A new Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»will welcome 50 wealthy car lovers who aren't ready to commit to just one supercar.
The (VLCC) will offer members 365 days of access per year to a fleet of 70 cars and SUVs they can use every day. And the cars on offer include some global top-tier brands, including Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Porsche, and more.
"There's nothing like this that I can find in North America and, in reality, nothing I could find in the Middle East or in the UK and European countries or in the Asian countries," tells V.I.A.
A similar UK club's membership cost about $300,000 per year, he explains. In Vancouver, the cost is substantial, but lower, at about $66,000 per year.
"It's hefty if you're comparing [club membership to buying] a Honda Civic," says Cheng, who was previously an auto dealer. "But if you can compare it to [purchasing] a Lamborghini or Ferrari or Bentley or a Range Rover, then it's very reasonable."
The car club will give members access to all of those vehicles.
"You can book a Ferrari for three days, and after that, you say, 'Oh, I wanted to go up to Whistler, so [I'll] take the Land Rover Defender,'" explains Cheng. "And then say, 'Oh, I've got clients coming from overseas for my business, and I want to wine and dine them.' So you take the Bentley Flying Spur or the Mercedes S Class."
Maybe an anniversary road trip to the Okanagan is on the calendar. "Well, take the 911 convertible, why don't you? Yeah, that's the whole gist," says Cheng.
So far, 10 cars are in for the soft launch, and more are coming as the VLCC gets members on board. In a year, Cheng expects VLCC to be fully loaded.
Over time, the fleet will be renewed, with cars being sold off and new vehicles added each year or so.
A straightforward proposition
The VLCC will ultimately have a fleet of 75 cars with a variety of vehicle types. Cheng explains this is so members have access to whatever they need, whenever they need it.
The subscription allows the members to have access to the fleet of vehicles, including supercars, luxury sports cars, luxury SUVs, and luxury sedans, Cheng says. Members can reserve and drive any of the vehicles in the fleet 365 days of the year.
Cheng says supercar drivers usually only take their cars out 21 days a year, and often want to get a replacement in a year or two, so having several to choose from as a club member is ideal.
The booking system will be straightforward, and there are essentially no limits on car use, though Cheng notes members will be responsible for gas, fines, and tickets.
However, most of the costs (like taxes, insurance, and maintenance) will be taken care of by VLCC. A valet will even deliver the cars (as long as members are near Vancouver). Members will be able to pick up cars at the VLCC showroom and clubhouse.
Cheng says VLCC is ideal for people who are in the market for a supercar but can't decide on one.
The supercar capital of North America
"On any given day, you can stand on a street—on a sunny day or a beautiful day—in Vancouver, and you'll see luxury cars, supercars, and sports cars just buzzing by," says Cheng.
That's because Vancouver, by his estimation, is the supercar capital of North America. Cheng notes that most other cities in Canada aren't ideal for supercars, and while California has more, the state's population is much bigger than Vancouver's.
That said, Cheng is considering Calgary for a second club, followed by Toronto.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»also has a lot of fun roads to take cars out for a drive, Cheng adds. His favourite is the Sea to Sky Highway, but it can be congested.
Cheng also endorses drives to White Rock, particularly taking smaller roads. And for smaller excursions? "Take Highway 7, between the Mission and Harrison Hot Springs," suggests the driving enthusiast.
The VLCC is taking membership applications now. For those who won't be able to afford a membership, Cheng says they're working with some local clubs. And people can keep an eye out for the supercars on the streets.
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the founder's name as Mark Chen; it is Mark Cheng, and the article has been updated.
