Still About the Drive
Last week, I found myself standing on Old Woodward Avenue, staring at a Dark Green Ferrari SF90 Stradale parked as casually as if it were any other car. It wasn’t, of course — it was a half-million-dollar sculpture on wheels. And as I admired it, a question crept in: If I had the money, would I buy one?
The honest answer came quickly: For what?
Could I relive those early Sunday morning blasts in my old 911 Turbo to Ann Arbor? Not likely. Michigan’s roads are a minefield of craters and cracks, and law enforcement is everywhere — cameras too. The days of spirited, carefree driving are long gone.
Sure, I could show up to the local “Cars and Coffee” meets, like the one hosted downtown by a jeweler in Birmingham. The scene there is jaw-dropping — Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, top-spec Porsches, ZR1 Corvettes — a parade of excess parked neatly on both sides of the street. But honestly? That kind of peacocking holds zero appeal. The energy is less about passion and more about posturing.
So again: If I had a Ferrari SF90, a McLaren, or a 911 GT3 RS — what would I actually do with it?
I know what many owners do — quick 0-to-120 mph bursts on Woodward Avenue before disappearing into the horizon. It’s fun to watch and hear, sure, but if they’re caught, it’s reckless driving, a heap of fines, and enough points to lose your license. Still, I get it. When you spend that kind of money, you want to feel it.
But here’s the truth: unless you hit the track (which costs a fortune) or find one of the few remaining scenic back roads in Michigan, there are very few real opportunities to enjoy these cars the way they were meant to be enjoyed. Collecting them? That’s never appealed to me either.
The sad reality is this — most of these machines are far more capable than their owners. Our roads can’t handle them, our laws don’t allow them, and most drivers don’t have the skill to push them. And don’t even get me started on the cost of replacing a $5,000 wheel after hitting one of our famous potholes.
That said, I understand the appeal. For those in that rarified financial stratosphere, buying an exotic is about prestige — the modern equivalent of trophies. It’s all relative, and that’s fine. But as for driving enjoyment? That’s a whole different story.
Don’t get me wrong — I love these machines. Ferraris, especially, are rolling expressions of art and emotion. They’re breathtaking in person, and I’ll never tire of seeing one glide through town. Even the Purosangue impresses me, though it’s about as far removed from my reality as a trip to the moon.
When Porsche prices started skyrocketing over a decade ago — as the cars themselves grew bulkier and more bloated — I knew something was changing. A base 911 now starts around $133,000. Even vintage models are climbing past six figures, and if it’s a Singer restomod, you’re talking seven.
So what’s the point anymore? Collecting? Showing off? Proving you’re the biggest wallet in the parking lot? Probably all of the above.
As for me, I don’t need 1,000 horsepower to enjoy driving. Give me something nimble, something that connects — a car that’s fun without requiring a mortgage to own or nerves of steel to maintain.
Take the VW GTI — my long-standing favorite. It’s practical, balanced, and pure joy behind the wheel. Affordable, too. And now, with Honda bringing back the Prelude — a modern classic with elegant design and promising performance — I can see glimmers of hope for drivers who still value the feel of the road.
Let me be clear: I hold no grudge against those who can afford exotics. Without them, we wouldn’t get to witness the artistry of automotive engineering at its finest. Reading about these cars is one thing; seeing them in the flesh — hearing them idle and breathe — is something else entirely.
That Ferrari SF90 Stradale I saw last week? I studied it for fifteen minutes straight. Worth every second.
But when it comes down to it, for me, it’s still about the drive. Always has been. Always will be. And thankfully, there are still a few cars out there that deliver exactly that.
And that’s the High-Octane Truth for this week.