SMOKIN’ TAX DEDUCTION?
Why not? asks David Booth
Let’s talk about tax deductions. I know, I know: what the hell am I doing talking about taxes when I should be waxing lyrical about this beyond-gorgeous orange Lamborghini Huracán? But hear me out, will ya?
The government dictates the maximum you’re allowed to spend on a business vehicle is $30,000. In other words, you can buy a fully loaded Honda Accord LX before the Canada Revenue Agency cuts you off.
My amendment — call it radical if you want — would see that limit bumped all the way up to $317,847. Not coincidentally, that is the exact MSRP of this beautiful piece of Italian (and German) engineering. Now, I know it sounds like a boondoggle, but if you’ll just bear with me, there will be a fiscally sound method to my supercar madness.
Business is nothing but the art of the meeting, right? But first — and this is often the most difficult part of the capitalistic process — you actually have to get the meeting. That’s where a Huracán — pearled orange or any other colour — comes in handy. That’s because nothing, but nothing, opens doors like the offer of a ride in a Lamborghini.
That vice-president in charge of procurement who’s ducking your calls? Offer to drive him to lunch in an LP 610-4. Doesn’t matter where; could be a hotdog stand.
Meeting’s on! National marketing manager keeps pushing back your conference call? One quick Lamborghini email and suddenly it’s absolutely imperative that you meet in person.
Hell, I had one managing director cancel her entire afternoon because we suddenly needed a “serious” tête-à-tête. By business lunch standards, a Lambo is the ultimate bribe, the one absolute guarantee that you will always get in to see that important person.
How do you put a limit on that, Mr. Canada Revenue Agency?
But really, it’s always been thus. Who would have, back in the day, refused a ride in a Countach? Or a Diablo or Murcielago, for that matter? A Miura? Absolutely!
Actually, it’s pretty hard to think of even a single Lamborghini that wouldn’t cause a stampede of suddenly eager clients.
To satisfy the never-ending stream of volunteer passengers, we also expect a Lamborghini to steer with the precision of a scalpel and rail around curves as if it were on, well, rails. Oh, there’ll be a few that will carp that the Huracán’s 610 horsepower isn’t quite competitive with the new Ferrari 488’s 661 or the latest McLaren’s not-so-evil 666 horsepower. But anything that hits 100 kilometres an hour in 3.2 seconds and tops out on the scary side of 325 km/h is more than quick enough.
Besides, the Lambo remains resolutely naturally aspirated — the McLaren and, yes, even the Ferrari now, are turbocharged — meaning the Huracán’s V10 soundtrack is now just a little more vibrant, just a little more aggressive than either the 488 or the 675LT. Throw in some stiff suspension with huge 20-inch Pirelli P Zeros and you have the recipe for yet another fantastic supercar from Sant’Agata Bolognese.
What’s changed in the 17 years since Lamborghini was sold to the Volkswagen Group is that Lambos are now also really good cars.
So, yes, that screaming 5.2-litre V10 still zings to its symphonic 8,500 rpm redline, but it also starts every morning. The interior is still Lamborghini angular, but — and this is really going to help with that business meeting — the passenger accommodations are now as comfortable as a German luxury sedan.
And, of course, it handles like a supercar should, but it also features all-wheel drive, which means you could, if you were so inclined, drive it all year long. Yes, Mr. Taxman, even through a Canadian winter.
Modernity also means that things like multi-adjustable dampers actually do provide something approaching “ride.” Evolution also means that, thanks to multi-adjustability and wondrous lumbar support, the Huracán’s seats, unlike Lamborghini perches of yore, are not torture devices. In other words, besides being “super,” a modern Lamborghini is perfectly civilized.
No longer the barely chained pit bull of yore, it’s perfectly capable of the dreaded morning commute to work.
Like I said, it’s the perfect company car. C’mon, Canada Revenue Agency, work with me here!