new F355 to a 993 Targa owner

Hi chaps,

New-to-Fchatter here, old to Rennlist - I just posted some comments on Rennlist which could make their way back here so rather than hear them second hand, here they are;

Just thought Id give you some feedback on a recent purchase I made; a 98 Ferrari F355 Spider (the 360s are Spyders with a "y", I know). It is dark navy blue, and looks almost black at night, with light cream, almost-white interior (pics to come in a day or so).

First of all, let me say this; I am glad I did not sell my Porsche. It is in fact booked to go home to Australia in a week, and will be waiting for me when I move home in a year or so. There is a bit of an arbitrage between used car prices in Hong Kong and Australia which can be capitalised on if you drive a car for over a year, so luckily for Aussies in Hong Kong, we can drive our toys, ship 'em home, and if needs be, sell them and cover all the running costs. Unless some financial crisis pops up, touch wood, I will keep the P-car back home though...

So, key differences to the Porsche?

To put it in layman's language - one is the woman you want to marry, and one is the woman you want to have an affair with. You get out of rock solid, German zinc-coated steel, into lightweight aluminium. You go from "hewn from rock" dashboard, to beautiful, but warping, Italian leather interior. You feel the shape of the rocks in the ashphalt in the Porsche, where the Ferrari handling is precise, but detached.

However...

Open the roof of the Ferrari, put it in second going into a tunnel, and push the accelerator through its long travel downward and RAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! All of of a sudden you ARE Michael Schumaker (or Kimi these days!) and - litterally - the cockles stand up on the back of your neck. I used to think that the old P-car flat-six could sing, but everyone I have taken in the Ferrari has said that the first time they heard THAT noise, it sent shivers up their spine.

380 vs 270hp, similar weight (?), not fair to compare directly, more in line with the Turbo I guess, but in terms of handling, the width and grip of the Ferrari makes it feel "a world" faster.

Now, dont get upset, here comes some more of what I am missing since the Targa left;

In the Porsche, that amazing steering saves us from ourselves so many times we dont even realise it anymore. We know where the limit is, because the wheel is talking to us, and if we follow the golden rule of "never lift" in an "over-committed" corner, we'll be safe most of the time. The Ferrari, on the other hand, does not do this, ie. it gives you that "on rails" sensation, and short of getting on the track and driving it on the limit in order to pick up the "tells" of when its about to LET GO, it inspires much less confidence. This may change with familiarity, but if thats the case, then the F355 may see me getting friendly with a telephone pole one day.

The F1 gearbox is a very fickle friend. It slips in reverse, to the point where you need to start moving with the steering straight, and if you want to reverse up-hill, then you better keep about USD3k in your pocket for a new clutch. If you really mistreat the gearbox, the F1 hydraulic pump will tear about USD16,000 out of the heart of your wallet - THAT IS NOT A TYPO - USD16,000. The Ferrari is simply a stunningly expensive car to run in comparison to our sports version of the "car-for-the-people".

Chalk and cheese... look at Italy, look at Germany... think of everything that these countries represent respectively, and these are the differences in the cars. Now THAT is what I love about being lucky enough to have driven both. These two cars, each the last of their kind, pretty much sum-up the cultures of their creators! Some buy wine, some buy art ... in many ways this is exactly the same.

Which do I prefer? Well, right now I am "in lust" with the Ferrari. Would I give up the Porsche for the F355? No. In 10 years time, both will be iconic vehicles, however, in 10 years time the Ferrari would have to be new inside its shell, whereas the Porsche will, I hope, clock the odometer.

Last of all, let me say this; my wife thinks I am a wanker for buying the Ferrari. Generally, I think chicks dig the german style more than the dog-dick-red, small-man-syndrom-Italian-car. She loves the Porsche, and says its like a Hugo Boss compared to Versace (no offence to you Versace types), and also, deep down, I think she likens the whole situation to our marriage, in that I WAS in love with the Porsche, so why do I need the Ferrari? The obvious answer is, I DONT need the Ferrari, nobody does, and I STILL love the Porsche. Buying the Ferrari is simply a box ticked in my life's CV! Something i've done, will probably get-over (especially after a service and a clutch or two) and will hopefully, be able to go back to my enduring love, the 993 TARGA!

Anyway, my hour is up, the couch is ready for the next patient.... thankyou for letting me vent this patently insufficient self-justification for this ridiculous expenditure (which I am wholeheartedly enjoying!).

I will post pics soon.