I think I'm done with Ferrari

TheMayor why don't you get the new viper??? Has ferrari seats, high quality interior, and is as visceral and raw as it gets.

 

Noobie, here, so I'm prolly repeating.
Ferrari's are somewhat detuned street legal racing cars (think DTM). Old school is your best bet (as others have mentioned).
Here's a Mondial T owner who does the $12k belt service every 7 years instead of 3 -
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhC8tDO4UX4]Forza Friday: The 1989 Ferrari Mondial t Coupe Revealed - YouTube[/ame] (5:50)

 

"the internet is still a mystery to maranello", so true! as a matter of fact, all of italy. they still prefer faxes.

 

I really am mostly attracted to older cars now and lust after:
Late 60's, early 70's Porsche 911.
Porsche 356...any.
60's American Muscle.
Late 50's Caddy with fins that are like 40 feet long!

Of course my '59 Maserati 3500GT!

 

Exactly where I ended up. No depreciation, possible appreciation, utterly distinctive, reasonable maintenance costs. There's nothing cooler than an E-Type, vintage 911, 246, etc. My 356 is anything but fast, but it's the definition of a machine that you have to work hard to hustle around corners.

Next up for me is likely a 308, pending new garage space. The 308/328/F40 was the end of the line for my passion toward Ferrari. After those, there are plenty of nice cars, but not so interested in owning any of them.

But... regarding the thread title, it's not so much a souring on Ferrari as it is modern Ferraris (and modern sports cars overall). There is a sameness to all of them, and I question whether one manufacturer's paddle-shifted, computer-managed, airbag-ensconced, 180+ mph car is worth a premium over the other dozens of cars that do the same. But I still look at a Daytona and want one -- badly!

 

Thanks for the response; always enjoyed your commentary

 

Modern cars in general are reflecting the changes in society. Regulated and mandated changes taking more individual responsibility away. The cars shifts gears for you, feed you made up sound, decide how to brake for you etc. etc. Sound familiar. As more and more personal decision gets taken away the experience lessens. Cars and life. Trends like pendulums swing back and forth, hopefully both situations will reverse soon. If you want that first high again maybe chasing it back in time as suggested here with an older car will do the trick. Capture the pendulum before it swung!

 

This from one of the major people supporting the notion that the F1 gearbox adds significantly to the enjoyment and utility of the car.

Me thinks you are bored because the car is too easy to drive.

 

I missed this whole paragraph, and it's the best part!

As a doctor, I can tell you I don't know a single physician of any specialty who can afford a new Ferrari, unless they have made money through additional investments.

Except for the salary reductions that I will receive until the day I retire and the increasing decline in respect for the profession, I don't find being a doctor is a particularly bad way to feel

Funny thing is, one thing I would never do is drive a Ferrari to work. Hell, my partners were pissed when I bought it. The general population's impression of the marque is probably the main reason I lost interest. Most people think Ferrari owners are pompous tools.

When reality blows, make it better. I love cars, but I wouldn't trade my health and fitness for any material object.

Oh, and real race cars will dull your interest in wannabe race cars.

 

I've been reading this with great interest and feel I must comment. The op is most likely saying what some others are feeling. I only own 2 Ferraris, a 246 gt and a 328s. No real threat to the market value there. I have been involved with them since 1985 when I bought my gt. Ferrari has a unique marketing strategy convincing some that this is what they need. The exclusivity of being on a wait list or a preferred client list of the list dujor holds no magic for me. I very happy driving my pre check engine light cars. I also own an Aston DB7 which is pretty much a Jaguar with fluff. Pretty good car and much less expensive to maintain. Ferrari has built an empire around those who are convinced that this is what they want and the more exclusive they make the model the more they want one. Build it and they will buy. My corvettes are as reliable as an anvil and well you know the rest.
In closing I was at Tutto in Brookline back in August and approached a dealer on site about a car they had for sale. Since I am an "unknown" in the Ferrari world he labored at the thought of even talking to me. I wasn't wearing anything Ferrari and my approach was very cordial. Maybe the op is onto something here...

 

The F1 "is" fun to drive. The DCT though might be another story. You actually have to work an F1. I'm still getting better at it. DCT though is no-brainer, shift if you want, auto if you don't, doesn't much matter. Not like there's a clutch that needs you to know how to shift to last longer. I'm a ways behind Bob in ownership, three so far and none new, but I am trying to suck up to the dealer some to get in line for something good. Turned down a slot for a new spider this year because the timing wasn't right. I can see where buying a couple new and then still feeling like the car doesn't need you, the dealer doesn't need you, I can get where that could be a turn off. And he's right this BS over the mileage. I bought my 612 at the bottom of the spectrum. It's a good car, great car now. But I want to be that guy that puts enough miles on my car that it's held up by the bottom. You can put an extra 20,000 miles on these things and they'll still sell for 5-10% below the next highest mileage. But at the other end, having to flip a car with 800 miles after a year might, or might not, be gratifying in some ways, but it certainly wouldn't be because you treated the car like a car. The mileage thing is such a racket, and he's right it's self inflicted. We're killing them by driving them 1k miles a year.

 

I love how Bob chose to put this topic into the "searchable" general forums rather than Silver.

Bob is pissed at someone!

LOL

 

Oh - VERY interesting point....I hadnt considered that side of things....

Back to Bob!!!





PDG

 

Thought this was on topic:

What's The Most Expensive Vehicle To Operate?

 

Type "I'm done with Ferraris" into Google...and see what pops up #1 and #2.

LOL

 

Bob, my favorite part of owning a ferrari is communicating on F-chat. Met some interesting people and discussed some interesting technical solutions. The car (456) is fun to drive,but I almost never take it to work(medical office)-even though its worth less than most new high end cars,I dont need the aggrevation and comments.Having had an old maserati before,I expected a bullet proof power train and so-so chassis. The power train is not bullet-proof and the chassis didnt disappoint. But when all is working its a lot of fun.And I havent got $300,000 tied up. So get a nice older ferrari Bob. Any regrets wont hurt so much.

 

Wait till Ferrari Corporate gets a load of this thread

 

All valid points....which is why you should by an Enzo era car. Ferrari was about character. Drive a Dino, or better yet, a far less expensive, equally pretty and faster 328. Filled with character and style. Driving one says I have class not I have money. It requires you know how to drive a stick and can deal with no power steering...just as it should be. It is something special, not a fast appliance.

 

Since he doesn't have a Ferrari I guess he won't be posting anymore

 

How about a FIAT X1/9?

1) Classic, exotic Ferrari looks (kind of!), without anyone thinking you must be loaded and therefore have cash you just want to give away.

2) Entertaining mid-engine handling.

3) Ferrari matching levels of build quality! (well it does compare to some Ferrari's! - Just not necessarily good ones! )

4) No worries about sticky plastics - They may well be brittle and snap off in your hands but they won't be sticky!

5) Open top motoring with no motors to fail when you want the roof up.

6) No driver aids whatsoever.

7) No dealership BS/ problems - They'll all tell you immediately that they have no clue as to what the car is!

8) No worries about speeding convictions/people wanting to race you.

9) Pop-up headlights that stick two fingers up to all the modern Health and Safety nonsense.

10) It wont drop in value! - It'll always be worth the $500 you paid for it!

11) Cheap to own and run - You simply won't worry about dings in the doors.

12) It'll put a smile on your face every time you look at it (okay! - that might be stretching things a bit! )

13) If it ever leaves you stranded anywhere, just leave it where it stopped and buy another one!

14) Get a red one with cream interior and you can pretend you're a poor man's Magnum!


Sorted! - Job's a good 'un!

 

I guess I dont have any suggestions for new cars, etc, except to follow your head, heart and gut in this case. Having gone through what you are now, I sold it all, cars, motorcycles, house, etc and just moved on. An empty garage and an empty mind in terms of making the next "car decision" has been really great! I guess it comes down for me what guy do I want to be? A guy who finds the passion and doesnt settle again for a "car" but waits until I find the right ride that thrills me regardless of marque, price, and whatever the $($K others think of it? Its a bit liberating. Vette, alpha, maserati whatever, just find what fits.
SO which guys to be?
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1wJ972IsDA]Chasing Oliver and Chao - YouTube[/ame]

993 Turbo is your answer.

Performs well enough, build quality is solid, repairs are not at all bad, looks good, sounds ok, and can be driven hard without much attention whatsoever. Take it out on the ring of fire roads, beat the snot out of it, and drive it home and stick it in the garage for next time.

$70k buys you a very nice driver, its got modern stuff like ABS, airbags, etc, but really no nannies besides the totally useless ABD.

Old ferraris are great, but finding parts, paying through the nose for used parts because the original is NLA, etc is going to be a real problem. And even if you do find NOS, it will likely be a POS because...well, 80s ferrari parts have some issues right out of the box in a lot of cases.

 

+308. Reading your post, a 308 ticks all your boxes...

 

People will still see you've got a Ferrari and either get jealous and damage it, or assume you must be loaded so can spare some money!

Added to that, all the ricers in their Honda civics will still. want to race you because you're in a Ferrari.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the World we all live in these days, alongside people with no respect for others whatsoever!

 

I like this suggestion.