Porsche Turbo Cab vs. Ferrari California Decision

My dad has a 996TT Cab and a 360 Spider; he keeps the 996 as his daily driver. He looked at replacing both at the same time to an F430 and 997TT.

I pointed him towards the California, as I was a huge fan of the car and I thought it would be a great daily driver for him. After checking out a demo California, he really liked it and decided to get one over an F430. However, he also decided the California will be such an excellent daily driver that he won't need the 997 and has already stopped looking for one. Hope that helps...

Then again, I live in the south and snow never entered his considerations.

 

Well, you're asking on FerrariChat...

One thing that may enter into it is that you've already been socked with a lot of depreciation on the 997 (if you bought it new), and the California will be another huge wallop: Ferrari 2+2s seem to be hard to give away after a few years. Someone posted about a lease on a Calfornia with a 3-year residual under $100K (on a car with a financed value of $214K). If you daily drive a California, the accumulated miles will depreciate it even faster (welcome to the Ferrari world...)

I think you can buy a hard top for a 997 (?) if that's important to you. Could be a good option if you drive in the wet/cold.

On a general note, 987/997s (cab, coupe, Turbo, etc.) are very common here in San Diego/OC/LA, especially in silver/grey. Maybe in the northeast they're rarer. A Ferrari California would probably get noticed more -- whether that is good or bad is up to you. I enjoy it on the weekends, but it would get tiring 7 days a week. I have a 328, which is "flashier" than a California, but it's black metallic which is comfortably (for me) low key. I was in La Jolla today, and a guy had a black 599 -- even with the shields it was still somewhat stealth. Buy red and you're an attention magnet. It's a uniquely Ferrari (and Lamborghini) thing.

Another thought: If you're a serious gearhead, you need to own a Ferrari or some kind of exotic at least once. Then you either get it out of your system or become hopelessly addicted to the unique sound and fury of these cars.

So...

 

Where are you from? I had this discussion the other day with a Porsh' driver.

 

Have you driven a california?

 

Go take a look @ the cali. The seats are pretty much small kid only and even then only if you're short, there is zero leg room if the seats are all the way back. That said I consider the space in the back of a 911 Cab very inferior to the Coupe. Not sure where "north east" you are, but locally to Boston, FoNE has a demo which I drove and you should take a look. For some reason it seems to be a love it/hate it kind of thing on the boards. I actually liked it quite a lot, it gives you much of the GT feel of a 599 or 612 at a much lower price point, plus it has a convertible roof. Not at all similar to drive to a Turbo (I have a 997 coupe) mind you, but a nice drive nevertheless.

I have two cars that I drive here year round, my turbo and my 612. I put winter tires on both and just drive them. 612 was fine on my ice/snow packed pea stone driveway.

 

Give the California a serious look. Porsche makes a fantastic car, but the Ferrari is in a class by itself. I can't speak about the rear seats in a Porsche from personal experience (my 997 GT3 doesn't have them), but after driving the California, the decision between a turbo cab and the California was quite simple, as I too am looking to add a convertible sports car. The rear seats in both appear to be enough for short trips with kids (a requirement for me too), and the technicians have told me the car has been developed so that it could be used as a daily driver. The jury isn't out yet, but they have said the car is supposed to require less maintenance in comparison to their other models and be more in line with a "regular" sports car. I was only able to spend 30-45 minutes driving one, but given the opportunity, I could have driven it all day in comfort.

They are both fantastic vehicles. Good luck in your decision.

 

If money isn't an issue, you should keep your turbo and buy the California. In contrast to your turbo which you drive as a DD (and many are inclined to), the Ferrari will sit in your garage most of the time, used for occasional, wonderful outings, because its one of the most impractical cars in the world. There's a reason why most F cars are exceptionally low mileage and its not just that owners want to keep them pristine. I have a 996 Ruf R turbo and a Challenge Stradale and what I say about F cars in general applies to 95% of Fowners I know IMHO. Good luck in your decision.

 

Well, were are you at anyway. You did not fill out your profile. (Which is considered rude, BTW.)

 

As an owner of 39 Porsches and 4 Ferrari's, and now a Lambo (all of these cars except my 430 were moded, most very moded), I often get asked by Porsche owners about making the switch to a Ferrari. I always ask these questions. Are you doing it because to think it is a faster car? In most cases the Porsche they owned was faster than the Ferrari they wanted. Is it a better DD? Again the answer was no. The list went on, but I usually found that the real reason was they just wanted to have a Ferrari, whether it was because of status, or the way it looked, or the way it made them feel. In the end you decision is yours to make, but the Porache you own is more practical, and a better DD, and it has 2 back seats (my 5 year old twins like it back there, when you go for top down ride).

 

Wait.

Are you implying that the P Turbo's 4 wheel drive is a winter/snow/slush enabling feature?

I'm not sure the Turbo is Trail Rated despite the 4WD.

 

WTH?!?! Based on that, I suspect you are 12. I was being very nice to you and based on your questions to us, mine was very simple and also very understandable. How did I deserve that?

Ok, so with your unbelievable rudeness in mind, have to play this on you now...

Been nice knowing you! (not)
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LOL! You can't turn an exotic car into a practical car. Once you start with the laundry list of why one car has more or better of xyz, you're going down a path of no return.

I've driven an '06 Porsche Turbo coupe hard on the track, and driven against it in my Ferrari 348 Spider. These cars are worlds apart. An even greater chasm would be between the new Ferrari California Spider and the '07 Turbo Cab.

If you want a "practical" exotic go with the Audi R8. Seriously. They are already under $100k. 4wd. Hyper-performance. Every mid-size and larger town has an Audi shop. Parts are common and not prohibitively expensive.

The Porsche Turbo Coupe is old-school hammer and nails. Hammer the throttle and she'll nail the track. Too late on your braking and you'll leave the track backwards. You give up some of that in the Turbo Cab. You can daily drive both.

With the Ferrari, you are getting an entirely different driving experience. Great leather cockpits. Perfect balance. Perfect stance. Puny torque but high hp at the top rpms...training you how to drive the beasts. History. Panache. Legacy.

Drive one. If it talks to you then buy it. If not, don't. Ferraris are for fanatics, not for everyone.

I also drive an old Porsche 928. Before that a 944 and before that a 924. My kids love the back seats of my 928. They love the deep rumble V8 exhaust note. It's a GT (type, not model) instead of a sports car though...it would take major modifications to be decent on the track. Yet it also has its place in my driveway.

Sometimes you just need both.

 

Pretty out of line for a dad with kids. Shame...

 

I see a ban in the near future...

 

Hahahaha!!! Wow, if your feathers get ruffled that easily you must be just a joy in real life. All that over Greenwich?

Dad with kids? Maybe. In high school? More likely. (Though I guess from your persona, it could be both....)

Have another...
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Is this the same mysterious place you're raising your kids?

Clearly. Where do we send the straight-jackets?

JR was being respectful but your screenname delivers as promised. You'll fit in right as rain around here.

 

I suspect you're correct...

Mike in Kuwait

 

Exactly.

Although it probably doesn't matter now that this thread is swirling its way down to obscurity...