Portofino test drive..first impressions

Agreed on the steering. I found it to be much tighter, more precise than my 2011 Cali. More along the lines of what I love about the steering of my 911. I don't recall the drive being jarring, but like you I didn't do any highway driving, just around town. Do you know if the car was in Sport, Comfort, etc. mode?

T

 

Which 911 are we talking about? I think the 991 steering is not to my taste at all, and was a major 911 setback, but all prior models are great

 

The 991C4's steering has a better feel than the RWD, and the steering plus (or whatever they call it) option makes it even better. What I have found about these types of Ferrari's (Cali -Porto), is that if you drive them like you are driving a Prius, well they feel like a Prius with a nice interior. If you push them though they do have what it takes to give to a thrill. Though this might not sit well with everyone, remember where this is coming from, for the most part these types of Ferrari's can perform just was well as the mid engine cars at legal (and or safe ) road speeds. I am curious was the 911 your first Porsche (or sports car), I ask that because I have found for some people that first experience is what they use to benchmark all others, and every car they experience afterwards is always a comparison to that first one. I drove my first 911 over 48 years ago, had over 30 Porsche before I bought my first Ferrari (on #7 now), and as much as I now like Ferrari's the cars I know best and instantly are Porsche's (I have 2 911's and a 718 Cayman S now). You are new here OP (I am the Aspi who has no emotional feelings about cars), and you probably have not read any of my posts, but after close to 470 cars I can tell you if you are buying a Ferrari to feel as if you have some exclusivity, it is the wrong reason. I live with 5 miles of Algar Ferrari, and with 15 miles of my home there are AM, Lamborghini, McLaren, & Porsche dealers, so around me if you want exclusivity, you are better off buying a corvette. Yes there are many Porsche's out there, but none of those are mine, which is all that matters to me. I have noticed over the years on here peoples reason for the cars they choose, and though I cannot understand (nor do I ever judge) most of them, I have come to realize that if fills a need to have way more car than you can use or your skill as a driver can control. Sort of the mines bigger than yours thing from childhood. Well this was much longer a far reaching reply than I expected, I will leave it as is.

 

Great write up. I to have owned 100's of cars.
Loved my Porsches and my 17 California T.
The only issue is in Hilton Head 95% of my driving is under 50 mph. T Image Unavailable, Please Login he Ferrarri sticks out ie police. If find to many people are taking pictures while driving of the car. No good. The Porsche blended in and could be driven around here faster.
My favorite cars for this area are both my GTI and Chipped Beetle conv. Funny how we all enjoy different car's different ways.
I see a 2020 992 in the future. Need to blend in more down here. Wish I had the Ferrari in the mountains so I can stretch it's legs.

 

Nice white porsche you got there.

 

I can understand that, I had the second GTI that came into the U.S. in 1983, I really liked that car, did not even have air conditioning. Truth is no one really needs a Ferrari, or a Porsche for that matter, they want them. Each person has their own reasons, I just like to buy stuff (cars,watches are my favorite things to buy), and am on the hunt for a NXS (and a gearshift Grand Sport) right now. I am well aware of why I do what I do and I am incapable of caring what anyone thinks, so that is a big help, and of course the fact that I can afford to makes it easier. My Calf T is in storage (along with 3 other summer cars) until April, and I will probably put an exhaust on it when it comes out (just have to figure out which one). I think if more people were honest with themselves about how they really drive their cars they would probably realize that they are not using them to even close to what they are capable off. I doubt that would stop too many people from buying them, but at least they might have a better idea of why. I have a rule whenever I buy another car or watch (I have I think 176) I always make a special donation to a charity (I give to 4 every month), my way of balancing things out.

 

Carnut , that's very noble of you and I like the sentiment, I run marathons for charities, and never thought about linking buying cars with charities - something for me to think about.
Re, driving cars to their full capabilities, I rarely even come close to using a fraction of the performance, but I think the thing with Ferraris is that they are much more than that as there are many better performing cars for the money (Nissan GTR, Mclarens etc), but the Ferrari brand has a little something extra just from ownership!

 

Perhaps a 991.2

 

Thanks, I do what I do because it is only the kindness of others all those years ago that got me off the streets and kept me alive. My past and my path is quite different than most, and at times even I am surprised by how far I've come from where I once was.

 

Carnut, sounds an impressive story. Well done on going so far.
Good to hear when people have done good. I came from a poor family, and never forget my history.

 

Funny I was in a very similar situation. I traded in my 2014 911 4S convertible for a used 2019 Portofino that had 1000 miles on it. I loved my 911 but I always wanted a Ferrari and the Portofino really fit my needs. I wanted a GT convertible with rear seats and like you I have have two small kids. They enjoy taking rides with me and the top down. We live in California and have a lot of sunny days.
I did not find the ride stiff in the Portofino at all . Its a great GT car. Its very smooth and comfortable. I feel like i could easily take it on a 350 mile drive without any back issues
The Portofino comes alive in sport mode with auto off.
Funny thing is I ended up buying a Porsche GT4 last week to sit along side the Portofino. Love the manual transmission and the rawness on this car. Its fun to drive on short trips with lots of curves