Hi guys been scanning the forums for a few weeks now throwing an idea around in my head just wondered what your thoughts are. I live in the UK and I run a Jaguar XJR as my daily drive, I plan on changing it next year, the warranty will be up and the mileage will be over 100K. I do 20k miles a year. The cost of running the XJR is roughly as follows, fuel bill is up over £5k a year, tyres are £600 a year, insurance is £900 a year, servicing using a local Jaguar specialist not main dealer is £300 - £500 a year depreciation is well I just can't bring myself to type the figures but lot's should cover it. The XJR is fast, up with a 348 for acceleration, it's a comfortable luxury car and has been the most impressive car I've owned, I don't want to lose the performance I have with the XJR, so my quandry is this: do I swap my XJR next year for another newer one or do I invest £30k-£40k on a late 348 or an early 355 as my adrenalin rush and get a cheaper newer more economical, Honda Accord type car for the journey to work and my daily use? Can a Ferrari be run for less than the Jaguar using Ferrrari specialists for servicing, and insuring to a limited mileage? Tyres shouldn't be much dearer as I don't think I'll be getting through a set every 12 months, depreciation should be much better than the Jag, fuel will be a lot less purely because the mileage will be a lot less. I realise the annual servicing on a Ferrari is high but is there anything else that is likely to need replacing on a Ferrari at this kind of money? Could my Ferrari dream become a nightmare for me trying to fund huge replacement part costs? Parts for the Jag aren't cheap but it does have a 3 year warranty which is something a Ferrari is unlikely to come with. Looking forward to your advice on whether to pursue the idea or not. If your advice is go for it which model is the best bet for an enjoyable step into Ferrari ownership? Thanks for any help
Buy a porsche C4S and drive it all year long, bang the crap out of it and enjoy low service costs because it will break down LESS the you Jag or the Ferrari. If your looking for a sprts car as a daily..Porsche is the only way to go IMHO.
i'll say the biggest problem you'll have is going from a XJR daily driver to a honda accord. don't underestimate how much of a let down that will be. especially at 20K miles per year. that's a lot of seat time in a very nice car. the accord doesn't compare. i have considered a similar situation in the past, and have decided that after becoming accustomed to nice sports cars, driving an accord or similar car everyday isn't going to work. john
Well, I don't agree with the last post. I drive an Audi day to day and have the 348 for the weekends. You get bored during the week, and get to drive a FERRARI at the weekends. What could be better than the anticipation of that? Secondly, if you drive a very nice car day to day you wonder why you are doing the daily commute in such a nice car and you soon begin to take it for granted. My last car daily driver was an M3 CSL and can advise I am much happier driving a normal car day to day and having an exotic tucked away for the times I really feel like enjoying myself. I loved that car too, but I got used to it too quickly and it wasn't special after the first 12 months. I mean, really, what is the point having a nice car for the daily grind into work, visiting customers or going shopping? Impressing the other people sitting in the queue? Get a 348 and something reliable/cheap to run for the commute. My £0.02p
What he said. I drive a Jeep for daily chores and such. When I hop into the 328, it feels like an Enzo. I may be trading up from the Jeep to an Audi or Land Rover next, but the Ferrari gets used for what it's good for -- fast recreational drives on interesting roads. Frankly, the Jeep's much better for knocking around town anyway, you can park it anywhere without a thought and maintenance is a minute fraction of Ferrari maintenance costs. Also, when the Jeep got hit from behind on an LA trip (tailgate crunched), and the Ferrari was parked in the garage, I shrugged it off.
I believe the only monster expensive part on 328/348/355 seems to be the hydraulic pump for the 355F1 gearbox and they have been known to go - other than that it is all fairly well known and maintainable technology - try a few and decide what you like then check out the various buying guides here for what to be careful of the various models Or buy a late 360 which might be able to do the mileage and has a cheaper pump (10 %) if you want F1
Thanks for all your advice guys, I understand totally what you mean regards getting used to the XJR and a daily commute of 70 odd miles a day sitting in heavy traffic doesn't really do the car justice. There is certainly some food for thought, thanks again I'll see out my 3rd year with the XJR and next year look at going down the 348/355 weekend car and cheaper economical week car with a more enlightened and achieveable slant on things, ha ha my wife new this was the way it might pan out lol. When I first bought my Jag she said "well you always wanted one, I just don't know what you'll want when the Jags due to be changed" and I replied "well I always fancied a Ferrari" Thanks again for all your help and for being gentle with a first time poster on your forum. I'll now spend my time searching the archieves looking at the do's and don'ts of buying a 348/355
