As you'll have heard Chris has bought a 599 GTB - here's why he did it
The original intention here was to try and convey some of the sights and sounds of a 599 the way a new owner would experience them. However, taking my lead from the 20-page discussion on the forums the other week, we changed tack and decided that what people really wanted was a detailed run-down on the evils of finance.
Sod the maths, here's the real justification
Just kidding. But for those of you concerned by people borrowing money with the sole intention of buying a car and then enjoying it, might I suggest that James Hogg's 1824 study of Calvinist denial Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner might be more to their taste.
Good, so those of us left all like cars, right?
The 599 is a good car. It costs £150 to fill it with V-Power at my local filling station, and that will get me 200 miles if I'm lucky. It is massively wide and, with the exhaust valves open, it creates a frenzied, screeching noise that makes my old 575 sound like a four-stroke go-kart.
Right now, I'd like to use it every day, and, sometime in spring 2014, I'd write about how I'd covered 100,000 miles in a 599. But that would cost me about £50,000, so sadly I cannot afford to do so.
Just the right balance twixt discreet and bonkers
People respond quite differently to dark grey V12 Berlinetta Ferraris than they do red ones of the V8 variety. You get the odd wrist exercise, but strangely this doesn't affect one's mood too badly when you have an Enzo motor ahead of your shins.
Straight-line speed is an unavoidable part of the 599 drug. It is very fast. Quick enough to take care of just about anything else you come across and I kind of think that's the way it should be. Much as it wouldn't bother me that much to have an E60 M5 up my chuff on a slip road, the fact that this can nail one I find reassuring.
Right now, for the money, I can't think of a car that offers a similar experience. I've already done 1,000 miles in it!
sorry not one of your best - too many repeats of the same stretch of road / corner on this video.
Also I didn't get the sense that this car has really got under his skin - more justifying reasons to like it. I can't see it being around come the winter.
The only problem for me, and this is just personal preference is that I am not sold on the colour. It has grown on me slightly, but it occurred to me when I saw a dirty Rapide yesterday in a grey that did the car no favours - I then noticed that many upmarket cars (R8, Vantage, F430 etc) are being specc'd in colours that reflect our skies. I would much prefer a more striking colour.
...but I may be alone in that thought process and I hope you enjoy your ownership experience Chris.
You won't get any lectures about finance from me, nice work!
Sorry if I've not been paying attention but what happened to the 4.0RS? I love the 599 but that particular Porsche is pure motoring perfection in my book.
Well done Chris. Forget the envious knockers and 'experts' with their negativity just trying to justify their own sensible, conservative transport choices. Continue to live your (and the true PHer) dream by owning some fantastic metal, and giving us compelling, thought-provoking and highly entertaining journalism!
Looks lovely, but I can't help thinking that you need to look a bit like Luca di Montezemolo to fit in with the car's image. It's the sort of car that to me seems to be asking for a tie, or possibly a cravat, from its driver.
Great video Chris (you could have made it longer though ;-)). The car looks fantastic as well inside and out. Love the piping and the daytona seats. Nice driving btw.
Love it Chris! Awesome
k me. That thing is mental quick.
