Dear friends
Since some times I have been "falling in love" with the idea of having a second Ferrari besides the Scuderia (which should arrive in July). In the past I had the luck of owning often 2 Ferraris at the same time (not more because of space reasons and else as well). But most of the time I owned either own modern and one vintage Ferrari or 2 vintage Ferraris. Even though while talking about the nice 330 GTC experiences I believe (in my stomach) that the prices for what you get on vintage Ferraris are simply to high in these times. Even with all the love and enthusiasm for the history and the wonderful old (hand)works on all these wonderful old Ferraris which I had the thankful chance to own, one should never forget that any engine or gearbox breakage may just be 100 miles in front of you. Call in the expensive restoration needs, the even more expensive labor charge of Ferrari specialists in these days and in times the difficult availability of parts for some rather rare cars and you may write your own invitation card to the "poorhouse".
In addition personally I followed the partially absurd discussion in Germany in 2007 about the banning of so called old, unclean cars without catalysators from the city centers and I started asking myself if I was the last person in the world who had the chance to still drive these "Dinosaurs" and after sell 'em without a loss !?
That's how the idea of owning ...a Ferrari Supercar started to form.
But which one: the 288 GTO is already a classic, sharp, rare (and in my opinion very expensive) but not so outstanding (maybe in 1984) in my imagination. Its the only supercar I never drove or Co-drove. So 288 GTO is rather no option for me.
The Enzo is too "flamboyant" within my aesthethic well feeling. By Co-driving in on a track it felt "soft" even in the "race" modus. Please get me right, I do not want sound "expertish" (I'm definitively NOT) but somehow the car felt like not myself. In addition, and not to unimportant, I believe that the Enzo is way to expensive (for my own willing to spend money for a certain kind of car and in real terms).
The F40: I have driven this car 4 times, each around 20 - 30 km. Great road-holding feeling, light, nimble, loud and a classic. Even place for luggage for a 3day trip. Additionaly, no need for great restorations (Carbon does not rust, does it? ) I believe a phantastic price/what you get ratio. Only down: For my personality a little "flamboyant" but less than the Enzo.
The F50: I was lucky enough to have driven the F50 a couple of times for totally 100 km's. One word: Phantastic! Great roadholding, NO body rolling, phantastic looks, great material, no restoration need (again carbon..isn't it? ) Wonderful, linear acceleration feeling, beautiful interior, spectacular exterior, still competitive to other supercars, only example of a true F1 technique application to engine and carbon chassis outlay. Only down: Interior noise of chains over time and missing lugagge space. (and price? )
I have been reading Boxer's comment's on his F40 and F50 with great interest and have soaked up everything readable under the planet on both these models. But reading alone will not help, I want to move on.....but which one ?
Since I live in Switzerland it helps to have a Swiss legalized F40 or F50 and now since 3 weeks there are 1 of each on sale.
The F40 for app. Euro 260' with 28' kilometers on the odo, a beautiful F50 with only 14' k's for around Euro 430'.
The F40 has been owned by the dealer for the last 3 years. He used it well and drove it around 8'k for this time. The tanks, clutch and belts have been changed recently.
The F50 had 2 owners and was delivered in 1997 to its first owner here in Switzerland. The second owner applied a CD/radio machine to it with cables going below a self invented very small carbon channel which is only lightly glued to the carbon entry side at the pedal/legs room (easy removable), the box to put the roof in is missing but will be newly delivered by Ferrari, Italy, everything else is correct and the car would be compleately serviced and confirmed as perfect by my Ferrari concessionaire before delivery. All this at the cost of the vendor of course.
Both cars has been checked as accident free thru the Ferrari computer system and also all technical updates over time from Ferrari have been applied to the cars.
The price difference is obvious (and natural I guess), I'm thinking around the situation that if I decide for one and would not be satisfyied, how realistically would it be to have a market on one of them. In this sense I believe the F40 is no problem at all, regarding the F50 I'm not so sure.
Personally I tend to the F50 overall (except the economics) but the F40 is already a classic (to take place for my previously owned classics?)
I know its me to come to a decision finally but I would appreciate any comments and thoughts from you all.
Thank you all for your patience and help.
Since some times I have been "falling in love" with the idea of having a second Ferrari besides the Scuderia (which should arrive in July). In the past I had the luck of owning often 2 Ferraris at the same time (not more because of space reasons and else as well). But most of the time I owned either own modern and one vintage Ferrari or 2 vintage Ferraris. Even though while talking about the nice 330 GTC experiences I believe (in my stomach) that the prices for what you get on vintage Ferraris are simply to high in these times. Even with all the love and enthusiasm for the history and the wonderful old (hand)works on all these wonderful old Ferraris which I had the thankful chance to own, one should never forget that any engine or gearbox breakage may just be 100 miles in front of you. Call in the expensive restoration needs, the even more expensive labor charge of Ferrari specialists in these days and in times the difficult availability of parts for some rather rare cars and you may write your own invitation card to the "poorhouse".
In addition personally I followed the partially absurd discussion in Germany in 2007 about the banning of so called old, unclean cars without catalysators from the city centers and I started asking myself if I was the last person in the world who had the chance to still drive these "Dinosaurs" and after sell 'em without a loss !?
That's how the idea of owning ...a Ferrari Supercar started to form.
But which one: the 288 GTO is already a classic, sharp, rare (and in my opinion very expensive) but not so outstanding (maybe in 1984) in my imagination. Its the only supercar I never drove or Co-drove. So 288 GTO is rather no option for me.
The Enzo is too "flamboyant" within my aesthethic well feeling. By Co-driving in on a track it felt "soft" even in the "race" modus. Please get me right, I do not want sound "expertish" (I'm definitively NOT) but somehow the car felt like not myself. In addition, and not to unimportant, I believe that the Enzo is way to expensive (for my own willing to spend money for a certain kind of car and in real terms).
The F40: I have driven this car 4 times, each around 20 - 30 km. Great road-holding feeling, light, nimble, loud and a classic. Even place for luggage for a 3day trip. Additionaly, no need for great restorations (Carbon does not rust, does it? ) I believe a phantastic price/what you get ratio. Only down: For my personality a little "flamboyant" but less than the Enzo.
The F50: I was lucky enough to have driven the F50 a couple of times for totally 100 km's. One word: Phantastic! Great roadholding, NO body rolling, phantastic looks, great material, no restoration need (again carbon..isn't it? ) Wonderful, linear acceleration feeling, beautiful interior, spectacular exterior, still competitive to other supercars, only example of a true F1 technique application to engine and carbon chassis outlay. Only down: Interior noise of chains over time and missing lugagge space. (and price? )
I have been reading Boxer's comment's on his F40 and F50 with great interest and have soaked up everything readable under the planet on both these models. But reading alone will not help, I want to move on.....but which one ?
Since I live in Switzerland it helps to have a Swiss legalized F40 or F50 and now since 3 weeks there are 1 of each on sale.
The F40 for app. Euro 260' with 28' kilometers on the odo, a beautiful F50 with only 14' k's for around Euro 430'.
The F40 has been owned by the dealer for the last 3 years. He used it well and drove it around 8'k for this time. The tanks, clutch and belts have been changed recently.
The F50 had 2 owners and was delivered in 1997 to its first owner here in Switzerland. The second owner applied a CD/radio machine to it with cables going below a self invented very small carbon channel which is only lightly glued to the carbon entry side at the pedal/legs room (easy removable), the box to put the roof in is missing but will be newly delivered by Ferrari, Italy, everything else is correct and the car would be compleately serviced and confirmed as perfect by my Ferrari concessionaire before delivery. All this at the cost of the vendor of course.
Both cars has been checked as accident free thru the Ferrari computer system and also all technical updates over time from Ferrari have been applied to the cars.
The price difference is obvious (and natural I guess), I'm thinking around the situation that if I decide for one and would not be satisfyied, how realistically would it be to have a market on one of them. In this sense I believe the F40 is no problem at all, regarding the F50 I'm not so sure.
Personally I tend to the F50 overall (except the economics) but the F40 is already a classic (to take place for my previously owned classics?)
I know its me to come to a decision finally but I would appreciate any comments and thoughts from you all.
Thank you all for your patience and help.