Help me I must be sick

I can't see to kick this Ferrari fantasy. Two years ago I had a bout with skin cancer so I decided to finally buy a sports car. I have always loved Porsche and since I was in High School in the late 70s I was a big Magnum PI fan. I ended up buying a Porsche Targa 4s over a Ferrari 360,or 550. My end choice was due to no Ferrari dealer for 400 + miles and no Indy Ferrari guy in Memphis. The Targa was a great car but no wow factor so I had a Turbo S Cab built in PTS Azzurro California Blue now I have the wow factor but there is still something missing.The Turbo S is great but doesn't sound like a sports car it is fast as hell handles very well looks great but just not a Ferrari. So now I am pondering a future buy and wondering if a older Ferrari will suit my needs or will it just be another venture that doesn't meet my wants.

I love the Turbo S so it's here to stay but I am thinking of a project car maybe a restoration or should I go for a V-12 say 550 or 575. I am thinking I might want to have something to show and drive on special occasions. Until my 4 kids finish college have two in college one starting his senior year in HS and Frsh in HS.

Home is paid for I own my own business I have been working on retirement for 30 years its on a great foundation. No bills except for college.What would you guys do have have any of you been in my shoes where Porsche didn't suit the bill.Or am I just wishing on a dream that I think Ferrari will satisfy but in the real world the isn't much to gain from Ferrari over a Porsche other than sound of the engine. Porsche has no sound

I don't want to go to cheap and just have to keep trading up or would you consider that part of the fun working your way up thru a few models and just enjoy the trip. I turned 50 this year so in my eyes time is wasting. My great earning years are ahead for next 15 years but then the wife will wan tot settle to a beach to live out the golden years

 

Jaguar Mark 2. Thats where the money will be in the next 10 years.

 

You should do what makes YOU happy.

Dale

 

Buddy!

This is SO EASY! A 308 or 328 is so easy to buy, easy to keep and scratches that itch!

Really!

 

Gordon,

I think you knew the answer before typing the question. Are you just looking for affirmation from a bunch of car guys?

Here goes.....

Get what you want and what will make you happy. At most, if you buy right, will be a minor loss of investment. So what is the risk /reward? As a businessman this should be an easy one for you.

"Or am I just wishing on a dream that I think Ferrari will satisfy but in the real world the isn't much to gain"

No one will know but you... and you wont know unless you make the jump.

 

I am not sure if the Ferrari will make you happy. Although you seem to have everything settled and ready for some toys, but I sense that you still feel unsure about Ferrari itself.

If that's true, then nobody but you can answer that question.

It's just a car to somebody, it's a god's own transportation to other... So, you will have to make a jump and find out for yourselves what the Ferrari car is for you.

I am just 37 years old, don't have a secured future, 3 kids with lovely wife, and live in a country where Ferrari cost 3 times more expensive than in the US, yet I drive one anyway.

In the end it's "Whatever make you Happy"...

By the way, you might find out it's a piece of rubbish... -_-" Or you might be hooked for life.

 

Your dead on. I know myself that I will never be happy until I see that F car in my garage. Your right I want someone to tell me yes the Ferrari is what you think it will be. My problem is I don't like the thought of taking a car hundreds of miles for service.Or I would have bought a California in lieu of the Turbo S

I may see a Ferrari in this part of the world twice a year. Not that I want to be seen. I want this to fulfill a life long quest but I don't do anything half way.I still think a 308 looks great or 328 but also have a slight craving for a restoration project not ready to jump into a 300k car that I can't drive but the Dino on Chasing Classic Cars caught my eye the other day. I have to believe that some of you have been in my shoes bought a Ferrari and never looked back. Just trying to get some Ferrari insight from real Ferrari owners The Turbo S has everything as far as a modern sports car needs wife drives a Cayenne so the Ferrari is the next leap

 

Do you want to go to your grave wondering what it would have been like to have a Ferrari in your garage?

It really comes down to that.

 

Ok, maybe this will help... I had heard horrible stories of how bad Ferrari's are regarding maintenance. What I heard and what I've experienced are polar opposites. I'm not, for one second, saying that it's isn't something to consider though. -- Just putting it out there as an FYI -

Also, I'm guessing you will still have other cars to drive if a Ferrari in your garage needed repair.

If you want to state where you are located, maybe someone here could recommend a good independent shop closer than you think?

Good luck with your decision.

 

Do you? I don't want to go in a grave without having a Ferrari!

 

Just outside of Memphis Tn. And yes your reply does help. Horror stories are the main reason I did not go Ferrari from the get go. Didn't want to get burned on a car with major repair bills to be honest I have never bought anything but a new car other than my first car back in 1977. Part would like to start a restoration on a older Ferrari thought about 330 or Dino or just starting with 308 or 328. The older cars really get my eye but the older Ferrari are little out of my reach

 

Glad it helped...

I think you know what to do... Good luck & keep us posted.

 

Just outside of Memphis Tn. And yes your reply does help. Horror stories are the main reason I did not go Ferrari from the get go. Didn't want to get burned on a car with major repair bills to be honest I have never bought anything but a new car other than my first car back in 1977. Part would like to start a restoration on a older Ferrari thought about 330 or Dino or just starting with 308 or 328. The older cars really get my eye but the older Ferrari are little out of my reach

 

You want a sports car that sounds like a sports car, and has wow factor? Get a 550 and put a Tubi exhaust on it. As far as Ferraris go, it's one with a more understated design; but one drive and the Porsche will eventually look Grigio from all the dust it'll collect.

 

until the Ferrari breaks and he gets to drive the Porsche while the Fcar collects dust in the shop

 

At least it wouldn't look grigio all the time like someones Porsche *cough*Chas*cough* !

 

Following my steps will change your life.

1. Buy the cheapest no service history Ferrari Testarossa you can find to restore.

2. Spend all your days on Fchat figuring out important stuff like where your tachometric relay is and whether your differential carrier is going to outlive you.

3. Spend all your nights wondering what your timing belts look like.

4. Make lifelong friends with the nice people at Ricambi and Eurospares.

5. Amaze people at parties with your lively discussion of the differences between K-Jet and KE-Jet fuel injection.

6. When you kids learn that you have spent a good portion of their college money buying obsolete French metric tires you can tell them, hey, one day you will have a nice Ferrari.

Worked for me.

 

A well-sorted 550 that is to be driven every day, will last longer than a Honda Accord*







*I didn't have a witty reply to your comment, so I went with the "I are serious cat" approach.

 

That's why I got my first one when I was 29. Never know if tomorrow will come.

 

Don't you have some fries to deliver to Table 6 or something?

 

Question: Why do you think you want a sports car? (As opposed to a supercar, muscle car, track car.) That is: what is it about your concept of a sports car that lurrs you in that direction?

 

Sounds like what you want is a 308 or 328.

Maintenance on those models is not horribly expense nor complicated. Based on your comments about taking on a restoration job, you could probably do most of the maintenance yourself.

-F

 

Not here to tell you what you should choose, but since you mentioned the 550, all I can say is that it was my first Ferrari, bought it almost exactly 4 years ago and the car is still very special to me. I now own 4 Ferraris but the 550 is the one I would sell last.

So not to influence your decision - I just thought you should know that I have had 4 wonderful years and 30,000 amazing miles in that car.

Best of luck with making your choice - many wonderful cars out there!


Onno
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LOL! That's definitely a contender amongst the great posts of the year.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Hey Gordon?

Havin' been exactly where you are (Porsche rules but needed a Ferrari to see what all the passion was about).....here's my take on your situation (fwiw)...

Buy the Ferrari. You got it bad...so you know it's just a matter of time anyway.

So just do it! (and, oh yeah, enjoy the search



PS...AFTER you buy one....THEN we'll compare notes!