Could YOU Be Happy Driving a SuperCar As Your Daily Driver? Jeremy Clarkson Doesn't Think so.

Right, but thats why people with supercars almost always have other cars!

I purchased my R8 for over $200,000 CAD with premium included and I drive it 3 days out of the week. It's not you view things really. The way I see it a car is meant to be driven. If you can't afford to maintain or repair an expensive car then don't buy it. Otherwise it's just a dust collector in your garage that you will only show your friends once and they'll forget about it. I drive my R8 everywhere when I do take it for a spin even the track. My LS is the car of my choice on a daily basis and my S is my evening car. That's how I find time for each of them. But I disagree with Jeremy Clarkson on this topic. I see many 911 Turbo drivers out and about as well as Ferrari F430's. I bought my cars for a reason, a form of transportation first and foremost, pleasure is followed closely behind as second and lastly because I like the way it looks.

thats why u buy a used 300ZX and modify it to beat expensive cars on the road. my 300zx can smoke ur r8 anyday. 0-60 3.9 quickest recorded time!!! beat that. its economical and good looking as well n why get a lexus or a benz??? buy a used infiniti q45 and a m45 and ur set to go in better style. machine gun headlights on the 45 n the slowly aging looks of the m45 but still outstyles your s anyday. boo ya

Dude stop hating on the guy. You are just jealous you can't afford any of those cars he has. If I wanted to save money and still go fast I would buy a GTR or a 370Z not an old broken down 300ZX.

I understand, I try to drive my Porsche whenever I get a chance to, going to work, everywhere, but I still need my Audi as a utility car.

Just to get it clear, my post is not to say one way or another. It is just saying that people who could afford supercars usually has more than one car anyway, so it rarely is used as a daily driver...

Yep fair enough.

1990300zxTT:

I am a very humble guy and not even close to being cocky but I would never cross shop a 300ZX or 370Z with an R8 even if it was quicker. The Nissan GT-R would be a nice kit to pound up and down the highways for sure it's an adrenaline rush. But of course I was prepared to fork out that much money for an R8 that's why I didn't look at a GT-R, 997 TT or even a GT2. I like how it looks and I like the sound of a potent V8. I'm more concerned of it putting a smile to my face than the 0-60 times.

And I think the R8 is a more well balanced car than the GT-R. It has luxury, performance, and image of a "night out in town" type of car, whereas the GT-R, while the performance is undeniable, the luxury and the image of "prestige" or "snobby-ness" is perhaps lacking a bit.

I guess this all lies in line with what you believe is a supercar. For example if you hold a slr mclaren as a supercar, then that would be plush enough and have enough manners around town to get you by. Or if you think the zr1 is a supercar, that thing is bullet proof enough to allow you to use it as a daily driver and not cost you a couple grand in repair and maintenance costs every month.

I agree with that, it depends which supercar, because some I just dont see myself driving everyday but typically those that can afford those cars me not being one that can afford a car thats as much as a mortgage, Im sure dont drive them as daily drivers and they really werent desighned to be anyway.

Its just not practical if you live in a big city. Taking it out for a cruise,dinner or bar at night is ok if you can park it in front,but you cant take these things to the movies, shopping or on a fishing trip. This especially applies for people that live in big cities where most of these cars reside.

There are really two supercars on sale now that were designed for daily driving. The Porsche 911 Turbo and the Corvette ZR-1. If you include cars past, I would add the Acura NSX to that list. These are as easy to drive as a Jetta, a Cobalt, or a Civic. Turn on the heat though and the civility will disappear in a flash. The way you want it. My choice is the 'Vette of course. Good value for money and it would be marginally easier to drive at speed than a 911 would be. Fancy traction control aside, rear mass bias is still a black art trying to tame. In short, I think I could live very well with this supercar.

I think I also need to comment on the article. Jeremy Clarkson is perhaps the finest autmotive journalist alive. Autocar's Andrew Frankel is a close second. The way these guys manipulate the English language is an art. Without sounding downright snobbish they paint pictures in your mind and when they are done speaking you find yourself wide eyed and slack-jawed shouting "that's true!". And you invariably you follow that with a smile and a chuckle. I urge all who read the article to read it again. But this time open another window or tab in the browser, go to YouTube and find Brian Eno's "An Ending" and let it play as you read the second paragraph of the second page onwards. It struck a note with me that is...for want of a better word...right. Try it and you will understand.

R8 is very practical. It was designed as a daily driver as well.

What about the GT-R? It is both a pussycat and a fercious lion and can be driven "anywhere, anytime and by anybody"!
I drive mine to the drug store, supermarket and mall as well ON Bob Bondurant's Track. It is equally at home all of them.

just a side note, ive been driving bmw's for the last 6 years, they are obviously not supercars. i had an m3 for a couple of years and never had any problems.
im thinking about getting a 2009 porsche cayman S, but im kinda worried if the car will be reliable as a daily driver ? any of you guys know if its any good for 12,000 miles a year ? or will i be in the shop every month ?

Agent 63 - Glad you see the R8 as a supercar, but you're dreaming. It is a beautiful, comfortable sports car with some degree of exclusivity, but a supercar, get real.

YES.


Gimme a 458 Italia and I'll have trouble NOT driving it everywhere.

yes, its good, or yes, ill be in the shop every month ?

What? The Porsche Cayman S is one of the most reliable cars out there (sports cars or not). You will not have to take the car into the shop unless its for an oil change (and the first one is at 12,000 miles). Go test drive one, and I'll bet you'll come home with it. It's a good purchase. You will sleep well at night. Unless you keep waking up to take a peek at the beautiful Porsche Cayman S every hour on the hour.

I was with you all the till CUV.

I am pretty sure I could be happy with a GT-R as my daily driver.

Out of all the Cars I've driven for the company I work for my favorite Car for its practicality was the Porsche Panamera. I got to drive the 140,000£ Hamann Panamera with 700BHP and it has 5 seats, AWD, and can do 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, and 0-100 in 6.8. And yes you can buy a crappy little car and spend 10,000 quid or so on it and have it keep up with a supercar but no one wil care. Supercars are for their looks and pure ecstasy. They are made to make someone go "Bloody hell that's a nice car." Not go "bloody hell, that Car's loud and annoying." And besides all those little wanker wannabe Cars are only good in a straight line, just like the 1000hp+ muscle Cars.