Roman nosy: Let loose inside luxury car dealership
WHY do we like cars? Well, we all dream and cars are something to aspire to.
You probably already know your answer if someone asked which car you would buy if you won the lottery.
Supercar showroom... Romans is stocked with top motors
Mine would be a Porsche 911 GT3 or Jaguar F-Type, for the record. Probably both.
But what is it really like inside the world of supercars? It fascinates all of us motoring fans, which is why well over a million watched Supercars: The Million Pound Motors on C4 last week.
It's a mysterious, glamorous world, alien to us muggles. But it doesn't stop us dreaming of the day we buy our first Ferrari.
This week, this fascination took me to Romans International — one of Britain's highest-end car dealerships, based in Surrey.
Shop floor... With just one of the pricey cars for sale
The father-and-son business, at the side of a busy A-road in Banstead, Surrey, and placed next to a Ford dealership (poor Ford), is bulging with gorgeous lumps of metal.
They stock around 50 cars, and the showroom is worth at least £6million at any given time. Their Maserati MC12 has just sold for £1.2million.
"We sold a Ferrari 458 to Theo Walcott the other day," says Tom Jaconelli, son of owner Paul. "And John Terry has bought around seven cars from us."
So footballers make the best customers, then?
"No, not necessarily. You'd be surprised who we get. The other day a guy came in, his clothes coated in paint and plaster.
"We showed him around, but we didn't think he'd buy anything.
"The next day he came back and bought a Bentley.
Sold... A customer recently bought a Lamborghini Aventador Roadster as his every day motor
"And we sold three cars to a chap the other day — normal guy, Essex type, down to earth. He bought the Maserati and a Ferrari Enzo for his collection, and a Lamborghini Aventador Roadster as his runaround.
"These are the guys who we sell the most cars to — normal people who have done well in life.
"Old money doesn't spend.
Then there are the CEOs, City traders and estate agents. We also get loads of musicians, rock stars and sportsmen.
"And I suppose Simon Cowell is the most famous customer. He's great, he has a Rolls-Royce but also always buys a small city car from us, like a Mini. Makes sense, I suppose."
Regular... Simon Cowell has bought cars from Romans
Paul Jaconelli started as a youngster washing cars in showrooms, before working his way up to salesman then marketing manager — and eventually opening his own place, Romans International, in 1994.
He resurrected the name, which was a famous marque in the Seventies and Eighties before disappearing.
Business is booming. During my visit, dozens of potential customers were in. Tom says: "Trade is brisk. We're selling about a car a day."
I sat there in a McLaren 650s. One day, folks, one day.
I'll just have to keep dreaming.
For a better look, see
If you won the lottery and could buy any car, what would it be and why? The best answer gets £25. Email [email protected] with the subject line my dream car.