What Is Supercar Ownership All About? 30 Jan 2021

If you presented the facts and figures regarding the price, performance and maintenance of your average supercar to someone who simply isn't interested in cars, i'm quite confident they would look at you as if you were mad. Because lets face it - there is nothing rational, logical or reasonable about any figure associated with a supercar.

0-60 in how long? Why? 12mpg - what? 2 seats? How much for a set of tyres?! Why would you want to go that fast?! Your insurance is how much?! “You can get a Ford Focus that will do the job just fine”.

I believe talking to a true petrol head is like talking with an art collector or a connoisseur of fashion, fine wine or horology. You could get a Jackson Pollock poster for a tenner, or a coat 'just like' that Dior one for a snip at M&S, and the local supermarket has 2-for-1 on a nice bottle of plonk and (my pet hate) I tell the time on my phone just fine...(shudder) But this isn't the point is it. It's far more emotional, less tangible and aligned with a lifestyle and a deep passion for the subject rather than pure consumerism.

Watches, like cars, reach a certain pedigree where it is no longer about telling the time or completing the daily commute

In fact, of all the above analogies - I find cars and watches to be the most relatable. The ownership of each is often closely aligned with a lifestyle and passion rather than just the item itself. Watches, like cars, reach a certain pedigree where it is no longer about telling the time or completing the daily commute - it is about a deeper level of appreciation for something more.

On the one hand (or wrist) it's about the engineering, the art, the design, emotion and quality, and each is almost always thoroughly steeped in inspiring history of both success and struggle and landmark innovation. In the case of supercars, it's the sort of struggle that creates legendary stories (Enzo, Ford, Senna, Moss, Fangio) and a level of innovation that has improved the world.

On the other hand, it's about indulging in the intangible, inexplicable and the seemingly pointless. What I mean by this is - a petrolhead won’t drive to a particular destination, they will go nowhere, just for the enjoyment of the drive. Just as a true aficionado of horology wears a watch, but not for the sole purpose of telling the time. It is a discerning indulgence into something more, something greater than the sum of its parts. 

Much like fashion and art, to surround yourself with such things is to indulge in your passions, satisfy your inquisitions and further your identity. Right now, the incredulous amongst us will be thinking that this is all a load of nonsense; purely a display of wealth and a reach for attention. However, I imagine the people thinking that also have passions of their own and almost certainly have an interest that they would wish to fully immerse themselves in, should they be presented with the opportunity.

A unique aspect of supercar ownership is what is simply known as "The Road Trip". What I mentioned earlier about driving, simply for the pleasure of driving, is elevated to an entirely different echelon when you put an exciting car on a beautiful road, together with a great set of friends and like-minded enthusiasts in similarly exotic cars.

This topic in itself deserves an entire blog dedicated to the fusion of adventure and automobiles. The camaraderie is something to behold; the memories made are lifelong. What’s more, the discovery of country and culture are enhanced as your senses are wrung out to 11, thanks to being strapped into a visceral machine of high-octane emotion.

So what is Supercar ownership all about? To a degree it will differ from owner to owner, but I'm confident in saying that for one reason or another, for all of us, it has become a lifestyle of passion and thrills. It’s something that has enriched my life by an immeasurable amount thanks to the like-minded people I have met along the way - and this is the key point…

Life is all about the people you meet along the way. Whatever your passions are, when you indulge in them beyond simple ownership you meet great people, make life-long friends and - in this instance - your supercar will quite literally take you on journeys you never thought possible.