What your supercar says about you

Whenever bystanders see a supercar a stereotype is often implanted into their brain on the owner’s personality, where they live, what they do – and how they came to be driving such an automotive work of art. We are here to dispel the stereotypes… and maybe create new ones!

Owning a Lamborghini Aventador says a lot about its owner – essentially you want to show off and flex that you have one of the biggest V12s on the market. This means you probably crave attention but also appreciate fine craftsmanship and Italian design. Every time you open the scissor doors it’s like a portal to another world opens, an exclusive world only the owner of several dental practices can afford. Or perhaps a 23-year-old crypto millionaire? One thing’s for sure though, after a year of driving you’ll have severe back pain, be deaf in one ear and probably be on your 10th clutch.

When you own a Ferrari 812 Superfast you probably are one of two things, a 70-year-old who just retired from neurosurgery or a rusted-on Ferrari collector. Either way, owners are most likely in their twilight years and require regular yoga sessions to get in and out of the car… but there’s no denying once they are in, they’re never getting out. The 812 is that good – owners will rarely go for drives shorter than three hours, the epic V12 exhaust note is one of the most evocative ever produced, matched with Ferraris magic engineering.

What does a McLaren say about its driver? Well, they’re most definitely attention seekers, the massive butterfly-wing dihedral doors allowing every entry and exit to be as theatrical as possible. And owners deserve the attention – the McLaren 765LT is a mind-melting mechanical masterpiece favoured by startup founders and the odd IT virtuoso. The McLaren’s cheek-rippling speed and alien looks tell a tale of eccentric attraction, as do the obvious British engineering faults. But once you get past the occasional engine-warning light or odd smoky engine, the pros outweigh the cons.

This particular vehicle says… my daily drive is probably an econobox. A favourite for lawyers and criminals alike, buyers gravitate to the 458 Speciale for the collector status, and that’s it. You buy it, drive it home and never drive it again. You want it to sit there and collect dust only to check the price each day hoping it’ll skyrocket because it’s the last naturally aspirated hardcore V8 Ferrari.

You buy the Nissan GT-R for three chief reasons – you love Nissan Skylines, you love Vin Diesel or you love the Gran Turismo videogame franchise. Its supercar-like performance and relatively low price (compared to most exotic supercars) ensure that mere mortals can obtain one and are often used as daily drives. But owners love a bit of biffo because manhandling this bulky apex chaser is like playing tug of war with a tiger.

Owning an Aventador says a lot about its owner, as does the 911 Turbo S – except in this case, it’s the complete opposite. Instead of wanting to turn heads and attract attention, the Porsche is more of a sleeper, a supercar that flies under the radar. As such it’s favoured by modest millionaires and in supercar circles is considered a conservative choice. It’s rumoured the CEO of Godfrey’s vacuum cleaners owns one because it sounds exactly like a turbocharged vacuum cleaner at 6600rpm but its clinical perfection in almost every measure means it’s also popular with mathematicians and accountants.

An Aston Martin V8 Vantage says you want to look and feel like James Bond – but definitely don’t have the fortune or the killer instincts of James Bond. Owners are often well-adjusted and savvy individuals who may buy this car second-hand on a budget to realise it delivers excellent bang for their buck. The glorious V8 engine, the timeless design, the hand-crafted interior and the reliability (only joking) make this machine hugely alluring and communicate a cultured style.

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