This whole video isn't only about cars in my opinion. It's honestly about most things that we consume in the world today. There's so much of everything that not much is special anymore.
I think internet and social media ruined things for us all. Everything is at your fingertips now. when every information about everything is available at your pocket nothing is special anymore.
@@e39m5_hater I think this is because of something else called the balkanization of internet culture. NBA is putting up all time highs in viewership, popularity, sponsorships etc. but the thing is we don't "feel" it because the internet is fragmented and divided into smaller, more insular "bubbles," In the past, when Michael Jordan was on his crazy run, even people who didn't like basketball would still be forced to see it due to the fact that our culture was more open and less fragmented. Everyone interacted with everyone. People who didn't know about cars still heard about the Veyron, people who didn't care about snowboarding still heard about Shaun White, people who didn't care about golf still knew about Tiger Woods, Gretzky with Hockey, Williams siters, so on and so forth. Our culture wasn't bigger, but it was more open, so things felt more special when they rose to the top. Today we are in bubbles where car people are given car people algorithms on youtube, they only interact with car people online, and so when something big happens in the car people space, only car people hear about it so it is less special.
I prefer it when doug films a regular car that is somehow an oddball. Like a european car you guys in america didnt get or a car that was a commercial failure, or a limited edition of some average family car from the 80s or 90s
I used to get excited when Doug released a "normal car" video but he has the tendency to try to be funny about it to the point the video ends up being less informative because everything is "who cares, this is cheap lol"
To be fair, that is not how it happened. Companies actually worked and tried HARD to make these profitable. The veyron was a financial well, McLaren can't make money, Aston is burning the especial models, etc
It's because of the 'rarity effect' that has disappeared along with exclusivity. We used to be weirdos for liking cars, now all rich people that wanna open a youtube channel go buy a bunch of cars, diluting their real "magic" that used to make us curious and the cars aspirational. Now it's just a ghay AF culture.
You can't gatekeep a hobby like being a car enthusiast anymore than being a skater or a sneakerhead. When things get too popular however, they attract people with a shallow interest or looking to make a profit. I don't know when supercars have ever been aspirational as they have been outside of my reality for all my life. Much more so now that sticker prices costs more than my house by 300 to 400%. Just keep your paws off all the old beat up muscle cars and corvettes and leave me alone lol.
I've said this for years--I hate the fact that some car company makes 20 of a car, it sells out within minutes, meanwhile you didn't even know it was coming out. If you have 100x the money, you still can't buy one because you didn't buy the previous 19 models from that manufacturer. Then, the people that buy these cars never drive them. You might as well buy a painting.
It makes the whole supercar world/buying process even more cliquey & tribalistic, along with making the cars unattractive from a consumer perspective. I couldn’t hear about the car till it was sold out. If I did hear about it, I would’ve needed to buy 5 of the same make earlier in my life to even be “considered eligible” to buy it (as if money isn’t enough), the list goes on…. it begs the question; Why should I give a crap?
@John-q5p9m couldn't agree more. I feel bad for car guys that have to have a stressful career to get the money they need for their cars, only to find out they're not a good "image" or whatever for the brand. Ducati only just started doing this.
nothing to with video in peticular, but i really apreciate that you show a picture of the cars you are talking about, even if it's only for a few seconds, not all of us know every single car you are talking about, but seeing a picture can make you relate more
But one point that he didn't make and for me personally it's the most important, is that non of those modern hypercars have racing pedigree. Non of them have a racing history or allowed to race in the future. They're just collectables made for the super wealthy to collect dust in a garage. What's even the point in producing all those fast hypercars just to sit in the garage of some 1 percenter. When the Maserati MC12 was made back in the early 2000s we all knew that thing is going to race professionally just by looking at it. And it did. If I was the richest man in the world I wouldn't waste money on a hypercar with zero racing pedigree. I think it's pointless and I don't want to encourage this type of subculture.
You’re taking a page out of Jeremy Clarkson’s handbook. In fact, part of the reason that they stopped doing the Grand Tour was because they were not as interested in electric cars. It would be awesome if you managed to meet with Jeremy Clarkson to discuss these things since you both agree on many of them.
well maybe there is a way to review them, but the truth is that the game has changed. Too many politics in the supercars world basically ban freedom of expression. I mean, check out any review of any new supercars, superEV or whatever you want in channels like Top Gear and/or whatever you prefer: they don't say anything that we can't see. They describe the car and that's it. Can't get more vanilla than that.
They may not appeal to Clarkson or Doug, but I find plenty to lust after in the "refrigerators". The Nevera and McMurtry Spéirling are the two most exciting cars to me right now. Electric hypercars will spawn a new generation of enthusiast
@@Snarl616 it's not as much politics as that the obvious advantages of electric and self driving. We will blink and combustion cars will be antiques. We will think about while we are silently transport from A to B by robots.
It's so much more fun to drive a relatively slow car fast than a fast car slow. I still regret selling my F355 Spider manual with Tubi exhaust. It only had 339 hp available, but boy, what an experience! Although this car had no stability features, I could drive it flat out without endangering myself and other road users. And then that sound... OMG!
For me, I prefer quickness rather than speed. I tend not to go faster than 80 most of the tine. I want something quick enough to overtake the elderly driver going 20 under as quickly as possible.
The irony is, I believe the recent influx of car UA-cam channels and Social media influencers are also partly to blame. Even though I can’t afford these super cars at the moment with the abundance of videos, reviews, drag races, rebuilds, track day media I’m consuming I am starting to get a bit “burnt out” on new cars In general and I rarely find myself getting exited about a new car like I used to pre COVID.
Exactly. Social Media killed the automotive scene for me.Even the basic super car like the F430 or Gallardo use to feel special see just to see one in traffic and you can't stop looking at it. I've seen this start in 2015 with the hurrican when UA-cam influencers and the beginning of UA-cam car channels started popping up from nowhere.The Hurrican was the main choice and you started to see them everywhere on UA-cam.From influencers getting there first car and making a vlog to someone putting twin turbos on the car.And this is what you have to today with cars not feeling special.
This is very true! It started off with UA-camrs having Gallardos, Huricans and then it was all the McLaren’s especially the 720s! The exotic rentals haven’t helped either!!
I belived i just got bored of cars. But this is very true. Took a small internet break, then came back to the good old top gear magazines i still had laying around and it felt so much better. There are a few new supercars that i still like. The valkyrie, the mclarens in general look great but that's all i can remember
I agree with what you said, I really started to notice this with the hamilton collection. So many great cars obtained in such a short time even he can't hide that they no longer excite him. Changing cars like he changes socks & they all pretty much seem the same and have the same features just a different manufacturer badge
But one point that he didn't make and for me personally it's the most important, is that non of those modern hypercars have racing pedigree. Non of them have a racing history or allowed to race in the future. They're just collectables made for the super wealthy to collect dust in a garage. What's even the point in producing all those fast hypercars just to sit in the garage of some 1 percenter. When the Maserati MC12 was made back in the early 2000s we all knew that thing is going to race professionally just by looking at it. And it did. If I was the richest man in the world I wouldn't waste money on a hypercar with zero racing pedigree. I think it's pointless and I don't want to encourage this type of subculture.
Aero made all of the hypercars look the same outside, touchscreens made them look the same inside, and hybrid tech/regulations made them sound/feel worse.
There are plenty of cars that make crazy downforce and are still pretty. Actually functional areo usually makes a car look better (if it’s not overdone)
That's why I really appreciate what Chevrolet has done with new C8. Even in bare basic model it looks like supercar it drives like supercar but it doesnt cost 3m$😅
I don't hate it, but the new nsx was the beginning of the end of supercars. I was born in 93, got into supercars very young. I read virtually every book about them, and never came across the vector w8 until your video. You could feel the effort that went into that car when you look at it. Will we ever get that again? Less extreme examples like the viper acr was the last time I felt excited about a supercar
As an old guy, one of the differences is today we can see the cars all day long on youtube. I think I saw ONE supercar in my first 25 years other than in photography. Today we have weird dudes with two tshirts doing revs on video.
This has definitely contributed to it as well. I remember how special it used to be seeing a Ferrari in the wild, now you go on UA-cam and Instagram and there's thousands upon thousands of videos that ruin the 'surprise' in a way.
I remember going to Boca Raton in the mid 90s and catching glimpses of who knows what, but it was COOL. I wasn't deep enough in the supercar culture at the time to just straight out identify many of them, but I'm pretty sure I saw a Lotus Elise and a Diablo just driving around. As a teenager who was not from a large city and certainly was not in a wealthy area, this was a defining moment.
True. In the 80s would only see in magazines, movies or tv. I still remember seeing a Ferrari 308 and Tesstarossa in the wild. Saw Doug’s white Lambo at a 1987 car show. Still have a pic me standing next. But yea late 80s like only 3 F40, Contach and 959.
You're not wrong. Supercar Ron said that Ford wouldn't sell him a new Ford GT because he had no social media presence at the time. Absolutely ridiculous.
@@Pepe-dq2ib From 0 to 60 maybe, but consider any other point and your model 3 is inferior ;) Talking about chassis, brakes, sensations, esthetics, prestige... You're not buying a Patek Philippe to know the time ;)
@@Pepe-dq2ib Literally nobody who buys one of these cars, could have any interest. They don't care if you fly past them at Warp 9 - because when you arrive, wherever it is you're going, you arrive in a Tesla. When, they, arrive - even if it's hours later - they arrive in a Ferrari. And their destination is much more likely to be somewhere like Scarsdale, or Monaco, or Shirokane, or Knightsbridge... You're not even talking the same language as people who buy these cars. Do you seriously think the target demographic for these cares is thinking, "I could have gotten a Tesla"?.. They don't even know you exist, in your Tesla - and could care even less.
The T.50 is pretty cool. Center seating position, incredibly light weight, a manual transmission, and that beautiful cosworth V12. Of all the new cars that’s the one that I always think about and wish I could own and drive. It’s just special.
@@mstreich It's what the most recent NSX should have been; stop chasing tech and numbers, and focus on engagement (which was the selling point of the original versions).
sign of the economy right there. the workers are looking for a fuel efficient car with utility, the bougie are onto their 4th awd, auto, turbo, 6 cylinder, hybrid vacuum cleaner.
Similar to growing towns of America. It starts the moment you get your first Applebees. The town’s soul slowly fades away with each box store and chain restaurant comes in.
It’s not the quantity of these cars and cheapening of them in the process. It’s the fact that they are no longer something to aspire to. The masses don’t care anymore because they might as well be on another planet compared to the people buying these things
@@joesmoke27your completely wrong if you don’t think there’s a huge difference between 800 and 1000whp. Go find some friends who are into racing and build motors and see for yourself
@@joesmoke27 im not talking about drag promods that don’t get driven unless they are at the strip, I’m talking about street cars. Built for boost and see the streets every time the weather allows for it. You must not be aware of the racing scene
Well yeah. He’s made it pretty clear that he values quirky cars over the same features that every car has. And the Aztek is one of the weirdest cars ever made.
The kind of person who buys an Aztek because they want to is probably more interesting than the kind of person who buys a supercar because they can afford it.
None of these cars are being raced! That adds to the heritage and pedigree. One of these new cars Flipping down the Mulsanne straight at 220 would restore the feeling.
Yep, that one qualifies. Like Doug, I'm not terribly enamored with hypercars for most of the reasons he mentioned, but the T.50 pushes the visceral thrill buttons handily.
You are exactly right. When we bought a model s plaid after they dropped the price. Man it sure made me think more about the cars I really enjoy to drive like my gt350R.
Doug, I agree. I remember as a kid in the 80s, having a poster on my wall with a Lamborghini Countach (a white one just like the one behind you), a Ferrari Testarossa and a Porsche 959 on it. I remember when the Dodge Viper first came out and everyone was excited. They called it the "widowmaker" because it was a handful to drive, with many people wrecking theirs. I think it was Kelsey Gramer who wrecked his, or maybe Letterman, I can't remember. But now high horsepower cars are common, and have aids to prevent a lot of driver errors, but I guess Challenger and Mustang owners still find a way. I have a 16 year old son, who is also a gear head, and he likes the older super cars as well. We go to a lot of car shows, and he sees the older cars, and often has been allowed to sit in them, see the clunky vintage shifters, smelled the rich exhaust, hear the roar and rattle of the car. My sports car is nothing special, a motor swapped 1985 Honda CRX. It's a rattling deathtrap, but it feels like a go cart compared to modern sports cars. When my son was 7 or 8 and I was trying to sell it since my kids were little, and we had gone the family man/mini van route. I took my son for a ride in it, chirping the tires up into 3rd gear, and cornering the car mildly aggressively. I kinda was hoping to scare him a bit, but instead, he fell in love with it right there. I looked over, and instead of scared, he was grinning ear to ear. From that point on he loved the car, and vowed to have it one day. Now, he is almost 17, we got it running again after aa few years of sitting, and occasionally take it to car shows, where we see more Lambos, Ferraris, McLarens, and Porches, but we are always the only 1st gen CRX there. While my car pales in comparison to those, he loves the fact that whether we are at car shows, or just taking it out somewhere for a brief errand, someone comes up to us to talk about the car. Mostly they have fond memories of owning one, or someone they knew had one, and they remember how fun they used to be. My son loves that. Starting in January of this coming year, (2025), my son is starting at our local Career and Technology center to study auto body repair. I told him, once he is older, past the boy racer phase, I will give him the car if he has a garage. He plans to strip it, and do a ground up restoration, if he can find parts. But he loves the simplicity of it, as a small, somewhat quick, fun car, with a manual transmission. He has seen the car's soul, and wants to save it. And, like me, he likes older cars with simpler transmissions, and without the gadgets and gizmos. I think if I had money, I'd get a Countach, a Ferrari 308 GTS, and a 1980ish black Porsche 911 with black wheels with polished lip. AFTER I get my Knight 2000 and General Lee replicas.
I feel like nearly every supercar nowadays follows the exact same formula: 1. Twin-turbo F**ING AD NAUSEAM (N/A and S/C engines are practically nonexistent now) 2. V8 or V6 3. Hybrid 4. Rear mid-engine 5. Automatic DCT or SCT There's absolutely no variety anymore. All of these cars or the same. The twin turbo V8 has done to cars what the Marshall 4x12 has done to heavy metal guitar: it was so good that everyone used it until it got bland and monotonous.
If you factor the “or”s in the items you listed, there are 40 distinct combinations ignoring there are a bunch of N/A and S/C cars (C8 Z06, Emira to list one of each) Adding those 2 options, it now makes 120 distinct combinations in the 5 categories you listed. Enough for you?
As a 20 year old guy who’s fairly new to the car community, I own a 2001 celica GTS and to tell you the truth no one really wants the most expensive fastest car on the market anymore. What’s cooler than ever is niche interest cars that are tailored to your specific taste and what fits your vibe. Some people just don’t make sense driving certain cars and it’s like every hyper car manufacturer assumes a ton of people will buy these when it’s really only a few people. This is why they’re thinking of bringing back older models like the celica, or the Honda prelude potentially in 2025. People like the in between cars and just durable solid made vehicles.
I'm 41 and remember a young salesman letting my best friend and I take a new 6spd Celica GTS for a spirited drive in 2001. It was a great car and left a deep impression on us. And the rivalries between cars like the Integra, Celica, Prelude, etc, were all so exciting at the time.
This is the reason why the restomod scene is where my excitement is now. The companies that work on those cars bring that "specialness" back into the automotive industry. They may not all be supercars but I would rather have one of those over many of the new supercars currently on sale.
I dunno, there are only so many 70s/80s/90s 911s with LED headlights and 500bhp you can see before they all start to get boring. Eagle are an exception, imo, but a lot of these new restomods have the same basic formula: take old car, lower it, give more power, redo the interior, put on a body kit and sell for £500,000.
Good video. As a Viper owner, I totally agree. I understand my car is not the fastest, the most refined or have the latest tech, but does it sure bring the character and the Drama. I could buy a plaid and have money in my pocket while getting 2x the horsepower, but… I’ll take my wild bull. 😃
Notice how he didn’t diss Koenigsegg. Those are cars that are built purely out of passion by one man with a dream to create the true ultimate street legal super or hyper car
he forgot about them most likely then again anyone could go to SuperVettura or whatever local dealer you have and buy a k, that's not happening with Ferrari.
Well done Doug... you summed it up for me! I was questioning myself, I've had some lovely cars in the past and I was questioning why am I not interested anymore. And this is why
15:45 even the Chiron. When you talk about it you still remember the W engine, the crazy turbos.. meanwhile half of the others super/hypercars you just can't connect or care if they are hybrids or EV.
The Chiron isn’t as exciting because if we truly oversimplify, while in many ways it is mechanically different, it is in purpose/goal/overall presentation; still just a Veyron. A Veyron is nowhere near “just an EB110” see the difference? Same with Tourbillion
Other than the flaw of battery longevity, the Bugatti Tourbillion still feels special because it has many unique qualities as opposed to the next V8 hybrid hypercar
I get more excited by older cars in good condition. I'm 25, and I wasn't able to drive or even be in most of the older cars when they were new. So seeing one in really good condition makes me so happy.
@@Sh4dowgale especially if it was with the original owner since new, low miles & no modifications at all. Even if it was an economy car, I would truly respect it.
We're getting old, my dream car is still a 2010 Camaro SS; my all time "If I was rich car" is the Pagani Cinque and Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG Black Series
I totally agree. I see UA-cam videos reviewing a new multi million dollar hypercar and I just sigh and scroll on. I don’t get very excited about music anymore either. Part of it is my age but I feel streaming services have cheapened the experience. I think you hit the nail on the head with this video, Doug.
I hope more cars like the GMA T.50 or 911 ST are made. Now that speed is more accessible, it would be nice to see manufacturers start to prioritize engagement and the experience over headline numbers like 0-60 and horsepower figures.
Exactly, it seems like we're living the horsepower war Japanese auto makers tried to stop in the 90s as every car now (even some boring crossover EVs) have like gazillion horsepower, do 0-60 in sub 3 seconds and all the other useless numbers 🤦🏾♂️
I predict that once exhilarating speed and HP become readily available in even the cheapest cars, there will be a shift in the supercar market towards cars that are unique and fun to drive as their selling points. Maybe supercars with manual transmissions and naturally aspirated engines and other fun features will become attractive to buyers again, as they provide a driving experience that diverges from fast but boring everyday cars
this happened to watches. quartz (auto) movement made mechanical (manual) movement obsolete. smart watches (EV) made them both obsolete. watch makers then decided to go back to mechanical (manual) movement because it has more "soul."
Another reason why hypercars dont feel as special is social media. You can watch tons of videos and content on any car no matter how rare or expensive it is. Back in the 90s you only had car magazines and rarely you could see them in person
Completely agree with Doug's first point, the sheer quantity of these cars is making them less special, but so is exposure and publicity of them thanks to the internet. It's not that the new ones are bad, I bet they are amazing to drive. But back in the mid-to-late 90s when I was also a kid, you had like a half dozen proper supercars (Diablo, F40, F50 etc) and even less hypercars (McLaren F1, CLK GTR, etc). Therefore, they became almost legendary as you pretty much never saw one, and without UA-cam seeing one featured on TV was a treat. I remember seeing a yellow Diablo in the late 90s in a showroom and I couldn't believe how wide it was. A few years later I got up close to a F40 in the same place, and I still remember seeing the carbon fibre weave through the thin paint to this day. But with UA-cam, you can see everything you ever want to know or see on pretty much any new car.
This is the same reason everyone bought Ferraris in red back then. You never saw any Ferraris ever, at all. So there was no, “they’re all red”. “They all” meant maybe once per year for a fleeting moment, or if they were on TV or in a movie.
in the 90's we had to experience cars through magazines and movies. hard to explain the excitement of actually spotting one in the wild - no cars and coffee back then!
Absolutely spot on. Love seeing your GT @ RSF CnC. This is the main reason why I still keep my 718 spyder and will never sell it. It’s not about numbers but about excitement!
I’m roughly the same age as you and I feel exactly the same. For me it was the F40/50 XJ220 and EB110 as a kid too. I’ve often wondered if it’s just me getting older, but the points you raised here described my feelings perfectly.
Wish they would focus on sound and feel instead of HP. Like a very small high-reving V8/V10/V12 in a small car like a Miata. I don't need 600+ HP. I need sound and feel.
Growing up in rural Michigan, a Corvette or a muscle car was stupid cool. I became an adult and seeing super cars around the world became not uncommon. Now I live in Germany for work and seeing the stuff from my childhood feels exotic again.
Sound only matters to people poor enough to never own one. The actually wealthy people buying them only want the sound on a racetrack nobody wants to drive a loud car through a neighborhood or downtown through a city
Nothing beats the music of a properly tuned V-8. And why EV's suck! You already lose 1/3 of your life to "sleeping". Now another 1/3 lost charging your EV. lol
It goes along with the mindset of today's society. If a little is good, too much has to be even better! Whether it's superhero movies, Hallmark movies, or just making entertainment content in general. There are so many things being made so quickly these days, it's impossible to consume it all. Virtually nothing feels special anymore because everything gets overdone as soon as people get a whiff of something becoming popular. It's a reason the majority of influencers are the bane of society. It all goes back to that classic line from The Incredibles, when everybody is super, nobody is.
The special factor has definitely decreased. The overall reception to the Ferrari F80 and Mclaren W1 has been poor and their powertrains aren't all that exciting either compared to others.
Totally agree with your points!!! I might add 1 more reason: back in the F50 days, it was easier to find roads where you could push them to their limits. Nowadays super/hyper cars are not designed for real track use but are also waaaaayyy too grippy to push them on o-en roads!
One of the best videos you have ever done. I feel the exact same way. Also some of the UA-camrs get so crazy with these new hypercars it seems to me like they get paid by the car companies.
And GM makes a $200K car that looks like these cars, has similar or better performance, and similar or better power numbers. Without the intangibles from the older cars that Doug mentioned, these modern exotics are just C8 ZR1's with unreliable hybrid systems and a 10x sticker price.
Having a hard time finding the article but I remember Dave Tracy (?) writing about the Hellcats on first release and that it was the "democratization of speed" making high horsepower, low 0-60 cars widely available to the public that would have widespread consequences as far as the HP wars. Now we have SUVs faster than any supercar from 20 years ago and it's all been a race to meet what automakers think the public wants.
Such a good take. I remember having an f40 poster on my wall for 8 years growing up. Now it’s one year after another here comes something similar but more exclusive or more expensive
I’ve been subscribed to you for so many years now and waiting patiently for you to review a Z32 300zx twin turbo. How much longer are you going to make me wait haha. Big fan of yours by the way keep it up 👍.
One car that I don’t think suffers from this, although probably because it’s more of a sports-car than a supercar, is definitely the GT3RS, and other RS Porsche cars. Somehow every new generation of that car gets crazier and crazier and I love it.
Imo it doesn't have the "look" if you get what I mean that a supercar should have, like an Aventador SVJ for example. I saw a Carrera GT irl and man was I disappointed, could be any 911 Targa for all I care. Whenever I see an Aventador though 😍😍
gt3rs is not that special......you would have to experience it to understand.....its also not really a hyper exotic car.....porsche last special car was a Carrera gt as explained already
To me 911's have always felt like they intentionally hold back on the "craziness", to leave room for the next iteration. It has probably been the smart thing to do, business-wise, but it also holds back the development by intentionally not introducing half of the things they could have on this model and save it for the next. But then I'm not the target group for any of these cars, unless I win the lottery.
911's one of the least special cars ever, they make a new one every week and you know Porsche can do better, but they slow roll their seat sniffer customers and overcharge them.
The point you made about cars with no soul. Couldn't agree more with this point. I've been supercar shopping for years, that would give me the same viseral feel the 2012 Gallardo did. Great video and perspective, Doug.
@bobthebandit3091 I was 17 at the time the Gallardo came out and bought my first one at 27. Honestly, the Gallardo wasn't a poster car for me as much as the lp-670 was.
It's the Lexus effect, but for performance cars. A few years after the brand debuted in North America, Lexus was offering cars that were objectively superior to BMW, M-B, et al.: faster acceleration, quicker handling, quieter inside, and with all the latest gadgets. But they didn't spark the same passion as the traditional brands because their personalities were buttoned down to the point where the car felt like an _automaton_ rather than an _automobile._ Perhaps that's what ultimately explains what's going on in supercars now.
@@freddybell8328its not about performance. How come Nissan gtr which was faster than lfa at launch not cost more than the lfa. Its the special feeling a car gives that decides its value. Faster cars will come and go but legends live forever
@RAAM855 it's true, you're only paying for the engine and nothing else. I don't care that Jeremy Clarkson said it was one of the best cars he's ever driven. Most of have never rode in or driven these supercars so we dream about what we see on the screen. The fact that people want an lfa just because it sounds good should show you what kind of car it is. The Carrera gt is an objectively better enthusiast car
What Doug is talking about is context. Historical and personal context is what makes some cars so special. The context attached to most modern super cars is narratively empty or depressing. They just seem to occur in a vacuum.
Id say the car im most passionate about is the mclaren P1. The sound and wild looks. Even today it still looks far ahead of not only its own time but also this time. EVOTVs video on the P1 is straight up beautiful and emotional one of the best car review videos out there on this platform
I think about this often so its nice to hear Doug address it. Something else I think has a huge effect here is social media. Coverage of these cars is extremely oversaturated. It used to be very special to see a fast/expensive/etc car on the road or talk to someone who knew about cars.
When I look at demand for the high end manual Porsche cars (GT3, S/T) it makes me wonder why more manufacturers don't go for that market. It isn't about going as fast as possible. It is about having pleasure from the act of driving a well engineered car. The feel of the inputs and the sound of the engine are more important than quarter mile times or 0-60. BTW, I got more excited seeing an SVX on the road the other day than I do when I see something like a McLaren.
Doug the type of guy to say "Thisss is my nine millimeter, and today I'm going to show you it's quirks and features." When he hears a noise downstairs.
I think we're around the same age, the F50 was theee car for me when I was a kid growing up - if you can't picture building a model of it or hanging a poster of it in your room as a kid, the special factor isn't there.
Social media is likely a huge factor into why cars don't feel as special (or just things in general), cuz every influencer has one, or at least makes them seem like they're everywhere. When a media embargo lifts, every car review channel releases the same car video at the same time. We sit here getting a glimpse at everything the car has to offer. It seems accessible, not in a monetarily accessible way, but as an immediately available entity, so it seems common. Back when those F-40s were the pinnacle of car enthusiasts' bedroom walls, that's because they were rare, not just in real life, but you had to GO somewhere to see one. They weren't fed to you by social media.
Enormously important point! Every time something new is announced, within hours: "Hi guys i'm SHMEEE", then Carwow, then the others. About a month later you have Harris drifting it and smoking the tires. I've seen the car about 20 different ways before the damn thing was even released into the market and I no longer care.
Very well said. As a Car Reviewer I feel very similarly. I get a new car sent to me multiple times a year, and I typically find the things to nitpick about rather than to enjoy.
Great video! As a kid from the 70's and 80's, I remember when 300hp was incredible, when the 911 GT3 cost $120k and was viewed as attainable, and AMG and M badges were not thrown on every single model.
So refreshing to hear an automotive influencer go against the grain of new flashy supercars. The only new supercar I'm absolutely obsessed with (aside from anything from GMA) is anything from Kimera, the EVO37 in particular. Doug you've gotta find a way to review that...
This isn’t against the grain at all there are more back in my day everything was better and these new cars suck videos on UA-cam than you can shake a stick at
0:00-0:01 Listen to that subtle off-wall reverb. The tasteful bass of it. Oh my God. It even has an echo. Impressive. Very nice. Let's hear Paul Allen's this.
You're dead-on Doug, and very well stated. I got kind of lucky financially coming out of a very poor family, bought a '21 Huracan EVO (RWD). Supercars always held some special place in my heart, seeing them on posters etc. Ended up selling it back for what I paid for it (this was 2022 or so). I think the big thing is to create those cars originally, it took a LOT. The engineering, love of motorsports, love of just the whole sphere of car engineering. Even though the Huracan is more or less a VW-tamed version of the Gallardo, it was special to me. There's something about an old, annoying, but refined over time engine behind the drivers head that feels special.
This whole video isn't only about cars in my opinion. It's honestly about most things that we consume in the world today. There's so much of everything that not much is special anymore.
Underrated comment
excessive commercialization is definitely one factor (see the current NBA/NFL)
Exactly everything is becoming generic in all areas and I suspect it will get worse with the use of AI.
I think internet and social media ruined things for us all. Everything is at your fingertips now. when every information about everything is available at your pocket nothing is special anymore.
@@e39m5_hater I think this is because of something else called the balkanization of internet culture. NBA is putting up all time highs in viewership, popularity, sponsorships etc. but the thing is we don't "feel" it because the internet is fragmented and divided into smaller, more insular "bubbles,"
In the past, when Michael Jordan was on his crazy run, even people who didn't like basketball would still be forced to see it due to the fact that our culture was more open and less fragmented. Everyone interacted with everyone. People who didn't know about cars still heard about the Veyron, people who didn't care about snowboarding still heard about Shaun White, people who didn't care about golf still knew about Tiger Woods, Gretzky with Hockey, Williams siters, so on and so forth. Our culture wasn't bigger, but it was more open, so things felt more special when they rose to the top.
Today we are in bubbles where car people are given car people algorithms on youtube, they only interact with car people online, and so when something big happens in the car people space, only car people hear about it so it is less special.
I prefer it when doug films a regular car that is somehow an oddball. Like a european car you guys in america didnt get or a car that was a commercial failure, or a limited edition of some average family car from the 80s or 90s
I used to get excited when Doug released a "normal car" video but he has the tendency to try to be funny about it to the point the video ends up being less informative because everything is "who cares, this is cheap lol"
@@ElClaudiohe seemed more interested when he reviewed the valkyrie even though super cars are boring
@@uwize5897probably because that’s one of the greatest cars ever made tbh the performance is insane and the styling plus a V12
Hey as long as you get out enough content to feed the algorithm, you can do those more fun vids.
Yeah same, inwould love to see him review a 2003-2005 Passat 3BG W8 Wagon 😁
as soon as the car brands realised they could print money with special edition supercars, it was over
Yes. Special editions used to be cars build for homologation for racing.
Goodhart's law: When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure
Fueled by Instagram flexing and low interest rates
I think they’ve always realized that, it’s a business after all
To be fair, that is not how it happened. Companies actually worked and tried HARD to make these profitable. The veyron was a financial well, McLaren can't make money, Aston is burning the especial models, etc
A '94 Mercedes-Benz E500, or '04 Subaru WRX STi are more special than any 2024 $1M+ supercar.
and they are going up in price as a result
Because they involve racing
@@AutobahnVault did you really say a Subaru 😆😆😆
Tell me you've never driven a special car without telling me.
@@MultiVeeta Mmkay 🤣👍
sure buddy.
It's because of the 'rarity effect' that has disappeared along with exclusivity. We used to be weirdos for liking cars, now all rich people that wanna open a youtube channel go buy a bunch of cars, diluting their real "magic" that used to make us curious and the cars aspirational.
Now it's just a ghay AF culture.
alejandro!
Are you being sarcastic? 😳
You can't gatekeep a hobby like being a car enthusiast anymore than being a skater or a sneakerhead. When things get too popular however, they attract people with a shallow interest or looking to make a profit. I don't know when supercars have ever been aspirational as they have been outside of my reality for all my life. Much more so now that sticker prices costs more than my house by 300 to 400%. Just keep your paws off all the old beat up muscle cars and corvettes and leave me alone lol.
I've said this for years--I hate the fact that some car company makes 20 of a car, it sells out within minutes, meanwhile you didn't even know it was coming out. If you have 100x the money, you still can't buy one because you didn't buy the previous 19 models from that manufacturer. Then, the people that buy these cars never drive them. You might as well buy a painting.
It makes the whole supercar world/buying process even more cliquey & tribalistic, along with making the cars unattractive from a consumer perspective.
I couldn’t hear about the car till it was sold out. If I did hear about it, I would’ve needed to buy 5 of the same make earlier in my life to even be “considered eligible” to buy it (as if money isn’t enough), the list goes on…. it begs the question; Why should I give a crap?
Of course we don't know if they really never drive them...
@John-q5p9m couldn't agree more. I feel bad for car guys that have to have a stressful career to get the money they need for their cars, only to find out they're not a good "image" or whatever for the brand. Ducati only just started doing this.
It's called money laundering through automotive art.
Whenever Ferrari releases a new special super car, I’m sure that David Lee gets a call.
"I've got it boiled down to a rather long list." Don't ever change, Doug.
nothing to with video in peticular, but i really apreciate that you show a picture of the cars you are talking about, even if it's only for a few seconds, not all of us know every single car you are talking about, but seeing a picture can make you relate more
This is extremely important to me, great detail
But one point that he didn't make and for me personally it's the most important, is that non of those modern hypercars have racing pedigree.
Non of them have a racing history or allowed to race in the future.
They're just collectables made for the super wealthy to collect dust in a garage.
What's even the point in producing all those fast hypercars just to sit in the garage of some 1 percenter.
When the Maserati MC12 was made back in the early 2000s we all knew that thing is going to race professionally just by looking at it. And it did.
If I was the richest man in the world I wouldn't waste money on a hypercar with zero racing pedigree. I think it's pointless and I don't want to encourage this type of subculture.
True I completely agree
100% with you, on all points. Merry Christmas!
You’re taking a page out of Jeremy Clarkson’s handbook. In fact, part of the reason that they stopped doing the Grand Tour was because they were not as interested in electric cars. It would be awesome if you managed to meet with Jeremy Clarkson to discuss these things since you both agree on many of them.
Doug the type of guy to show you a picture of a countach when the car is right behind him 4:00
😂
@@Mandela-LM 😂😂😂😂😂
well this is actually a different countach
@@Mandela-LM 😂😂
Lollll
3:01 like “The Incredibles” Syndrome said- “When every (car) is super, NONE of them are…”
lol so true. A 2025 with a manual transmission feels more special than a lot of these super and hyper cars
except how the vast majority of cars arent supercars
Yeah, except there's about 100+ regular cars per supercar.
Clarkson was right. These are modern appliances, as interesting as a refrigerator or washing machine.
well maybe there is a way to review them, but the truth is that the game has changed. Too many politics in the supercars world basically ban freedom of expression. I mean, check out any review of any new supercars, superEV or whatever you want in channels like Top Gear and/or whatever you prefer: they don't say anything that we can't see. They describe the car and that's it. Can't get more vanilla than that.
They may not appeal to Clarkson or Doug, but I find plenty to lust after in the "refrigerators". The Nevera and McMurtry Spéirling are the two most exciting cars to me right now. Electric hypercars will spawn a new generation of enthusiast
@@Snarl616 it's not as much politics as that the obvious advantages of electric and self driving. We will blink and combustion cars will be antiques. We will think about while we are silently transport from A to B by robots.
@@jpl8878 Go hear again what Doug says in the video, and you'll understand the big catch in what you say.
@@joneclegg Did you read what I wrote or are you an AI profile?
I think he forgot to mention that the Maclaren F1 was a million dollars as well
If I recall correctly (as a 10 year old at the time,lol) , original launch price was $870K
@gabrielmorales9752 as a Canadian, maybe they were factoring in currency conversion, which would make it a million.
Wasn’t the point that it was very rare to have a car that expensive. Not dozens of cars that are 2m+
It's so much more fun to drive a relatively slow car fast than a fast car slow. I still regret selling my F355 Spider manual with Tubi exhaust. It only had 339 hp available, but boy, what an experience! Although this car had no stability features, I could drive it flat out without endangering myself and other road users. And then that sound... OMG!
A.I generated comment.
Just a Miata is enough, a Ferrari 360 will make me speeding.
@dman5640 😂
For me, I prefer quickness rather than speed. I tend not to go faster than 80 most of the tine.
I want something quick enough to overtake the elderly driver going 20 under as quickly as possible.
Wao! Who knew Miata owners were right all along. Is not about how fast or expensive the car is, it’s how it makes you feel 🤯
It's gonna be a sad day when they stop making the Miata
@@mikeydude750 You shut your mouth. *hugs miata*
Proud owner of a 92 NA6, I feel morally obligated to say, Miata Is Always The Answer.
Unfortunately for me I deeply enjoy the FEELING of getting slammed back into the seat by pure POWWAAAA
My 1966 Jaguar XKE made me special in high school even tho it couldn't beat a Corvette. I paid $2400 dollars for it.
The irony is, I believe the recent influx of car UA-cam channels and Social media influencers are also partly to blame. Even though I can’t afford these super cars at the moment with the abundance of videos, reviews, drag races, rebuilds, track day media I’m consuming I am starting to get a bit “burnt out” on new cars In general and I rarely find myself getting exited about a new car like I used to pre COVID.
Exactly. Social Media killed the automotive scene for me.Even the basic super car like the F430 or Gallardo use to feel special see just to see one in traffic and you can't stop looking at it. I've seen this start in 2015 with the hurrican when UA-cam influencers and the beginning of UA-cam car channels started popping up from nowhere.The Hurrican was the main choice and you started to see them everywhere on UA-cam.From influencers getting there first car and making a vlog to someone putting twin turbos on the car.And this is what you have to today with cars not feeling special.
This is very true! It started off with UA-camrs having Gallardos, Huricans and then it was all the McLaren’s especially the 720s! The exotic rentals haven’t helped either!!
I belived i just got bored of cars. But this is very true. Took a small internet break, then came back to the good old top gear magazines i still had laying around and it felt so much better.
There are a few new supercars that i still like. The valkyrie, the mclarens in general look great but that's all i can remember
I agree with what you said, I really started to notice this with the hamilton collection. So many great cars obtained in such a short time even he can't hide that they no longer excite him. Changing cars like he changes socks & they all pretty much seem the same and have the same features just a different manufacturer badge
But one point that he didn't make and for me personally it's the most important, is that non of those modern hypercars have racing pedigree.
Non of them have a racing history or allowed to race in the future.
They're just collectables made for the super wealthy to collect dust in a garage.
What's even the point in producing all those fast hypercars just to sit in the garage of some 1 percenter.
When the Maserati MC12 was made back in the early 2000s we all knew that thing is going to race professionally just by looking at it. And it did.
If I was the richest man in the world I wouldn't waste money on a hypercar with zero racing pedigree. I think it's pointless and I don't want to encourage this type of subculture.
Aero made all of the hypercars look the same outside, touchscreens made them look the same inside, and hybrid tech/regulations made them sound/feel worse.
taking too much care about aero is literally unimportant. having at least speed of 300 km/h is enough.
@@noumena9463 but bigger number better on paper
Valkyrie has all those things and counters all of your points
@@freddybell8328 valk is one of a kind car
There are plenty of cars that make crazy downforce and are still pretty. Actually functional areo usually makes a car look better (if it’s not overdone)
That's why I really appreciate what Chevrolet has done with new C8. Even in bare basic model it looks like supercar it drives like supercar but it doesnt cost 3m$😅
pretty good
They also involve racing
Yeah it's a 15 year old Ferrari without the kudos.
Also experiencing 15-20% depreciation.
that and the C7 are sweet cars.
I don't hate it, but the new nsx was the beginning of the end of supercars. I was born in 93, got into supercars very young. I read virtually every book about them, and never came across the vector w8 until your video. You could feel the effort that went into that car when you look at it. Will we ever get that again?
Less extreme examples like the viper acr was the last time I felt excited about a supercar
As an old guy, one of the differences is today we can see the cars all day long on youtube. I think I saw ONE supercar in my first 25 years other than in photography. Today we have weird dudes with two tshirts doing revs on video.
Modern day car culture has way too many pomeranians and way too little rottweilers.
This has definitely contributed to it as well. I remember how special it used to be seeing a Ferrari in the wild, now you go on UA-cam and Instagram and there's thousands upon thousands of videos that ruin the 'surprise' in a way.
I remember going to Boca Raton in the mid 90s and catching glimpses of who knows what, but it was COOL. I wasn't deep enough in the supercar culture at the time to just straight out identify many of them, but I'm pretty sure I saw a Lotus Elise and a Diablo just driving around. As a teenager who was not from a large city and certainly was not in a wealthy area, this was a defining moment.
True. In the 80s would only see in magazines, movies or tv. I still remember seeing a Ferrari 308 and Tesstarossa in the wild. Saw Doug’s white Lambo at a 1987 car show. Still have a pic me standing next. But yea late 80s like only 3 F40, Contach and 959.
I would like to subscribe to your newsletter…
Couldn’t agree more. Super cars no longer are made for enthusiasts. They just pander to clout chasers.
You're not wrong. Supercar Ron said that Ford wouldn't sell him a new Ford GT because he had no social media presence at the time. Absolutely ridiculous.
@@XxpunchbeardxX that's kinda infuriating.
My Tesla Model 3 could beat any of these supercars and i hear you can get a brand new for $30k after rebates.
@@Pepe-dq2ib From 0 to 60 maybe, but consider any other point and your model 3 is inferior ;) Talking about chassis, brakes, sensations, esthetics, prestige...
You're not buying a Patek Philippe to know the time ;)
@@Pepe-dq2ib Literally nobody who buys one of these cars, could have any interest.
They don't care if you fly past them at Warp 9 - because when you arrive, wherever it is you're going, you arrive in a Tesla.
When, they, arrive - even if it's hours later - they arrive in a Ferrari. And their destination is much more likely to be somewhere like Scarsdale, or Monaco, or Shirokane, or Knightsbridge...
You're not even talking the same language as people who buy these cars. Do you seriously think the target demographic for these cares is thinking, "I could have gotten a Tesla"?..
They don't even know you exist, in your Tesla - and could care even less.
Doug the type of guy to go “Hmph… Mimimimimi” when sleeping
😂😂😂😂😂😂 funny
that's so dumb LMAO hahaha
This is getting old real quick
@@cars291Doug the type of guy comments have been around for at least 8 years
Agree with most of these points, would like a reveulto when the price is reasonable that's about it
The T.50 is pretty cool. Center seating position, incredibly light weight, a manual transmission, and that beautiful cosworth V12. Of all the new cars that’s the one that I always think about and wish I could own and drive. It’s just special.
There might be more new supercars available than regular sports cars. Thats wild.
Maybe this is why I liked the Lotus Emira. Pricey, but more accessible. Looks gorgeous IMHO.
@@mstreich It's what the most recent NSX should have been; stop chasing tech and numbers, and focus on engagement (which was the selling point of the original versions).
sign of the economy right there. the workers are looking for a fuel efficient car with utility, the bougie are onto their 4th awd, auto, turbo, 6 cylinder, hybrid vacuum cleaner.
Similar to growing towns of America. It starts the moment you get your first Applebees. The town’s soul slowly fades away with each box store and chain restaurant comes in.
Well said
It’s not the quantity of these cars and cheapening of them in the process. It’s the fact that they are no longer something to aspire to. The masses don’t care anymore because they might as well be on another planet compared to the people buying these things
Corporatism has killed small business.
I hope my hometown stays as is 😢
Blame the town folks who abandoned the mom&pop stores for the big box stores. It's a choice.
"We have reached a point when you don't need more than 500 HP on a street car" - Chris Harris
I haven’t tried but I a can’t imagine a huge difference between 800hp and 1 or 2 thousand horsepower 5 or 6 hundred must be ideal
@@joesmoke27your completely wrong if you don’t think there’s a huge difference between 800 and 1000whp. Go find some friends who are into racing and build motors and see for yourself
@ racing sure but the comment said street cars
@@joesmoke27 im not talking about drag promods that don’t get driven unless they are at the strip, I’m talking about street cars. Built for boost and see the streets every time the weather allows for it. You must not be aware of the racing scene
@ dang you’re right tell that to Chris Harris too he must be totally unaware unlike yourself
I probably saw that same F50 in a mall in Montreal when I was around 11. I have a Polaroid standing next to it.
Camaros and Mustangs have soul.
Doug is the kind of guy who gets more excited by a Pontiac Aztek than a supercar 😮
TBH so do I.
Well yeah. He’s made it pretty clear that he values quirky cars over the same features that every car has. And the Aztek is one of the weirdest cars ever made.
If an Aztek and a 911 Turbo S (they all look the same anyways) stand together im looking at the Aztek
Doug is the kind of guy that has a point. A damn good point.
The kind of person who buys an Aztek because they want to is probably more interesting than the kind of person who buys a supercar because they can afford it.
None of these cars are being raced! That adds to the heritage and pedigree. One of these new cars Flipping down the Mulsanne straight at 220 would restore the feeling.
yep, cars that race professionally are more exciting: ferrari, corvette, cadillac, etc.
Except the ford gt
Touché ! 👌
The Gordan Murray T50 is going to be the best car overtime! Lightweight, Manual V12, Revs to 12,000 RPM! That is going to be a special car!
Apart from the fact it’s almost the ugliest created of the last 10 years. Truly awful.
@@Al-vl3tp Got that fugly fan at the back though.
T33 will age much better
Yep, that one qualifies. Like Doug, I'm not terribly enamored with hypercars for most of the reasons he mentioned, but the T.50 pushes the visceral thrill buttons handily.
It is so ugly from the rear.
Except for the fact that is average looking in the front, and very ugly at the back
You are exactly right. When we bought a model s plaid after they dropped the price. Man it sure made me think more about the cars I really enjoy to drive like my gt350R.
Doug, I agree. I remember as a kid in the 80s, having a poster on my wall with a Lamborghini Countach (a white one just like the one behind you), a Ferrari Testarossa and a Porsche 959 on it. I remember when the Dodge Viper first came out and everyone was excited. They called it the "widowmaker" because it was a handful to drive, with many people wrecking theirs. I think it was Kelsey Gramer who wrecked his, or maybe Letterman, I can't remember. But now high horsepower cars are common, and have aids to prevent a lot of driver errors, but I guess Challenger and Mustang owners still find a way. I have a 16 year old son, who is also a gear head, and he likes the older super cars as well. We go to a lot of car shows, and he sees the older cars, and often has been allowed to sit in them, see the clunky vintage shifters, smelled the rich exhaust, hear the roar and rattle of the car. My sports car is nothing special, a motor swapped 1985 Honda CRX. It's a rattling deathtrap, but it feels like a go cart compared to modern sports cars. When my son was 7 or 8 and I was trying to sell it since my kids were little, and we had gone the family man/mini van route. I took my son for a ride in it, chirping the tires up into 3rd gear, and cornering the car mildly aggressively. I kinda was hoping to scare him a bit, but instead, he fell in love with it right there. I looked over, and instead of scared, he was grinning ear to ear. From that point on he loved the car, and vowed to have it one day. Now, he is almost 17, we got it running again after aa few years of sitting, and occasionally take it to car shows, where we see more Lambos, Ferraris, McLarens, and Porches, but we are always the only 1st gen CRX there. While my car pales in comparison to those, he loves the fact that whether we are at car shows, or just taking it out somewhere for a brief errand, someone comes up to us to talk about the car. Mostly they have fond memories of owning one, or someone they knew had one, and they remember how fun they used to be. My son loves that. Starting in January of this coming year, (2025), my son is starting at our local Career and Technology center to study auto body repair. I told him, once he is older, past the boy racer phase, I will give him the car if he has a garage. He plans to strip it, and do a ground up restoration, if he can find parts. But he loves the simplicity of it, as a small, somewhat quick, fun car, with a manual transmission. He has seen the car's soul, and wants to save it. And, like me, he likes older cars with simpler transmissions, and without the gadgets and gizmos. I think if I had money, I'd get a Countach, a Ferrari 308 GTS, and a 1980ish black Porsche 911 with black wheels with polished lip. AFTER I get my Knight 2000 and General Lee replicas.
I feel like nearly every supercar nowadays follows the exact same formula:
1. Twin-turbo F**ING AD NAUSEAM (N/A and S/C engines are practically nonexistent now)
2. V8 or V6
3. Hybrid
4. Rear mid-engine
5. Automatic DCT or SCT
There's absolutely no variety anymore. All of these cars or the same. The twin turbo V8 has done to cars what the Marshall 4x12 has done to heavy metal guitar: it was so good that everyone used it until it got bland and monotonous.
And, infinite special editions that are somehow more special than the last special edition.
If you factor the “or”s in the items you listed, there are 40 distinct combinations ignoring there are a bunch of N/A and S/C cars (C8 Z06, Emira to list one of each) Adding those 2 options, it now makes 120 distinct combinations in the 5 categories you listed. Enough for you?
@bobthebandit3091 there is the mixed transmission konigsegg too
@@ufukonurtezel7768 The CC850 transmission is just wizardry; auto, flappy paddle manual AND three pedal manual.
C8 z06 is an 8 speed dct@bobthebandit3091
As a 20 year old guy who’s fairly new to the car community, I own a 2001 celica GTS and to tell you the truth no one really wants the most expensive fastest car on the market anymore. What’s cooler than ever is niche interest cars that are tailored to your specific taste and what fits your vibe. Some people just don’t make sense driving certain cars and it’s like every hyper car manufacturer assumes a ton of people will buy these when it’s really only a few people. This is why they’re thinking of bringing back older models like the celica, or the Honda prelude potentially in 2025. People like the in between cars and just durable solid made vehicles.
I'm 41 and remember a young salesman letting my best friend and I take a new 6spd Celica GTS for a spirited drive in 2001. It was a great car and left a deep impression on us. And the rivalries between cars like the Integra, Celica, Prelude, etc, were all so exciting at the time.
[me in my '86 spider]
Nailed it.
I couldn’t agree more. I would much rather own or see a video on the beautiful Mercedes behind Doug than 99% off the new super/hyper cars.
GMA T50, Daytona SP3, and Valkyrie are the only ones that have IT right now
Doug looked the happiest when drove the early stick shift subarus. I think it was the hawk eye sti. Those earlier cars are just more fun to drive.
This is the reason why the restomod scene is where my excitement is now. The companies that work on those cars bring that "specialness" back into the automotive industry. They may not all be supercars but I would rather have one of those over many of the new supercars currently on sale.
Thank you! Eagle, Guntherwerks… that’s where I would put my money.
I want a badass rat rod... Like a huge dump truck all types of Mad Maxed out 🤤
except restomods are still out of reach. i prefer cheap sports cars that just need an engine and transmission swap.
I dunno, there are only so many 70s/80s/90s 911s with LED headlights and 500bhp you can see before they all start to get boring.
Eagle are an exception, imo, but a lot of these new restomods have the same basic formula: take old car, lower it, give more power, redo the interior, put on a body kit and sell for £500,000.
I agree, but I’m not overpaying for a old car that has been overdone if I can just buy the new version for the same price.
Good video. As a Viper owner, I totally agree. I understand my car is not the fastest, the most refined or have the latest tech, but does it sure bring the character and the Drama. I could buy a plaid and have money in my pocket while getting 2x the horsepower, but… I’ll take my wild bull. 😃
Notice how he didn’t diss Koenigsegg. Those are cars that are built purely out of passion by one man with a dream to create the true ultimate street legal super or hyper car
Agera RS1will forever be my favorite machine ever built, truly a masterpiece of modern engineering
Show stoppers for sure
Koenigsegg does something unique with their cars that no one else does.
he forgot about them most likely
then again anyone could go to SuperVettura or whatever local dealer you have and buy a k, that's not happening with Ferrari.
@@xx-----------xx873 I don't think so, since the Jesko is on the thumbnail
Well done Doug... you summed it up for me! I was questioning myself, I've had some lovely cars in the past and I was questioning why am I not interested anymore. And this is why
The Valhalla is a one of a kind and for the price it's an absolute bang for buck!
15:45 even the Chiron. When you talk about it you still remember the W engine, the crazy turbos.. meanwhile half of the others super/hypercars you just can't connect or care if they are hybrids or EV.
The Chiron isn’t as exciting because if we truly oversimplify, while in many ways it is mechanically different, it is in purpose/goal/overall presentation; still just a Veyron.
A Veyron is nowhere near “just an EB110” see the difference? Same with Tourbillion
Other than the flaw of battery longevity, the Bugatti Tourbillion still feels special because it has many unique qualities as opposed to the next V8 hybrid hypercar
I'm pretty sure the battery will last longer and will require less maintenance than the v16 component
Who cares mate really who cares
@@xx-----------xx873 42 people. Your comment is redundant. Say something useful
@@thedumbconspirator4956 I HIGHLY doubt it ever will :D
@@thedumbconspirator4956 less maintenance than the V16, but lasts way shorter
I get more excited by older cars in good condition. I'm 25, and I wasn't able to drive or even be in most of the older cars when they were new. So seeing one in really good condition makes me so happy.
@@Sh4dowgale especially if it was with the original owner since new, low miles & no modifications at all. Even if it was an economy car, I would truly respect it.
@AhmedMJ97 Exactly!
@Jonathan-jp4zz Amen brother!
I am the same way!
We're getting old, my dream car is still a 2010 Camaro SS; my all time "If I was rich car" is the Pagani Cinque and Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG Black Series
I totally agree. I see UA-cam videos reviewing a new multi million dollar hypercar and I just sigh and scroll on. I don’t get very excited about music anymore either. Part of it is my age but I feel streaming services have cheapened the experience. I think you hit the nail on the head with this video, Doug.
I hope more cars like the GMA T.50 or 911 ST are made. Now that speed is more accessible, it would be nice to see manufacturers start to prioritize engagement and the experience over headline numbers like 0-60 and horsepower figures.
Exactly, it seems like we're living the horsepower war Japanese auto makers tried to stop in the 90s as every car now (even some boring crossover EVs) have like gazillion horsepower, do 0-60 in sub 3 seconds and all the other useless numbers 🤦🏾♂️
I predict that once exhilarating speed and HP become readily available in even the cheapest cars, there will be a shift in the supercar market towards cars that are unique and fun to drive as their selling points. Maybe supercars with manual transmissions and naturally aspirated engines and other fun features will become attractive to buyers again, as they provide a driving experience that diverges from fast but boring everyday cars
You know what’s engaging? Bicycles. You are in complete control and have full steering and feel with the ground.
this happened to watches. quartz (auto) movement made mechanical (manual) movement obsolete. smart watches (EV) made them both obsolete. watch makers then decided to go back to mechanical (manual) movement because it has more "soul."
@@michu6777 naturally aspirated engines wont happen from any of the big manufacturers, because they can't anymore for regulation reasons
Another reason why hypercars dont feel as special is social media. You can watch tons of videos and content on any car no matter how rare or expensive it is. Back in the 90s you only had car magazines and rarely you could see them in person
Completely agree with Doug's first point, the sheer quantity of these cars is making them less special, but so is exposure and publicity of them thanks to the internet. It's not that the new ones are bad, I bet they are amazing to drive. But back in the mid-to-late 90s when I was also a kid, you had like a half dozen proper supercars (Diablo, F40, F50 etc) and even less hypercars (McLaren F1, CLK GTR, etc). Therefore, they became almost legendary as you pretty much never saw one, and without UA-cam seeing one featured on TV was a treat. I remember seeing a yellow Diablo in the late 90s in a showroom and I couldn't believe how wide it was. A few years later I got up close to a F40 in the same place, and I still remember seeing the carbon fibre weave through the thin paint to this day. But with UA-cam, you can see everything you ever want to know or see on pretty much any new car.
This is 100% accurate.
This is the same reason everyone bought Ferraris in red back then. You never saw any Ferraris ever, at all. So there was no, “they’re all red”. “They all” meant maybe once per year for a fleeting moment, or if they were on TV or in a movie.
100% accurate, that's why they kids put the posters on their walls. For us now those posters is basically UA-cam.
in the 90's we had to experience cars through magazines and movies. hard to explain the excitement of actually spotting one in the wild - no cars and coffee back then!
In the 90s you'd even buy a magazine just to have a few photos of an F50.
Absolutely spot on. Love seeing your GT @ RSF CnC. This is the main reason why I still keep my 718 spyder and will never sell it. It’s not about numbers but about excitement!
I’m roughly the same age as you and I feel exactly the same. For me it was the F40/50 XJ220 and EB110 as a kid too. I’ve often wondered if it’s just me getting older, but the points you raised here described my feelings perfectly.
Kudos to Doug for just coming out and saying it. We've killed everything special about supercars.
Wish they would focus on sound and feel instead of HP. Like a very small high-reving V8/V10/V12 in a small car like a Miata. I don't need 600+ HP. I need sound and feel.
Gordon Murray is doing that in the supercar space but he's pretty much the only one with the drive to do it.
Growing up in rural Michigan, a Corvette or a muscle car was stupid cool. I became an adult and seeing super cars around the world became not uncommon. Now I live in Germany for work and seeing the stuff from my childhood feels exotic again.
Amazing takes Doug
Exactly why I will keep my F12 TDF forever. This video is absolutely dead on !
And SOUND, when speed doesn’t matter as much anymore and you want drama, it’s the sound that delivers it.
Sound only matters to people poor enough to never own one. The actually wealthy people buying them only want the sound on a racetrack nobody wants to drive a loud car through a neighborhood or downtown through a city
I repeat… NOBODY but you cares about how your cars engine sounds or your sound system. NOBODY ELSE CARES.
Nothing beats the music of a properly tuned V-8. And why EV's suck! You already lose 1/3 of your life to "sleeping". Now another 1/3 lost charging your EV. lol
It goes along with the mindset of today's society. If a little is good, too much has to be even better! Whether it's superhero movies, Hallmark movies, or just making entertainment content in general. There are so many things being made so quickly these days, it's impossible to consume it all. Virtually nothing feels special anymore because everything gets overdone as soon as people get a whiff of something becoming popular. It's a reason the majority of influencers are the bane of society. It all goes back to that classic line from The Incredibles, when everybody is super, nobody is.
The special factor has definitely decreased. The overall reception to the Ferrari F80 and Mclaren W1 has been poor and their powertrains aren't all that exciting either compared to others.
Because both are hideous looking. Rather just twin turbo a lambo and smash both for a 10th of the price
Totally agree with your points!!! I might add 1 more reason: back in the F50 days, it was easier to find roads where you could push them to their limits. Nowadays super/hyper cars are not designed for real track use but are also waaaaayyy too grippy to push them on o-en roads!
The best and most truthful video you have ever done. Absolutely agree with you 100%. I feel the same exact way.
One of the best videos you have ever done. I feel the exact same way. Also some of the UA-camrs get so crazy with these new hypercars it seems to me like they get paid by the car companies.
And GM makes a $200K car that looks like these cars, has similar or better performance, and similar or better power numbers. Without the intangibles from the older cars that Doug mentioned, these modern exotics are just C8 ZR1's with unreliable hybrid systems and a 10x sticker price.
So true. The ZR1 is so good it makes it seem unreasonable to spend more money on an exotic and end up with a lame hybrid with subpar engineering
and zr1's hold their value well. c6 zr1 is $100k rn and c7 is upwards of $200k
but its still just a corvette 😂
@hanspeter24 just a corvette that performs better than nearly all sub million dollar cars.
what a joke.
the supercars, not the corvette.
Having a hard time finding the article but I remember Dave Tracy (?) writing about the Hellcats on first release and that it was the "democratization of speed" making high horsepower, low 0-60 cars widely available to the public that would have widespread consequences as far as the HP wars. Now we have SUVs faster than any supercar from 20 years ago and it's all been a race to meet what automakers think the public wants.
Such a good take. I remember having an f40 poster on my wall for 8 years growing up. Now it’s one year after another here comes something similar but more exclusive or more expensive
I’ve been subscribed to you for so many years now and waiting patiently for you to review a Z32 300zx twin turbo. How much longer are you going to make me wait haha. Big fan of yours by the way keep it up 👍.
One car that I don’t think suffers from this, although probably because it’s more of a sports-car than a supercar, is definitely the GT3RS, and other RS Porsche cars.
Somehow every new generation of that car gets crazier and crazier and I love it.
Imo it doesn't have the "look" if you get what I mean that a supercar should have, like an Aventador
SVJ for example. I saw a Carrera GT irl and man was I disappointed, could be any 911 Targa for all I care. Whenever I see an Aventador though 😍😍
gt3rs is not that special......you would have to experience it to understand.....its also not really a hyper exotic car.....porsche last special car was a Carrera gt as explained already
To me 911's have always felt like they intentionally hold back on the "craziness", to leave room for the next iteration. It has probably been the smart thing to do, business-wise, but it also holds back the development by intentionally not introducing half of the things they could have on this model and save it for the next. But then I'm not the target group for any of these cars, unless I win the lottery.
Any car that has a base model isn’t a super car…
911's one of the least special cars ever, they make a new one every week and you know Porsche can do better, but they slow roll their seat sniffer customers and overcharge them.
The point you made about cars with no soul. Couldn't agree more with this point. I've been supercar shopping for years, that would give me the same viseral feel the 2012 Gallardo did. Great video and perspective, Doug.
How old were you when the Gallardo came out? If the answer is
@bobthebandit3091 I was 17 at the time the Gallardo came out and bought my first one at 27. Honestly, the Gallardo wasn't a poster car for me as much as the lp-670 was.
It's the Lexus effect, but for performance cars. A few years after the brand debuted in North America, Lexus was offering cars that were objectively superior to BMW, M-B, et al.: faster acceleration, quicker handling, quieter inside, and with all the latest gadgets. But they didn't spark the same passion as the traditional brands because their personalities were buttoned down to the point where the car felt like an _automaton_ rather than an _automobile._ Perhaps that's what ultimately explains what's going on in supercars now.
@@bobthebandit3091you’re an idiot, hope this helps
The LFA not only has soul, but it is an Opera singer with an athletic body. I wish I had $900k to buy one. Maybe next year 😮💨
Lfa is a straight piped carrera gt
$800k for a poor performing front engine car is crazy. Want a nice sounding car put a borla on a V6 Camry.
@@freddybell8328benchracers like you are part of the problem in this video. How is an exhaust on a camry gonna match a V10?
@@freddybell8328its not about performance. How come Nissan gtr which was faster than lfa at launch not cost more than the lfa. Its the special feeling a car gives that decides its value. Faster cars will come and go but legends live forever
@RAAM855 it's true, you're only paying for the engine and nothing else. I don't care that Jeremy Clarkson said it was one of the best cars he's ever driven. Most of have never rode in or driven these supercars so we dream about what we see on the screen. The fact that people want an lfa just because it sounds good should show you what kind of car it is. The Carrera gt is an objectively better enthusiast car
Currently there are maybe three super-/hyper-/mega-cars of interest: Tourbillon, T.33, W1.
What Doug is talking about is context. Historical and personal context is what makes some cars so special. The context attached to most modern super cars is narratively empty or depressing. They just seem to occur in a vacuum.
I love that big influencers are calling out on the bs going on in the super car markets in recent years
An almost 17 minute commercial of Doug pitching and likely selling a lot of Mazda MX-5s!!
Miata is the best!
Id say the car im most passionate about is the mclaren P1. The sound and wild looks. Even today it still looks far ahead of not only its own time but also this time. EVOTVs video on the P1 is straight up beautiful and emotional one of the best car review videos out there on this platform
yawn, all mclaren’s look the same, also lambo
I think about this often so its nice to hear Doug address it. Something else I think has a huge effect here is social media. Coverage of these cars is extremely oversaturated. It used to be very special to see a fast/expensive/etc car on the road or talk to someone who knew about cars.
I agree with this, I recently bought a gated manual Murcielago and it’s a breathe of fresh air compared to my other cars / cars I’ve owned
That Aston Martin Valkyrie has woke people up from what I’ve seen recently
IMO it’s become so much about the fastest lap times or most horsepower. It’s lost the essence of just being fun to drive.
When I look at demand for the high end manual Porsche cars (GT3, S/T) it makes me wonder why more manufacturers don't go for that market. It isn't about going as fast as possible. It is about having pleasure from the act of driving a well engineered car. The feel of the inputs and the sound of the engine are more important than quarter mile times or 0-60. BTW, I got more excited seeing an SVX on the road the other day than I do when I see something like a McLaren.
100% agree, i remedier being a kid seeing an yellow f40. That was special...
Now ive found a Lotus exige s240, still affordable exotic with real soul.
Nothing will beat the racing pedigree
Doug the type of guy to say “hello is anybody there ?” when he hears a noise downstairs.
Doug the type of guy to say "Thisss is my nine millimeter, and today I'm going to show you it's quirks and features." When he hears a noise downstairs.
That 00:00 "ThisS" reverb tail is crazy 🔥
I think we're around the same age, the F50 was theee car for me when I was a kid growing up - if you can't picture building a model of it or hanging a poster of it in your room as a kid, the special factor isn't there.
It’s also funny how EV companies expect people to get excited about their new car having 1000hp, when that’s literally the bare minimum nowadays
sick beard doug, you’d look good with a stache IMO
Social media is likely a huge factor into why cars don't feel as special (or just things in general), cuz every influencer has one, or at least makes them seem like they're everywhere. When a media embargo lifts, every car review channel releases the same car video at the same time. We sit here getting a glimpse at everything the car has to offer. It seems accessible, not in a monetarily accessible way, but as an immediately available entity, so it seems common.
Back when those F-40s were the pinnacle of car enthusiasts' bedroom walls, that's because they were rare, not just in real life, but you had to GO somewhere to see one. They weren't fed to you by social media.
Enormously important point! Every time something new is announced, within hours: "Hi guys i'm SHMEEE", then Carwow, then the others. About a month later you have Harris drifting it and smoking the tires. I've seen the car about 20 different ways before the damn thing was even released into the market and I no longer care.
I really love how DM is always making videos that come from random ideas he had or heard.
Maybe inspired by "Why I Will NEVER Buy a NEW Car AGAIN" ua-cam.com/video/fKEz6PErP98/v-deo.html from 1 month ago.
Getting older. I’m the same way. Nothing new excites me anymore.
Very well said. As a Car Reviewer I feel very similarly. I get a new car sent to me multiple times a year, and I typically find the things to nitpick about rather than to enjoy.
Great video!
As a kid from the 70's and 80's, I remember when 300hp was incredible, when the 911 GT3 cost $120k and was viewed as attainable, and AMG and M badges were not thrown on every single model.
So refreshing to hear an automotive influencer go against the grain of new flashy supercars. The only new supercar I'm absolutely obsessed with (aside from anything from GMA) is anything from Kimera, the EVO37 in particular. Doug you've gotta find a way to review that...
This isn’t against the grain at all there are more back in my day everything was better and these new cars suck videos on UA-cam than you can shake a stick at
The "special" level today looks like the AMG1 and AM Valkyrie that are more race cars that take skill to drive and are on the low production exclusive
weird that he didnt name the AMGone, def stands out
You mean track cars that barley work on the track and are massive inconveniences on the road
0:00-0:01 Listen to that subtle off-wall reverb. The tasteful bass of it. Oh my God. It even has an echo. Impressive. Very nice.
Let's hear Paul Allen's this.
Bruh 💀
What’s wrong? Slushboxes connected to paddle shifters, the end. Like driving a video game.
You're dead-on Doug, and very well stated. I got kind of lucky financially coming out of a very poor family, bought a '21 Huracan EVO (RWD). Supercars always held some special place in my heart, seeing them on posters etc. Ended up selling it back for what I paid for it (this was 2022 or so). I think the big thing is to create those cars originally, it took a LOT. The engineering, love of motorsports, love of just the whole sphere of car engineering.
Even though the Huracan is more or less a VW-tamed version of the Gallardo, it was special to me. There's something about an old, annoying, but refined over time engine behind the drivers head that feels special.