One Car Only

OK, I've got to call Mr. Carbon out on this one. This is one those threads where the OP mentions real-world considerations, and we get some dubious responses.

How do you get by for 5 years with only one vehicle that has no boot, can't negotiate parking ramps, depreciates $10,000 every 100 miles (or something like that), and which you really can't park anywhere other than a locked-down private garage?! How does an Enzo do in a traffic jam in 96-degree weather and rain?

There are lot of things I love about my 328 (which is plush and practical in comparison), but it struggles with a lot of the practical chores we do in our cars.

 

Curious why the Bentley Conti GT +/- speed edition doesn't make this rather long list? I mean Jaguar and Caddy make your long short list but Bentley doesn't. Confused...

 

Hondy Odyssey. Sorry, I have crap to carry and trips to take with the family, so the cars I would want would not work as my only car!

 

Cost no object?

Aston Martin DBS. No kids yet, so we'd get by with that fine. It's a handsome devil (although I might pass on the polished wheels).

If we're talking "Ferrari Only", then perhaps a black 599. Or a 575.
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How do you carry 4 adults, mountain bikes, ski stuff and take any long trips? BMW X5 but no one should just have one car- therefore 328

 

Audi S8!

 

Either

BMW X6 (TT V8)
Bentley Conti GT Speed
Rolls Royce Drophead or Phantom
Maser QP
2010 Camaro SS
Audi S8 or R8 (The R8 is strangely handy for everyday stuff)
Aston DB9 or AMV8 (or Rapide soon)

Any of those would make sense to me.

 

And they might be the same person...

 

MB CLS-500

 

Either an F430 or Maserati GT.

 

F50, black wheels, MS Racing exhaust.

 

I don't have kids or a wife; and I have little regard for practicality. I can appreciate you calling me out on this one - most people succumb to the "luxury" of practicality. But I lust for the perfect driving experience like no one else lusts for anything else in the world. So what if I scrape up the underside of my Enzo negotiating driveways...? Who cares if the cockpit is muggy when I'm sitting in traffic in the middle of the summer...? Driving - and the perfect driving experience - mean more to me than the overrated, lethargy inspired, modern-day creature comforts like air conditioning, not scraping your under body when you negotiate a driveway, and rear visibility. I know enough to know that I'm definitely in the minority on this one.

 

Yup, like Carbon, I am willing to sacrifice some of the considerations and practicalities--except a McLaren F1 is fairly practical (not talking about running costs). One car only would always mean a McLaren F1 for me. And it's not that bad--low overhangs mean it can negotiate ramps relatively easily, especially with teflon skid pads under the front. It has decent storage. It can accommodate a wife and a kid (or two mistresses!). It is tractable. There is an uprated cooling package for hot climates. The clutch can be babied to last a long time, but if it does go frequently, well, you just absorb the cost. I know it's expensive, but cost is relative--go look at boat or plane maintenance costs. Carrying bikes and snowboards would be problematic, but I would have McLaren engineer a solution: I can think of numerous ways of tackling this--or, there are folding bikes which could fit in the cockpit and i could simply rent snowboards. Driving in snow could be a challenge--so what, I hate snow and I would live somewhere where it doesn't snow--lots of beautiful places to choose from. Other than that, I can't really think of an occasion where I could not use a McLaren F1. If I end up with two kids, wife could drive them in her car (hopefully she would agree to it being an Aston Rapide).

If only I could, I would drive a McLaren F1 exclusively. Always.

 

Great statements!

 

Ascari A10




if it were a supercar,,,

for a everyday car either a Jag XKR, Audi RS4 or S5

 

That's what I'm talking about. You and I are one and the same, Jerry. I don't like snow or wet weather; I enjoy hot, dry climates. I don't care for snowboarding or biking - or anything else that won't fit in the tiny boot or passenger side of the Enzo. If it doesn't fit, I don't need it. I don't need groceries for more than a week at a time anyway.

 

Would you put a trailer hitch on your Enzo? I would on the McLaren. It has a steel subframe that the engine is mounted to. Ideal for welding brackets on to! The real grill would have to be modified, and the clutch would be a little unhappy. But, hey ho. Small boats or dirtbikes/sportbikes could then be hauled around. Every other sport I like (soccer, running, martial arts), etc., I don't need to carry a lot of stuff for. Who needs a wagon!

 

Porsche Cayenne Turbo, which is what I am strongly considering for one of two daily drivers in real life.

 

My current stable rounds out like this:

Big, comfy reasonably fast cruiser for getting around: BMW 750 Li;
Small, fast and fun daily driver with reasonable interior space: BMW E92 M3;
Second daily driver for when I need a pickup truck: Nissan Titan;
SUV: BMW X5;
Italian thrill machine: 2007 F430.

If I have to choose one and only one to LIVE with? It'd be the truck. It's got four doors and tons of room. Can carry anything in the back. Maneuvers quite well in tight spots. Has a kick a$$ stereo, nav, four wheel drive and leather interior. OK, it won't break 8 minutes on the Ring and after fives years I'd really be missing that screaming V8 behind me. But there is no way I'd leave my F car in the ATL airport parking lot for a week.

It's also true that when you own a pickup truck, everybody wants to borrow it at some time or another.

 

My Audi RS4 (with a tubi).

Genuine manual 6-speed, plenty of power, room for the family, AWD for crappy weather, track ready out of the box, holds a bike in the back, sounds fantastic.

 

Saleen S7. Lambo Contach. 427 Shelby Cobra. 69 Chevy Camaro. I could go on...

 

Definitely not - but only because I'm not interested in hindering my performance, and I have no interest in anything that involves a trailer.

 

i would love to hear that car

 

Ariel Atom 300 in orange with aero kit all 'round. Black powder coated frame, and carbon fiber fenders.


It might look a little like this, minus the aero kit.
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