Everyone-- I have an 04 911 Cab Tip and a 97 355 Spider. Probably answered somewhere else, but how do y'all feell about the following: 1. Replacing the Porsche, my everyday car, with a 456 automatic? and 2. Would the 456 hold up to 10k or so/year miles and how much $$$ for upkeep? Thanks. Email is [email protected] if anyone wants to talk trade or purchase. Jeff
456 M or older? If car is in great condition, and all you had were fluid etc. items then expect very minimal costs...say about $1,200 MAX from a dealer, but you could get that done for a lot less if you do the work yourself. Not sure of the '04 tip vs older [pre-'99] models, but assume you are looking for a more Ferrari daily, with room and power? 456's seem to be a good choice at the moment...have you considered a 550 [or want to stay automatic in commute traffic]. 575M might be a good mix.
Well, I'd say the 456 should hold up fine. Like the Porsche there will be the odd unplanned repair, but the major items have been largely idenitfied and should be addressed (on receipts) by now--window alignment and rear shocks, etc..). I think the regular fluids (brake, radiator, oil gearbox) should be done once a year without regard to miles and together with minor inspection items should cost well under 1,000 if you have good independent around. If you keep for ten years you will definitely need to do belts and the related major service at least once. Done tight that's about 7k. That of course will also take care of your regular annual. So, over a ten year projected ownership, I'd budget about 13K, which is likely twice to three times what your Porsche would run. Of course, I'd anticipate that the depreciation--dare I say it--will at this point be slightly less than a late model 911. And, you get a hell of a lot of leather and bhp.
For the what its worth department. I am getting rid of my beloved 2002 911/996 Turbo in place of a 2001 456 GTM A. Sure I am scared about the bad press that the 456 gets as well as the outragous repairs, but in car jaded South Florida a Porsche is like a Toyota, at least with the 456 I am moving into a Lexus. The way I look at it for not much more then a Porsche I am driving a Ferrari. My .02 cents worth... Sam
Bad press? I think it's already taken its deprecation thrashing, and they are distinctive and handsome cars (not outrageous like the 3x8/TR). Very classy, on the few occasions I see them. I'd say it's a great upgrade over a 996. With regard to the OP, I think you'd depreciate the car a lot by putting 10K miles on it annually, but you'd be driving something nice so maybe that's just the price.
Guys-- Thank you for these responses. I am now leaning toward the "do it" side. Any ideas on how to find one, because I have looked. I would like TDF Blue/beige, but unlike the 355, this has not been as easy as walking into Ferrari of Atlanta, finding a great one, and dropping a check. Jeff
Jeff, I agree, very hard cars to find if you want to find a really good one. Make sure you do a very good PPI since there plenty of rats out there. Sam
One good piece of advice I got when I was looking for my car (a 6-speed) was, "be picky about the car, not the color". Of course, mine turned out to be titanium/black, so no complaints.
