm pretty much willing to settle for an average or (sweet spot, comfortable) lifestlye (house, clothes etc.) But not for my vehicle. I feel like this would be the one item that would classify as overly expensive for me. Nothing provides the excitement like an exotic. Some are into expensive houses, clothes, and watches... for some it's cars. |
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11-17-2012, 11:15 PM | #83 | |
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I agree with you on those points. Thank you for your stories. It is cool to hear from enthusiast that has experienced super/exotic cars. My M3 was a trophy to me. Owning an $85k car at 20 years old.....i felt that i made it...but.... I got rid of my M3 and i thought i would be going to something more but to be honest I wanna just go back to it since its the everyday sports car. 5 to 10 years? I dont know but in reality i think of having a family so id probably still have something like M car but with four doors. I do really love the Aventador. The cuts and the sound of that Lamborghini give me chills. Have you driven one of those?
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11-18-2012, 02:25 AM | #84 |
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LOL! I like it.
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11-18-2012, 08:19 AM | #85 | |
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To answer the question, I do know I will always want to own a car similar in purpose to the M3. It's the right balance for the everyday, go anywhere sports car. I might have a F-car and P-car in the stable one day, but for very different reasons.
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11-18-2012, 08:37 AM | #86 |
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Exotics are something I really used to think about alot but the older I get the more hesitant I become that if I ever get in the position to own one...would I pull the trigger? I don't think that I would if I had to decide today. A Ford GT or F430/458 would be tops on my list if I ever did. I really think I would be just as happy with a 993 Turbo as a weekend car. Save for the CGT, Porsches are not exotics IMO.
In the meantime, I just enjoy the hell out of my M3. Every day that I drive it I get a big smile on my face watching the RPMs rise to 8,000+. If the music all stopped today, I would not regret one thing. |
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11-18-2012, 11:02 AM | #87 | |
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So to answer your question, if you can really afford an exotic then fantasy isn't better than reality. Last edited by Aro1; 11-18-2012 at 01:26 PM.. |
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11-19-2012, 10:09 AM | #88 | |
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But this reminds me of 2 people I know. 1, My employees that complain they don't want to make more money when I give them a raise cause it will bump them up in a tax bracket or make their kids not qualify for free shit from the state. Then theres my friends that count on their 3-5% pay increase every year and say "ok I can own a M3 in 20 years." Which to me is depressing. Whats wrong with paying more taxes for a few years if in the end you will keep growing ? Raise after raise. But there is a good point to admitting you are content for once. That is great to sit back and say "look how far I have come, I did it, and I got my car". Enjoy that. But always press on. I absolutely agree with you guys. I too will always have a car that does everything. For me right now its the GT-R. Its not a supercar. Its a Nissan. But it has a huge trunk, a backseat for midgets and your coat, decent on the freeway, and a ton of power for the twisty roads. It wont ever be a Ferrari, but it will wow you with performance while on a conference call. The best thing about the M3 is that it really does beat the class it is in by miles. The interior I think is better than the mercedes, the handling much better, more nimble than a bloated S5 or RS5 and BMW maintenance is the reason I have a 7 series and x5 for every single day. With all this being said. My absolute favorite car I have ever had the pleasure of driving and owning a toss up between the CGT and the Ford GT. Why? Because I had the chance to borrow a F40 for a week, and nothing on earth has had the same feeling close to that other than those cars. Rear engine, stripped interior, and manual transmission. It makes you feel like Al Unser JR when you rip off a glorious downshift to hear those engines. Like one person said, a supercar brings out super-emotions and a depth of feeling you will never feel in the M3. Its not super number and super performance, its the goosebumps for me.
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Last edited by Optherion; 11-19-2012 at 10:51 AM.. |
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