550 or 993TT?

Didn't want to post this in the 550 section so could get a more varied response.

So love both cars, they are from the same era, and both can be had for my budget $130k. Has anyone owned both, or have significant seat time in both?

I guess objectively, performance about equal until the Turbo is tweaked, Porsche less expensive to maintain, 550 a better investment.

Subjectively, both are very pretty cars, not sure which would be a better "occasion" car.

Any other comparison points worth looking at?

Would a F1 F430 (similar pricing) be a better weekender?

Thanks

 

Only one is a Ferrari and if I understand production figures correctly there are about twenty times as many 993TT which surely makes using and seeing the 550 far more of an event

 

Hard to beat a V-12.

 

I'm a huge Porsche nerd but this isn't even a contest. 550 is one of the greatest cars ever built.

 

The 993 is a great car, but once you venture outside of the Porsche bubble....the car fades into the background next to a nice 550 Maranello. Don't even get me started on the driving experience and sounds that accompany that glorious V12.

 

Wow, that's a tough one. The 993 is also a very special car.

Forget all about production numbers and future value, because they both have an x-factor. Imo the 550 is the next best of the modern V12 after the F12, and it's incredibly beautiful and special. However, the 993TT is a bit of a hero car and it delivers emotion and smiles in spades. This is a case where one is not better because it has a horsey on the front and twice as many cylinders. While I believe there has been produced about 40-45% more 993 Turbos compared to 550 Maranellos, I would strangely not be surprised if the 993 became the more valued car in the future. I can't tell you exactly why, it's just a feeling.

As for the 430 vs. 993 Turbo? 993 nay day of the week. Hate the look of the 430 and I think the 993 feel at least as special to drive, if not more so. As far as future value goes when you compare the 993 Turbo to the F430? Well there's about 3-4 times as many F430s out there and 993 Turbo prices are on the rise, and the F430 prices will continue to go down a bit before the curve flattens out.

We can't tell you what to get. Both are equally great cars and so incredibly special and beautiful. Follow your heart.

 

Turbo Porsches have more of a split personality, they are more relaxed to drive than a Ferrari when cruising, yet more intense when driven hard. Very hard to beat an air cooled turbo, yet a Ferrari is more of a sense of occasion and just more "special". No wrong answer here, both cars are keepers.

 

+550

Of course, I'd go ask this Q over @ Rennlist, or some similar and get the other side of the coin before pulling the trigger...T

 

I think you nailed it.

I've owned 3 Porsches to date. Would like a 993tt, but the 550 is one of the few Ferraris I actually hope to own one day.

 

I just went through this. Sold a 89 930 and could have bought a 993tt, Dino, or 550. Those were the main contenders.
I chose the Dino, but would have chosen the 993tt next.

I think it comes down to whether you want a sports car (993tt) or a GT cruiser (550)
Both great though for different experiences.

 

Not true, 993TT is actually rarer - there were less than 2,000 built (If you include the limited run of Turbo "S" models, it figures to just over 2,000 units).

 

The correct production numbers are as follows:

993 Turbo: 5937
993 Turbo S: 345
993 GT2: 173

These were the only turbocharged 993s.

550 Maranello: 3083
550 Maranello WSR: 33
550 Barchetta Pininfarina: 448

As to which is a better weekender, that's subjective. I would take a 550 personally, unless my weekends involved very twisty roads in the damp. I would also take my 550 over my 430 (gated), tough choice though that would be, because only one of them is a gated Ferrari V12.

 

If the 550 is stick get it.

I have driven both but bought neither.
Because investment was a primary concern at the time bought a Boxer.

If investment is not a concern at 130K look at Aston DBS's in stick. Right now I'm in love with that car.
Or pony up 40K more and get a Scud. Granted not a normal weekend car but that depends or your weekends

 

All 550s are sticks/gated..

 

This is the kind of choices all car loving Fathers want their sons to have.....your new Dino looks great BTW.

Appreciate all the comments.....but who would have thunk the majority here would pick a 550?

Yes, the actual production of 993TTs is about 2X of the 550.

The future valuation advantage of a 550 is a guess on my part, as you have some rarity advantage coupled with a somewhat more narrow market from a company with a long history of nearly every model becoming collectible at some point.

I certainly understand the V-12 appeal as an owner of a topless mid-engined V-12 thrill machine.

 

Thanks, nice recap. The Porsche would also be more useable, and could actually park it places....but would think was less of an occasion to drive as you say.

The "no wrong answer" part makes for tough decisions.

 

Can't fault a decision to buy a Boxer....it came in second the last time.....and financially would have been a better choice.

Aston's have been disappointing test drives to me,they always seemed to underperform the stat sheet and use tech (talking things like old style transmissions, not radios and stuff) that is 5-7 years behind everyone else.

A Scud is more like $60k above the budget after taxes....my pony can't cover that distance....LOL

 

This is an interesting statement that you would opt for the GT car, given they both had the same type of transmission.....could you please elaborate on that? I tend to fall into the trap of thinking GT= Cruiser (not as much fun, but more comfortable).

 

Even better, get a stick V12 Vantage.

I would go with 550 over 993 TT. I had a regular 993 and don't really have much of a longing for it. Yeah they're definitely great cars and special in their own way but I would take my previous Viper and current 355 over it any day of the week.

 

Definitely the 550.

Very easy car to live with.

Not high performance compared to today's cars, but plenty of hp and torque for its time.

Plus, it feels great to drive. To row through the gears. To cruise on the open road.

The real answer, of course, is to eventually own both cars.
.

 

Followed quickly by a messy divorce...

 

So for the 550 guys, how much would I need to set aside each year for maintenance? I'm aware of the 3-4 year belt changes, would I assume they are $8-10k like a 355?....any other common issues?

 

About $5k per year although it is a complete guess.

Some years you might get by on less but every so often you'll have a year that costs more.

Like all Ferraris, avoid the cars with a lot of deferred maintenance issues.
Check the service docs. Annual maintenance done every year. And driven at least 1000 miles each year.
.

 

Based on quotes I have been getting on having my 550 serviced, about $1K per year for minor service and every 5 years a major service, including belts, about $5K.

 

If you recall the old Direct TV commercials, those crazy what if's - if you get cable then __ happens and then you end up __ (in the gutter all busted up). The 99TTs will almost surely get you into DE/track since that's the only way to enjoy these cars. Once in the track you spend 1000k per weekend averaged out given tire/brakes/upgrades/etc. That's over $5k for just 5 track weekends. And then you could wreck or upgrade to GT3s or Cup Cars ($100k min). What's the bigger cost? Sorry just being cynical. Though I started my own slippery slope with a 993 NA which I took to the track, then many other Ps followed up to a 996 GT3. Had to finally stop otherwise face loss of wife and/or job.