Why Pick an High-Priced Exotic over a GT-R?

I put it this way, Sure a Nissan can do the same thing, but its something about a love, can u explain love? I cant, Its knowing the breed, knowing that that manufacturer is ALL about performance cars, its in there blood. Its almost like.. you can buy a wooden table from Ikea but at the same time you can have a craftsman build you a table... you have them both look the same but something is different about the one the craftsman made, and your willing to pay for it. Joe Nutter Plymouth MA

 

Wow, this is really, great, again, thanks.

The point over the Reventon is an excellent example of exclusivity indeed.. 1.2mil for about 10 more horsepower and a carbon fiber body/interior over an LP640 is indeed the best example of all of this.

Also, I think Bullfighter makes a valid point in that all this extra go/ability of higher-end car is, essentially, useless, unless being tracked. Thus, the heritage, style, and other more subjective points of value are more important. To be honest, the almost industrial-art style GT-R body doesn't hold a candle to any given Ferrari because, in my opinion, it lacks the passion of an artisan designer, its essentially a function-over-form design, while Ferraris, Lambos, Aston Martins (to a lesser extent), Pagani, etc are an artful balance of function and form. Am I right or wrong here?

 

"...It's not how fast you go....it's how you go fast..."
-E.F.

 

I saw a GTR up close today on a rally and its nice and fast

but Murcielago's and 430s are SOOO much sexier

Also look at the interior on an MB SLR, its gorgeous w carbon fiber & leather etc. The GTR interior is ok but it looks a little better than average compared to a supercar

Lambos, Ferraris, Astons are also about exclusivity which you just cant get w a Nissan

I love my Z06 and I was blowing past just about every Lambo & Ferrari on the rally but her interior is very tupperware

Something I will deal w soon w some tasty carbon fiber and alcantara etc

 

"I agree with the 246 GT choice, but the larger point is that the performance on all these cars has passed the threshold of usefulness. The speed limit on most of our surface streets around here is 45 mph. On the Interstates, it's 65 mph. While you do have some leeway with those, the truth is that 0-60 in 4 seconds and >1.0g in the corners isn't all that relevant unless you track your car. For driving on public roads, I consider a car's looks, rarity, and how it makes me feel at sane speeds."

OK, as a past Ferrari 360 owner and a current NSX owner here are my thoughts. I had an NSX before I bought the Ferrari, then bought the Ferrari, sold it, and got another NSX. You ask why? Well, although the Ferrari 360 was awesome, it was just too fast to drive on the street for me, never got above 4th gear, and in reality the 360 is not really a rare car unless you get the CS. For me, the NSX (2002-2005) with the fixed headlights and targa roof is the car to have as Acura only made 877 of these last gen NSX. Just enough power, low production, can drive it everyday (in FL), and it is exclusive/exotic ( I got mine in yellow--best color). The design is timeless and never gets old-- just my opinion. Will I have another Ferrari someday, probably--308 GTS, or maybe a 355GTS--but for now the NSX satisfies my exotic sweet tooth.

 

Most of the exotics including porches are enjoyalble at all speeds. They have a tactile feel and talk to you as you drive, kinda like a motorcycle, that the off the rack cars do not have. While say an M3 makes the numbers as does a vtte the driving enjoyment only comes at 9 or 10/10ths which is as many have said unusable on the street. A ferrai can be fun taking a tight bend at 30.

Also ferraris and porches are trackable. Many people today execise their high performance cars at club track events. Without modification a ferrari can be driven to the track driven fairly hard and driven home again. The sensory experince at the track is huge from the engine noise to steering feel to the overall directness of the car. A vette is arguably better at the track but its steering is hardle talkative, kinda like a big axe as oposed to a scalpel.

Some people like the so called prestige, to me this is a negative. But styling and Sound are appealing, walls can be paintyd with a roller. the designm of many exotics, well its automotive art, and most peoplke like beautiful things.

So exotics have appeal because they have usable performanec in terms of their tactile interactive quality on the street and track, they are beautiful, and have an appeal(like a rolex) due to their complexity and impracticality. On the negative side there is social stigma, many buy for this reason alone others see this as a turn off.

Against which the GTR has raw numbers, is heavy by comparrsion lacks tactile feel and sound, its styling is hey look at me without beauty. But it is a nissan so there is little embarrasment in saying you drive a Nissan wheras therse days given the type of driver most have saying you have a Ferrari lambo Porche pretty much labels you a tasteless showoff.

 

Different cars different purposes. I want to meet the man who throws his LP640 around and doesn't care if it gets a scratch or two. Or the guy who takes his LP640 to a track and pushes it 8/10 like a GT-R driver would do.


People want exclusivity, something that looks and feels different, one who can get a GT-R will dream of a the LP640-league like the one who can get a 360 Modena will dream of better Ferrari models, people want heritage and people want to show that they can... Hundreds of reasons.


My reason would be a car I could drive fast without being constant afraid of the car acting twitchy at the limit (911/ pre-F430 Ferrari's) and having a car I could fly under the radar with. And how fun would it be to give a guy with 200.000 $ Ferrari a run for his money?

 

For you "it's just a Nissan" people I really feel sorry for you because you guys are missing a LOT of fun this world has to offer.


Edit; AFAIK in GB supercar owners order Subaru WRX STi Litchfield's (approx. 500 hp beefed up STi's which go 0-60 mph in 3,8 seconds) as their daily drivers. My point is, many of the supercar owners will get a GT-R and you shouldn't overlook that a GT-R owner also might have a Lamborghini/Ferrari/911 next to it. Hundreds of NSX owners have Porsches and Ferraris next to their car (where the NSX often is the "daily"). Again the Subaru/Nissan/Porsche would be something you could driver every day whereas a Lamborghini will most likely be used two-three times a week...

 

Its the difference between fine wine and beer. A beer you just pull the tab and drink, both get you smashed. A good wine you uncork contemplate and savor. Same with a ferrari.

One thing the Nissan is at least "hey look at me" as a ferrari. Also the driving everyday is not the point. Its like motocycles a hard focussed bike like a fireblade is a pain everyday, but on the right road it is nirvana. Same with a ferrari. The Nissan to be everyday aceesable losses out in tactile feel and is heavy.

Myself I am getting one as a driver, but to wake me up at 7am on a sunday to really just enjoy the pleasure and art of driving I'll take my boxer every time.

 

Id put that nissan in the same leauge as the Z06 and SRT-10, Gallardo, F430, 911 turbo. its not quite a super exotic but its going to be a rare car non the less. I can't wait to have one myself.

 

So the Nissan is pretty much in the same category as a "wine in a box" then. It isn't as good as a "Fine bottled wine" but better than a beer in a can to say the least!

 

Wine in a box would be your ferrari 612, missing the point with all the right ingredients.

There is many a good beer, ultimatly it gets you the same drunk, just compared to wine its instantly acessable and not really an experience to savour,same performance different effect.

 

To the OP question, I have some random observations (previous Ferrari owner X 3 for 6 years, current Porsche owner). These are all Ferrari owners I know (or have known), and all obviously could have owned a Z06.

Gearheads--owners who love cars, and Ferrari is their current passion. They may have owned, concurrent own, or will own a muscle car, a hybrid, a street rod, a track car. They may move on to something else, and may come back to the fold again. They likely do some of their own automotive work.

Poster Kids (aka Dreamers)--owners that had a poster of the Magnum 308, or the Miami Vice fake Daytona, or whatever and have always dreamed of owning a Ferrari and are enjoying their dream.

The Best--owners who have the means to own "the best" sports car, and have heard/read/believe that an Italian exotic represents the best.

Scary Rich--owners that have financial resources deep enough that their Ferrari is like most folks Toyota. They do not car at all about relative value.

Posers--owners who want attention based on the car they drive (or they judge the self-worth of people based on the car they drive) and an Italian exotic fits the bill.

Profiteers--owners, who in the past, could buy a Ferrari at sticker because they were well connected with their local dealer, drive it for a year or two, and sell it for what they paid for it (or more). They could drive a nice car for potentially nothing more that insurance and gas. They could also be called "Smart Cookies".

Identity Seakers--owners that are looking to hang their hat on a strong brand identity.

Racing Respectors (or History Respectors)--owners that want their car to come from a marque that has a rich racing or historical heritage (of course Alfa and Chevy might fit the bill as well).

There are probably many others that I am not thinking of, and most owners are blends of the above.

Cheers--Scott