Top Gear reflections: "Budget" supercars...
Tonights Top Gear saw an interesting comparison.
Im not referring to the 12C/458. Thats been done far too many times. They offer essentially the same package either minus the performance (in the Ferraris case) or minus the passion (12C). No, the real interesting point made here was with the presence of the R8. A £70,000 difference and yet i'm asking myself whether the R8 is £70,000 less car. Initial conclusions are a resounding no.
Furthermore, when considering the term "budget supercar", I can't help but think that the Italian and the Brit are exactly the opposite. Nissans GTR, the R8, the 991 GT3/Turbo and even Corvettes/Vipers seem more at home under such a moniker. Realistically speaking though, if I personally were seriously in the market, on a budget, for something more special than your average runaround or motorway exec box i'd be looking nowhere near that kind of price range. Understated and economical are two things those cars are designed exactly not to do. The new generation Boxster/Cayman seem to offer budget top drawer drivers car credentials with a dash of mid engined substance coupled with handsome yet understated looks that in most cases would barely warrant a double take. If thats not your thing theres a world of other far higher than average working money machinery out there worth a look. Theres a legion of German scunkworks out there happy to inject steroids should the business box have some sort of appeal.
The term "Budget supercar" is a bit of a juxtaposition really. I am well aware that most scripting on Top Gear is a comedic facade for an excuse to run three beasts in the interests of good television, but the subject got me thinking. Something special, but not right out there, and not tantamount to a kneecapping for the bank manager...
What would you go for....?
Im not referring to the 12C/458. Thats been done far too many times. They offer essentially the same package either minus the performance (in the Ferraris case) or minus the passion (12C). No, the real interesting point made here was with the presence of the R8. A £70,000 difference and yet i'm asking myself whether the R8 is £70,000 less car. Initial conclusions are a resounding no.
Furthermore, when considering the term "budget supercar", I can't help but think that the Italian and the Brit are exactly the opposite. Nissans GTR, the R8, the 991 GT3/Turbo and even Corvettes/Vipers seem more at home under such a moniker. Realistically speaking though, if I personally were seriously in the market, on a budget, for something more special than your average runaround or motorway exec box i'd be looking nowhere near that kind of price range. Understated and economical are two things those cars are designed exactly not to do. The new generation Boxster/Cayman seem to offer budget top drawer drivers car credentials with a dash of mid engined substance coupled with handsome yet understated looks that in most cases would barely warrant a double take. If thats not your thing theres a world of other far higher than average working money machinery out there worth a look. Theres a legion of German scunkworks out there happy to inject steroids should the business box have some sort of appeal.
The term "Budget supercar" is a bit of a juxtaposition really. I am well aware that most scripting on Top Gear is a comedic facade for an excuse to run three beasts in the interests of good television, but the subject got me thinking. Something special, but not right out there, and not tantamount to a kneecapping for the bank manager...
What would you go for....?
would the sls roadster not have been a better comparison?..
ReplyDelete180 thousand doesn't sound very budget to me. But certainly more appropriate than the Mclaren or Ferrari for inconspicuousness. M6 and SL63 are more desirable to me than the 458 for sure... and 100 grand less.
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