RE: Ferrari Portofino: Driven
Discussion
It rather depends on what sort of car you are wanting - a statement of the bleeding obvious if ever there was one. My first love is the feel of a mid engined sports car but when I was considering a Cali, I was looking for something to do some continental touring in. Cant afford a 488 or 720 - my options were a 360 manual spider or an F type or the Cali. The 360 was the only real sports car of the three and reasonably free of electrickery but at 15 years old it didnt seem like the ideal choice for the touring I wanted to do. The Cali was a lovely car but didnt really offer that much more than the F type and at twice the price and 6 years older. So I bought the F.
I guess what I am trying to say is that badge apart, the Cali / Portofino doesnt offer a lot that you cant get from other makes. The 360 does. When I have done the touring I will buy a 360 not a Cali or Portofino.
I guess what I am trying to say is that badge apart, the Cali / Portofino doesnt offer a lot that you cant get from other makes. The 360 does. When I have done the touring I will buy a 360 not a Cali or Portofino.
morgrp said:
Hmmm, not for me. I think the interior looks a mess and too fussy, the exterior is too bland and those wheels look like crap aftermarket alloys from a motor factors.
I'm sure it drives beuatifully and its certainly a better car than my 20yr old Volvo I smoke around in but for me a Ferrari should have that massive desirabilty factor and this simply doesn't have it. I never liked the California either so it was unlikely I was going to like this.
Ferraris are to artificial these days and all this bolt on techno is very impressive but it saps the soul out of the car.
I completely understand its all about target markets and flattering the driver but Porsche made this mistake in the late eighties and allienated traditional customers and enthusiasts and they're sales took a nose dive and put them in trouble. Now i'm sure this unlikely to happen to Ferrari these days but even so I feel they are alienating their enthusiast following.
You are aware this is (California, really) a new model, and not a replacement for another "traditional" Ferrari? They aren't alienating anyone, they're keeping the old faithful whilst introducing a new model to bring in more customers, which it is seemingly doing. I'm sure it drives beuatifully and its certainly a better car than my 20yr old Volvo I smoke around in but for me a Ferrari should have that massive desirabilty factor and this simply doesn't have it. I never liked the California either so it was unlikely I was going to like this.
Ferraris are to artificial these days and all this bolt on techno is very impressive but it saps the soul out of the car.
I completely understand its all about target markets and flattering the driver but Porsche made this mistake in the late eighties and allienated traditional customers and enthusiasts and they're sales took a nose dive and put them in trouble. Now i'm sure this unlikely to happen to Ferrari these days but even so I feel they are alienating their enthusiast following.
Friend of mine has just picked up a 1yr old California T, 3 weeks ago.
It's stunning. Driving through our village, it grabs as much attention has any car I've ever seen drive through, with the possible exception of as GT500 and original GT40.
He's had a colourful career, ups have been very high, lows have been very low. He's owned supercars for 35+yrs. This is a special as any of them is his take on the car.
It's stunning. Driving through our village, it grabs as much attention has any car I've ever seen drive through, with the possible exception of as GT500 and original GT40.
He's had a colourful career, ups have been very high, lows have been very low. He's owned supercars for 35+yrs. This is a special as any of them is his take on the car.
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