Why Ferrari and not Porsche?

I have to say that in profile views the Porsche 996GT3, 996 Turbo or GT2 does look a hell of a lot better than any 360 Modena.

A lot of people buy Ferrari to pretend they are rich and to pose the car around. I saw someone say that a Ferrari can tell you are rich (yeah right) and that a Porsche can be had by almost anyone, this is the kind off mentality that chooses a Ferrari over a Porsche in many cases. Now I see that just about anyone can afford to buy a $70,000 to about $190,000 mass production 996. I see this posted by many owners of Ferraris that cost sometimes far less than a new Boxster.

 

This is why.

 

Why is everyone selling out to Porsche being a better performing car???

Porsches are great on reliability. Thats an issue few would argue. But as far as performance, you battle the same year style Ferrari and Porsche and they run very similar. Granted, the Ferrari is more money, but what do you expect? Its a limited production car, ITS GOING TO BE MORE.

Example in point...
I had a 91' c2 cab (964 if you want the model number)
Now I have a newly acquired 91' 348ts

Look at the specs on the two cars...both 0-60 times are 5.5 sec
Ferrari top speed is 170+, Porsche top speed is 162.
The Porsche was 85K new back then and the Ferrari was around 100K
And were going to say that the Porsche is a better performing car, no way!

Yeah, a 996turbo will slaughter a 348...but lets compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.
An F40 will kill a 914 as it should
I dont know why anyone would bash either car...
As for the money aspect, you can flip burgers at Burger World and afford a boxster, if you adjusted your other expenditures
This cannot be said for a Ferrari, you could afford the car, but the service and maintenance would ruin you.
If you want to do a poll....poll this
How many people bought the Porsche first and then upgraded to a Ferrari?
How many people bought the Ferrari first and then upgraded to a Porsche?

Maybe there in lies your answers...
Porsche - reliability, looks, peformance
Ferrari - relaibility (ha! just kidding) , looks, performance, exclusivity, and a cool little horsey somewhere on the car

 

my dad is better then your dad

 

A 91 C2 Cab was 85K? That sounds pricey. Must have been optioned up (which is easy enough to do; Porsche options are silly expensive).

But in terms of performance, what can you really do but compare like priced cars. A new Porsche TT is $118ish and a new 360 is what...$160? If you can get one. And which one is faster? Hmmm... And more reliable? And cheaper to maintain? And you can safely mod the TT to 600+ HP or more. The stock engine is detuned in the extreme.

But then a Z06 can get you the same performance (or close to it) for even less money, so neither Porsche nor Ferrari can gloat too much, I suppose.

I would just like to know what burger joint pays well enough to afford a Boxster? I need a job! Although used ones, since they sold a bazillion of them, are a great deal. Resale prices are a victim of its own success.

I grant you, Ferrari gets you looks (a bit subjective, but I am a believer), exclusivity, a killer exhaust note, the horsey...and a large price/cost premium. But hell, there are so many awesome cars out there right now...it is a good time to be alive as an automotive enthusiast. A great time! Are dark times just around the corner? This golden age cannot last forever. Enjoy whatever you have while you still can!

 

Do you want a German Frau or an Italian Signorina?
Do you want Bratwurst and beer or do you want Vittelo Tonnato and nice Chianti?
Do you want East Berlin or do you want Venice?
Do you want Heidi or do you want Gina Lollobrigida?
Do you want Das Boot or do you want the Italian Job?
I think the rationale (if you can rationalize that) is quite clear.

 

haha!!!.....................priceless, very true

 

I dont think comparing the 360 and the 911tt is a fair comparsion...The 911tt is porsche's primo car and the 360 is ferraris cheapest. Of course you compare Ferrari's cheapest to Porsche's cheapest and the Ferrari will be more, because of the exclusivity of the car. Limited production means more dough. I dont think price is a fair comparison. I think going with Porsche's line up from top to bottom (not counting the Boxster, i don't count that as a real Porsche) and Ferrari's line up from top to bottom...If you want performance per dollar, Ferrari is the last car you wanna buy....Go get a Mustang Cobra, modify it, and go smoke everything. But you get so much more with both the Porsche and the Ferrari, otherwise nobody would buy either!

And yes, price c-2 cabs back then (cabs started in the 80's) and it did not have many upgrades except paint (midnight metallic blue) was extra.

As for Burger World, flip burgers for 6 bucks an hour for 50 hours a week...300 bucks a week, 1200 a month...of that you will take home a 1000...at least in FL because FL has no income tax...that leaves you 800 a month...400 a month for expenses and 400 for the boxster a month. Then burgerman, being a moral and upstanding citizen and always pays his bills, buys this car http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2492922153&category=6015 and finances it at 4.25% thus giving him a payment of $370 a month. Burgerman gets his Porsche and is the envy of everyone else at Burger World.

Of course in real life, Burgerman still gets his car but more like this...

Burgerman with his horrendous credit gets his 2nd baby's mama, who is on wellfare to cash in her food stamps and sell them for 75 cents on the dollar and pay for his car

or Burgerman sells drugs and threatens to kill anyone at Burger World if they open there mouth.

 

I cant believe i just put the words 'cheap' and 'ferrari' in the same sentence

 

Are you kidding? Porsche's primo car is the Carrera GT. Then next down is the GT2 (can you say eat any (non-racing) Ferrari short of an Enzo for lunch?). THEN there is the TT at a MERE $118, which STILL hangs with or beats the modern V12 Ferrari's in the straights AND munches on 360s..for around $45k US less. So how is comparing the TT unfair to the poor, unjustly victimized $160k Modena unfair to the Modena? Puh-lease.

lol. Never mind. You just revealed yourself as a poseur car owner instead of an enthusiast. Either you have never driven one, or are so caught up in "image" that you have no appreciation for an amazing car. Even the Porsche mags say the Boxster's mid-engined layout is superior to the 911 and is only kept "down" by Porsche artificially holding back the HP. I think it was Car magazine (or was it Evo?) that said the Boxster S may be the only Porsche you really ever need to own.

And yes, I own both, so I know of what I speak.

When the hard-top Boxster comes out next year, it will be very interesting to see its impact on SCCA and other racing. With more HP, it really could be astounding. I came close to getting a Ruf 3600S (Boxster with a 3.6 engine in it) instead of the TT, but believe it or not, the Ruf cost MORE. I still wish I had gotten the Ruf.

 

tmobileguy, Are you serious! Is this wha you truly believe. WOW! Did it occur to you that burger world man could buy a 308. And it would be less money than the boxster.

Price is not the defining issue as to what is better. The choice between Ferrari and Porsche is a totally personal one. You did post an interesting question of who bought either a Ferrari or Porsche first and then changed to the opposite. That would be an interesting poll.

It is perfectly fair to compare the 996TT to the F430. Why do you feel it is unfair? Because the 996TT is the top of normal production for Porsche and the 360 is the entry level Ferrari. Is that it? Nothing else? I disagree. Both are closer in price than not. Both are closer in performance than not. And if your reason was one that was true and thought of be many then all the car mags would never compare the two together. But they do and have been for years. The reality is 996TT and the 360 fight for the same demographic buyer. All of Us. Ask yourself why is it that so many of us have owned both brands at some point?

I do not feel that one makes better sports cars than the other. Porsche builds sports cars the way they feel is best. It seems to work. Ferrai also builds sports cars the way they feel is best. And it also seels to be working. I am thrilled that we still have both Porsche and Ferrari to choose from. As I have said before both cars I like and bring me joy in different ways. It is not a matter of which is better than the other they are different and both fun to drive.

Also, have you consider that your Ferrari costs more than a Porsche but is less reliable and costs more to service, but it is still better? Why? DO NOT miss understand me. I love Ferrari. I love the 360 and I have ordered a F430. The cars look, sound, and feel very special. But that does not mean that I like the fact that stupid little things go wrong that should not. I also do not like that you at times have to fight with Ferrari about warranty. WHy is this? I have spent quite some time looking at all the posts on issues mechanical. It is unbelievable. Ferrari should build a quality car for the price it charges. It should stand behind it's product while under warranty. Not when there is an issue that is expensive turn around and say driver error. Excuse me! But we all still buy Ferraris because nothing else is like it. Both manufacturers' win at different elements of a sports car. Each have their special attributes.

And yes I still love Ferrari even though I have had things go wrong with the different Ferraris I have owned. And I still am looking forward to the new Ferraris like the F430. There is no one winner between these two sports cars for me. I love both Porsches and Ferraris. Why does one have to be better?

Cheers,

 

I'll agree with most of your comments, but there is no way that these cars are in the same demographic (income-wise, which I'm assuming you are talking about). 40k is a large difference for most buyers.

 

Well 40K is or can be a big gap to decide to pay over a 996TT. But I also meant that age, education, status as well as income. Also it is currently possible to buy a 360 for the same price as a 996TT or 996TTS. So price is not as big a problem as we might think.

Cheers,

 

Adrift...
How can you compare the limited production, exclusivity of a Ferrari to a Porsche....I'll tell you how, you can't. And yes, the Boxster will go down in the books the same as the 914, the same as the 924, the same as the 944, the same as the 968.. NOT A 911....How come all those cars have finite lives and the 911 doesn't. I don't care what Car and Driver says, I care about my PERSONAL opinions when I drive the car. Porsches are awesome cars, otherwise I would not have bought one, but don't try to put Porsche in the same ballpark as Ferrari. This discussion is so stupid anyway, isn't there a Porschechat you guys can get on and rave about your boxsters and 911s? And if you don't like Ferraris, then get the F(errari) off this site.

P.S.- If your into money vs. performance go by a Noble M12 which will eat all of your GT1s, GT2s, GT3s, and GT49s. A rolling chasis is 56K plus the motor and tranny (twin turbo Ford Duratec 3.6 liter) ...for under a 100K and yes you can do it for under 100K, read the specs on what CAR AND DRIVER says about it.
How many Ferraris have you owned?...we know about your Porsches.
And fill out your profile a little bit, this is a site of REAL people, REAL people that help others with ownership, potential ownership, and overall advice and observations of F-E-R-R-A-R-I-S.
And I personally think its awesome
IMHO of course

 

SimonA,
You find me a guy flipping burgers driving a 308 (this I would truly love to hear and see!). I'll find you one driving a boxster. I have a buddy that owns a bunch of Subways in Tallahassee...one of his guys has a boxster. Does making sandwiches count? The maintenance would ruin someone on a salary like that even on a 308....We all agree he could afford the price of the car.

 

Yes sandwichs count. It was your example not mine. And by the way I do know of a guy that drives a 308 and works hourly. I don't know him personally, like you he works for a business owner I know. In regards to service you are completely correct. Ferraris are more expensive.

I personally like both Porsches and Ferraris and I have owned both. I am unsure as to why it is important that one wins over the other?

Cheers,

 

Just buy both cars are get it over with.
I can't believe I just went through this whole thread..... I'm exhausted!

 

If you can have both do it. I have owned 4 Porsche (1996-993(911), 1997-993(911), 1987-951(944 Turbo), 1991-964 (911). I still own the 951 and the 964 and will always remember my ’97 C2S Vesuvius with Aerokit

I have driven only a Ferrari 348TS and a Testarossa. The sound of my '91 911 was on par with the sound of the Testarossa. But not the lines...

Porsche lost my interest when they came out with the 996... too bland and disconnected for my taste with awful interiors. The 997 seem to improve on the 996 weakness but I have to take a test drive to see how it feels on the road. The sad part is that Porsche seems to have lost its way… with the 993 the link of the engines to the race cars was lost. Now if you want a Porsche with a link to the racing heritage you have to get a GT3, GT2, or a TT but you are still stuck with mediocre interiors. Again, I think that with the 997 Porsche is coming back to a better offering… we will see.

A Ferrari is a work of art on wheels. So beautiful that even the engine has a clear enclosure. The engine, the heart of the machine is a beauty to look and listen to. And those that have their engines covered by metal at least have 4 more cylinders to increase the sound factor...and still looks good!

But Ferraris are expensive to acquire and to maintain… specially if, like in my case, you need to use them on a daily basis.

For daily use there is nothing out there that beats a Porsche. That is my family car. Maserati is starting to have a product that might compete but is still not polished enough… maybe the next version of the coupe will be closer… we will see. There is also Aston Martin that seems to be coming out with good alternatives. Until then I will stick with my old Porsche and keep saving for a used Ferrari, a new Maserati, or a new Aston.

I still find the comparison a null subject... two different cars and two different mentalities... I like Porsches as well as Ferrari, money not an issue I would have both (and a Miura). I am glad Ferrari exists, it gives me the pleasure to dream and set higher goals.

 

lmao too, true.

tmobileguy...don't change the subject. you said you cannot compare porsche's top of the line tt (when it is NOT the top of the line) to ferrari's entry level product (the 360), even though a new TT is far LESS than a new 360. i say you can, and the nod for "value" as well as performance easily goes to the TT.

you never surf other boards? you sit on one or two boards, they get slow and talk over the same stuff. i would consider myself a ferrari "fan" almost as much as a porsche one. they are exilerating cars. and i don't fill out all the bio stuff on ANY board...i mean who really cares about my personal info? heck, i don't even care. and although i don't own one, i have never said i don't lust after a ferrari and feel the same draw everyone else does. i just don't feel the expense and reliability gap is worth the difference over my porsches. maybe if i had more direct exposure, i would get the fever, but... and i love how you suggest that exorbitant maintenance expenses are a plus. just keep telling yourself that. lol i am sure you will be thrilled with your car for years to come, then.

and the bit about the boxster not being a "real" porsche... so only cars that go on for a ridiculous length of time in production are "real" cars? the rest are somehow phoneys? lol i am not even sure how to address that one, it is so absurd. then i guess NO ferrari's are REAL ferrari's, as all the model lines have been replaced at one point or another. wonderful logic, that.

as for porsches and ferraris in the "same ballpark"...i guess it depends on the ballpark. ask yourself this...if you had a 24 hour endurance race to run, and could only fuel up and change tires...and your life depended on it...would you rather be driving a GT3-RSR or a Stradale? Hmmmm...

 

Stradale, cuz if i drove the GT3 i would always wonder and regret not having driven the Ferrari.

They shouldnt be compared, their both in a class of their own

 

so, this weekend, my buddy and i were cruising in my 308 GTS. At a stop light, we were head to head with a P 911. the guy in the p car musta been at least a foot taller than us, and my buddy yells out the window up to him the following " NICE SUV" what a crackup.....

 

Sorry, I didn't read through all 12 pages of replies but have to say that this sounds very much like the Vette/Viper debates on those forums.

 

Because Ferrari owners don't dream of "someday owning a Porche" whereas Porche owners all dream of someday owning a Ferrari.

 

When I posted the first time in this thread, I wrote you should own both.

Then I was given the chance to drive Napolis' Maserati coupe.

Forget the German car, if you want a fast, comfortable GT, get the Maser.

A few days after that, I was able to drive the Mondial finally that I bought sight unseen for my wife from 8000 miles away. Yes, the C4 is a quicker car, but there is something about a Ferrari that brings a smile to my face. I can't say exactly what it is, but it just makes me happy. That's all that is important. The C4 is gone as far as I'm concerned...

 

I love my wife's Cayenne Turbo for family trips to Vermont, driving to the Horse farm, rollling through NYC.

I love my P 3/4 for different reasons.

My daily is a Maser Coupe which combinds a bit of both.

P's are great cars but the ones I like are 356's, James Dean's, 917's, and Paris to Dakar 956 and Carrera's. (If you know of one for sale let me know Paris to Dakar)

911's, and GT2's just don't move me the same way F cars do.
If you're looking for a pristine GT2 for a very good price PM me.