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Driving a hi-dollar car to a gig

M

millsbass5

Dec 7, 2008
5,214
234
59
Logan,W.V.(not up some holler)
#1
Obviously, the title says it all. I recently acquired a rather rare & exotic, super hi-performance sedan (Which is a big, big reason my G.A.S. is cured. LOL). Now, I'm not talkin' Bugatti Veyron exotic, but, for a sports sedan, she's pretty damn exotic, and on the rare side, too. I'm referring to my ultra-low mileage E60 BMW M5 (It's okay, go ahead 'n drool, I still do every time I raise my garage door). I've also added quite a few hi-dollar mods to it. I've upgraded the suspension, brakes, installed a turbo (A 0-60mph time hovering around the 40 sec. mark, with a 200mph+ top speed), along with some carbon fiber accessories inside/outside of the car, so far for appearance/weight reduction. Oh, and she's pushing right at 550+ horsepower, and hovering around 450+/- ft. pounds of torque. God, I love torque..... Probably more than horsepower.

My question is:
Does anyone else drive a rare/expensive car to a bar/club, and feel comfortable parking it outside? If so, are there any extra measures/precautions that you take, due to it's value/rarity? Or, even if you're a car freak and really like to take care of the Yugo you drive, I'd like to hear your response. I apologize for the long post, but this car IS like a child to me (since I can't have children). And, yes, I absolutely know this isn't a car website. But, in my defense, it's gig-related....... Sorta. :D

Thanks,
Steve
 
#5
I dated a girl for a while who had a really nice bmw convertible fancy thing, and I drove that thing to so many gigs, it was great fun rolling up to soundcheck with the top down and the back seat full of gear. I dunno if I would do that if it was my car, but when it was hers, I loaded that thing up with everything I could! lots of fun, especially in the summer.
 
#8
I drove my '92 Chevy 1 ton dually, black, with one white door, an animal hauler in the bed full of lamb sh*t, 40mi one way to a gig last Friday. I still parked it at the very top of the parking garage when I got there, and hogged an entire corner of the parking garage, like a boss. I was able to take the elevator down to the sidewalk, and only had to walk about a block and a half to the venue.

Wouldn't have mattered if I was driving a Ferrari, I would've still parked there, and I would've still "sound tested" my exhaust the whole way up, and down. ;)
 
#9
bolophonic said:
I drive an Audi A4 to gigs. Not the rarest car on earth, but I do feel like a baller pulling up to the club in it. Even if the leather seats are covered in crushed Cheerios.
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I used to have a Audi A4 too. Owning a car like that at a young age that you paid for yourself makes you feel boss. So i made sure people knew it.

M5... ugh. Im so jelly right now. Spread me on the bread and call it a day.

Also, no pics=no m5 :hyper:
 
#10
I've also got a BMW 5 Series (an E60 545), and I have occasionally driven it to gigs. Frankly, it places a barrier between me and the experience. I don't care, myself, and neither do any of the other guys in the band. But I wind up having the wrong kinds of conversations during the load in and load out when I drive up in it. I assume, since you're asking, that you kind of know what I mean. And this is beside the other point about parking it safely.

I also have a 2004 Explorer, which is kind of my beater. I almost always drive it to the gigs. It's a better gear hauler anyway.
 
#11
jamestown94west Wouldn't have mattered if I was driving a Ferrari said:
Oh, yes! I simply love the Borla exhaust rackin' off the concrete in a parking garage, and tunnels sound even better :bassist:.

I've already beat you guys to the punch, as far as parking at a distance from the club. And, the most I've hauled in it gear-wise are my basses. As we have a bus (Gotta love those county schools auctions! lol) that we "converted" to haul the band, P.A., etc. So, no band members give me the stink-eye for drivin' up in it. Hell, they don't have room to rag on me anyway, with what those guys drive.

And, I'll try to put some pics up, as I don't have a camera at this time (my cell phone?= crappy pics). And, even if I did, I wouldn't know how to put 'em up on here any damn way. My nephew has always done that for me when I've put pics of my gear up on here. I can get around on a computer, but, I can't get around on a computer, if you know what I'm sayin'. I'm what you would call,"computer illiterate", I guess :p. But, either way, I'll try to get some up sooner, rather than later. And, I'll give you guys the option of it sittin' still, or with the rear tires just short of catching fire, as I'm not the least bit ashamed to admit my rare diagnosis of "lead foot". :D
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#12
WJGreer said:
I've also got a BMW 5 Series (an E60 545), and I have occasionally driven it to gigs. Frankly, it places a barrier between me and the experience. I don't care, myself, and neither do any of the other guys in the band. But I wind up having the wrong kinds of conversations during the load in and load out when I drive up in it. I assume, since you're asking, that you kind of know what I mean. And this is beside the other point about parking it safely.

I also have a 2004 Explorer, which is kind of my beater. I almost always drive it to the gigs. It's a better gear hauler anyway.
Click to expand...


What do you mean, "it places a barrier between me and the experience", if you don't mind me asking. :confused:
 
#13
If I had a really nice car I doubt I would want to hump gear in it... it scratches up the interior, tears the seats, and makes your car smell funny (esp if the club has smokers in it). I'd also be nervous as hell with it parked outside, just as I'm already nervous about someone walking off with a piece of my gear. I'd never play a club with a $1600 bass, and I'd never drive a lambo to a gig.
 
#15
millsbass5 said:
What do you mean, "it places a barrier between me and the experience", if you don't mind me asking. :confused:
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I suppose, if I were to be totally honest, that I feel like driving an expensive car to gigs makes me different than essentially everyone else I work with in that world. I want to be defined by my music, not by the car I arrived in, so I feel better driving my old Explorer than I do the BMW.

There, I said it. I guess it's in my mind and nobody else's.
 
#16
+1 on the 'vertible with the top down and a back seat loaded with gear.

It was my only available vehicle for a time, and the top down part was out of necessity in order to load/unload. I was just glad it didn't rain any of those times. I can appreciate getting all the favorite toys out at one time, but would not do so if I didn't need to. Also, beware the inevitable scratch/tear/ding/etc...
 
#17
In SF when I lived there was a well known Jazz Bassist that drove his Ferrari to all his gigs. Now I live in Oregon I have a friend who bought a Maserati Quattroporte which has a Ferrari engine. It is really a stunning car. He drives it to the gig. He's a guitarist and usually brings a small rig. I checked it out one time and asked him to show me the engine and he laughed and said he didn't know how to open the hood (special computer codes required to open) In his defense he had only had it a few months. To get the oil changed he had to drive to the nearest dealer. 185 miles away spend the night while they drain and replace every fluid in it and do a complete check up. I have other friends that drive Muscle cars to the gig. Me I have driven my BMW convertible to the gig a few times. But in reality I usually just take the Pathfinder. LOL
 
#18
WJGreer said:
I suppose, if I were to be totally honest, that I feel like driving an expensive car to gigs makes me different than essentially everyone else I work with in that world. I want to be defined by my music, not by the car I arrived in, so I feel better driving my old Explorer than I do the BMW.

There, I said it. I guess it's in my mind and nobody else's.
Click to expand...

Lol..... Well, I most certainly don't think I'm "defined" by what car I drive to a gig, that's for damn sure. And, on top of that, I'm certainly not "deep enough in my musical spirituality" to even be concerned enough to want to be "defined by my music". lol. I'm far and A-W-A-Y way past that nonsense after 30+ years of slogging it out in clubs. I could care less! Just shut the f--- up, and PAY ME, mother------! And, let me have a good time, and don't make me sound bad. The reason I drive it to gigs? Because it's pretty much the only time I really get to enjoy it. The majority of my time is spent in a company truck. I bust my ass, REAL HARD, working 70+ hours a week, and it's one of the very, very few things I splurged on. So, I'm gonna enjoy it.
And, if anyone's playin' with guys/gals that's judgmental towards you for what you choose to drive, well......
 
#20
My 2000 BMW Z3 Coupe is pretty rare. I drive it to whatever gigs I choose to. The odd bar gig with a higher risk of mischief I usually avoid. Any kind of highway or distance driving will usually find me in the Coupe. I've driven my 99 Miata to tons of gigs too, it's good for bar gigs. Even driven my 1977 Fiat 124 Spider convertible to a few gigs. Way back when I gigged in a 1967 Porsche.

I have gear that won't tear up my vehicles. Pretty easy to do. Nice gigbags, nice amp or rack bag, cabs that don't have a propensity to rip stuff up.

If you're going to be worried about your car for whatever reason you probably shouldn't drive. I couldn't couldn't care
less what negative things some people think about what I'm driving and have had lots of conversations at gigs about my cars. It's not typical bassplayer transportation from what I gather.

Plus I'm rarely late.
;)
 

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