Just musing the other day, while puffing on my personal electronic vaping device, it has been six years since I quit smoking (small round of applause). Having veered towards expert levels of tobacco consumption over the previous 35 years (I was a ‘late-starter’), I now classify myself as a ‘professional vapist’.

Denial is a terrible condition. Yet, it took two cancer ‘scares’ before I took positive action. The irony is that I probably squandered around £250,000 investing in the tobacco industry, which disappeared in smoke and ash, rather than the possibility of at least three brand-new Porsches during that period, which I would have relished somewhat greater than the foolish practice of ‘havin’ a fag’.

Do I regret it? Yes. Probably. Yet, I do not live in the past. I have to admit that the demise of ‘duty-free’ and less frequent foreign travel also helped me to quit, although I would have found it exceedingly tough to justify rolling up a tenner (the approximate cost of a pack of 20) and setting it alight today.

In a survey of the Great British public, leading price comparison website, ‘Compare the Market’, set up a fun interactive tool to measure how much we would have to sacrifice to afford a dream car, whether it be a Ferrari 488 GTB, Tesla Model S, or Mini hatchback. The interactive tool looks at three types of automotive classes, from Supercars, to Luxury and Popular Models. 

A car is much more than a way to get from points A to B. It can be a multi-sensory occasion every time the seatbelt is clicked, every time vibrations are felt through the steering wheel, every time the gears snick into play and every time the car rumbles off the driveway. Today there are 40% more luxury cars and supercars on our roads than ever before, with the demand for boutique cars increasing each year. It is unsurprising that car enthusiasts are willing to go to the ends of the earth to be able to own and experience such driving pleasures.

For example:

• Ford GT: a new model would cost 430 months’ rent on a city centre property, or the same as a three-bedroom detached home in Ashton, Kent.
• BMW 7-Series: owning the luxury barge might mean saving the combination of 5,494 coffees, 8,410 pints of beer and 1,835 cinema trips.
• Fiat 500: even for the Italian tiddler, 2,396 brunches, or 184 nights out on-the-town would have to be given up.

As impractical as it may seem, the study also found that car enthusiasts would be willing to save an average of £291 a month for 11.7-years to buy a luxury saloon, or supercar. Intriguingly, the research found people were willing to give up minor luxuries, such as trips to the cinema and coffees, to more essential costs such as monthly rent. In fact:

• 23% of female car fans would be willing to move back in with parents, for up to 10 years, to be able to afford their dream car, compared to 13% of male car enthusiasts.
• 45.4% of people would also take on a second job, or start a business venture, to fund their way to a luxury, or supercar, lifestyle.
• Those on salaries of £50,000 were prepared to spend 16 years of average saving for their cars; six years more than those on a salary of £20,000-£25,000 and 6.5 more years than those on a salary of £30,000-£35,000.

With supercar sales expected to increase by 60% by 2020, with the average cost currently standing at £215,000 each, perhaps ‘living the dream’ is a practical way to avoid the torpor of political uncertainty. This anticipated rise in supercars might seem absurd, with a financially unstable future for the UK looming on the horizon. Yet, it is clear to comprehend how the thrill of getting behind the wheel is enough to tempt enthusiasts to cut back on certain lifestyle choices to ensure they get into the car of their dreams. 

The fun ‘tool’ provided by ‘Compare the Market’ not only caters for those wanting a new McLaren, as it also provides a practical tool for those seeking their first automotive experiences in a VW Polo, or a Renault Clio. It provides a great way of seeing how much can be cut back and where, by avoiding unnecessary spending, the car you have always promised yourself might be more accessible than was thought initially.