I think I'm done with Ferrari

Maybe what you need is an older Ferrari, then... maybe it's time for a Boxer or a Daytona.

 

So whats next for you?

Are you still going to get a sports car or are you done with all of that too?

 

I agree on some of your points but most are relevant to pretty much any exotic.

Speed? Yes. Porsche, Aston, Lambo all are too fast. Even a BMW 3 series is too fast for the rules of today.

Expensive options? Yes. Porsche, Lambo , Aston etc all charge ridiculous prices for ridiculous options.

Quality doesnt match the price? Yes. Aston quality is bad. Porsche also. My 997 had sticky parts. Leather was also worn on driver seat after 20k miles. It did stay like that all the way to 60 though..

Cops/Handouts/Insurance? Yes.

Bored to death/Cars for lawyers? Yes. Unless you are driving fast, most of the cars today are so easy that they are "boring". Boring might not be the right word, but they do not leave you shaking unless you are pushing them. And you cant do that on the road.

So, i dont know what to tell you. Maybe go buy a 308 GTB. They are lovely, they are fun, they are not expensive and you will need to work hard to get into serious trouble.

 

I hear ya on almost all those points. After owning one for a couple years I have a different perspective on Ferrari than prior to ownership. I don't think I would be buying new ferrari's if I had the means you have. I would be more interested in modern lambo's than ferrari's. Murci SV 670-4 would be what I would go with for 300 grand.

So what has caught your eye?

 

"First world problems" at their finest!

Take a break, and I'll bet you'll be back... eventually. These cars are a passion, and I think it will be hard to let go long term.

Good luck and hope to see you back soon!

 

What about your incoming F12 ?

 

I hear you and agree My dealer has screwed up my spec several times over the last 14 years
It feels like a part time job keeping up with all that is required for constant Ferrari ownership

 

Wow. That was unexpected, Ferrari have really done something wrong to lose such a great customer. I have no idea of the details of any issues with Ferrari, but part for their remit these days has to be customer service, they are selling a lifestyle as much as a car, and they have to give value for that considerable sum they want to charge for the cars. You would like to think they would rush to do whatever it takes to make such a customer happy, someone who can buy brand new Ferraris may seem on this site like its easy, but in real life, there are not that many..

As for the real world, a lot of that post rings true with me, I was only talking yesterday about a crisis of ownership over my 599. I get to pay out $2500 a month on payments yet drive it less than 2000 miles a year due to cops, vandals and aggravation while driving from the socialists on the roads

It wouldn't be hard to give up right now

 

It does not take a genius to realize if you want to feel like a driver of the car, instead of the car driving you, then a person must go back in time to when cars were not governed by computers, nanny assist systems, traction control, ABS braking, micro processing, ad infinitum.

Plenty of cars with which still provide a "seat of the pants" driving experience. You were fully aware of the refined driving nature of your Ferrari car purchases, difficult to feel any sympathy for you.

Your complaining about the attention a $300.000.00 Red Ferrari attracts is somehow, surprising to you?! The false naivety you exhibit about Ferrari ownership is laughable...Alex

 

I don't think you are alone in feeling like this, we see a thread like that once in a while. The cars seem to have become too capable. I test drove an R8 V10 with the greatest expectations of my life (I don't get to drive supercars that much..) and was so disappointed by the lack of drama and I touched 120 mph on the track several times.

How about old Alfas? I was really in to old BMW's (pre- E30) and recently discovered these fantastic looking things from the 60's, and I am 100% sure I will be getting one the next season.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_Sprint_GT_(Veloce)

You probably know more about them than I do, but I am very drawn to the concept as they are reasonable to buy, very easy to work on, have loads of aftermarket options available and because they are super light (under 1000 kg.) and moderately powered (up to just 170 hp) they are engaging and fun to thrash around.
Lightweight body, RWD, engine in the front, manual in the middle and gorgeous design never gets old if you love driving.

Just putting this out here, good luck with whatever is next

 

I hear the same issues in the Porsche side of things. Many are disappointed with the latest 911 incarnation (991) and bemoan the electric steering, throttle by wire, PDK, etc.

It sounds like we are close in age (I turned 50 this year). Maybe you are bored because we grew up in a mechanical versus electronic age? We grew up when a fully optioned "regular" car meant power windows, power door locks, power steering, power brakes, sunroof/t-tops and a cassette deck radio! There was no traction control, launch control, parking sensor, ABS, etc.

I agree with others. Take a break from ownership and drive some 70's/80's cars. Look at Porsches, 308's, or even a TR6! See if you really want that involved experience or are just in a phase.....

 

I agree on some of your points. Its not atypical that the "brand" often outperforms customer service. Thats true of most cars but at Ferrari's price point we should be treated better or at least as good as if we walked into a Toyota dealership. Everyone goes through phases of interest in their life. It may be that your time with Ferrari and sports cars in general is over and you'll move onto something else. I wish you the best and we'll miss your insight on this forum.

 

Buy a Lotus. It's the last "pure" sports car.

 

Mayor...I hear ya brother!
Could it have as much to do with where you live? Straight roads and traffic lights rule the day. Would you say the same if in the hills of North Carolina? I feel the same now living in Florida when I used to live in NC. Florida is for boating, for cars the "driving experience" sucks. Nothing like a Sunday morning drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway though. I know it is a moot point for you, but thought I'd throw that concept out there.

Now...my advice.
I know you are looking at the 'Vette. But get a Maserati GT Sport, maybe a year old. Drive the piss out of it, and don't worry about door dings and parking, etc. It will be purely an Italian driving machine, and not so expensive it will be cherished. Get it in blue and the cops won't pay much extra attention to you.
For fun, with your extra money, go get 2 other cars: a 1970s Porsche 911...pure mechanical driving pleasure even at 35 mph; and a 1960s American Muscle Car for driving down the boulevard with your arm out the window, rumbling along. Also a pleasure at 35 mph.

You will still have plenty of change in your pocket, comped to the F12, to pay for all gas, all insurance, and every door ding imaginable.

Try it for a year or two....what have you got to lose?

 

Yep, true dat.

L - ots
O - f
T - rouble
U - susally
S - erious.

 

Wow. Can't believe what I'm hearing.

 

Not to hijack the thread.

I test drove a Lotus a couple years ago.

Well, I test drove the THIRD Lotus we looked at (All new, at a dealer)

First one wouldn't start.

Second one had Air conditioning that didn't blow cold air.

Third one, started, ran, cooled, and gave me ZERO interest. I guess I'm just too old to have to be shoehorned into a car, climb over a sill, have no sound insulation, and pay biggish bucks for the privilege to ride in something that small.

Oh, and yes, it did drive well, but not really better overall than the M Roadster I drive now.

As to Ferrari, my 360 Modena was the last I'll have for a while. It was a great car, bought used after someone else had burned up most of the depreciation, but still didn't really have a heart and soul.

D

 

Like The Mayor, I'm taking a pause myself. My main issue is stability of the cars. 355's were supposed to be solid, turned out not to be the case. 360's have more than their share of expensive to repair issues like fuel systems in the spiders. 430's are developing some issues and who knows what is to come with the 458 we don't know about.

I was close to buying a used 599 and decided to wait a bit.

 

I also don't drive the 456 as much as I could, for aforementioned reasons - beautiful, capable and fast, but tricky to park and if you can't make full use of it on the road. At least it wasn't super-expensive.
A weekend away does become more special because of it, though.
I agree with the comment on Alfas, most 60s and 70s cars have a certain thrill to them at relatively low speeds, which makes them fun every day. You feel much more involved.
The GF doesn't like that part though, she prefers more modern 4 wheelers but that's mostly because of the comfort and practicality factors.
It sometimes feels the BMW E9 coupe I have is always thinking of new ways to kill me. Especially in the wet it is tricky even at low speeds, yet somehow that is a nice thing. I wouldn't lend it out to anybody for that reason though.

 

Hmm. I find my 328 to be far more comfortable than my EVO.

I was going the other direction, for a while.
I was thinking of getting a Mondial as a DD, in New England.

I'd take a Celica GT-Four to a Toyota dealer, and they'd never seen one before.
I take an EVO to a Mitsu dealer, and it's a challenge for mechanics that usually just work on SUVs.
(If it runs at all, it's "good 'nuff".)

But take a Mondial to a Ferrari shop, and they're slumming.

If you're picky about the handling of your ride, a Ferrari is one where you know they're not going to cut corners.

I worked out the numbers:
Over a four year period ('99-'03), my '88 Celica GT-Four cost me as much to maintain --- ***to the same standards*** --- as the '88 Ferrari 328.

The good part about a stock ricer like a Scooby or EVO is that you get passable performance without the nit-picky maintenance required to keep an Italian functional.
But ricers are Bic-mobiles. When they get old, you have to replace them. The parts get old and loose, and you can't bring the handling back without a lot of upgrades. (After a dozen years, I could only get my GT-Four's handling back by replacing the stock Toyota suspension with DMS coil-overs.)
Properly maintained, an Italian will keep going until they rust or get demolished by a truck.

 

I do agree with a lot of this. People make excuses all the time for the poor quality and design of many aspects of the cars. Ferrari uses an interior paint/coating that goes all sticky after a short while...then continues to use it in every new model. That shows something about just not caring. Some engines have very serious problems and the excuse is that power to displacement is just amazing....yet Honda's S2000 beat it without any drama.

The thing with cars is that it is not something that you can put logic to. If you put together a chart of the +'s and -'s then you would never buy a Ferrari. Get in it and drive it and the logic goes out the window. It is when logic creeps back in that you realize the compromises and excuses you make simply because of how you feel. It is when that feeling goes away and reality sets in that you are in trouble. I'm still at the honeymoon stage with mine.

I have a solution for you Mayor.....build a replica!

Rick

 

They should put a headstone on this thread. Nice try but this 308 newbie's excitement level hasn't dropped one bit.