[faisalkhan]

Can't remember where I read it, but there has been talk of the German and British teams not getting along. According to the article, "the Germans like to use hard numbers to arrive at all decisions, which doesn't sit well with the British team that like to work intuitively through a lot of issues." And Gordon Murray was in the thick of it.

All supercar manufacturers coming out with new models now have missed the peak of the market. Classic and collectible car prices are also deflated, for the most part. It always happens like this. Cars get designed at the peak of the economy, and by the time they roll out of the factory, the economy has gone bust.

Interestingly, demand for the super super expensive cars, like the Veyron and Maybach, is fairly insensitive to the economic fluctuations. Only the extremely wealthy buy those cars, and their wealth is so immense that $500,000, $5 million, or perhaps $50 million even, is not significant. According to Warren Buffet, "The trick is to get to a point where you make more in interest and dividends than you spend. Then the wealth keeps accumulating, no matter what."

This is much more evident in the very high-end boat, plane, artwork, and luxury house markets. There's always an active market for those, no matter what the economy. And most of those deals are for cash. Which is a pity, because loans to finance such large numbers would help stimulate the economy.

If there is any good in all this, it's that used supercars will be cheaper and more plentiful than ever. Diablos, Gallardos, Murcielagos, Ferrari 360s, 355s, etc. are all coming down in price, and there's lots of them around, unlike the very limited production numbers of older supercars like the Lamborghini Miura or Ferrari 250.

McLaren prices, while maybe not appreciating like before, still hover at the $1.2 million mark. Yet another testatment to the greatness and desirability of this car. I belive this car's price will continue to climb.

The SLR is still on track, from all I have read and heard.