So while playing Forza tonight I start to see compare some of the cars based on performance index. I can mod my S15 to outperform a Ferrari 360 for few grand and of course since its video game world none of the cars break down or require maintainence/etc.

Now the real world.. Where you can buy something "reasonable" like a GTR or Z06 for 80K vs 200K+ for a Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc.

What's the deal with exotics? My neighbor used to love Lamborghinis and had 2-3 Countachs in his garage at any given time. I used to help him wrench on them once in a while, even as far as pulling a 6 carb'd V12 from an early 80s Euro spec Countach. Absolutely some of the coolest cars out there.. but worth it?

As I browse Ebay I rarely see any exotics with over 30K miles. The ones that are in the 40-50K mile range look ragged (even though most are still backed by an extensive and expensive service history), and its pretty evident the Italian beautys have a very short useful shelf life. Some examples - convertible top motors not working, extensive paint issues, "melting" plastic interior piece, leather shrinking, seats that look like they're 50 years old due to cracks, stains, etc... they just don't hold up.

Yet these are the cars built to do 180+MPH? I don't know how comfortable I'd be. I honestly think I'd feel safer in a "tuner car" at high speeds (assuming "qaulity" parts were used to get there) than in a "purpose built" exotic like a Ferrari.

Now it was assumed Lamborghini's quality would improve massivly since Audi's takeover, and it has, but then you see all the issues buyers are having with their Murcielagos and Gallardos - all under 10K Miles - and it makes you rethink the exotic game.

What's ya'll take on this? Discuss:

 

Exotics typically have a low(er) development budget, low volume production = low(er) engineered parts, and cost a lot of money for what you get. To those that value prestige, uniqueness, and 'cool' factor, exotics are cool, but be prepared to pay.

There is no way to justify an exotic purchase from any sort of value perspective. The one that comes closest is Ferrari and that is because demand is high and volume is low allowing used Ferraris (especially the newer ones) to retain good residual values.

 

While they're not quite exotic, Porsches are the next best thing IMO and they last forever. Something like 75% of Porsches ever sold are still registered on the road, and 200K mile examples aren't uncommon.

I suspect many exotics will go longer, but the maintenance gets prohibitively expensive as miles pile on, and many owners decide they're rather let someone else inherit the future headaches.

 

If you can't afford one you simply will never understand.

 

no thanx.

 

Countach interior.

 

lol, I KNEW someone was gonna post the interior of one of those old lambos. Biggest mismatch between exterior and interior ever. A lot of those 80 cars were like that - I want to say the Esprit was almost as bad...

 

[QUOTE=Elistan,Mar 6 2008, 08:09 PM]Countach interior.

 

[QUOTE=Elistan,Mar 6 2008, 09:09 PM]Countach interior.

 

I think it was James May on Top Gear who had a segment on the Countach, because it was his dream car back when they were being made. So he drove one for the segment - and realized the car was utter rubbish. YMMV.

Here's a REAL supercar interior.



A couple quality Exotic interiors: