Why have most ferrari owners owned/own porsche´s in particular? This should be interesting... best regards
They are two really different cars the best would be to own both say a 430 Spider and a 997TT , I think the Ferrari /Porsche combo would be better than having 2 Ferrari's .
The 'offensive' answer, just for you. Ferrari owners are looking for prestige. Next to Ferrari the most prestigious, and recognized, sports car by the masses is probably Porsche. Porsches are pure performance machines in the same vein (arguably more so but I digress) as Ferrari. They are cheaper. As someone gains income they move to the most prestigious performance machine they can afford. So say they start off a plebian with 300ZX TT in the early 90s, a few promotions later they pick up a Porsche Carreara and then the big promotion hits and they pick up that 360/430 they've always wanted anyway. And then they manage to get the REALLY big promotion/their privately owned company goes corporate and go to the dark side and acquire a Lamborghini. Ignoring creatures like the Porsche GT2 due to their lack of increasing prestige to the masses, but still increasing in price.
I always thought of lamborghini as the most prestigious. When it was only diablos so few came out every year!
About the only answer I agree with so far is that Porsches are cheaper. And more readily available. Dealerships are generally in every major community. There is probably 15 franchised Porsche dealerships in Florida, only 3 Ferrari stores. Qualified Ferrari mechanics are difficult to find. So you graduate to a Ferrari when you are ready for the time and expense later in life. I have had a Porsche cabriolet and also a turbo. Been there, done that, won't ever go back. Yes, they are very reliable. But they are only Porsches. They will never have the world wide recognition and status of the Ferrari brand. Yes, a Ferrari is more temperamental. But it is a Ferrari. Even if it is in my garage where no one can see it, I would still rather own a Ferrari over any other sports/gt car. As for the ideal combination, for me it would be a new Corvette (Z06) as my daily driver/rain car, and a 12 cylinder Ferrari for true fun.
Well, because they are more reliable, abundance of parts, upgrades & cheap! Besides, I can drive my Porsche anywhere without worrying it hitting the bumpers. My Ferrari is reserved for dry days & when my mind is free from work stress then I can take it for a stretch. The presence, sound, handling & badge thrills me. Yes, when my business takes off. I'll be buying a Lambo or Pagani!
Over the years, I've owned 3 porsches. wanted a fast, reliable car and clearly could not afford a Ferrari, either from an entry cost or maintenance perspective. Now I have the Ferrari, I miss the 911, which I never should have sold. It had depreciated to the point where the $20K+- I got for it would have been better served by keeping it. While the Dino is the most fantastic car I've ever owned, it can't touch the Porsche for reliability or cost. It does, however, create a much higher "smiles per mile" factor. I think in general, we own, or have owned both because we like fast cars, enjoy the attention that owning one brings, and we buy what we can afford. DM
I didn't buy my first Porsche (a GT2) until after I had owned 6 Ferraris. I agree that the Porsche doesn't have the bling factor of the Ferrari, at least to the vast majority of people (excepting, perhaps, the CGT). Price, design, perceived and actual differences in scarcity, and the overall nature of the cars (again, excepting the CGT) make the Porsche a more user friendly, easier to maintain and run proposition. Fact is, my GT2 was faster, scarcer and much more expensive than many 'modern' production Ferraris. But, owning and driving a Ferrari seems to be a more elevated goal than having a Porsche (with a couple of exceptions). And, then there's that Italian design thing...
Porsche makes a great product that most people can afford. My wife's Boxster has been a great car and has given us no problems for over three years of daily driving.
Because the various Porsche 911 models over the years are and have been the best street legal sports car ever made; even though they may not have the pizzazz of an Italian exotic .
Well, I never really owned a Porsche. I did own a gaggle of VW's when I was young, and they gave me the "feel", if nowhere else but at the parts counter. But I did always want a 911. But then I worked with an iceracing friend at a shop fixing ferrin kars for a while, and this 76 911 comes in not running. I took on the job of pulling it apart. The actual engine removal wasnt so bad, other than coming out from underneath, but the disassembly! Boxes were lined up as I removed hundreds of screws with flat washers and lock washers. Little clamps, little clips, filling boxes as I removed panels trying to expose the beast. Little gizmos, little do dads. The chain drives. Then the actual engine exposes itself, and the beat goes on filling boxes with endless bolts. If the 308 had equal developement money dumped into it as the 911/935, if it was turboed and built into a full blown racing car and 30 years of development in that direction were given to it, I have no doubt it would run a 911 into the weeds. By the time I got that abortion of a car apart and looked at the many many boxes of oily crappy junk, I swore I would NEVER own one, and I havnt.
Most have owned Porsches since it is a evolutionary thing as your disposable income rises. My progression has been: '72 Barracuda Several Mustangs including 2 Shelby versions 4 Corvettes, including a C5 Porsche 996TT I'd like to get a starter Ferrari next (348), but I understand it won't be the performance demon the TT is, but for a toy thats fine.
As usual, exceedingly well said and reflective of my own thinking. I've owned two Porsche, and wouldn't hesitate for a second - regardless of how many Lambo's, Ferrari's and other exotics fill my garage - to put another one in my garage. The 997 C2S would be a phenomenal daily driver. To many of us, a Porsche represented the first true sportscar we've owned. Despite high production, higher depreciation and the perception that it is no longer a driver's car, it is still the benchmark by which most sportscars are judged. I will always have a lot of respect for this marque.
If you tell the wife you are buying a Porsche she figures "midlife crisis", if you say Ferrari she thinks "has a girl friend on the side".
Porsches are cars you can just drive and not worry about racking up miles, they also have great performance and are fun and are cheaper in some instances to maintain. I totally disagree about Lambo having the most presteige, we had a car event at local restaurant and brand new yellow pearlescent Murcis and a few Diablos parked right next to my Boxer went un-noticed by the crowd.
I would agree with J.P. Sarti's comments about Lamborghinis. The new models are very attractive, haven't appreciated Lamborghini since the Muira, which is still one of the most beautiful cars of all time. But they are now Audis, which makes them more like Porsches than Ferraris. Great cars, but still not the status of a Ferrari. Same holds true with Porsches, truly great cars, but still not a Ferrari. And now the European press has gone wild over the new Corvette Z06, calling it the best performance car for the money in the world, comparing it to Porsches, Lambos and even Ferraris. But it is only a Chevrolet. Ferrari is still Ferrari. No comparison. When you drive one of the worlds best known brand names (Coca Cola, IBM, Ferrari, etc.), you are driving the epitomy of mobile status.
Porsches don't have the look or sound of an italian, or the "wow factor" on first sight. However you can take a Porsche 30 years old or brand new and drive it daily with actual storage space. Take it to the track on the weekend and perform arguably at the level of any Ferrari (depending what model, blah blah blah...). Drive home in a blizzard and then go across country and not have an issue. They are made to be driven, driven hard, and in all elements equally well. There is a massive support base and parts are relatively cheap and available. I am not aware of too many Ferrari owners that put 15,000 miles a year on their 30 year old Ferrari. The Ferraris and Lambos are a blast, but they are a little harder to live with in comparison to a Porsche. Enjoy an amazing driving experience with the Italian on nice days, and enjoy an amazing driving experience daily with the Germans. I have 2 Germans now, my next car will be a Lambo. I won't ever get rid of the Porsches. There is also a big thing with service. There are 5 Porsche dealerships in my area and at least 8 amazing independent Porsche specialists. Until recently we didn't have a Lambo dealer and there was only a couple of independents for Italians. I would have to ship my car to another state for service. I don't care since I have other cars, but some people really don't like having to send their car 500+ miles away for general work. Its 2 distinct experiences though. The Porsches are clockwork. Everything is thought out and precise. These italian cars are passionate and designed to instill emotion...even if it doesn't quite work right. The lack of perfection is what makes them attractive to me though.
We have a 996 Cab. Really nice car, just not anywhere near as nice as the 360. Sounds good, just not as nice as the 360. Goes fast, just not as fast as the 360. Still a great car... The 996 is a GREAT daily driver. Great maintenance requirements compared to the Ferrari, and it's just more comfortable. Quieter, nice seats, great sound system... it's the car you need when you want to get somewhere fast but comfy! I'd never consider a Carrera an alternative to a Ferrari (same model year, that is) but it sure makes a great compliment!
A Porsche is the "wife" and a Ferrari is the "mistress". P may not be the best looking, doesn't get a second look from most, but it is dependable, reliable, comfortable every day. F gets your blood and heart going, attracts attention everywhere, is an emotional experience, but can be temperamental and a ***** to live with on a daily basis. Get one of each.
I've had several porsches over the years -- why not, they are great cars. The porshces are great daily drivers, I don't have to worry about where to park it, service is cheap and easy. The Cayenne, porsche's bastard stepchild, is an awesome car that goes off road, in the snow, and mine (modified) is quicker than my 360. If I had to drive to mexico to bail a friend out of jail (again), I'd take the Cayenne, not the Ferrari.
