The most expensive VW in the world!
January 18th 2010 13:14
More than seventy years ago, a man took a car for a drive on Daytona Beach.
Nothing unusual in this of course, you see his name was Henry Seagrave and the car was the Sunbeam 1000hp. Now if this means nothing to you, can I remind that on that day in March 1927, Henry drove the Sunbeam to a top speed of 203.79 mph (327.97kph!), the first time a car had broken through the 200mph barrier.
This was the kind of thing that made front page headlines all over the world and with good reason. The average family car of the time, the Model A Ford had a top speed of 65mph!
The Sunbeam was powered by two V12 aero engines at 22.4 litres each thus giving the magic 1000hp. Now I mention all this because I read today of the maintenance costs associated with owning a Bugatti Veyron - AKA the most expensive VW in the world!
Quicker than 200mph by 52 mph, this is a car best driven to Daytona Beach and parked outside a nice restaurant, while the waves break on the shore behind you. Now the aforementioned Bugatti does produce 1000hp but that is not the only place you will find things multiplied in the thousands on this car!
How about your yearly service at your very friendly Bugatti/ VW dealer? Oh $20,000 should cover that. Tyres are a problem though as only the Michelin Pilot Sport 2s are constructed with the special compound suitable for the blistering top speed of the Veyron. Cost? About $30,000 or £23,500 in the UK!
Now if you read your owner’s manual you would also know that Bugatti recommends a new set of tyres be fitted every 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) OUCH! Keep reading because at the bottom that page you find the bit about changing the wheels and tires every ten thousand miles! A whole set? $50,000!
Not often you hear this but it makes a Ferrari look cheap!
Nothing unusual in this of course, you see his name was Henry Seagrave and the car was the Sunbeam 1000hp. Now if this means nothing to you, can I remind that on that day in March 1927, Henry drove the Sunbeam to a top speed of 203.79 mph (327.97kph!), the first time a car had broken through the 200mph barrier.
This was the kind of thing that made front page headlines all over the world and with good reason. The average family car of the time, the Model A Ford had a top speed of 65mph!
The Sunbeam was powered by two V12 aero engines at 22.4 litres each thus giving the magic 1000hp. Now I mention all this because I read today of the maintenance costs associated with owning a Bugatti Veyron - AKA the most expensive VW in the world!
Quicker than 200mph by 52 mph, this is a car best driven to Daytona Beach and parked outside a nice restaurant, while the waves break on the shore behind you. Now the aforementioned Bugatti does produce 1000hp but that is not the only place you will find things multiplied in the thousands on this car!
How about your yearly service at your very friendly Bugatti/ VW dealer? Oh $20,000 should cover that. Tyres are a problem though as only the Michelin Pilot Sport 2s are constructed with the special compound suitable for the blistering top speed of the Veyron. Cost? About $30,000 or £23,500 in the UK!
Now if you read your owner’s manual you would also know that Bugatti recommends a new set of tyres be fitted every 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) OUCH! Keep reading because at the bottom that page you find the bit about changing the wheels and tires every ten thousand miles! A whole set? $50,000!
Not often you hear this but it makes a Ferrari look cheap!
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