According to this Lamborghini salesman: "75 % customers are young people who can't afford to buy them".

In the collective imagination, those who descend from a Lamborghini is necessarily rich. But for Ed Bolian, a former Lamborghini salesman who has become one of the world's leading supercar collectors, the reality is far from the luxurious image portrayed on social networks. Behind the noise of a V10 or the aggressive silhouette of a Huracánoften hides... a loan.

Speaking on The Iced Coffee Hour podcast, Bolian makes it clear: the majority of buyers are young, enthusiastic, and largely unable to afford the price of these cars. According to him, "75 % of customers finance their Lamborghini". Not because it's a smart financial strategy, but simply because they can't afford it any other way.

Young people... and their unaffordable Huracans

The new Lamborghini Huracán (since replaced by the Temerario), was priced at around €220,000 or €250,000 $ (excluding options, special versions, etc.). A staggering price tag, but one that apparently doesn't prevent many young people from signing up for it. Bolian attributes this to an American market accustomed to extreme indebtedness, where financing over ten, twelve or even fifteen years doesn't shock anyone. For him, a recent supercar driver is absolutely not a reliable indicator of wealth. He even goes so far as to say:

"If you see someone driving a supercar that's less than five years old, don't assume they're rich. A new Huracán is not a sign of wealth."

In his experience, the "real" rich tend to be those who drive vintage or iconic supercars, such as an F40 or a Murciélago with a long history. These cars are almost never financed, and their upkeep deters impulse buyers.

Between false image and real customers

In the video, Bolian also recounts the daily life of a Lamborghini salesman confronted with a phenomenon well known at dealerships: people who want to look rich. Counterfeit watches, gaudy luxury clothing, an attitude too eager to get a test drive... For Bolian, the signs are easy to spot. They're often visitors looking only to drive cars they'll never be able to buy.

Conversely, serious buyers are sometimes those who have doubts, who know they're going to have to "stretch" their finances, who ask concrete questions about daily use, insurance or maintenance costs. And here again, Bolian shatters a myth: customers who can really pay cash are, in his view, the hardest to convince, unlike those who take a long time to finance their automotive dream.

When passion goes beyond reason

The former salesman also describes situations where buying becomes objectively a bad idea. He recalls a man who came back for years with an Aston Martin DB9 for which he still owed $100,000, even though it was worth half that. An extreme case, as one would often see in American premium dealerships. And yet, in the end, this man walked away with a new Aston Martin, happy, aware that he had suffered a huge loss, but determined to live his dream.

A disturbing observation... but one that says a lot about our times

Ed Bolian's words are not intended to denigrate the Sant'Agata Bolognese brand, quite the contrary: the appeal of Lamborghini is such that many people are prepared to go into serious debt to get close to it. Bolognese's testimony reveals a truth rarely admitted: the modern supercar has become a social object before being a mechanical one. It's used to make an impression, to feed social networks, to build a persona... so much so that some people don't hesitate to simulate wealth with designer clothes or fake accessories.

Bolian, on the other hand, prefers to admire those who drive a lot, who accept imperfections, gravel chips and worn bumpers. Those who live their passion, even if it means their Bugatti or Lamborghini is no longer perfect. Ultimately, for him, use reveals passion more than price.