Does Anybody Think Driving a Murci In NYC is Madness

Thanks Jim. I think the CBE has got to be one of the worst roads of the bunch! It was one of the first roads I (inadvertantly) took the 355 on when I initially got the car, and by the end of it I thought I had cracked two rims and ruined the front.

Although I would use neither car on a daily basis - just a weekend driver - your points are well taken.

From the people I've spoken to so far and the videos I've seen - the M does seem to drive a lot heavier. Perhaps not as much of a GT as a 550 / 575M, but certainly nowhere near as tossible as a G.

 

Watching you decide on what to get is better than a primetime drama. I have been watching with intrest on both sites

So IMO here is what you are pinging around.

1.) Ford GT40 - I think you like 'em - and are considering as they continue to fall to MSRP and maybe below
2.) Gallardo - we all know you like the G. My bet is if you go this route you will go with an 06 for the HP gain and Gearing changes
3.) An 02 or 03 Murci - seen a lot of interesting questions from you on this as of late - I think this is the front runner

Remember the following:

1.) You only live once!
2.) Gallardo and Murci have front end lifts - for the side street driving in NYC.
3.) The roads do suck - but ther are some good ones outside the city to stretch her legs.
4.) If it breaks (front lip, etc.) that is why you have insurance (and pay a ton in NYC).

Go for it brother!!!

After my Spyder. I am either going for a Murci or a VT Roadster. I love them both (the VT looks a little more) but the newer Murci with some warranty left would probably sway me in that direction...

Hope all is well Vik - and I will continue to watch with interest. Not a bad place to be - when faced with these choices. Plus you have the Porsche to keep you company for a while until you decide!

Rich

 

Richard, always a pleasure to hear from you. Hope you and the family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As usual, your comments are perceptive and on the money.

On the choices, I respect the Ford GT, but not sure if its the right car for me at this point. My interest in it stems more from a sort of gleeful anticipation in seeing prices spiral downwards from $250K to, what is now, sub-MSRP. The fall has happened relatively quickly, and its been interesting to see the trajectory.

You're absolutely right, the G is a car I've always had a penchant for. From all whom I've heard from, the MY06's definitely represent a material step-up from the MY04 / MY05's and is seeming very attractive right now. However, given the bullet-proof nature of the early-year cars coupled with their unbelievable price-points, it won't be an easy decision. On the flip side, given the limited production of the MY06 coupes you're not going to see any significant discount on them. So you're probably talking $190K for a MY06 versus $135K - $140K for a low mileage MY04. Let me know if you think my views on prices are off.

The Murci is a car that, while I've always liked, have only recently developed had a strong fancy for. Perhaps its because MY02 / MY03 prices have dropped to the $180K - $200K range, making it very attractive. Maybe it's just those scissor doors and drop dead gorgeous looks. Whatever it is, the "bug" has gotten to me with this one. But I think of all the cars discussed, this one would be the most impractical for me. If I was in the burbs - no question. In congested NYC, where parking is pain (even in my own garage!), roads are crappy, and there are cabbies galore just looking to take a mirror off, this car scares me.

Decisions, decisions. But then as a wise man once told me, the hunt is half the fun. -

Thanks for weighing in. Can't wait to see your G Spider. I'm probably more excited about it than you are. Hope the sale of the coupe goes well!

 

Vik: Let me echo something Jim said, which really has nothing to do with the condition of the roads. The Murcie is a big car. There is no denying its attributes, but it is not going to satisfy that craving for a small, lithe, tossable sportscar. There are things about the big Lambo that more than make up for this, but it is not a canyon carver any more than my 6.0 is. So, totally apart from what lights your fire in an abstract, or aesthetic sense, you should really know what the driving experience in the bigger cars is, before you step deep. To the extent I can extrapolate from my 6.0 experience, the car is not going to be much fun to drive at low speed, partly due to its size, particularly its width, and its marginal visibility. It will be a total blast once you crank it up and can roll at some speed, but the opportunities for doing that here in the NE corridor are somewhat limited- the kinds of big, sweeping roads that this car was probably meant for are largely Hi-ways in the NE which are patrolled. The backroads are the more likely target, but again, with the kind of width you are toting behind you, it will be a bit unnerving to drive real twisties at high rates of speed- weren't you on that run we did behind West Point, when we got to the 1.5 lane section that clung to the side of the mountain?
The 550 is actually easier to drive, although truth be told, it is far softer, and (i never had one with a competition suspension package) a bit more body roll than you'd expect from a 2 seat ferrari.
My point: Murice is very glamorous, very cool car. Meant to zip from Paris to Italy in less time than it took the Germans to go the other way. But, it is not a car for all purposes, even all 'sporting' purposes.

 

Hey if worse comes to worse, get the beefed up Murci!
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NYC is such a tough town for a car guy...but so what, we won't be thwarted...unless you have your own track, NYC is what we got...the roads suck, our fellow drivers, bike messengers et al are all insane, and parking is non-existant....but so what..that is what we got. I think using the exotics in town, if you have the right attitude with it, adds a whole new element of challenge with the car. Just don't stress it too much...you could get something german and then be like every other guy in NYC. Buy what you want and drive it where you want and don't worry ... live your life, no one else's.

 

i echo ricardo's sentiment.....on the VT roadster. it looks stealth and spaceship-isque in black
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I hear ya Bill. I made a similar comment in response to Jim's post. Looking at it is one thing; driving it may be another.

 

One word Tom: HOT-T-T!

 

thanks.....

just called and left a message at your crib. you must be at work. i am heading out to the gym and get a couple centimeters off my fat a**.

will catch each other sometime b4 tis wk/end is over.

 

Unfortunately, at the office. Will give you a shout later today.

Best.

 

Vik - I got your PM.

I will ring you at the office

Rich

 

Yes, it's a dark silver color.