je regrette rien

CSLut · 28-05-2014, 05:40 PM

CSL Cautionary tale:

As i saw it, the problem with CSLs is that while they excel on track, the fun and enjoyment they give, can lead on to "harder stuff".
"Its only one trackday, itll improve me as a driver...."
"i should probably get a roll cage and APs, for safety..."
...before you know it youve an account with Goldtrack, the Simpson Motorsport boys know you well and you constantly sift ebay looking for part worn cups.
"My names Rob and im a CSL'caholic. etc

Well..never one to let sense get in the way of a good addiction, the slippery-slope was ridden to its end, culminating in the part-ex of a Ginetta Race Car for the CSL.

What the hell was i thinking?!

Now I know most people who sell their CSLs for legitamate and justifiable reasons almost never regret it

...but i really want mine back now please.
I was so determined i wasnt going to be "that guy" as well, like every other poor ex-csl owner on here. Dammit!

Racing is not the problem. Racing is brilliant! Although everything i ever heard about cost is undeniably (and im a master of denial) true. We are talking a level of bankruptcy potential that makes yachting or grouse-shooting look positively frugal. A level of costs that would rival a messy divorce...and might just initiate one.

No, racing is not the problem. The problem and my tale of caution, was that i started to see the CSL only as a ripe investment, to be used only on occasion and on trackdays that were themselves losing some of the fun, due to repetition. My problem was that i thought i had taken the "road-car-for-the-track" thing to its conclusion. Maybe so. But i should have reminded myself that it is, fundamentally, a road-car and a rare and brilliant one at that!

I replaced the CSL on the road with a V8 R8. Great car, but almost twice the money of the CSL and still depreciating. In fact it dropped a further 10k in the year ive had it. What i wish i'd have done, is kept the CSL and used the R8 money to buy the race-car. I could have applied my own sort of "comfort" pack: Squidgy suspension settings, sound deadening, comfy seats etc. This would have given me 90% of the enjoyment of the R8, if not more so. Id also have gained at least £5k in value in the last year rather than lost £10k, even if i put 10,000miles on it! Fek.

Incidentally (or maybe not), in 4years of CSL ownership, including untold trackdays, it never missed a beat. The R8 however, has blown up, requiring a new engine...twice! This despite it being FASH and <23,000m car! Currently waiting to hear if Audi HQ will warranty the engine....again.

Anyway...just thought id add my name to the "wish id never sold it list", even if with a different logic than most. Now, get out there guys (and CSLgirl) and scour ebay for standard e-46 suspension and the active seats from an M5!....

...and race-cars !!

https://www.facebook.com/Rpkracing

28-05-2014, 05:40 PM	#1
CSLut S3 - On the open road Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: bristol Posts: 103 Casino cash: $1976	je regrette rien CSL Cautionary tale: As i saw it, the problem with CSLs is that while they excel on track, the fun and enjoyment they give, can lead on to "harder stuff". "Its only one trackday, itll improve me as a driver...." "i should probably get a roll cage and APs, for safety..." ...before you know it youve an account with Goldtrack, the Simpson Motorsport boys know you well and you constantly sift ebay looking for part worn cups. "My names Rob and im a CSL'caholic. etc Well..never one to let sense get in the way of a good addiction, the slippery-slope was ridden to its end, culminating in the part-ex of a Ginetta Race Car for the CSL. What the hell was i thinking?! Now I know most people who sell their CSLs for legitamate and justifiable reasons almost never regret it...but i really want mine back now please. I was so determined i wasnt going to be "that guy" as well, like every other poor ex-csl owner on here. Dammit! Racing is not the problem. Racing is brilliant! Although everything i ever heard about cost is undeniably (and im a master of denial) true. We are talking a level of bankruptcy potential that makes yachting or grouse-shooting look positively frugal. A level of costs that would rival a messy divorce...and might just initiate one. No, racing is not the problem. The problem and my tale of caution, was that i started to see the CSL only as a ripe investment, to be used only on occasion and on trackdays that were themselves losing some of the fun, due to repetition. My problem was that i thought i had taken the "road-car-for-the-track" thing to its conclusion. Maybe so. But i should have reminded myself that it is, fundamentally, a road-car and a rare and brilliant one at that! I replaced the CSL on the road with a V8 R8. Great car, but almost twice the money of the CSL and still depreciating. In fact it dropped a further 10k in the year ive had it. What i wish i'd have done, is kept the CSL and used the R8 money to buy the race-car. I could have applied my own sort of "comfort" pack: Squidgy suspension settings, sound deadening, comfy seats etc. This would have given me 90% of the enjoyment of the R8, if not more so. Id also have gained at least £5k in value in the last year rather than lost £10k, even if i put 10,000miles on it! Fek. Incidentally (or maybe not), in 4years of CSL ownership, including untold trackdays, it never missed a beat. The R8 however, has blown up, requiring a new engine...twice! This despite it being FASH and <23,000m car! Currently waiting to hear if Audi HQ will warranty the engine....again. Anyway...just thought id add my name to the "wish id never sold it list", even if with a different logic than most. Now, get out there guys (and CSLgirl) and scour ebay for standard e-46 suspension and the active seats from an M5!.......and race-cars !! https://www.facebook.com/Rpkracing