Why Ferrari and not Porsche?

The above Porsche is a beautiful piece, no doubt.

One new hard data point on exclusivity. I attended the JavaOne conference in San Francisco last week. Every morning I'd walk to the Moscone center, and every evening I'd walk back to the hotel. This for five days.

EVERY time I went out and about in SF in that area, I saw on average one Porsche (911s almost exclusively) every four minutes or so, about six per day... 30 the whole trip, just by walking to and from the convention center each day.

I saw not one single Ferrari.

If you CARE about exclusivity of the vehicle you drive, then Ferrari is the answer. Not every one does, though, and that's fine. Though I don't necessarily dig all the attention, I do enjoy having one of the few Ferraris in town: it is definitely an element of distinction. Obviously, this isn't my only "draw" to ownership, nor is it the only reward; but it is part of it.

And at the same time, I think their "use cases" or "classes" in which they're used can be different. This I think is true: There are "fun" cars, and then there are cars you use to get to and from work, etc. Some cars overlap, and one person's fun car may be another person's business car, etc. If I had to guess, I'd say that more Ferraris are used as their weekend toy or pleasure car than Porsches, while more Porsches are used for business / practical commuting than Ferrari. This my account for seeing so many folks in their 911s out and about in SF.


--Mike

 

Mike, that is a good example and works the argument in both directions. One of the reasons you would never see a ferrari parked in SF around the convention center is that it would just not be a prudent thing to do. I have 3.4 996 conversion boxster (with tons of mods and 325hp pushing a 2500lb car with a very low center of gravity, it is without a doubt the best cornering car I have ever driven and one of the most fun to drive). However, I would park the porsche downtown, maybe not anywhere, but with care and in a good spot. My 550 I just would not park downtown. Period. So to that end of it, sometimes driving the pcar is simply a relief, as I just don't have to worry about it as much. People still admire it and compliment me about it, even go over and look at it, but they won'key it out of envy and it won't draw a crowd, even if wellwishers. True, Ferrari is much more rare and without equal when it comes to mystique and lore but those same attributes can also have a downside. The attention the cars draw becomes a guilty pleasure mostly, but sometimes I agree with Ignacio, that the attention gets old and the many restrictions of driving and living with the Ferrari can become tiresome.
That said, I would still gladly accept the keys to a new enzo, so go figure!!

 

Yes, they do. But they also do this when they see a old mustang, so whats your point?

Yes, they do. But they also do this when they see a souped up civic, so whats your point?

Yes they do, but they also say this about Lambos, Mercedes and BMWs, so whats your point?

So what? I've seen people standing around and admiring Porsches, Astons, Diablos and even MR2s. So whats your point?

You're right, Porsche just sounds so much better.

I hope you can see by now that all of the crap that you just posted is just that, crap.

 

I bought a 308QV earlier this year.

I was then faced with the prospect of having to sell my 911. Which I thought would be an easy thing to do.

Alas, the 911 is still in the garage, and the 308 is gone.

That being said, there are other Ferraris I'd give my 911 up for! Just not a 308. The difference between build quality and materials on a 308 and a 911 are night and day. The 911 is an overbuilt, top of the line tank, designed to be on the road for decades (at least the 911's before 1999). The 308 seemed to me to be very much "built to a price."

The 911 also just flat out drives better. The steering is 100x better. The brakes are better. The handling and cornering are better. The ride quality is better. The 911 is also very light on it's feet. I was AMAZED at how HEAVY the 308 felt. Very sluggish feeling to me, like it is carrying way too much weight. I noticed it even pushing it around in the garage. It felt heavier than my wife's MB sedan (how much does a 308QV weigh??).

That being said, the 308 is a very, very pretty car. Both the 911 and the 308 have great, distinctive sounds. The 308 is lower, sleeker, and more "exotic" looking.

But in the end, I found it's beauty to be only skin deep. Not enough for me.

For current cars, I'd take the Ferrari over the Porsche. I'd take a 360 over a 996 or even a 996 Turbo.

 

All my friends who have Porsche's wish and want someday to own a Ferari.

 

One word for you then, Viper.

 

You know this is very strange but I'm going to say this from the bottom of my heart:

I rather be driving a 355/360/550 or even Lambo Murci/Gallardo then Driving a more expensive Porsche GT in most of the occassions.......


How strange is that

 

I agree that Ferraris in general are more sexy, but you guys have got to admit that when a certain poster here (RufMD) posts pics of his mighty silver beast you don't sit and stare for just a bit....

 

niek the gt2 reminds me of my labradors snorting for smell

 

Like others here, I have both and find the comments here have been well said on both sides of the aisle. But I definitely have my views on each, so I repeat here a message I PM'd someone on the subject a while back :

Both are great to drive. The 355 sticks better in big sweeping turns (better skidpad g's), and feels heavier/stabler in all corners. The Porsche is more nimble, and feels better in smaller turns as you know you'll get the nose around in time and you can change direction easily. The Porsche is as easy to drive as a Honda...so smooth you forget how much speed and power is there. The Ferrari sounds and feels great under acceleration. I can't feel the big difference in performance, although I know the 355 is prob a half to full second faster in a striaght line in a 0-60 mph contest. I love 2nd gear in the Carrera, it has such a wide band I can run it from 25 to 60 on a windy road and it feels perfect. The Ferrari also feels god in 2nd-3rd gear but really outshines the Carrera at higher speeds. I have had both cars to 130+ mph on an open road and the Carrera felt less stable than the Ferrari by a long shot. The 355 felt like I was doing maybe 90...it made speed very easy and felt like I could defintely test top speed of 180-ish with ease. I wasn't sure I wanted to feel how the Porsche would act above 160.

A Red 355 Spider is, admitedly, a "look at me" car. And at that is performs great. Some people really like my Carrera, but EVERYBODY loves the 355. 17 year-old girls to grandmas and all in between don't hesistate to come up and talk to me when I'm in it.

Reliability hands down goes to Porsche. I've had many of the typical 355 issues and while I don't complain (knowing what I was getting into) it certainly underscores the attention to engineering detail that the Germans put into their cars. I am worried about the Ferrari interior, which is in good shape now, but will require lots of babying to keep the leather from getting stretched/pulled/etc. The Carrera is all leather, too, but is sturdy as hell and takes a lot of abuse without showing it.

Porsche has gone 45K miles with no probs at all (new mass air flow sensor cost me a few hundred, plus a few tire changes). I drive the Porsche every day, 30 miles to work and 30 back. I'd buy another in a heartbeat. That said, the Ferrari is a great toy if you can afford the maintenance. Also wins the beauty contest by a LOOOOOONNNNGGG shot (I was not a fan of the 996 Carrera at first but have grown to love it even if it is less exciting-looking than some older Porsches). I also autocross the Porsche with the local club and find I can really push it hard and get my "racing fix" without worrying about it or having to spend a fortune.

I hate to say it to Ferrari lovers, but if I could have just one, it would be the Porsche, because I can drive it every day and can take it to 200,000 miles without spending a fortune in maintenance or suffering as much depreciation. For a drive to the beach with a beautiful woman or a weekend racing along the open roads of the U.S, I'd take the Ferrari and smile the entire time, but if that meant I had to drive a Honda to work every day, I'd likely pass.

Just my $0.02
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The fact is, there is no better sports car than a Porsche...bar none. However, it still ain't a Ferrari. There's something about the looks, (up until the 360), and sound of an Italian car that gets the blood pressure up and makes one feel good that a Porsche just doesn't deliever. I have a friend that owns a 911TT and a 308GT4 and Fiat Spider. While the Porsche is way faster, handles better and is more reliable and cheaper to own, if necessary he claims he would get rid of the Porsche way before he would either of the Italian cars. I too had a 993 and 924S for a few years and used them as a daily driver. But, it never put the smile on my face like any of my past and present Italian cars from Ferraris to Fiats.

 

That's like comparing this Ferrari with the Carrera S. Of course the Ferrari 355 is better than the 912. Something that is diffrent is this, the Ferrari on this pic costs like the 997, the 912 is much cheaper than the Ferrari 355.

http://www.dumpstermonkey.com/~mikeg/europe/maranello/part3/0254%20-%20A%20Nice%20Old%20Ferrari%20Coupe.JPG

 

Some words missing in that sentence were, ugly,cheap,nasty,inferior materials, "is just a Neon in a different shape and with a truck engine" the Viper.

 

In reality this subject is totally stupid. Ferrari is a great damn car it may be the sport cars of sport cars for many but to say that the Porsche is boring or has no soul is idiotic. This cars are made for high speeds and driving them at the U.S.A. speed limits feels gay, of course they might feel boring and is because the U.S. is a country where driving is very damn boring because of the low speed limits. I drove my 328 and Testarossa as daily drivers and they felt boring also because of the stupid speed limits but the only thing that kept me feeling good about the car was the sound of the motor and knowing that I was driving a Ferrari, of course I was always looking for the moment and place where I could speed the car up. There are thousands of normal Porsche cars but then there are many Porsches that are more special and with more historic importance than a lot of Ferraris. I own both marks and for me they rank as the best sport cars in the world, funny how both marks have the same cavallino rampante on the hood.

 

I agree with testa. This thread is a bunch of B.S. I own both and love both. They both feel so different but so extremely incredible at the same time. The Ferrari turns heads. The Porsche is more common due to a varying product line made to allow those with less fortunate pocket books, a taste of something special. But that does not mean that porsche does not or has not built any cars of less value than that of Ferrari. The best way to answer the question is, how do you wan to feel in the car? Is it for status, head turns, or for the pleasure of driving the car? They both make a statement in different ways.

 

this is still going on? must hit a sore spot... like yankees vs mets.

i like stradales. i like GT2's, owned 3 for 18,000 miles. stradales are unequivocally better. GT2's are mUUUUUUUUUCH cheaper to buy

 

Dear Ferraristi,

Porsche has lost its way. No excluvity, pick-up trucks, no racing....no excitement.

We all like to be unique, things that set us apart from the crowd....I think the Ferrari does that where a Porsche is just tooooo common. Yes, yes, fantastic reliability, super low maintenance cost, superior build.....but if it doesn't excite, why bother.

Everytime I fuel up the Testarossa, I spend another 10 minutes " sharing" the Ferrari with everone around me. " Pop the hood " is the favorite question followed by " wow, that's alot of engine " It's like a fine painting except I get to drive it.

Freeze....Miami Vice !

Shamile

 

I have one of each; ferrari and porsche. I love them both. Totally different cars with different reasons for ownership. I'd love a Beemer too... another different car. there are hundreds of cars that all serve different purposes. there are tons of nice cars out there and in this demographic, we don't do either/ or... we do many............

 

For me, I like both makes. My last '91 911 cabrio was a fun car to drive. I never had to worry about its breaking down even though it was over 10 years old. Also, it's much practical around town than the Ferrari, especially with its higher ground clearance.

 

OK, I currently have an older 911 (82SC) that I use on the weekends and I happen to love driving it-the back seats are perfect for my 2 little ones. these cars were some of Porsche's best and are considered the best "bang for the buck" Porsche. Rawer driving machine than the Carrera, at least to me. You can get some pretty solid cars in the low teens. I also have a 1987 Alfa Milano with 47K miles on it that I wind to the redline so I can just listen to the Italian music.....

Now I'm thinking of selling the Alfa and picking up a Ferrari, probably a 308, preferably a euro car. If the resistance is too much on the homefront (Read:wife),
then I'll sell the Porsche and either do a red 328 or white/silver 911 Turbo.

I always roll down the window to hear a Ferrari...

The thing I like about both marques are their long heritage and racing history.

I've been following F1 racing since I was 13 (Lauda's first world championship in the 1975 312T) and have been a tifoso ever since. I've been to Italy several times but have never made it to the factory...

 

ahh yes, i have an 89 Milano myself, wat a beautiful song at 6000rpm, shes a screamer. thats one thing ive noticed about italian cars, they scream. german cars growl, italian cars scream!!!

 

Dear Ferraristi,

A phrase I like is : " Italians make exotic cars, everyone else makes fast cars"

Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

Although i like SOME Porsches (959, GT2, GT3) - Porsches are as common as muck.......the name ferrari, apart from the illustrious racing heritage inspires PASSION! Something which for me...Prosche simply does not do.....to me..the lower end models are yuppy cars and the Boxster...well id rather not even comment on that.

Ok you may have guessed i dont like Porsches, so its a baised opinion!

Scuderia Ferrari all the way!

 

For me it began when I was a child. I still remember when I was in elementary school and I ordered a book about cars & when I got it I saw aphoto of a 330 P4 that absolutely blew away my young mind. I guess ever since then the Bug had me. Also back in those days Ferraris were much better looking than almost any Porsche except for maybe a 917 or a 906 which you never saw on the roads of course.

Then of course I learned of the history & prestige of these cars

For me historically Ferrari has built the best looking cars Ever, like the 330P4, the 250 Testa Rossa, 250 California, 1970 512M, 308, 512BB, Testarossa, and many, many more

Today things are different of course, Just choosing whats on the market today I would definately choose a Lambo Murcielago Barchetta