should have bought a Porsche

rool back to 2001, 1998 911 turbo was about $80k for a nice used one...instead I got a 1998 355 gts for $132k (this was a very fair price back then)...move forward to 2009...1998 911 turbo with 16k brings about 70 to 75k or more and a 1998 355 gts with same mileage brings 60k if you find a buyer...trust me I tried to sell it and found nothing but idiots that want to pay even less than that...I have a 456 and the 355...can't wait to get ride of them...I guess just tired of the all ferrari thing and dirty tricks when you buy the car, when you service the car, when you trade the car or sale the car, feels like you are being taken advantage off every time...stopped by the ferrari dealer today and saw the California...sorry not a good looking car...it did it for me...this is the end.

 

I guess if you're in it for the money, you lose (especially with newer Ferraris).

If you're in it to spend money, enjoy yourself and have the best looking car in your zip code, you win.

I like the 993 Turbo, but it's kind of a "sterile" car. If the Porsche gets your adrenalin going, then it's probably the better move. For me, automotively, the Porsche feels like another very good daily-driver type car, and the Ferrari is the naughty one.

 

Surely you would have enjoyed driving the 355 over the last 8 years??

Hell, I have had my 348 for the last 4 years and I LOVE it. You wont see me selling that anytime soon.

Sorry to hear you want to sell them both. ANY new car depreciates brother, simple as that.

 

It's ok, Ferrari's aren't for everyone It's absolutely true, there's other more economical sporty cars out there...

 

+1

 

He isn't just talking about depreciation, it's the whole Ferrari experience that he is meaning and I understand him and know of some who quit on Ferrari for those same reasons.

 

Hyundai is coming out with a Genesis coupe...

 

Any idea what your next ride will be after you sell the Ferraris? If you want to go back to Porsche and don't want to piss your money away, perhaps you should consider a '94 Turbo 3.6....the last of the "hairy-chested" rear wheel drive turbocharged air-cooled Porsches that were built to a world-class standard.

 

I have a different view of the the Porsche / Ferrari or any other exotic car deal. There is no need for any, you can go from point A to point B in a much more economical and comfortable way with a regular car. Vanity plays a big role here and if you want to make a statement, there is a price to pay. In my opinion Ferrari is the best car manufacture in the entire World. Porsche are awesome too but they are not Ferrari's, they look and sound more normal, they are not as flashy and they don't make the same statement. Each day, on my way to work and back, I see a Porsche on the road , but very rarely I see a Ferrari ... because they are rare and special and rare and special are the lucky people that drives them. You own two, you are special .... twice. And I am not sure if a 1998 Porsche Turbo is valued in the 70k range, specially in today's market. A year ago I had to struggle to sell my 02 Porsche Boxster S, I bought it and paid as it was gold and I sold it as it was copper, that's the way it goes.
Regarding your 355GTS, there are only 300 and some GTS in the US, and if I was you, I would wait for a better time to sale it. Me, personally, I wouldn't. It takes a lot to maintain them, this is absolutely true, but they are wonderful creatures !
Roberto

 

The Ferraris are in a different class. Kind of hard to explain but the feeling of driving one is unbelievable. I can be laid up with the flue and all I have to do to feel better for 30 minutes is take it out and let it rip. Man there is no feeling like that. These cars are not made to just putter around changing gears a 4500 rpm. They are made to drive and if one is afraid to let it loose every now and then or is intimidated by the car, then sell it. Should never have bought it. Yes they require a little more tender loving care than most cars but it gives it all back in spades. Its simply an amazing machine.

 

Agreed. I believe the lack of quality, competent, honest, and geographically convenient service is the #1 reason people lose interest in Ferraris. Let's face it...there are a lot of hack mechanics out there that screw Ferraris up while ripping off their owners at the same time, which quickly makes the cars become more of source of pain than pleasure. The lack of quality/honest local Ferrari service is why many Ferrari enthusiasts are willing to ship their cars great distances.

 

I understand where you are coming from.

Take for example my latest repair on my 348. I had to replace a vapor purge valve. Called up a couple of Ferrari dealers and the lowest price was $745 for one stinking valve, even though they are listed as a pair in the parts manual. I did some homework a found the same exact part is used on a Hyundai and sold for $87 from the Hyundai dealer. So I fully understand where you are coming from. It can get old reeeeeal fast, TRUST me I know.

 

AHHHHHH Do like I do and own both(Ferrari, Porsche) enough said..

I like my Porsche's I respect Ferdinand but he is no Enzo and I love my Ferrari.

 

Yeah........you WOULD know!!

 

I just got home from a drive in the 348.

I LOVE that car!! Fricken awesome machine.

I would like to think that all the bad experiences one would have with their Ferrari, would be made up for 10 fold when their Ferrari is running like a well oiled machine, like mine is!

There is NOTHING like a Ferrari and I am sure the OP has had some wonderful experiences in his 355.

Dont worry about the depreciation, forget about the cost of ownership and Ferraris 'dirty tricks'.....................pin that pedal to the metal, listen to that 355 scream at 8500 RPM and all that crap goes out the window IMO!

YEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Astroglide is on the list of Ferrari approved lubricants?

 

It most certainly is.

 

NEVER use KY, it stains the leather and the plastic bits.

 

KY is for the repair orders and parts invoices, commonly used to ease the shock associated with getting the royal shaft.

 

+1

but this what you get when you except the key...it is hard to deal with some time...

do you really think the 993tt would be any easy to sell in this economy?

 

There is something to be said about building a relationship/friendship with your mechanic and parts supplier.

I love my car, and I love the ownership experience. I sold a Porsche to buy my first 355, now on my second and I couldn't be happier.

It is such a shame that the ownership experience can be so badly tainted by the dealer and service networks, to the point where you somewhat regret buying a Ferrari and want to sell it. That speaks volumes about the companies that were "looking after" you.

 

Many ferrari owners sold their porsche ti buy a ferrari, myself included, why is that?

 

For me, more than half the fun of Ferrari ownership is working on the thing and seeing perform at its best. I feel that if I was dealing with Ferrari "Specialists" (read D#ck heads) and dealing with list prices for parts the shine would quickly go from ownership.

Having said that just today I had an appointment in town 20 minutes away…well 20 minutes to get there and 4 hours to get back, took the loooong way back.

Tight twisty tree lined country roads, nice open straights, sun shining, no traffic, no houses, no cops...... life does not get much better than that…..

 

Getting shafted is part of car ownership these days. I bought a 2004 BMW 325Ci last year, from an official dealer, "including major service". 5,000km later I had a $3.5k bill - replacement aircon pump, leaking coolant hose, etc, etc. In the same month, I had my 550's major done and that was the same price. Seems like my Beemer was a little less bang for the buck.

The TVR I bought last month was sitting in a cloud of steam 300km later - leaking radiator. That guy is now trying to bill me for $1.5k... Nice.

All I'm saying is - moving from Ferrari doesn't necessarily make you happier. Perhaps the spare parts are a bit cheaper, but that's about it.


Onno

 

One mans perspective

When the Winter months approach I find myself sliding into the driver seat of my 348 for "one last hurrah". It usually happens 3 or 4 times. The targa is off, I'm freezing my arse off, and smiling ear to ear. After the first snowfall and subsiquent road sanding, I begrudgingly pull the car into the garage, do my winter preps, install the car cover and have a drink and wonder why I live here in a northern State. These are my lenten days. Something just shy of depression sets in and the grey covered hulk becomes another a shelf in the garage with only a hint of what lies beneath peering out from under the lowest edge of the cover.

In or about March, The men I hang out with ( http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227307 ) start pressuring me to bring her out of slumber. A nice day here and there starts the blood flowing. I try to wait for a heavy spring rain to wash the streets of the paint marring sand but its hard. I start watching the weather reports looking for the perfect day to roll her out. When I finally get one, the cover comes off and.....my breath is taken away. The majesty of her presence fills me with hopes and dreams of the upcoming driving season. Truely a rebirth of the soul. We go for a spin and find that the 10 minute warm up turns into an hour cruise. I then find myself taking the long way home. I get sidetracked on to roads I've never tried before and 1 hour turn into 3. The spring wash and wax gets put off again and again. Every free moment I have becomes another driving experience.

Tell me what Porsche does this??

Don't be mistaken... I love Porsches but If I had one now it would be my DD