599 or Cali

I've been thinking about taking the plunge for a while and buying my first Ferrari. I've previously owned a Viper and more recently, a Gallardo. Didn't care too much for the Viper and loved the Gallardo.

I just sold the Gallardo because I'm getting old and fat and think a GT car might be better for me at this point in my life. Plus, my new wife thought the Gallardo was "a bit much for a man my age" (whatever than means). However, I'm paralyzed by indecisiveness.

Personally, I'm leaning towards the 599, but my wife wants to be able to drive this car too and has no interest in shifting gears (either with a stick or paddles). So I wouldn't mind getting some input on the auto mode on the 599 as well as comfort level for longish-road trips (we have a vacation property about 10 hours away we to drive to and I hate taking her Q7 there).

 

599 much more raw power dressed up in a tuxedo. Cali much more civilized, subtle and a back seat if you can call it that. From your previous choices I think the 599 is more what you would want. The Cali being more useable, topless and less intimidating would be more what the wife would prefer. The 599 scares my wife to death and she refuses to drive it even with the automatic engaged. You really need to drive them both and decide which one suits your lifestyle best.

 

Drive both for sure, but 599 is a world better than a Cali. Cali is a little uninspiring and if you're leaning that way, I'd go Maser Gran-Cabrio and save 100Gs. Much better looking car, real rear seats, essentially the same engine, but with a full auto instead of the 2 clutch gearbox.

612 is another option as they're super cheap for the car that they are, its a bigger car than the 599 and a different thing for many people, but if stealth GT with WAF is what you are after its a good choice. I'd be surprised if the 599 based on your post gets to the WAF it seems you want.

 

Yeah, the WAF is really the key here. I'm pretty sure if I were still single I'd buy the 599. In fact, that's what I sold the gallardo to buy. Then SWMBO announced that she'd like to drive the sports car once in a while so I need to stop buying "teenage boy" cars.

I tried explaining that mentally I'm still 11 years old and that's what keeps me young, but she didn't seem to find it compelling. So really, what I'm trying to do is figure out whether she will hate the 599 after a test drive. I'm fairly sure I'll love it.

 

Well my wife loved mine and was sad that I sold it! But my wife also loves pretty much anything with wheels. That said the 599 was her favorite. Only you and yours can tell!

 

The california is a way better all around car than the 599. You get speed and comfort with it. I have had both and would take the Cali by far if its a driver car. That said there is nothing like a 12 cylinder Ferrari

 

Funny, your profile says you have a 360 and you want a 612. You obviously have never driven a 599 if you think the abomination has more "speed and comfort" than a 599.
I do agree about the 12 comment.
Buy a 599. Buy yourself and SWMBO a good driver's school. Auto mode is default at startup, and it is fine, I use it in heavy traffic often.

 

I would as others have said drive both cars but perhaps I can add a little story to this. There isa group of us that go to our local Ferrari dealer for a Saturday morning social coffee and chat. One of these gentleman had a 599 which he and his Mrs drove extensively, she really enjoyed driving the car on the open road, in fact on one of these trips she managed an "easy" 270 km/h while he was sleeping in the passenger seat!

However if you want a car thats totally practical I would go for the Cali but I guess this whole discussion rests on how often your other half wants to drive the car, if you do most of the driving you definately want a 599, the sheer power and the quality of the driving experience have few if any equals in the GT car world.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone! I think SWMBO and I have come to a settlement, where I get the back yard to look like she wants and then I get the car I want.

By the way, for those married folk who haven't yet retired, don't. Retirement appears to be like a prison labour camp, but without those in charge having to worry about human rights violations for overworking the prisoners.

Working was way easier.

 

599 is a pretty fast get away car!

 

Are you kidding...599 or Cali? Difference is like Jennifer Anston versus Kirsty Ally. If she doesn't like it, then buy her a Lexus cab and enjoy the 599 by yourself .

 

Your wife will love the Cali but there is no comparison with the 599.

Hey, if you can afford it ... buy both best solution for you and the Mrs.

Good luck and keep us posted on your final decision.

 

Did you and your wife take a test drive of both cars?

 

I have a 599 and a scud.
Test driving a California after living with these two was like getting into a Buick!
Buy the 599----get her some diamonds and the rear lawn and call it a quid pro quo!

 

Haven't test driven either, or gone to look at them (except on the internet). Once my chores are finished, I'm going to test drive both, but leaning towards a 599

Unfortunately, the back yard work is a little more than "the lawn" and so it looks like hard labour ahead for me.

That's the problem with having been a builder. My wife thinks that because I owned a construction company, I can remember how (or want to) do these things. And that we have to have the nicest house on the block. I thought we already did (I might be biased) but it seems our "garden" is not up to snuff.

 

LOL!

LOL again!

 

Keep us posted.