The Aston Martin Rapide is somewhat of a conundrum. What exactly is it? Since it is an Aston Martin if you’ve never seen one you likely suspect it should be a cool car. If you’ve never witnessed one in person but have seen their more noted DB model you are probably thinking it’s got to be good looking. It’s British heritage and secret agent affiliation (James Bond 007) also comes to mind and last but certainly not least it’s “exotic”. I am of the belief that they aren’t exotic enough despite their beauty but if you define “exotic” based on limited production numbers, sexiness and priced in the stratosphere an Aston certainly qualifies. Many refer to its understated elegance and they aren’t wrong.
Lamborghini is a luxury Italian brand mostly known for the exotic supercars they’ve been building since the sixties to compete with the likes of Ferrari and most recently Porsche. Their design language is unique with sharp and angular design queues and today the entry level Lamborghini model is the Huracan and has an MSRP of $199,800.00. At this point you might be wondering if you clicked on the wrong article as it is entitled “The Affordable Lamborghini” but have no fear you are in the right place.
But before you think you are going to have a chance to get one of these exotics with Honda money don’t be fooled, as it’s still a car out of reach for the average Joe and you are likely going to have to “pony up” close to six figures and easily exceed that. I probably lost a few readers with that real fact but if you are still with me here are some to consider.
In todays ever changing automotive world there seems to be a new model entry almost every year. However, there are still a handful of cars that have never wavered and have stayed true to their heritage since inception. It can be argued that the Porsche 911 is the most iconic of them all as for more than fifty years it has stayed true to its mission and form.
Now that you've decided you have the financial wherewithal to pursue a weekend fun toy, now what do you do? Well for starters you are in the right place.
Porsche is synonymous with high performance and their 911 sports cars are the vehicles most associated with the Porsche brand even today as they now build sedans, SUVs and crossover vehicles. So it should come as no surprise that one of the most desirable cars amongst men and boys is a 911.
A vehicle’s design can be hit or miss at launch and that fact is usually reflected in how well it sells upon introduction. If they fly out of the showroom and get rave reviews from enthusiasts victory is claimed and a feeding frenzy begins resulting in long waiting lists before thousands of dollars are spent to own one. Over time some age gracefully and others won’t and what you initially paid won’t matter. In other words, supercars that are bought with a king’s ransom can suffer the same fate as the domestic or import economy boxes that are bought on a shoestring budget.
The glut of inventory for luxury vehicles from prestige brands has made owning a luxury vehicle more affordable than ever if you consider buying pre-owned. Whether you are buying near new or something older that is a certified pre-owned vehicle there isn’t an argument based in good logic to buy new.
Porsche is one of the most iconic performance brands in the World and until recently the main vehicle associated with their global status was the legendary 911 two-seat sports cars that is regularly featured here. A lot has changed since that car was introduced over 50 years ago as Porsche launched an SUV in 2004 then six years later launched their first sedan, the Panamera.
Those not familiar with the i8 you should know it looks like one of those Italian exotics named Ferrari or Lamborghini but this one is from Germany and not quite as finicky to live with. However, it’s not without it’s quirk as this is a hybrid. That’s still a relatively new concept by definition and certainly even newer in the sports car category.
