its that time again...

...where i think about swapping out my daily driver

i drive a 2001 456mgt as a daily. it is in perfect condition with 25k km on the clock, 2 sets of wheels, and schedoni luggage. in the last week, for whatever reason, i have had 2 unsolicited bids for it close to my asking price (its not for sale, but its always for sale if you get my meaning). i will give that to you so that you can evaluate this with all the info, but these are swiss prices so no point comparing to your area - so about $100k. i have had it for about 5 years, and bought it for the same amount. i like it better now that i put the bigger wheels on it, but i have always had an eye on the menu...

this is an opportunity to get out of this at breakeven, and move on to something different. i do like it, and have even said that i would only sell it with the option of always having last look if it was sold on. of course i have many cars floating around in my head as replacements. so i will list them to see what you guys think. the prices of these are anywhere from the same as the 456, to 150k. the extra cost doesnt bother me, so dont evaluate on price. most of the cars on the list will have similar mileage to the 456, unless specified otherwise. yes it is a diverse list of incomparables, but i need you to help me narrow the list.

- 612. because its the next logical step, and they are nice.
- 599. eventho i have no great hankering for this car, but its nice too.
- 458 ....possibly, but thats only if this distressed guy in italy caves to my price of 150k in which case thats a slam dunk. maybe i shudnt put it on the list because it is a special circumstance.
- a scud. friend of mine has a black one with luxury package he just doesnt drive and wants to sell.
- 360cs. i know i have one already, but i love them and there is a black one with stripe and plexi windows on offer for cheap...but could i live with it as a daily (i shud know the answer to that already shudnt i?)
- ford gt. just because its gorgeous, not practical
- murcielago. 2002 low miles. crazy i know, moving to the darkside etc but could i live with this on a daily basis?
- vanquish s. beautiful shape, but ****ty interior and poor gearbox.
- bentley gtc. love the luxurious interior. everything works. 4 wheel drive is a plus for the mountains. however here it is ubiquitous, and am i a bentley guy?
- alfa 8c coupe. 8c red, with most options, plus luggage. the only negative on that one is the mileage is 45k km. but otherwise lovely car.
- ferrari 365 gt 2+2, 1968, fully restored. always liked this car since it reminds me of the superfast at 25% of the price. but could it hack the daily driver routine.

ok, there ought to be something for everybody on this list. whats your advice, or should i not even bother selling it at all. have at it !

 

Wow lots of choices there!

However much I love the 360CS, you already have one so in my opinion, find a different car and drive the CS you already have when the mood takes you.

The 612 seems to be the most 'daily drivable' in your list, choose it in blue or black and it becomes relatively unassuming.

The 599 is a fantastic car, but if you don't love it, leave it as it is...

The black Scuderia. Dear god! Yes!

Not a fan of the 458, but at 150K it's a steal if you can make it happen. Can not go wrong, sell it after a year and you've driven for free!

The Ford GT is a crazy car and values seem to be steady, so you can drive it a bit without worrying you'll drop 50K in 2 years.

I just love the Murcielago. As AHaas on here pointed out a few times before, his wife daily drives it. People that say it's impossible, grow a pair . I love these cars, the noise, the looks...the power. Oh yes!

Not a fan of the vanquish myself, I've always preferred the 550. I'm sure it's a wonderful car though.

If you're not a Bentley guy, why get one?

As you say, the 8C is a lovely car, I've never been too hot on the back though...

You'd be brave to drive a 47 year old Ferrari as a daily. Very brave. Otherwise a lovely car!


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Have you at all contemplated a 550?

 

IMO the 612 or bentley gtc

sounds like all the others will not be as practical you need, or will wear thin (noisy, lowered, etc) on you after a short while

 

will add to the list:
- mercedes sls gullwing

 

I've liked the contrast that the Bentley gives to the red cars. Pre-VW Continental T?

 

612. I drive my 365GT daily for some of the summer, and it's great as long as it is not too hot and the traffic isn't too bad.

 

I too own a 2001 456M, and eventually I plan to upgrade to a 612, but not yet. However, I'm not in your market, so as you say, my situation doesn't really compare well to yours.

I would say, thought, that while the 612 is an amazing upgrade from the 456 tech-wise, it is not nearly as pretty a car (To my eyes, anyway). So, I'm in no hurry to trade, and wouldn't accept a break-even offer because of how much I spent sorting the car out: It wouldn't be that good a deal for me.

Before I even get to the point where my 456M is on the market, I'm currently looking for a 360, so I plan to keep the 456 for at least another three or four years. Since my car has only 11K miles on it - 7K when I bought it - I still have a virtually new automobile.

As for the rest of your list, the non-Ferraris don't interest me at all, but the 458 is an awesome car. Light-years beyond the 456M or the 612. THAT I would jump on if I got a deal like you're describing. It wouldn't be the touring car that a 456M or a 612 is, though, so not sure it would fill your daily driver requirements.

How many F1 titles has Lamborghini won again? You could GIVE me a Murcielago, but I'd just sell it and get another Ferrari.

I know how difficult-but-fun these decisions are, so good luck and enjoy the ride.

Cheers,

George

 

I guess I apply a different level of 'passion requirement' to a daily driver.

I would lean to the GT side of the spectrum for a daily driver, because you will want some comfort and ground clearance. From your list, I like the Bentley GT -- I know it's VW underneath, but that's OK. It doesn't get my pulse racing, but they are beautiful and can be had for less than new Porsche 911.

The 612 is also nice, and prices are very nice on these, but in a darker color.

I agree with Bas on the Vanquish vs. 550 -- I think the 550/575 is an obvious choice you've left off the list. I think it's easily Ferrari's best looking car after 1990, and with the 599s slipping onto used car lots the 550/575 is going to be a LOT of car for the money. Fast, and won't destroy your spine over a patch of rough road.

And of course the smart choice is a 997 Turbo, which is faster than all of the cars you've mentioned, designed for daily driving, has a large dealer network, has the best gearbox of the lot, and won't leave you stranded. Plus, Porsche upgraded the interior in the 997, so if you look across the VW-Audi line I think an optioned-out Turbo is closer to the Murcielago and Bentley than it once was. The drawback is that the Turbo doesn't have the look-at-me factor of some of the others -- much more stealth, given the number of 997s on the road.

 

i have been thinking and looking some more over the course of the day, and have narrowed things down a little myself.
to answer the question as to why i did not put the 550/575 on the list, its simply because i dont like it enough. i recognize its technical prowess and i recommend it to people all the time, but i dont hanker to own it.

i also dont want to go the porsche route. my father is a porsche guy, and i grew up in the back seat of a 911. peter schutz is a friend of the family. i respect the engineering, and the capability. but i do not want to own one. i know it would make sense for my needs but it just doesnt excite me enough.

so one of the things i have narrowed is that my wife still insists that i have one car that can seat 4 people so i can pick the kids up. so....that pretty much eliminates everything except the 612 and the bentley gtc.

(the exceptions to that will be either the 458 comes thru at a steal, and/or the dealer gives me a great price on a red 599 with a MANUAL box, albeit with 37k km on the clock).
so given that both of these options are less likely, i am down to the 2 mentioned above.

and since the bentley just seems like somebody elses car - ie i dont feel like it represents me and who i am that much, i am kind of headed towards the 612.

i found a 2008, with all the bells and whistles of the hgt2 package and basically all the stuff from the oto, in triple black with 7k km. anybody who uses this car as a daily driver should feel free to tell me about how it does - parking, traffic, comfort etc.

 

Dude, that's a highly desirable 612.

I prefer Rosso Corsa, and I think the black glass roof ruins that, so I like the pre-OTO cars, but if it has to be an OTO, then black is the only color to make the roof work, IMHO.

As far as how the 612 does, it's like your 456M but MORE of everything good.

Well, except for parking and maneuverability in tight spaces: The 612's wheelbase is epically long. It's just an enormous car by Ferrari standards. Almost in the same class as a Bentley.

Cheers,

George

 

- 612. If you are under 40 and want a modern Super GT.
- 599. You stated you don't like it.
{- 458
- a scud.
- 360cs.
- ford gt. } If you feel you want to be seen as "Boy racer"
- murcielago. If you feel like you want to be known as "Gentleman Racer".
- vanquish s. would not make you happy
- bentley gtc. no opinion
- alfa 8c coupe. no opinion
- ferrari 365 gt 2+2, if you are over 50 and want to reminiss.

 

612 seems like the best choice. You are a Ferrari guy and not a Bently guy so that eliminates the Bentley. I think the 612 would make a good GT and you already have enough mid engine toys.
A 612 seems like a great car all around and would be the natural procession for you from a 456.
Good luck in the search. It seems you already know what you want.

 

...kind of, but i just went to see 2 great 599's.....anthrazite over naturale, and black over red. cost a lot more tho.... this is a slippery slope. gonna have to talk to the wife again.

 

The 365 is a wonderful car when the weather cooperates. I've had the last two weeks off and haven't driven it because it has been over 90 every day. It is a great car from 50 degrees to 80ish degrees. I would not recommend it for a year round daily driver.

 

Happy wife....happy life

Would she ever drive it? Is this the car you would take her to dinner in? Does she even care?

 

overall i think she is pretty happy...so its more trying to convince her that i am making a semi-practical decision since i have enough 2 seaters already - and in general she is right, i do need at least one car that isnt so loud you cant talk, isnt so uncomfortable that its a pain to go more than 3 hours in it, and modern enough that everything works like a normal car. and for the next 2 years, we still have kids at home, so 4 seats is useful.

i should also think about the financial aspect of it. i reckon that the 612 i am looking at, has another 5-10k depreciation loss per year for the next few years coming up, but that is like any other car, so its normal. whereas the 599 has a steeper drop coming imo. but that means starting price comes into it too.

btw, noticed a funny thing about the 599 pricing - red cars lower than dark colors. makes sense since i think they are not best represented in red. but interesting to see that manifested. similarly, manuals in 599 lower priced, and manuals in 612 higher priced.

 

By the title, I though you were sarting a new timing belt thread.

We have not had one in awhile ............

 

I've never gone for a ride in a 612 or 599 so I don't know how loud each one is. Logic dictates that the 612 is quieter.
The 612 seems like a better financial decision since it seems like it'll depreciate less.
The 612 also offers back seats and it sounds like you would use those with you kids.

The 612 sounds like it's the best. Hopefully an owner will add how comfortable it is and if it can handle DD tasks.

Simply my .02 and I wish you the best of luck in your search.

 

Well, the F1 is an expensive option on the original purchase after all.....

 

whole story may be moot since now that i have said i am ok to sell it, the buyers are looking for ways to renege.... but we'll see. one of them has to decide by thursday.

 

If the tower clears a two-seater ...

V12 Vantage is a blast, sounds cool, row-your-own - could be worthy of a gander.

 

612 fits your stated requirements........but you'll dream about the black Scud......

 

What about a Rapide? Meets the 4 seat requirement and they look good going down the road.

 

It's between the 612 and the merc sls....

 

Hello from Utah Ross, I'm not qualified by experience with these types to give any guidance, although I did recently drive my friends 430 f1 which was quite a leap from my TR! It was great fun. The Scud must be awesome! I wish you luck on whatever direction you go, and will be watching with anticipation on what shakes out! Ed.