so which model would you go for?

[bordseye]

I've got an F430 at the moment - a 10k miles 2008 example thats pristine. And thats a problem. To keep a decent residual the mileage needs to be kept down. With a dealer service history and the Ferrari guarantee, servicing really has to be dealer at dealer prices. And as a pristine car, it cant really be thrashed up a hillclimb or really used in the way I would like.

So I am thinking of selling it and buying an older cheaper model that I can maintain at an indie ( or even do myself) and use for track days and hillclimbs. And not think of mileage though it still wont do more than say 5k p.a. Not planning on a tatty car, just not a conkers one. Yes I know that I will likely still lose money but it will be a lot less. I hope. I will feel relaxed in suing and abusing it which I dont feel at the moment.

Only other requirement is that it be a rag top.

So in that scenario, which model would you chose? And it has to be red.

Edited by bordseye on Saturday 17th September 19:39

[bordseye]

HardtopManual said:

But I can't bring myself to drive the concours winner in the manner intended by Enzo (well, Luca),

Glad to know that I'm not alone. Do I love driving the 430 - yes very much so. I've tried lots of other makes and the only other car which feels as tactile on the roads is the Lotus. And thats too small. So I was pondering a 430 predecessor, if I can put it like that, a car which is more useable day to day. Something thats done 25k miles and is long past the FFDH stage of life.

From the above responses a 355 looks like a good choice. What are the problems / issue to look out for with that design? Is the cam belt and engine out job, for example?

[bordseye]

I'm not sure that logic or commonsense ever comes into the Ferrari buying decisions Lukey! It certainly didnt into mine. But you are right in one sense. If I look at what I could get for my car ( ie main dealer asking price less 20%)I am into half decent 355 territory anyway. So no saving there.

Its more about mentality. We all have hang ups and like Hardtop Manual said, I cant bring myself to treat such a nice clean pristine 430 like Enzo intended.

Edited by bordseye on Sunday 18th September 13:40

[bordseye]

LukeyLikey said:

I have often had this discussion with my father; he taught me a 'post war' value for money, which is invaluable. On the other hand, I have reminded him that time is the now the rarer commodity for him so why not spend at least some money on things he would enjoy - I can tell you he has worked incredibly hard his whole life but struggles to spend the fruits of his labour. He is still a work in progress although the patient is getting better daily!

Not trying to lecture, your comment just triggered off something in my head that's all.

Your Dad's problem is my problem - likely we are a similar age anyway. I've got part way there - I've bought the bloody thing. Just finding it a bit hard to use it as god/Enzo intended. The problem of course, and this may well apply to your dad too, is that late in life you may well have plenty of capital but its all you are ever going to have, and your income is small. It gives you a different outlook from those still earning well.

Anyway, less of my personal hang ups. Thanks to everyone for the comments on car models. I shall now go out an polish the 430!

[bordseye]

somehow the sound of my wife's Dyson doesnt have the same effect as that of a Ferrari V8 on full chat.

[bordseye]

TB303 said:

Your wife drives a McLaren?

No - her pram pushing days are long gone, thank god. But what her pram has to do with her vacuum cleaner - well you've lost me there.

[bordseye]

Ah! I should have guessed.

Wonder why we Brits are so keen to knock British products . I might have a Ferrari but I would undoubtedly chose a Maclaren in preference to a 488 assuming I could afford either. If we knock British industry how can we expect foreigners to buy our products?

[bordseye]

Prompted by another thread on another forum I had a look at the mileages that "toy" cars do as shown by dealer adverts. A bit to my surprise the average annual mileage seemed to be about 1500/2000 which as it happens is what I used to do in my Lotus and what I still do on my bike.
Its a bit short of being a statistically sound analysis so dont flame me on that point. And there are numbers of Porsches that do high mileages but then they arent being used as "toy" cars but as business transport. But cars like Ferrari, Morgan, Lotus mostly seem to fit that 1500/2000 norm.

[bordseye]

As with any rule Shooter, there are exceptions and in the case of mileage that looks like you. Most of us doing a high annual mileage cant use a sportscar for it even if we wanted to do so.
Typical mileage is obvious from adverts