Why Ferrari and not Porsche?

What made you get a 355 after so many porsches? You should expand on this.

Great thread here. I know some Porsche enthusiasts and most are always looking at the Ferrari like they want one but can't commit. One guy I know collects porsches and is so into their Le Mans history that he thinks they are tops. Much in the same that we tifosi think of Formula 1.

I've driven a few porsches, for me, there is nothing like a Ferrari. But I'm committed to everything that comes with it (not always hassle free ownership). Just ask someone who's cat is named damnit!

 

Did anyone mention the production numbers? Porsche is heading for 80.000 cars/year, AFAIK more than 10x and nearly 20x the Ferrari production numbers. (Porsches numbers are still very small compared to big OEMs which sell MILLIONS. )

So one Ferrari advantage clearly is its exclusiveness.

Which is one of the reasons I chose a Ferrari, b/c here in Germany Porsches are very common on public streets.

Besides this ALL of the classical sport car brands make my heart beat faster if I see one of their cars on the street, be it Maserati, Lotus, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari ... ... provided the car is a classic!

 

To answer your question yes the 360 does give more driver feedback, at least in the way I define it, which that the car resonds to what you want it to do and lets you know when its doing it. I will say this much though I am not sure how many of you would agree, it takes a better driver to push a Porsche (not the newer models though the GT2 would be included) to it limits and not find yourself wrapped around a tree. Sine I spend most of my driving time of the track I tend to look at these cars ability on the road and for me there is no more fun on the road than driving the twisties, I am lucky that there is the pefect road for that very close to my house.

 

I find myself wanting a 911 sometimes because

1. Cheaper maintenance
2. Rear seats so my wife and daughter can come too

So I go and look at 911s every now and then, and realise this each time; if I had to have one car to use every day and have fun in, then I'd get a Carrera. But as long as I can get away with having a car purely for pleasure I will have a Ferrari.

Plus, the current 911 has cupholders- enough said.

Robert.

 

Robert,

911's are really too tight to be comfortable with 3 people, at least for me; i gave up a long time ago.. and anyway gt2/3's only have 2 seats...

you have a point on cupholders. had to hang my tea from the CS center back pocket when i went to meet the boys for a Cuban on sunday.

neither brand has a humidor, which is dire

 

As an old motercycle racer once said,"its not just how fast you go, but also how you go" Its all about the experience. The last porche I droive a 996 was like a really quick lexus, so its a great daily driver. Ferraris are about driving the road like playing an instrument. Its everything the road, the noise, the looks the feel. Italy is about emotion, Germany about technical, which do you prefer in a fun car.

 

If you even have to ponder this question, your not a car guy. Ferrari oozes driving passion from every pore. Porsche doesn't. I drove the new 996TT cabrio before I bought my 99 355 Spyder and it was no contest. Yes the porsche is faster, more comfortable, more luxurious, has GPS, is smoother, is quieter. Ands that's also exactly everything that's wrong with it. Except for the faster part. It's a great speed appliance though. My friend has a GT2 and it is much better, but still not as satisfying to drive. It is scary fast though.

 

Hey David? How is that, when Porsche hasn't even announced a TT for the 997 and might not even come 'till the 998?

Just curious.

 

COMMON [I'M WRITING BIG SO BRUCE CAN READ IT EASIER] IN PORSCHE FOR DEALERS TO TAKE ORDERS 3 YEARS IN ADVANCE -- I ORDERED 3 996 TT IN 1998. YOU NO LONGER NEED TO DO IT W/ PORSCHE SINCE THEY MAKE PLENTY AND YOU CAN BUY BELOW WINDOW SOON AFTER LAUNCH [GT2/TT CABRIO, TT]

 

more dependable, more upgrades available, less expensive to repair, interior works, clutch lasts.....

Just kidding......

I love my F-car, but last night went out in my 996 and it is a joy. Handles like a banshee, and when I punch it the exhaust roars just right.

No reason not to celebrate all the good stuff.

Having said that....I just had my 360 to replace the clutch. As I was backing it down the driveway...I remembered why I love it

 

Isn't Ferrari part of Fiat or owned by Fiat,bozo?

 

Why not Ferrari AND Porsche?

 

In 2001 had a new 996 turbo.That car was just perfect,faster then anything else on the road and more capable then my abilities(professionally drove rally Opel Kadet GT in late 70's).
Then I went on vacation and rented a 1996 Maranello with 60k on the clock,missing 2nd gear synchro and beat up interior.The car overheated in Riviera stop-go traffic and my wife hated me for not renting a "normal" car.
I had the time of my life and everyday driving it was a divine experience.
My 996 seemed boring ever since.

 

I'm sorry, but this is just a very silly thread considering where it's posted. Go to a Porsche web forum and post "why Porsche and not Ferrari?" and watch the exact opposite discussion take place. What is anybody trying to accomplish here?

 

Simple,

Porsche: Decision of the mind

Ferrari: Decision of the heart

I am happy that my heart controals my actions.

 

a great and simple point!

i think it best to have both, my turbo when i want to go crazy fast and not worry about parking and my boxer when i want to feel truly special!!

 

Not very healthy in my honest opinion.I think all of us would like to own a Ferrari of some kind but to most of the non Ferrari enthusiasts,the cost of maintanence doesn't make any sense,atleast in my case not right now.Besides that the other probable reason would be the proximity of a Ferrari/independent dealer.I know i want a 355 GTS and infact thought about buying one recently too but since the nearest dealer is 400 miles away i decided to buy a 1991 Porsche C2 Turbo instead.
Later, yasir

 

I'll chime in here...both are great cars, no doubt. IMO, the ferrari is just plain sexy. Porsche has great curves too but it is more subtle-styled.

However, when i was shopping for cars the reason i went for a Porsche C4S was because of the following reasons:

1) Daily driveability & reliability (opposed to turbo/360)
2)performance is on par with most great sportscars(and here in los angeles, there is too much traffic anyway)
3) I was 22 at the time and wanted to leave myself something to look forward to (which is also why i didn't choose the turbo/360)
4) i enjoy canyon runs and the all wheel drive and smoothness of the naturally aspirated engine suits it perfectly.
5) i needed the two rear seats to put some ladies back there.

I love my C4S and i appreciate it more and more each day. I love it's classic lines and overall smoothness. It is a very practical sports car for a person my age (extra seats, ground clearance, subtle looks, etc) However, i know i would go bonkers when i get a ferrari, which i plan on getting next summer.

Some people automatically assume that because i own a Porsche, it's because i can't afford a ferrari. Or because i own a C4S, i can't afford a Turbo. This is far from the case, as the price i paid for the C4S put it in the price range of new turbo's and over the price range of used turbos and 355's.

I chose the C4S because it suits my needs for what i want in a car.

 

Both companies manufacture great road and racing cars. To me a Porsche is a daily driver, the one you would drive to work and the grocery store. The Ferrari is the one you drive when you need to just get away from it all and proceed into perfect bliss. So the question should really not be why ferrari and not porsche, but which appeals more to your needs and feelings

 

That's why I went with the 456gt. It has 6 more cylinders than the Porsche and I can take my kids with me. It is expensive to maintain but I guess that's a relative outlook. Everytime I see a Ferrari, I look. That cannot be said for Porsche. Ferraris are visceral and visual automobiles that will always be at the top of the automotive pecking order.