Head or Heart?
Discussion
After a long, long trawl of many different adverts, test drives, etc, I have a head v heart decision. I've decided I need a four seater for the next 2-3 years as my daughter won't be following my son to uni for another couple of years and on the 200+ mile drives we have to do to see family I'd like to take something I enjoy driving instead of having to leave a fun car on the drive and take the family bus.
It needs to be a genuine four seater so I've reluctantly ruled out 911, DB11, etc.
I also want something a bit 'different' so I'm not really that interested in M3, M5, C63, E63, RS4, RS6 etc, even though any one of those would undoubtedly be perfectly suited for the job. I'm also not hugely interested in the Panamera. Not sure why, it just doesn't do it for me.
I've narrowed it down to a 'sensible' option and a bonkers one.
'Sensible' option 9not really that sensible, but definitely so when compared to the 'bonkers' option) is Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. It has the space I need, it has undoubted performance, decent up to date tech (CarPlay, etc) and has lots of character. They're a bit 'different' and I can pick up a decent 18 plate still with 2 years' manufacturers warranty well within budget. On the downside, it's an Alfa so could well spend a lot of time back at the dealer's, the interior isn't the best and I'd always know I'd chosen it as the 'sensible' choice.
'Bonkers' option is a 2011 Ferrari FF. It's a Ferrari V12, it is a genuine 4 seater, it's a Ferrari V12 and... it's a Ferrari V12. On the downside; it's not out of budget exactly, but it is definitely less comfortably affordable than the 'sensible' option, the interior and infotainment are pretty dated and... it's a Ferrari V12 so running costs are also going to be a LOT higher.
Despite the downsides, my heart (and man maths) are leaning towards the Fezza. SWMBO would be horrified, but I wonder whether there will ever be a better opportunity for me to 'own' (cos let's face it, the finance company will always own it) a V12 Ferrari.
I realise this is entirely the wrong forum to be asking this question to, but I am soliciting opinions from many quarters, so figured I'd ask here as well. Any inputs welcome!
Cheers all.
It needs to be a genuine four seater so I've reluctantly ruled out 911, DB11, etc.
I also want something a bit 'different' so I'm not really that interested in M3, M5, C63, E63, RS4, RS6 etc, even though any one of those would undoubtedly be perfectly suited for the job. I'm also not hugely interested in the Panamera. Not sure why, it just doesn't do it for me.
I've narrowed it down to a 'sensible' option and a bonkers one.
'Sensible' option 9not really that sensible, but definitely so when compared to the 'bonkers' option) is Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. It has the space I need, it has undoubted performance, decent up to date tech (CarPlay, etc) and has lots of character. They're a bit 'different' and I can pick up a decent 18 plate still with 2 years' manufacturers warranty well within budget. On the downside, it's an Alfa so could well spend a lot of time back at the dealer's, the interior isn't the best and I'd always know I'd chosen it as the 'sensible' choice.
'Bonkers' option is a 2011 Ferrari FF. It's a Ferrari V12, it is a genuine 4 seater, it's a Ferrari V12 and... it's a Ferrari V12. On the downside; it's not out of budget exactly, but it is definitely less comfortably affordable than the 'sensible' option, the interior and infotainment are pretty dated and... it's a Ferrari V12 so running costs are also going to be a LOT higher.
Despite the downsides, my heart (and man maths) are leaning towards the Fezza. SWMBO would be horrified, but I wonder whether there will ever be a better opportunity for me to 'own' (cos let's face it, the finance company will always own it) a V12 Ferrari.
I realise this is entirely the wrong forum to be asking this question to, but I am soliciting opinions from many quarters, so figured I'd ask here as well. Any inputs welcome!
Cheers all.
omniflow said:
You really need to re-visit your views on Alfa's reliability. You're somewhat behind the times.
Yeah, I was wondering. Although I have heard from several quarters that the Giulia still isn't the most reliable of cars. That said, and depending on who you listen to, neither is the F80 M3 for example, so it probably is less of an issue than I'm thinking it could be.Good challenge tho, cheers.
How deep are your pockets?
There was a recent guide on here on the FF and its running costs/owners comments on the costs of things that go wrong. If your pockets are deep enough for that, then go FF
Kia Stinger is abit different as well, what about a hellcat or redeye?
There was a recent guide on here on the FF and its running costs/owners comments on the costs of things that go wrong. If your pockets are deep enough for that, then go FF
Kia Stinger is abit different as well, what about a hellcat or redeye?
Edited by lemmingjames on Monday 15th November 08:57
swanseaboydan said:
I got given a Porsche Panamera for a loan car about a year ago - hell of a car and defo a 4 seater - worth you trying one of them ? I was amazed at the performance from the petrol
Engine
Yeah. I just don't get particularly excited at the prospect of having one on the drive. The Alfa and FF (both in very different ways obvs) excite me a lot more, hence having narrowed it down to those 2.Engine
lemmingjames said:
How deep are your pockets?
There was a recent guide on here on the FF and its running costs/owners comments on the costs of things that go wrong. If your pockets are deep enough for that, then go FF
Kia Stinger is abit different as well, what about a hellcat or redeye?
Yeah, Kia Stinger is different. Just not 'special' enough. And I realise that makes me a massive badge snob. Also not really powerful enough. The others are just a bit shouty. Had discounted a Mustang for the same reason. There was a recent guide on here on the FF and its running costs/owners comments on the costs of things that go wrong. If your pockets are deep enough for that, then go FF
Kia Stinger is abit different as well, what about a hellcat or redeye?
Edited by lemmingjames on Monday 15th November 08:57
iacabu said:
This post is way above my pay grade, but I'll add my 2p.
I don't want to assume you haven't thought of this already, but factor in the residual values of each car and you might find it outweighs the cost of running the Ferrari for a year or two
Yeah. I'm not completely sure the FF will hold that well. Some commentators view it as having reached the bottom of the curve and now ready to hold / go back up. Others think it still has further to drop, looking at 550s and 612s. So I'm not factoring in anything other than pretty big depreciation. Finance company reckons it'll be worth £65k in 2 years. I know they're being cautious but still...I don't want to assume you haven't thought of this already, but factor in the residual values of each car and you might find it outweighs the cost of running the Ferrari for a year or two
swanseaboydan said:
I got given a Porsche Panamera for a loan car about a year ago - hell of a car and defo a 4 seater - worth you trying one of them ? I was amazed at the performance from the petrol
Engine
Maybe so but at some time you would have to look at it.Engine
The Alfa is a great choice and a great looking car.
cayman-black said:
Maybe so but at some time you would have to look at it.
The Alfa is a great choice and a great looking car.
I love the look of the Sport Turismo Panameras. I just don't feel they're all that 'special'. No idea why, cos objectively they're a fantastic machine.The Alfa is a great choice and a great looking car.
The Alfa is definitely great. But now I have seen a potential route to the FF, I can't really think straight about anything else!
The FF is a biiig car - the best part of 5m long, 2m wide and 2 tonnes. The Alfa is a 3-series rival so it's quite a bit smaller. So for me, part of the decision would also be how big of a car I'm happy to be driving (also depending a bit on how wide the roads are I'd be driving it on).
But if you're happy with the size of the thing, ... if you really want a Ferrari V12 and you think now's the best chance you're going to get, then I'd be inclined to take it. But be careful buying, they can have some expensive issues.
samoht said:
The FF is a biiig car - the best part of 5m long, 2m wide and 2 tonnes. The Alfa is a 3-series rival so it's quite a bit smaller. So for me, part of the decision would also be how big of a car I'm happy to be driving (also depending a bit on how wide the roads are I'd be driving it on).
But if you're happy with the size of the thing, ... if you really want a Ferrari V12 and you think now's the best chance you're going to get, then I'd be inclined to take it. But be careful buying, they can have some expensive issues.
Yeah. I'll be paying for a PPI at Ferrari and putting a New Power warranty on it before I go near it!But if you're happy with the size of the thing, ... if you really want a Ferrari V12 and you think now's the best chance you're going to get, then I'd be inclined to take it. But be careful buying, they can have some expensive issues.
The size thing is definitely something to think about. Aston Rapide S was under consideration for a while and that is also huge. I am genuinely torn, but the 'romance' of the Ferrari is clouding my judgement without doubt.
My input (would love to be in your position though) is that the FF is likely to spend more time at the dealers than the Alfa. Personally my heart would say Alfa as you'd need very deep pockets for the FF, mind you one is a great 4 door/5 seat car and the other is a Ferrari !!
Yeah I'd still be going Alfa but purely for the mod cons. Now if you could afford a GTC4 Lusso, I might change my mind
Yeah I'd still be going Alfa but purely for the mod cons. Now if you could afford a GTC4 Lusso, I might change my mind
I’d be going for the Alfa. It’s a beautiful car in its own right, reviews are very positive and you’re not going to have supercar running costs. There’s too many stories of £10,000 Ferrari services - I’m sure the services don’t actually cost that much but it they tell you so and so needs replacing costs could add up substantially. Only you knows how deep your pockets are though.
I suppose another option could be a Volvo S60 Polestar if you could find one (only the V60 on Autotrader). Not an Alfa though and the on board tech is a bit dated, although the interiors are a nice place to be. The Polestar Engineered is the new model and fully up to date but obviously pricier.
Edited by LightningBlue on Monday 15th November 14:16
The Alfa is a great choice & you won't feel short changed, reliability wise they're no better or worse than an M3, BUT the difference is in the communication you get from the main dealers which in quite a few cases is woeful.
I always recommend finding a specialist as it normally means more peace of mind & a better relationship with the people looking after your car.
The FF is an amazing car & that V12 is just ridiculous but I don't know if you could enjoy it as much as the Alfa just because of the size/cost etc.
Be in no doubt the FF would be the money no object pick but even with money no object I'd still have an Alfa as a daily.
I always recommend finding a specialist as it normally means more peace of mind & a better relationship with the people looking after your car.
The FF is an amazing car & that V12 is just ridiculous but I don't know if you could enjoy it as much as the Alfa just because of the size/cost etc.
Be in no doubt the FF would be the money no object pick but even with money no object I'd still have an Alfa as a daily.
Using a super car as a daily is all in the mind . . In other words, much as you can see yourself now cruising around, going to the shops, etc etc in the Ferrari , the reality may be different and you could end up selling it after a few months - def worth considering something that you won’t think twice about using and picking up a few scratches on in my opinion .
Just my opinion - it’s a bloody big car !
Just my opinion - it’s a bloody big car !
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