Ferrari on a budget choice? | FerrariChat

Ferrari on a budget choice?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Uno Che Vola, Mar 23, 2021.

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?

Choice of car

Poll closed Apr 22, 2021.
  1. Testarossa

    34.8%
  2. California

    65.2%
  1. Uno Che Vola

    Uno Che Vola Rookie

    Feb 17, 2021
    3
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Rico
    Greetings, Old newbie here.

    Looking to downsize the fleet and get One nice toy to hold me over until that ride in a Black Cadillac wagon.

    Had a 308 GTS many years ago that started getting expensive to keep up so it was sold and I still miss it but would like something else.

    Really only Two cars that interest me in my price range (low 100k ish). Heart wants a Testarossa, Brain says a California. I know, way different directions.

    Will be something just to cruise around without any real high performance desires. Mileage will be a couple hundred miles a month tops.

    Resale value not a big concern. but don't want huge repair bills.

    What do the experts say?
     
    paulchua likes this.
  2. ginoBBi512

    ginoBBi512 F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Oct 9, 2016
    3,434
    SO CAL
    Full Name:
    GINO RUGGIERO
    #2 ginoBBi512, Mar 24, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2021
    Ferraris are not a part of the brain, when it comes to them, its the heart that matters, thats why you see so many people with more money than brains, and there are lots of them in Ferraris unfortunately. My heart does not skip a beat when I see a California, but it does with a Testarossa, when I see these people driving around in their 550 HP Calis or 650 HP Portos, I look and say, Oh geez,they might as well be driving a convertible thunderbird, present company excluded. Im talking about what I see here where I live. If your going to buy a front engine Ferrari, make it a V12 .I am not an expert, Im someone who has the blood of Ferrari running through my veins, so for me, its always been about the passion, the driving experience,the heart racing !! not the status bull**** that you see all over.

    Thank you
     
  3. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,282
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    If you want to minimise your bills go back to a 308 or 328 - tr won't work for you - California would best meet your needs if it was an official dealer CPO car with 2 yr factory warranty which might cost a little more upfront but repay both in peace of mind and bill potential

    I do however fear your parameters as described are too tight for you to be comfortable

    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/help-best-entry-level-ferrari-100k.625171/

    Many similar discussions
     
  4. 350MH83

    350MH83 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2014
    1,104
    Denmark
    Full Name:
    Max
    If your main objective is cruising around, I'd go for a California. Pretty sweet car to drive around. You can drop the top, and you dont need to wrestle it. TR will be more of an experience, that's for sure. But overall it is a cumbersome car to drive. Super wide, hard clutch, heavy steering at low speed...
     
    EnzoItaly, Themaven, willrace and 2 others like this.
  5. Shark01

    Shark01 F1 Veteran

    Jun 25, 2005
    5,687
    First I will say that if you have a budget of $100k and concerned about maintenance costs, resale value will be important so I will include references to value.

    Each choice has challenges.....

    For the TR, there will be large repair bills, but those may be offset by some appreciation. It also has a manual transmission which is a must for fun weekend driving.

    On the California, there is an issue with the transmission on early ones so the general advice most give is to start with the “30” model. If you are a convertible person this would be a fun choice.....but they will keep depreciating down to who knows where.
     
  6. anunakki

    anunakki Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 8, 2005
    72,494
    Las Vegas Nevada
    Full Name:
    Jerry
    This above ^^^
     
  7. Uno Che Vola

    Uno Che Vola Rookie

    Feb 17, 2021
    3
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Rico
    Thanks for the input. Lots of solid info on this site. TR may be too much of a reach, but the CA looks to be the most likely result. I do like this one...

    2013 Ferrari California | eBay

    Still have some research to do.
     
  8. italiafan

    italiafan F1 World Champ
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    Jul 19, 2006
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    Stickbones Swagglesmith
  9. Parnelli

    Parnelli Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 30, 2013
    995
    Milwaukee, WI
    Full Name:
    Greg P
    LOVE the interior on that Cali !
     
    Andynyc likes this.
  10. gw32

    gw32 Formula Junior

    Apr 6, 2017
    942
    Sonoma, CA
    Full Name:
    Gary
    As has been said, I hear repair bills on a TR can be significant. So $$ and hassles. The Cali is the "smart" call but don't buy one if your not thrilled with it. How about an F430? Should be in your price range and really just a much more modern 308, which you say you loved.
     
  11. ross

    ross Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Mar 25, 2002
    36,210
    houston/geneva
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    Ross
    430
     
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  12. Uno Che Vola

    Uno Che Vola Rookie

    Feb 17, 2021
    3
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Rico
    That color combo is what attracted me to the Cali.

    Been in the car business too long to know to not even look at a German car!

    None of the late 3 or any of the 4 series does anything for me.

    Drove a couple of Gallardo's coupe and rag, was not impressed at all for the money.

    Still may end up up back in a 308 and add some later wheels/tires and A/C that works.
     
    Andynyc likes this.
  13. italiafan

    italiafan F1 World Champ
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    Jul 19, 2006
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    Stickbones Swagglesmith
    You’ve been “in the car biz too long to know to not even look at a German car” with the price point of low $100K. Really? What a joke. Porsche owns that space. You think a beaten 430 is a better sports car than an almost new Porsche?
     
  14. stoked_7

    stoked_7 Karting
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 9, 2020
    93
    USA
    The 430 should be attainable in the low 100k range and it shouldn't be "beaten".
     
  15. aatk

    aatk Rookie

    Nov 24, 2017
    44
    A 911 is the only car I ever owned for less than $1000 a year, including taxes, consumables and servicing (and I didn’t do it).
    5 years cost me under 5k.

    Chalk me up for suggesting the 430 too. I like the coupe better than the convertible, but ymmv.
     
  16. LVP488

    LVP488 F1 Rookie

    Jan 21, 2017
    4,839
    France
    +1 for the F430 - certainly it's not the best price/performance proposition (I'm not sure any Ferrari gets this title) but it's modern enough to provide a decent reliability and limited maintenance costs, and it's a true "exotic" car.
    The Testarossa may be relatively cheap to buy, but its cost of ownership will be on another level if it is bought to be used (even moderately). A California is a competent car, but not really special - as a daily driver it has its merit but the sense of occasion when driving it will be limited.
     
    EnzoItaly and ScreaminKaw like this.
  17. Natkingcolebasket69

    Natkingcolebasket69 F1 World Champ

    Well a Testarossa is cheaper to maintain than though. Think about it brake job on a tr 1k, ceramic brakes on a f430?
    For having had one it was easy and cheaper to maintain than a modern car but not user friendly unles u like older cars like I do.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  18. barabba

    barabba Formula Junior

    Jun 7, 2007
    682
    Ticino / Zurich
    I've always been a ferrari owner on a budget and as long as you buy smart you can still make it out alive. I'd probably avoid a TR or a 355 and go for either a 328/360/430.
    Bought a CS in 2012 when they were quite cheaper than now and has not given me a single problem since then, just regular yearly services and two belt jobs.
     
    Husker likes this.
  19. Parnelli

    Parnelli Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 30, 2013
    995
    Milwaukee, WI
    Full Name:
    Greg P
    I have to agree with the guys on the German cars. I’ve owned Porsche 911‘s for 22 years straight. Definitely the most reliable sports cars of any discussed on this link so far. And relatively inexpensive to maintain.
    Do they have the gravitas of a Ferrari? Maybe not as much, but it is a car that you will actually be able to drive headache free and not see you’re mechanic on a very regular basis.
    here in the Midwest we only get to drive our sports cars six months a year. So I don’t want that car to be in the shop for weeks or months at a time well the mechanic works on it.
     
  20. Ron328

    Ron328 F1 Rookie
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    Mar 10, 2003
    2,615
    Willamette Valley, Oregon
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    Ron
    I've owned a 328 and currently have a 360 so I agree with this. However, the words "Ferrari" and "budget" are mutually exclusive.
    Like with a 360 (or any other Ferrari or exotic), you could spend either $5k OR potentially $20k in the first year or two of ownership.
     
  21. LVP488

    LVP488 F1 Rookie

    Jan 21, 2017
    4,839
    France
    The ceramic brakes last a long time if the car does not go to a track - and an F430 should never need an engine-out service...
     
  22. Natkingcolebasket69

    Natkingcolebasket69 F1 World Champ

    Im telling u for owning a ff, a 355 and having owned a TR the tr was by far cheaper.
    An engine out is like 6k, brakes and parts are cheap. They just rare. The ff is way more expensive. Onlly thing the tr is weak for is the diff but the sensation in it just like the 355 are 10x new stuff to me


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  23. Solid State

    Solid State F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 4, 2014
    9,582
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    Maximus Decimus Meridius
    WRT the Ferrari vs. Porsche discussion, the latter will not serve its purpose as a special car in later years. Does not tick that box IMO.
     
  24. Themaven

    Themaven F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2014
    4,252
    Eastdown
    Full Name:
    Darius
    Testarossa and Cali experience are so different.

    One is hard to manoeuvre, no PAS, gated manual which grumpy when cold, swaggering looks and a pretty bad Fiat plastic interior. Two seat fixed roof twelve cyl mid engine. Pretty analogue.

    The other is easy to drive (for a Ferrari), deliberately made as a DD, PAS, DCT, modern, pretty digital, much more luxurious interior, two plus two hard top cabrio front engine V8, looks good but nothing like as standout.

    I mean, it depends which you prefer. There isn’t really a comparison you can make. You’d remember the Testa as more distinctive, but you have to be a particular type of person. The Cali is a better car for most people.
     
  25. paulchua

    paulchua Cat Herder
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 1, 2013
    15,979
    Menlo Park, CA
    Full Name:
    Paul Chua
    I would also recommend test driving both, one will usually speak louder to your heart...

    (unless your that one guy that test drove 6 Ferrari, alas it yielded a completely 'equal' experience)
     

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