Fascinating article in this month's "evo" (performance car magazine from the UK, issue 102, http://www.evo.co.uk/). The P1 club is an annual-membership deal where for some serious money (it was I believe around $20k per year minimum) you get rights to drive any of their stable of exotic cars for an allotted number of days per year. If memory serves me, it was started by ex-F1 champ Damon Hill. Anyway, over the years they have gathered some fascinating statistics on the running costs of high-end machinery in the hands of those who don't feel obliged to cosset the cars in question. What stood out for me was even when covered under manufacturer's warranty, running costs in total for stuff like tyres, brake pads, clutches etc. averaged 10k pounds (~$20k USA) per annum for some of the worst offenders. Ouch. Here's one example they quote: P1's first two Lamborghini Gallardos averaged 5 clutches *each* over their first 7,000 miles. Not sure what price a clutch job on that car, but for their Murcielago clutches cost approx $12,000 "plus fitting". You do the maths. Total servicing costs for the Murcielago in '06 was an astounding 37,391 GBP. To be fair, they are at pains to point out that Gallardo quality has ".. improved remarkably recently, and the e-gear 'box seems to prolong clutch life". Even so. I was therefore relieved to note that Porsche running costs are remarkably low! (Though the minimal mileage I put on my 911 then it's really been no issue at all for me over the past 5 years.) Oh, and Bobby, this picture is for you! Only $2.5m by our maths, right?
2 comments:
the minivan seems like a real deal in comparison ;)
Now there speaks a man who also has an S4 in the driveway!
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