- Unnamed Florida resident lists a 2012 Bugatti Veyron replica for sale on Craigslist Orlando for a mere $125,000—a bargain considering the original is priced at about $2.5 million.
- A closer inspection shows that it's actually a 2002 Mercury Cougar modified to look like the Bugatti, which the seller cheerfully admits.
- If the looks don't fool passersby, neither will the 170-hp stock V-6 engine from the Cougar.
Just when you didn't think that the online car-sales world could get any wilder, the good old Florida man proves you're wrong by offering up a Bugatti Veyron for $125,000. The only catch is that the car isn’t actually a Veyron, but a heavily modified 2002 Mercury Cougar.
The anonymous Floridian's impressive mock Veyron looks almost exactly like the real thing from the outside; the headlights, vents, grilles, and bodywork are like a carbon copy. It even features a retractable rear wing, just like a real Veyron. The only things that seem to be amiss with the exterior are the wheels and lack of carbon fiber. At a standstill, just sitting in a parking lot, this fake Veyron might play the part well enough that passersby would need to examine each minute detail to be sure that this isn't in fact a real Bugatti. The interior is impressive as well but doesn't look like it's from a car that is supposed to be worth around $2.5 million. The seats, dash, and headliner were all customized by the seller and look the part, but the switchgear, door latches, and steering wheel give up the act.
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Unfortunately, the performance doesn't imitate the real Veyron's in any way. For starters, this replica still has the stock Mercury Cougar engine, a 2.5-liter V-6 that pumps out a weak 170 horsepower. The real Veyron is powered by a 1200-hp quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W-16; that's seven times more horsepower than the Mercury engine.
If the thought of owning a fake Bugatti is appealing to you, head over to Craigslist Orlando or Car Export America, where it has been listed for sale by owner. Speaking of the owner, he (just a guess) is pretty self-aware and modest, listing the car as a "REPLICA," clearly describing its provenance, and commenting: "I have been sent the nicest text messages ever. And uplifting. And some very weird and sickening."
Mihir Maddireddy fell in love with cars as early as 2003, when he was three years old, while watching Michael Schumacher race for Ferrari. This memory was so important to him that he decided to write his college essays about it. He also has an unconditional love for Corvettes, and his entrance to C/D was a complete fluke, because as a high-school senior he emailed his résumé and cover letter to editors@caranddriver.com, proving that dreams do come true.
