The Ferrari Apprentice Show

"Because I might die tomorrow"

If it were me, I'd do the following:

street car -- 365 GTC/4 : Vintage V12, comfortable (based on my sitting in one for all of 5 minutes), relatively inexpensive and certainly low key on the streets. You also don't see them on every corner. Call it $70,000 for the absolute best one on the planet. That leaves $165,000

race car -- A pair of Spec Miatas, plus a tow rig. The cars are ~ $14K each, spend another ~ 25K on a used towing package. The spare car allows for you to crash one on Saturday and still drive Sunday. Total of $49,000, leaving $116,000

Spend the $116,000 on driving schools at all the tracks that you've dreamed about.

 

I'm always up for a challenge.

I'd say:

95 456GT $70k -- modern V12 experience, just a great car
73 Daytona $130k -- needs no explanation
86 3.2 Mondial Cab $35k -- fun to drive, convertible.

Rationalization: Hey, if it makes you happy it should make her happy, right?

I know you disqualified the investment angle, but in fact you shouldn't lose much of the $235k (if you exclude maintenance, insurance, gas, etc per generally accepted car guy accounting principles).

 

Incidentally, for you personally, Dale, I would recommend:

73 Daytona - $130k
69 365GTC - $105k (maybe a 330GTC if you can't find a 365).

 

Could not have said it better.

 

I suppose my answer is fairly obvious... but I'll say it anyway:

Challenge Stradale -- its the finest track+street Ferrari available for that money

With the remainder, get:

1) A membership at Motorsport Ranch Houston, and
2) a nice people- and stuff-hauling car, to avoid any misuse of the Stradale

 

275 GTB 2 long nose torque tube

 

A nice 308 GT4 for about $25,000. Good for driving on the street, and also a lot of fun on the track. Send the rest of the money to me.

Dom

 

Maserati Quattroporte for the fam ---85k (or a flawless 246 Dino)
Subaru WRX STi for the track ---30k
Ferrari Daytona Coupe for the blast along the expansive Texas Highways- 120k


The Maserati is an ultra-classy automibile that the wife will feel like royalty in.

The STi shows that you are monetarily responsible enough to not trade paint in a Ferrari on track (think one off in the car may end up with huge repair bills after a day of "fun". Uh, honey, I really wanted to pass that damn Z06, but I didn't brake hard enough and understeered into a wall, can I spend 35k to fix it pweeeze!)

The Daytona Coupe is a timeless example of what a true front engined V12 car should be. It is also understated enough as to not draw too much attention to itself (showing the wife that you are not going through a midlife crisis because you don't care how others perceive the car).

The final rationale can be that by purchasing these three cars at once, your thirst for new toys will be quenched for years to come, leaving plenty of opportunity to repay the many "IOUs" that will result from such an endeavor.
IOUs can include free massages, an annual or biannual vacation of her choosing, etc...

Or, just go ahead and do it but skip the STi and surprise her with a ridiculous necklace or piece of jewelry in the Maserati glove box or on your next wedding anniversary.

Sounds like a winner to me, I hope

 

Explain to your spouse that the following expungence of $15k short of a quarter million dollars is to make you happy; that you're happy with your spouse and the life you've created and yadda yadda yadda, but that, to fill a boyhood dream and be completely and truly happy within yourself inside, you need to make these purchases... Cry a little and you should have it in the bag...

1999 Ferrari 355 Spider: $90,000; Let's say that price includes everything you need for that car and that it's a fine example. What other car is going to give you that go-kart feeling for ninety grand? Also, you can drive it around town or across the country, top down, wind in your hair; it's not an unreasonable car. Perfect for long trips or 'local deli milk & bread runs'... a 355 is a must-have.


85-87 Testarossas seem to have leveled out for the moment as far as price is concerned; 88-91 Testarossas look like they're continuing to slowly decline in price. 512 TRs & F512Ms seem to be on a slight decline but both are still 6 figures...
Late 80's (88 1/2) Ferrari Testarossa: $75,000; A good, fair price for, let's say, a 20k mile example, with the major service already done... How can your Ferrari life truly be complete without experiencing a rear-mounted flat 12 that screams (through Tubis) behind your head... With styling that just gets better with age, the Ferrari Testarossa isn't just a car; it's a rite of passage. This is a must for any casual or avid collector.

Next you'll need a 2+2; something with back seats for kiddies; obviously a 612 is out of the question and with only $70,000 left, you're still about $30,000 short of a 456. So then you start looking at other 2+2s... A Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet comes to mind... Another open air motoring experience that has back seats. An 8 cylinder with adequate power, this is a great car for summer Sundays through Bear Mountain, stopping only for a burger and milkshake at Annie's. Then you think, for a little bit more than the Mondial but still well within your remaining pot, you could pick up a nice 330 GT 2+2 with the 4 head lights. There's an older, 12 cylinder, vintage machine to take the family for a cruise in. Then, you start thinking about older, 12 cylinder, vintage Ferraris that have room in the back and you ponder a 365 GTC/4. Your mind starts to wander some twisty backroad from the cockpit of a vintage 12 2+2 Ferrari. You go faster and faster around the turns and think that you could go just that much faster if you were in something smaller; tighter. "What the hell do i need to take the kids out, for anyway? We have a luxo-barge for that!" So you completely scratch the whole idea of a 2+2 and decide to drop your remaining money on a very fine specimen that is seemingly growing more and more timeless every year.

A Ferrari Dino.

Since the 246 GTS are continuing to climb and a nice example is close to 20k more than you have left - and since you already have a 355 spider - you opt for the 246 GT.

1973-74 Ferrari Dino 246 GT: $60,000; You find a nice example, fair mileage, major services already done. EVERYONE turns their head to look when you drive down the street. You just can't go wrong with a Dino.

Now you've got 3 great specimens to start off your collection. A modern, 8 cylinder, wind-in-your-hair 355 Spider, an almost classic (but already timeless) flat 12 monster and a classic, beautiful Dino. With approximately ten grand left and any one of three cars that your spouse would HAVE to love (and of course would be able to drive any time he or she wished), this collection is completely justifiable and you can now die happy.

 

What a great thread! Why not jump right into it...

First choice-
1997 Ferrari 355 Berlinetta: $99,900, 17k miles (Foreign Cars Italia)
http://www.foreigncarsitalia.com/details.asp?ID=307
What Ferrari binge wouldn't be complete with a Red/Tan 355 pink slip? Okay, maybe that's just my opinion, and okay you are burning up almost 50% of your budget with this one, but at least it has air conditioning
Ferrari of Denver had a '99 spider if you want to go the topless route, but taking this Berlina will save $30k, plus this one has actually been driven! From the pictures this 355 looks in excellent condition, and with some negotiation I'm sure you can bring that price down a smidge

Second-
1979 Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer: $82,000, 19k miles (Private Seller)
http://66.45.48.105/Ferrari/
This one took a while to find! The 512bb is just one of the most stunning Ferraris ever made, given the money and the right example, the Boxer is a dream come true every time you lay your eyes on it. And I definetly couldn't find a better example than this one. Just look at the service just done on this beauty. Great history data, it even has emission tests on the page.

With two beauties now in the garage, it's time to cover the "wife angle" (tm) and spend the rest of the money apologising for your horrible sins. However, with well over $50k remaining from the binge fund, why not buy a car that not only the wife will love, but still packs a good punch in the performance area?
Nothing will say "I'm sorry for spending $200k in used Italian exotics" like spending another $52k for a single German one. The 2004 C32 AMG will rocket your wife to 60mph in under 5 seconds, while still retaining the comforts of a four door sedan.
http://www.hoehn.mercedescenter.com/mbcenter/b/showroom/models.jhtml?modelCode=C32

And if she's still mad about the Ferraris, you have some change left over for a holiday to Aspen: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Packages-g29141-Vacation-Package-Discount-Aspen_Colorado.html

Enjoy

Edit: took one off, was going over budget. Dang.

 

If you are planning on starting a collection with this money, I agree that the daytona is a must. Especially because you have a 550, and this would be a perfect complement for great days. I would want a convertible in addition to this, and would choose something new, such as a Maserati Spyder (perhaps cambiocorsa if your wife would like to drive it as well) or 996 cabrio. If a convertible isn't desired, you could get a 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S, priced around $100k...check this one out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10156&item=2475484564&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

You probably have nothing to fear with past history regarding cars like these because they are probably treated as prized possessions by their owners.

 

Give you wife half of the money and then you don't need to justify anything, and she is not in a position to refuse you anything (ANYTHING).

Here's your $117500 and here's my $117500. Lets go spend it as we like.

 

I think you should leave a few pictures of Enzos laying around the house with some paperwork showing some scary financial calculations of how you would propose to get the money for that. Perhaps selling something that your wife really values.... lol... You're going to have to be very convincing and play this out for a week or two. This way when you eventually propose your "settlement" of the $235K car, she will feel like she has won. Believe me, this is what they do to us....

 

New 360 Spider - The rest I would gamble and drink away.....

 

Continuation competition Daytona coupe: $150k
456M GT: $75k
Gas/insurance for a year: $10k

Edit:
Keep the Scotch, I've got my own...

 

'66-'68 330 GTS.

Elegant, sexy, relatively rare, yet 5 times as obtainable as the louvre-less 365 GTS which itself ceased production after 20 were built. No doubt, even beautifuller (a word I have invented just for this auspicous occasion) with you and/or your bride in it, for there is no doubt whatsoever your bride is lovelier than Dyan Cannon.

Why the comparison? *chuckles* Surely you jest. When the wanna-be-DrTax's-bride/actress portrayed Elizabeth Pearce in the Misadventure Caddyshack II, there was a scene when she entered the home of the blue-collar millionaire, Jack Hartounian, played by none other than Jackie Mason - in the background, one can see but just a portion of a yellow 330GTS... and know she has arrived.

 

After having had the pleasure to drive a 360Challenge that is a MUST HAVE! Here goes the first $100,000

Add a nice daily 12cyl , a 456GT Grandpa mobile just as Byron has it ,
there goes $ 70.000

Add a 348 Spider for the Convertible feeling, ther eis another $ 60,000 and the $ 5,000 go for transporting all my toys to my garage


My excuse:

"You can always make more money but you never make up lost time!"

"Honey you were right, I am crazy! That is why I want to join "Ferrari Annonymous" but they require a minimum of 4 Ferraris in the Garage to get the course for free. Imagine all the money I save in admission fees "

 

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona $110K

1944 North American AT-6D $125K

There is nothing really much better in life.
Nothing.

 

I'll be fired, because I will go over the budget (being an architect)

Ferrari Daytona 130K
Cayenne Turbo 95K
Lotus Elise 33K

Somehow this selection sounds familiar.......