[Barry]

Originally Posted by a1exander

I would propose that you try and attend a Ferrari owners meeting and ask some of the owners to take you for a drive. You will gain a different perspective once you hear them describe their cars and once you get first hand knowledge of costs from the horses mouth so to speak.

Buy it and enjoy it in good health.

Good advice, on both counts!

[RubiFan]

This is what I needed to hear. I will keep you all posted. When I get something I will post pics. Thank you again.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by RubiFan

Hi Barry,

I have heard so many horror stories that I am not sure any more. I seen where even new models turned out to be money pits. Then I watch the more practical and still high performing porsches and compare it to the ferrari that would require advance planning before each outing - the ferrari that would sit for most of the time while i still make payments on it as it depreciates and I wonder why would I go Ferrari? It is a spiritual-car-war within me.

Most of the horror stories are from owners who either bought very poorly and did not do their homework or from people with really no idea what they are toalking about. In my experience the multiple Ferraris I have owned have been highly reliable. Take care of the car and it will take care of you.

[wetpet]

I can tell you haven't driven it yet......

[550JM]

Stop the car war inside.....A Porsche and a Ferrari are two totally different cars in terms of emotion and driving experience. I understand what you say about depreciation, but isn't that the case also with a brand new Porsche? As pointed out before, why truly care about that when you are looking at a 25 yr old car? I could agree when you were talking about the really rare ones you would buy as an investment, not a car you want to drive as much as possible and enjoy the Ferrari bug....I also think you can only judge what's right to do after driving one and connecting to owners to hear their stories. You'll find that what they will tell you doesn't even come close to Porsche owners using their cars as daily drivers...
(I know having owned Porsches and a Ferrari and will most probably order the new 911 in the next coming months...)

[RubiFan]

Something else just came into the neighborhood..A very nice 1999 Ferrari 456M GTA. A little cheaper with a great dealer cleanup/checkup. I can tell they are different creatures as the 1999 Ferrari 456M GTA looks a little more civil with its 4 passenger configuration but darn it - it's still a sweet ferrari. Anyone out there ever own one? Which one would you take as your first? The back seats may come in handy but it does seem a little tame. I will try to test drive it next week.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by RubiFan

Something else just came into the neighborhood..A very nice 1999 Ferrari 456M GTA. A little cheaper with a great dealer cleanup/checkup. I can tell they are different creatures as the 1999 Ferrari 456M GTA looks a little more civil with its 4 passenger configuration but darn it - it's still a sweet ferrari. Anyone out there ever own one? Which one would you take as your first? The back seats may come in handy but it does seem a little tame. I will try to test drive it next week.

Very very different cars. The back seats on the 456 are not really suitable for adults.

[Forgeahead]

Hmmm. This thread is not what I thought it would be!!!

[Forgeahead]

Now that I have accepted that, my .02:
You MUST drive these cars. If they are not convenient to drive due to scheduling/geography, or whatever; go check out what your local dealer has in stock and drive some of their cars. If you are still in the F-P conflict, try to drive a Ferrari and a Porsche back to back. You will hear many comparos, and they repeat the same thing. The Porsche is VERY competent, comfortable, and fun. Now the Ferrari is emotional, sexy, and thrilling! Yesterday I drove a 360 spider and then a carrera GTS (not carrera GT). The Porsche was great, but the Ferrari was exhilarating. Yes, indeed, there are expenses of ownership and some nervousness about the unknown is to be expected. BUT, IMO it is worth the extra steps (it is no trouble to unplug my Ferrari from the trickle charger) to experience the PASSIONE! Go drive some of those bad boys and you too will be afflicted with the disease!

[RubiFan]

I test drove a 2008 carrera, 2012 Porsche turbo - all beautiful and "efficient" but really they didnt need me - I was just a driver in its way. Also test drove a 1999 Ferrari 456M GTA2002 and found it extremely anti-climatic, so much so that I even test drove a Maserati Coupe because I thought perhaps I should not do Ferrari. The Maserati was cool but simply not sexy. Both times I couldn't wait to get back to the dealership and into my Toyota to go home.

But then...later in the week...I test drove a black f355 f1 and damn it, the dealer could not get me back to the lot. I "accidentally" bypassed it twice. I was having too much fun - it was a damn amusement park ride. This black Ferrari was liquid sex whose roar talked dirty to me all the way back.

You guys were right all along.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by RubiFan

This black Ferrari was liquid sex whose roar talked dirty to me all the way back.

Absolutely brilliant. This has to be the quote of the month.

[Forgeahead]

Yup. You've got the disease!