Quick Saloons(Speedy Grocery Getters)

     I was in a discussion about modern sports cars and my friend, John, is a technician for a luxury Japanese brand and he felt the LFA was a wonderful vehicle but over priced. He went on to voice his opinion about the highly anticipated Acura NSX. The thought being, they better come with maximum horsepower and efficiency. Ferrari and McLaren have entered the hybrid arena with great offerings. The new McLaren P1 is outrageously fast and efficient and, in my opinion, one of the most esthetically pleasing vehicles to go into production since the original Ferrari Dino.

McLaren P1

This car pulls the passion out of you and puts it into the ignition. I had the pleasure of seeing the McLaren MP4-12C up close and personal. Simply amazing but, until that point, I always thought these vehicles were ridiculously over priced but the tech and the craftsmanship that goes into them, Wow! Value is assessed by supply and demand, the P1 will be expensive because the demand will remain high and the supply will be remain low due to the quality aspect of the build. Perfection takes time. The P1 is a rear-wheel drive, mid-engine design that uses a carbon fiber monocoque, which is fancy talk for, light, fast and expensive. But expense is relative to income and lifestyle and if you have the means, you would be an idiot not to own a P1. There are many more sports cars also worthy of ownership but what if you have a family?

BMW M5

     For me, I need something powerful and awe inspiring, yet with four doors. What then? I could go with the Porsche Panamera it is available in many configurations and has plenty of room for a family. But I always thought is was an ugly car. I can't get past the hatch back thing.



Aston Martin Rapide

Audi S8

 Or maybe a BMW M5, also fast and similarly priced to the Porsche, a great euro-muscle car with four doors. But the truly discerning drivers will agree, Aston Martin Rapide or Maserati Quattroporte. When at those price points, why mess around, these are the best of the best. The Rapide has a V12 engine which produces 550hp and has a top speed of 190 mph with acceleration from 0 to 60 in well under 5 seconds. The Quattroporte features new Ferrari-built 3.8LV8 producing 523hp with an eight speed automatic transmission. The US market also gets and all wheel drive V6. Those are a couple of fast grocery getters.
The Audi S8 is also a great choice at a lower price point, but I could go on and on, and you probably have a few I didn't think of but consider the "bang for the buck". Here in the States you can't drive but so fast, no Autobahn, so it would be nice to have lots of power but annoying to only be able to "hit" it every once and a while, but if the family is with you most of the time then that is all you will have. Once and a while. Enjoy life, be safe and "mash the gas".