In one day, I saw:

- Red Enzo - parked on the street in Beverly Hills
- Silver Mercedes SLR - parked on the street in Beverly Hills
- "Guards Red" Porsche Carrera GT - filling up in Malibu near Broad Beach

Those cars made all the Continental GT's and SL 55's look boring ...

On my previous trip, I saw a Quattroporte parked in my office building's valet lot.

Seriously people, where's all this cash from

 

This is what hubby and I are constantly asking one another! I am guessing that SOME of the vehicles are leased...LOLOLOL!

Alternatively, we figure that a lot of wealthy world travellers keep homes in SoCal...


Clover

 

Some people just find a way to make the big bux, not sure how though.


I have one client that has

Carerra GT
SLR
Maybach
Cayenne Turbo
S600 ( selling )
SL500 fully modded out ( selling )
01 996 turbo ( selling )
new 64X BMW convertible.

The ones they are selling are getting replaced with a new Astin martin convertible and a new Bently.

Another client has

Lamborgini Murcialago <sp?>
Ferarri 575m marinello
cl65 ( daily driver )

Ad I have a bunch more clients with these type of cars just not so many in one garage. I am actually at a point when I look at high end cars anything less than an amg, M or whatever doesnt even catch my eye anymore.

Its funny when you sit at a light and more than half the cars are over $50K and 3 or 4 are over $100K and that is a common situation around here.

 

It is pretty amazing....obviously LOTS of money hanging around in these parts. Depending on where you are, just sit on a bench off the 101 in ANY of the beach towns and it's like a car show everyday....

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven - burned up)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"

 

The saturation of expensive showroom fresh cars here is pretty bad. I'm honestly getting really jaded by it.

In the past month, I can think of only one car I saw that really captured my attention: a very clean red E30 ///M3.

 

As I was reading the lists of cars you guys were also mentioning, I realized that I had also seen a Maybach on PCH, and a yellow Murcielago on Santa Monica Blvd

You're right about getting jaded. In Phoenix, I'd try to pull up next to a Range Rover or S-Class to see who was driving it. In LA, you pretty much ignore those cars . Just like I didn't bother mentioning that I saw a few Cayenne Turbo's ...

I need to make me some of that cash!

 

I have talked myself into feeling sorry for both the super rich and the merely wealthy. There are so many of them now with so much money it recalls the opulent 1890s ("Gay 90s").

Their problem is that there are not enough ways to spend their money and not enough places to display it in. LA, Miami, the Riviera, are among the few places left for splashy cars. While it might have breen breathtaking 40 years ago to see a Ferrari on Wall Street it would be considered vulgar today. With the exception of oil-rich rulers (who are a law unto themselves) very few of the super rich have such cars (Ralph Lauren being one enthusiastic exception). The rest would not want to be so conspicuous. So most of these cars probably belong to the merely wealthy who lack the true gravitas that would require them to seek anonymity when consorting with the rabble.

Despite all that and my hope for a more sustainable world I can't help being fascinated by all the crazy cars I see in LA.

 

Here's a link to one of my dad's friend's website's auto section. He owns like 3 banks and his dad owned Romy Hammes Ford, popular 60s racing dealership, and alot of stock in ford. Jerry or "Uncle" Jerry as I know him by is also getting a 2006 Aston Martin DB9 which I will be happy to drive down to florida for him!

link

Mikey

 

So much to see and so little time.
Where I work, many of our guest have all of the car people dream of in our underground garage at http://www.beverlyhillshotel.com/
hehheheheh
I still get more excited seeing mini's on the street.

 

a simple answer to the original question...drugs.

 

Well put!

 

If I had that kinda money, I would have at least 3 supercars in my garage

Why choose between the Enzo and the Carrera GT when you can have both?

 

Of course the MINI would be your third!

 

Everything you buy has someone that is at the top making big money. This happens all over the country. Service industries that don't produce "tangibles" have people that make big money. there are probably lots of people who can afford those cars close to where you live. It just so happens in many parts of the country people with that kind of money do not want you to see it in that way. Beverly Hills is the land of conspicuous consumption. Personally, I love seeing the machinery.


I think I read a quote somewhere that Enzo's biggest dissappointment was that 'the people that could truly enjoy his cars could not afford them.'

 

This is the part that bums me out. I dont know of any of the cars in this class that have actually ever been driving like they were designed to be driven.

On the other hand I may benefit from their big buying power. One of their cars is going in december and the depreciation is sooooo bad I may be able to affod it. I dont usually buy used cars but I know the history and its depreciated over 50% already ! $126K sticker now only worth $64K and all in only 18 months ! If the deal comes through the car will b my wifes car/family car.

 

And the car is ??? Tell us

 

ohh, sorry. I didnt think anyone would care since its no mini by a long shot.

Its 2003 Mercedes S600, already sitting on a NICE set of custom made 20's. Its a super clean car and its BLACK ! I would never shell out new money for one of these but if I can get it in the 50K range it will be my wifes Christmas present. She has put up with my crap for a long time and deserves something of her own that is NICE!!

 

I get to see my neighbor's 2004 M3 and S500 everyday (Cars I would like to get in the future if I had the money )

 

WOW How on earth does an S600 depreciate by that much?

 

Because people who can afford them wont buy them used so they have to fall into the average price range to be sellable.

I booked the car at trade in and its at $64K now, cars dont go for trade in around here they go for wholesale which is a little less. And there is 6 more months before they are getting rid of it. I told them I would buy it but only at wholesale. Its really a sharp low miles car too And that v12 hauls ***!

 

Come down to Miami, this is the car happening place

You'll see Lotus, Lamborghini, Ferraris, Maseratis, Aston Martins, Classics, you name it on every corner. Bentleys are very common down here as well as Rolls Royces.

$100K dollar cars? Everybody is got'em! Come to Miami

 

I'm sure some of those folks earned their money legitimately but it only seems fair that you should get to drive around in a nice ride before spending 10-20 in a federal resort for insider trading.

 

[QUOTE=Donna/Mike]It is pretty amazing....obviously LOTS of money hanging around in these parts. Depending on where you are, just sit on a bench off the 101 in ANY of the beach towns and it's like a car show everyday....

You can say that again, I was visiting in Newport Beach two weeks ago and I was seeing nothing but BMWs Mercedes ect., I think I've only ever seen one Bentley on the road before and I saw three in one day there ! On a drive from Newport Beach to Laguna Beach I thought it would be interesting to see how far we could go before seeing a Chevrolet, about half way there I saw one....it was an SSR !

 

The North San Diego County coast is still fairly secure. I hope it lasts. On the other hand an LA client told me why he drives a big Chevy sedan (looks like a former police cruiser). He said all his equipment fits in it (he is in a famous band) and he doesn't worry about being carjacked. He said he and his friends usually finish late after visiting the local clubs and each of them has learned the ROUTINE for the drive home. If you get bumped from behind do not look back and--especially--do not get out of your car. Just see how much clearance you have ahead of you and tear out! He used to have a Porsche Turbo Carrera and got bumped once and did not want to experience that ever again. Of course it would be different if one were Zsa Zsa Gabor.