magwheel

John Dillinger was once asked, why do you rob banks? He answered with.... "Because that's where they keep the money!"

I've been given the opportunity by my Father who did very well in business and passed his company and business on to me. I'm 58 years old now and have had a lot of cars in my life. I can only live so long and this is what I do for enjoyment. If I couldn't afford these cars, obviously I wouldn't have bought them.

If you think I'm wacked out, just check Jay Leno's collection of cars. He makes me look like a Mattel Hot Wheels collector! Michael

magwheel

Thanks Nick! Hey..... you don't mind if I take cover cause of all the ruckus you've caused recently? We're still good friends though! Michael

Nick

Michael, friends we are. Your approach to cars is honest, realistic and refreshing. My thoughts regarding supercars mirror yours.

Though I have issues with the CGT, no one can ever say that I have not considered it one of the best performance cars on the planet.

Les Quam

Michael,

You are not a wacko and you need not justify your love for supercars or classic cars to anyone on this forum or anywhere else. You are also not required to have been an expert and flown to Germany to follow the development of the CGT as a prerequiste to purchase one.

Colm, Ben and I followed the CGT from it's early stages and we knew everything about the car. All three of us had early deposit's on cars and in fact Colm assisted me with getting my deposit in on a CGT. All three of us read the early negative media reports and were able to foresee the depreciation issues and tried to get our deposits back. Only Colm and I were successful and Ben was not able to recover his despite the efforts of two attorneys.

After Ben took delivery of his car he enjoyed it so much he ecourgaed me to go see one in person and go for a ride in one. Just one look and ride was all it took and I was hooked. Ben introduced me to Chris at Pioneer Porsche in San Diego and I was very happy with Chris and my deal. The CGT is the finest car I have ever driven or owned.

For reasons I don't quite understand a group people who don't own a supercar, classic car, or an exotic car or a car that could be described as remotely even similiar seem to enjoy spending time interacting on this CGT forum and bashing the CGT and their owners as much as possible.

It wasn't long ago you could find several CGT owners or like minded supercar owners of other brands swapping stories and good natured ribbing on the CGT forum here at Rennlist. However the same group of folks who enjoy bashing the CGT owners have literally driven off most of the CGT owners who previously frequented this forum. I really can't explain why the forum moderators have allowed it to go on but that's none of my business.

I enjoyed your post, pictures and honest observations tremendously and found them informative and refreshing like the breath of fresh air someone previously described. I hope you will keep us up to date with your adventures and not be too discouraged by the judgemental negativity displayed by the CGT bashers that lurk here and receive some form of perverse pleasure in their electronic insults, asinine questions, sarcasm and BS.

mac993

Cheers to you Michael!!! I love your taste in cars. If I was lucky enough I'd do just like you. Diveristy makes the world go round. Enjoy your rides and ignore any of the "haters". Lifes to short.

magwheel

Thanks Les, I appreciate your acceptance for what I am. Being lucky enough to own a few different cars, I don't like to compare, I just present their pros and and the improvements I'd like to see. I always try to be positive. My Father taught me that!

Nick's OK. I tore into him one time and even made it personal to which I later apologized for doing that. That's not like me. But his 'negativity' on the CGT hit a nerve and I lost control. Since then, he and I are hopefully good internet friends. That's the way it should be. Life is too short.

I'm going to reveal something for the first time ever here on the internet. In 2004, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Didn't want to take any chances and wanted the best odds for survival. So I had them remove my prostate. I wore diapers for 8 months. That was real exciting especially when you look at yourself as a 'macho man'! Really brings you back down to Earth! The doctors said I'm cured and I'm finally having some success with Viagra.

The purpose of my revealing that is to show that no matter who you are or how much money you have, sometimes in life, it won't do you any good. 'Have fun in life without hurting other people.' Life is too short to be wasting it on dislike, hatred or paranoia of the world coming to an end!

It was so sad to learn of Ben's passing. I came across the thread by accident one day and thought it had just happened. Then found out it happened last year. From all I've read about him, it seems like he was one heck of a nice guy and was having a good time when it all came to an end. Very sad!

p.s. To all the guys.... If you're over 40 or so..... have your PSA checked every few years. It's better to be safe than sorry. Plus, God forbid...... if something happens like in my case... it's better to be caught early than late! Good health to all of you! Michael

Les Quam

Michael,

Very sorry to hear about your cancer. It runs in my family so I have everything checked every year and a colonoscopy every two years. So I am getting the finger up the bottom every year and the garden hose every two.

Nick knows I was not referring to him. To understand Nick's posts and humor you have to go back a few years and take all his posts in context. He is really a fantastic person and most people on this forum are totally unaware of the fine things he has done for Ben's family since his death. Ben's death was a tragic loss for his family first and foremost and for all of us who knew him here and in person.

The reason I put "life is not a dress rehearsal" at the bottom of my posts is because it's not and we need to follow your lead and actually live that philosphy every day of our lives like you are doing. It's a privilege to have you spend time here on this forum and share your ups and downs with us.

Hopefully some of the bashers and haters that get off by making negative posts on this CGT forum might actually learn something from you? But I doubt it.

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michael,
very happy to hear that your health has improved and you are doing well!
you are certainly right in that life is too short to wasted in a negative manner!
was your diagnosis what led you to purchase the cars?
it's sure nice to hear you are going to be around a long time to enjoy them!!!

Vancouver83LTD

heh heh heh
Reading that gave me a stupid grin
I have a long way to go before I have anything even near that, but thanks for givng me a chance to dream

Vancouver83LTD

and icon his yard looks like yours

magwheel

Not really Jeff. Dad and I always had a difference in opinion of what a car was for. He was from the 'old school' and felt cars were for going back and forth to work and other important things in family life. In his later years of life, he finally felt that you could enjoy a car just riding around town doing nothing special.

Out of respect and fear of getting my *** chewed out, I always had to 'hide' almost all my cars from Dad. He use to bust my *** all the time when he saw new car. Of course, getting a new car every two years really didn't help matters too much!

The real reason for my buying the cars is first.... Dad gave me the financial ability like I've stated before (as you know!) and secondly..... I'm pretty much a 'spoiled brat'! I've had a ton of cars my whole life. You just wouldn't believe how many! How else could someone get the nickname 'Magwheel' at the tender age of 17 (around 41 years ago)? I got it because I put American Racing magwheels on Mom and Dad's 1964 Ford Galaxie without them knowing about it and a friend of mine just started calling me 'Magwheel' and then all my friends did.... even to this day! Michael

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in 1965, when my family was living in columbus, dad bought a navy blue ford galaxie 500 ltd with 425 hp!
seems unreal now those old cars having all that hp!
and i'm not sure, but i don't believe it had a stability management system!

Les Quam

That's too funny about the 64 Ford wagon. I own a 63 Ford Galaxie wagon with 24,000 original miles, original paint, original carpet, original glass, original interior, original engine and drivetrain. Looks and smells like it rolled off the showrrom floor. It is a two owner car, originally owned by Eli Lilly the drug king. Prescription drug king that is. The wagon has the fake wood option along the side of the car. Really neat. I'll take some pictures and try to post them in the next couple of days.

Sorry Magwheel it has the original hubcaps and is unfortunately faster than any car Icon and Nick own. LOL

MANUAL

Overstated or understated hp? Gross or net hp?

Bob Rouleau

That was before SAE Net HP standards. Knock off around 15 percent to get closer to today's standard.