Altitude Dream Cars

I stumbled upon one unusual car over the weekend. Apparently, someone loves the look of a shark smiling and decided to make it into a car. I’m all for exotic, unusual and sexy lines, but this is down right ugly, in my opinion.

What did they name it? – VERITAS (I believe there’s a software package with the same name.) However, it’s Roman Mythology definition is “Truth” or was the name of the goddess of truth. Huh? This is a stupid name.

So, WHAT exactly is it? It’s a single seater sports car with no windshield and very, very ugly wheels. The front grill looks like a shark grinning. It supposedly only weighs like 1170kg, or 2,500 pounds. It also has an engine harvested from an M5 that’s been tweaked to over 600 horse power. This is insane for a car without traction control and NO safety features. So, in reality, it’s an “experimental” one-off car that should be controlled to drive.

Besides the fact that it’s ugly, I think the only reason it was made was to be novel. In todays world of craziness in car design and technology, it’s hard to set one model apart from another. It’s definately sets itself apart, but I really can’t see someone driving this thing around or even want to be seen driving this thing around.

If you love this monstrosity, then more power to you. If you’re the designer, it’s not hard to see how only YOU could love your ugly baby.

For many, seeing an exotic car is an experience that is considered pretty cool. Seeing an exotic car in every day situations, like around Denver Colorado or in Longmont, where I live, it’s really sweet. Why, mostly because it’s an opportunity to see a great looking car outside in the “real” world, not at a show room or at a car show. Seeing it at a gas station, on the freeway, at a mall, at your every day shop or hang out is even better. There are some that think seeing it sitting outside a fancy hotel and restaurant is nice, but these are still expected to some degree. Seeing a Ferrari sitting outside the local mall or a Gallardo at the Target is just about as cool as it gets. Why, because they’re being used, driven in every day situations and others get to appreciate the opportunity to see and enjoy the car.

If you love cars and see an exotic car sitting out in an every day location, appreciate it and enjoy the opportunity to have seen something so cool.  If you have a camera on your cell phone, and who doesn’t, take a picture, note the date and where it was, then upload it to a car spotting site like ExoticCarSpotter.com – if you take a photo at a car show,  it doesn’t count. If you just want to see some cars in everyday traffic and around your town, go check the site out, it’s chock full of great shots. The oddest is a Buggati Veyron at a WalMart in Wisconsin. That’s a 1.6 million dollar car at a WalMart. Go figure.

The truth about seeing an exotic car out in every day situations is, it makes them “real”. It’s usually real people that have the opportunity to drive the car, own the car and in most cases appreciate the car. If you approach someone who’s filling their Gallardo or Enzo tank, say hi and be courteous. If they’re jerks, ignore them. However, you may find that most owners like people to appreciate the car and are usually pretty friendly. I’ve driven a lot of cars, both that I’ve owned and that others have owned, but have had the privelege to drive and I’ve always been friendly when approached.

Next time you see a cool exotic car sitting at the local Conoco, ask the guy/gal about it and see what kind of response you get. You might be suprised and better yet, they might let you sit in it an take a picture. Then you can post it on a car spotter site.

Looking at the specs on this car will blow anyone away. At some point, I’m going to drive one of these and see for myself. The Ariel has been around for a few years and they’re building them better and faster. Right now, they look to be in their third generation of production and build them to each owners specs … and, yes, this thing can be driven on the street, legally, well except for your speed, that’s a different form of legality.

Overview Specs:
Weight – less than 1,400
HP – 245
0 to 60 – less than 3 seconds (That’s wicked fast)

Go find a local rental company and see if they have it available to drive. I know I am!

This is one sick car. As an owner of a Lotus and having had the privilege of driving a Gallardo in recent years, I have to say, this looks a little like a Gallardo and Exige slammed together. You be the judge, but either love it or hate it, you have to admit, it’s one sick exotic car that will be getting some attention.

If-or-when I come into my next “Million Dollar Windfall”, I’ll be looking at something like this for sure. Since the Gallardo is a favorite and of course owning a Lotus, it would be awesome to have something this exotic in the garage. I even like the yellow color. My wife of course would beg to differ as it’d get too much attention, but it is a great looking color. Orange, Green and/or black are more favorites this might look good sporting.

Saleen S5S Raptor

In the market for a new supercar? Peep the Saleen S5S Raptor ($185,000). Just unveiled at the New York Auto Show, the supercharged Raptor drinks E85 ethanol and delivers 650 horsepower, a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds, and a top speed of over 200 mph. Choose from a 6-speed manual or paddle shifting.

As soon as it’s for sale, look out!!!

Okay, this is pretty cool. I just got an email with the opportunity to drive the new Audi models July 31st through August 2nd AND you might want to watch some boat racing to boot. To participate, you have to go out to Lake Dillon up in Summit County. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday or Sunday. See you there.

BTW… I am not affiliated or know anyone at Prestige, I just thought this was cool. If interested, here’s the information:

Lotus Elise For Sale

Is it me, or is there just no where to sell a used exotic car? Early last year, I worked with a friend to try and sell his Gallardo. It was the worst experience I’ve ever had. We listed it just about everywhere online and all we got was wholesalers low-balling to make a quick buck. No one serious ever really called. We even got a bunch of douche bags sending in stupid comments, like “I’ll buy it for $1 since you’re probably rich and could car less” to, “… what a prick for selling such a beautiful car…”. It’s just like people who see you driving such a car. They either hate your or love you and only make the judgement based upon 30 seconds of seeing what you’re driving.

I mean, there just isn’t a decent place to list an exotic car any more. I’m not convinced that DuPont Registry is worth the money they ask, Autotrader is just too low-brow, and frankly, they’ve stopped listing them on their main site anyway. They now ask the seller to use their Classic Trader site. I mean, come on, who’s going to go to www.classictrader.com and look for a Lotus, Lamborghini or Ferrari? Total waste of time. Cars.Com is about the only national place to list an exotic that’s just listing a car. eBay is another lost cause. They charge you a fortune for a short period to list the car and it seems like it’s a last ditch effort, last resort place to sell a car. Selling an exotic is all about the right place at the right time. So, the listing has to be available for some time. There are a few “cheezy” site’s I’ve found, but honestly, they look like someone with gold chains, hairy chest and still living in the 80’s and early 90’s designed the site. Like a bad used car lot. No thanks to any of these guys.

Okay, I should get off my soap box, but it’s bugging me that there isn’t a decent listing site dedicated to exotic cars by owner. I’m just a guy, who owns a nice little exotic car who wants to sell it to someone who’s searching for a decent car.

2010 Evora

So, after seeing a Tesla in person and walking around the car, looking into the interior (Not much different than an Elise) it struck me that the over all look was kind of like the Evora. After reading everything I could about the Evora earlier in the year, I was convinced that it would be an awesome car when it’s relased for sale in 2010. I’ve been pouring over their site and studying the pictures, looking at the specs and while I really think it’s going to be a cool, slower version of the Elise, it just kept screaming, Tesla. I mean, the front end barely looked different. Not exactly the same, but so similar that that’s all I had in my head.

You be the judge. I just can’t keep thinking, Tesla, no matter how hard I try. As much as I love all things Lotus, I’m kind of having a hard time with the new Evora. The name was bad enough, now, the look is just too similar.

Unfortunately, it’s like that picture you have in your head of a particular person with a certain name, like Gretchen, or Gertrude. No matter what you do, every time you hear that name, it evokes something else. This is the same. Evora, Ebola, Tesla… I’m screwed on ever getting one now.