First rule of new-performance-car ownership: DRIVE IT! I know too many people buy cars like this and essentially bubble wrap them. What are you saving it for? A rainy day?..
Our long-term Ford GT just turned over 11,000 miles after 27 months in service. For the math challenged (that would be me), this translates to an average of just over 400 miles a month, or 100 miles a week. Yes, this one gets driven.
I think about all those guys who bought Hemi 'Cudas and ZL1 Camaros and Boss 429 Mustangs back in the day. With rare exception, those guys drove the snot out of those muscle cars before the ink had dried on the sales contract. Many were destroyed or parted out, but eventually the market decided they were six-figure cars and any survivors got restored -- and bubble wrapped. In other words, only the original owers ever truly enjoyed those cars. For everyone else, including the current owners, they've been transformed into musuem displays.
Well, I thinks it's nuts to bubble wrap a Ford GT for thirty years, only to wake up one day and realize it's so valuable it needs to be bubble wrapped forever more. This one will be enjoyed as it was meant to be enjoyed, just like those original muscle cars.
Rotissery restorations and bubble wrap are banned for at least the next 20 years -- maybe forever.
Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief, Edmunds.com @ 11,000 miles
0mega says:
10:12 PM, 11/ 2/07
Thank you so much, I agree entirely. I plan on getting a hold of a 1970's firebird and driving it constantly, regardless of collector status. its just like keeping action figure in packages, what the heck is the point?
hondacura4 says:
08:30 AM, 11/ 3/07
I know of a Canadian (plastic surgeon) who bought a horse farm behind my grandmothers property. He has a Ferarri 360 Spider that he drives DAILY. The best part is I get to hear that Ferrari blat just about everytime I visit her as his driveway is about a mile long.
I can only imagine the maintenece costs but the sound alone is worth it. Nothing like it!
brian55 says:
11:36 AM, 11/ 4/07
You've got be kidding! You've had the Ford GT for 27 months & have only driven it 11,000 miles, 100 miles a week. Why, what's the catch? Does Edmunds have some kind of special agreement with Ford that limits the mileage? Or, has Edmunds placed restrictions on the vehicle to keep down the operating costs?
editor_karl says:
09:00 PM, 11/ 4/07
How many miles have you driven your exotic?
opfreak says:
07:09 AM, 11/ 5/07
brian55
thats actually alot of driving for an exotic. I doubt many people use this car daily.. which is where most cars rack up their millage.
I would geuss the GT gets way more weekend use. So its more like 100 mile weekends... And from reading lots of long term threads... some people dont drive some cars... This tuned GT is probably one of them.
stingray454 says:
03:12 PM, 11/ 5/07
I agree - there's really no point in buying a performance car and not driving it. I drive my '02 Z06 about 6,500 miles per year since it was new. With the exception of the cost of tires ($1,200 every 19k miles), the car has actually been economical to operate. I consistently average 25 MPG, and maintenance has been just oil and filter changes, with no repairs. Even the oil changes are relatively low maintenance with 8,500 miles between changes using Mobil 1 and the car's oil life monitor. I drive it hard wherever I can (i.e. no cops around - I value my license more than I value my cars). I take it to SCCA autocrosses, and the occassional track day, where the car offers about as much fun as you can have with your pants on.
I drive the car to work everyday the weather is nice. While it is a bit of a "waste" of the car to just drive it for commuting purposes (like taxiing an F-16 around instead of flying it), it still is a lot of fun even in commute mode, and there are certain parts of my commute where I can have some fun with it, and it makes it all the worthwhile. Certainly a much more fun commute than leaving the car in the garage and driving something else to work.