Tom LaPointe's Exotic Car Lifestyle Notebook
Ramblings on exotic cars, the car market, and things with wheels overall. We especially love Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche, and all the events where you find them.
About Me
- Name: Tom LaPointe
- Location: Dunedin, Florida, United States
I currently publish iParent Magazine in the Tampa Bay area and work as a freelance writer for Affluent Page Index, in NYC. I grew up in Michigan near the Motor City and finished high school in Fernley NV. After attending the University of Nevada as a music major, I joined the Marine Corps as a combat correspondent. As a writer and editor, I won many publishing awards for photography, writing and editing. What led me to the auto industry is simply this: I love cars. I have raced stock cars and sports cars and competed in Land Rover off-road competitions in Vermont and Colorado. I have been a pit official for the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, and a pit crewman for Indy and a Hooters Pro Cup races. I've served as a manager of both sales and service for one the largest luxury car groups in the world. I'm still active as an off-road instructor for Land Rover and HUMMER dealers and owners. I enjoy crawling an off-road vehicle through the most severe obstacles as much as heel-toeing sports cars into hairpin turns! I am also a freelance writer for several automotive publications.
November 13, 2013
December 4, 2009
New Porsche Boxster Spyder to shake off car's 'Chick Car' image
The all-new Porsche Boxster Spyder is set to hit the market in February with a price tag starting about $60k US. With 320 horsepower and lowered suspension adding to its already impressive performance, the new model will likely appeal to a broader aficionado and performance crowd and shake some people’s perception of it as a ‘chick car’. Enjoy this video from duPont Registry, and let us know if you want to get an early spot on a list.
Labels: auto, boxster, boxster spyder, car, exotic car, new porsche, porsche
November 24, 2009
Spyker C8 Aileron a delight for all the senses
I was able to drive a pre-production model thanks to Spyker of Tampa Bay and their Manager, Chris Warren. The ride and handling are definitely in the grand-touring category, which is exactly what Spyker is looking for. While my drive in the million-dollar prototype was only on city streets, the car seemed very responsive and absorbed bumps and pavement undulations with confidence. It’s not quite as responsive as a Ferrari 599 GTB, but more spry through the twisties than the much-heavier Bentley Continental GT.Pricing is likely $225k and up, and annual Aileron production could be in the 100 to 200 range, so the car will always have exclusivity. And the novelty of the stunning design will ensure it is the center of attention in any valet line. First deliveries are targeted for summer 2010, so call us now for help getting to the top of the list. (Photos © Tom LaPointe)
Labels: aileron, car, exotic car, sports car, spyker
September 27, 2009
September 21, 2009
Jay Leno video with the new McLaren MP4-12C - he loves it!

Check out this great video from my friends at duPont Registry of Jay Leno touring the McLaren facility and seeing how the new MP4-12C. From the racing side to how the carbon fiber tub is created for left- or right-hand drive.
Jay says he loves the car and gives us a walkaround tour of it, and hints clearly that he wants to have the first one। This car is going to be a superstar। Look for upcoming articles in which I detail different aspects of a product and brand that is sure to be a celebrity must-have. Read about Jay Leno and other celebrities and their cars.
August 5, 2009
Cash for Clunkers will likely help prop up exotic market?

Here’s the logic. Of all the stimulus measures, few put money directly into the economy. With the billions spent on road-building, the same contractors who already had business will likely get the business, not the ‘little guy’. The same few materiel suppliers benefitted from it, but the general main street population doesn’t see anything different than a few months of construction inconvenience and then a smoother road. With save our homes, a few individuals will keep their home and the BANKS will avoid more home ownership issues.
Not only is the CARS program is the only one that put ‘today’ cash into the local economy, but it is the only one with a leveraged return: for every few grand Uncle Sam donated for a down payment, $20,000 to $30,000 was transacted. Regional truckers moved the cars, local detailers cleaned the cars, local gas stations fueled the cars, many local banks provided loans, local and state tax coffers got a shot, and dealer personnel earned a few bucks in commissions and support salaries. Even at face value, the (likely) $3 billion pumped $15 billion to $205billion into real circulation, and buyers spent 75% of that. That translates to as much as half a billion of revenue changing hands in each state – not shabby, since Florida was battling a $2 billion shortfall.
More than that, the waters have been chummed for more buyers who didn’t qualify but got an itch to put something new in their driveway or saw their neighbors with new cars, so there is plenty of collateral business transacting in dealer showrooms. That results in a lot of trickle-UP economics. All of this cash flow is headed directly for local businesses—electronics retailers, home stores, pizza parlors, and even grocery stores. All those local and national proprietors will get closer to black ink for the quarter.
The people who profit from that black ink are the ones who typically spend their money on luxury items. Agree or disagree with the long-term impact of the stimulus, but the CARS program is making a difference today for a LOT of people. Hopefully more than a few of those who profit from the trickle-UP will be able to find their way into exotic car stores AND take home a new toy.
July 10, 2009
New Lambo Spyder is a ROCKET


June 9, 2009
2009 24 Hours of le Mans Looks to be a Thriller

Labels: 24 hours of lemans, alms, aston martin, Audi racing, corvette, corvette racing, endurance racing, ferrari, ferrari f430 GT, ferrari racing
May 20, 2009
RM Auctions' Ferrari sale blasts price record

Labels: exotic car, exotic car auction, ferrari, rm auction, sotheby's, Testa Rossa
May 12, 2009
Ferrari to leave F1??
