What to buy..if anything!!
Discussion
A friend of mine has just bought himself a 550 Maranello which is one of my favourite cars and it got me to thinking about a change from the 3R.
I went to the Porsche meet at Brands today, but apart from a Turbo Cab, I can't say I'm too thrilled about another Porsche.
I can't do a 550...well I could but I was thinking about a 360 or 355. Trouble is, apart from pose value their really isn't much to recommend on the Ferrari front...huge bills...huge depreciation...huge bills...could be a Noble!!!
Anyway, so then I thought I'd be better off with an M400. More exclusive, better drive, quicker, cheaper to buy, cheaper to run...so might see what stupid trade in I get offered!!
Can anyone else offer an alternative view??
I went to the Porsche meet at Brands today, but apart from a Turbo Cab, I can't say I'm too thrilled about another Porsche.
I can't do a 550...well I could but I was thinking about a 360 or 355. Trouble is, apart from pose value their really isn't much to recommend on the Ferrari front...huge bills...huge depreciation...huge bills...could be a Noble!!!
Anyway, so then I thought I'd be better off with an M400. More exclusive, better drive, quicker, cheaper to buy, cheaper to run...so might see what stupid trade in I get offered!!
Can anyone else offer an alternative view??
You could do as Nathan or I have done? Or maybe a 996 GT2.
I was at the festival yesterday. The car that pushed my buttons most was a black 993 Turbo S. They are stunning.
The naked Carrera GT was something else to look at too. Not sure I'd be able to use one having seen what you'd be soiling!
>> Edited by DanH on Monday 29th August 20:56
I came from Ferrari land to the Nobility and the costs of maintaining something like a 355 is more myth than reality nowadays (IMHO). Sticking with a specialized dealer rather than authorized helps of course. Cambelt changes are the real killer and have to be carried out every 3 years or 30K Miles.
The 430 is going to impact 360 prices and 355's can be had for less than the cost of an M400 so good value.
I must admit though, after having both now I wouldn't go back to the prancing horse.... The M400 gets such respect on the road, compare this to either admiration or resentment that I received in the 355, combine this with the essential facts that the M400 is faster, handles better and it's a no-brainer (again IMHO).
The 430 is going to impact 360 prices and 355's can be had for less than the cost of an M400 so good value.
I must admit though, after having both now I wouldn't go back to the prancing horse.... The M400 gets such respect on the road, compare this to either admiration or resentment that I received in the 355, combine this with the essential facts that the M400 is faster, handles better and it's a no-brainer (again IMHO).
Must say since my cars (crappy) one year warranty ran out I'm thinking similar thoughts.
Might consider new Audi RS4, Ferrari or Porsche.
What I've got to consider:
1. Risk and costs of anything going wrong.
2. Dealer relationship with me and factory.
3. The amount of work the dealer has done at their cost that the factory wouldn't honour - thus there is now no way I'll get anything else done!
4. Whether i can do without it - it's an awesome drive and I'm sure nothing will come close.
5. Servicing every 6000 miles.
6. Pain in the backside location of the dealer.
7. Similar repeat visits to the dealer to get things sorted.
etc,etc.
>> Edited by lucozade on Tuesday 30th August 10:44
Might consider new Audi RS4, Ferrari or Porsche.
What I've got to consider:
1. Risk and costs of anything going wrong.
2. Dealer relationship with me and factory.
3. The amount of work the dealer has done at their cost that the factory wouldn't honour - thus there is now no way I'll get anything else done!
4. Whether i can do without it - it's an awesome drive and I'm sure nothing will come close.
5. Servicing every 6000 miles.
6. Pain in the backside location of the dealer.
7. Similar repeat visits to the dealer to get things sorted.
etc,etc.
>> Edited by lucozade on Tuesday 30th August 10:44
huntsthehunt - I went from Nobility to a 355 last year.
It's fair to say right off the bat that the Noble is quicker and handles a LOT better than the fezza. I think if you're more biased to the outright performance and track work aspects of the Noble, then a prancing horse won't really cut it. As Dan said, a GT3, CSL or such like would be the way to go.
However as a road car i find the 355 is something truly special. As regards costs, the 355 has been significantly cheaper to run than the Noble, as Ahaughton says, their are so many good independents now that unless you are particularly unlucky then servicing isn't any different to any other exotic. You've also got pretty much zero depreciation provided you don't buy from the main dealers.
It's fair to say right off the bat that the Noble is quicker and handles a LOT better than the fezza. I think if you're more biased to the outright performance and track work aspects of the Noble, then a prancing horse won't really cut it. As Dan said, a GT3, CSL or such like would be the way to go.
However as a road car i find the 355 is something truly special. As regards costs, the 355 has been significantly cheaper to run than the Noble, as Ahaughton says, their are so many good independents now that unless you are particularly unlucky then servicing isn't any different to any other exotic. You've also got pretty much zero depreciation provided you don't buy from the main dealers.
Splitter! 
Paul,
M400 has been a dream.
The list of things that have "broken" are
wait for it
Exhaust bracket (groan)
and
err
that's it
Total bill so far for 7000 miles and 7 track days is
1 x set of rears (£150 each - thank you Alex!)
1 x set of DS2500 pads & 1 x set of disks all around (I warped them with all the track use) (£1200 or so)
1 x 6k service (£800)
1 x 1k service (£100)
All round figures, all including VAT.
The only other outstanding things are that the gear change isn't quite as nice as it could be from 2nd to 3rd when it's cold (it's fine when it's warm, so it's got to just be an adjustment thing) and that's it.
Compared to any of the other cars (X5 included) this is the cheapest car I've every run!
J
Bill for
M400 has been a dream.
The list of things that have "broken" are
wait for it
Exhaust bracket (groan)
and
err
that's it
Total bill so far for 7000 miles and 7 track days is
1 x set of rears (£150 each - thank you Alex!)
1 x set of DS2500 pads & 1 x set of disks all around (I warped them with all the track use) (£1200 or so)
1 x 6k service (£800)
1 x 1k service (£100)
All round figures, all including VAT.
The only other outstanding things are that the gear change isn't quite as nice as it could be from 2nd to 3rd when it's cold (it's fine when it's warm, so it's got to just be an adjustment thing) and that's it.
Compared to any of the other cars (X5 included) this is the cheapest car I've every run!
J
Bill for
Justin,
Trying to get a deal on an M400 at the moment. Just trying to get the best deal on the 3R as a trade.
I have a slight problem with my finance in that the car is worth a fraction less than the balance, well when I say fraction I mean 25%.......OK not that bad actually.
Anyway I like the idea of the M400, but may have to buy a Pagani Zonda to get the trade in value right
Trying to get a deal on an M400 at the moment. Just trying to get the best deal on the 3R as a trade.
I have a slight problem with my finance in that the car is worth a fraction less than the balance, well when I say fraction I mean 25%.......OK not that bad actually.
Anyway I like the idea of the M400, but may have to buy a Pagani Zonda to get the trade in value right
hunttheshunt said:
Justin,
Trying to get a deal on an M400 at the moment. Just trying to get the best deal on the 3R as a trade.
I have a slight problem with my finance in that the car is worth a fraction less than the balance, well when I say fraction I mean 25%.......OK not that bad actually.
Anyway I like the idea of the M400, but may have to buy a Pagani Zonda to get the trade in value right
Noble London (AKA TVR Centre) has a Viper Steel Blue M400 with, I think 4000 miles and all options for £52,750!
V6GTO said:
I think the only fast car I'd consider after the Noble would be an Ultima.
Martin.
I have to agree. Only problem is that one won't go up my drive (or rather down it once it's built), so will have to wait until I find a nice plot of land to build a house on first. Until then the M400 is staying as long as I can convince the wife that I'll lose too much money if we sell it. As it is a year old now, might speak to Matt about a few "upgrades", and really fancy that Vegantune exhaust, but I'm not paying £2.5k no matter how nice it is.
I would consider a GT2, or an original Cobra, or even that new Mosler, but they are all in a different price bracket.
joust said:
Compared to any of the other cars (X5 included) this is the cheapest car I've every run!
Justin, surely you are merely demonstrating that your car collection to date has been in a different league to most
...£2.5k for some could be the total cost of the car (2nd hand of course) let alone 1 year of having fun
For me...the cheapest car I ever ran was...
wait for it...
a TVR Tuscan - I actually ended up £5k better off after 11 months of ownership
...not to be recommended; but writing off a car less than 12 months old results in a payout for a brand new vehicle...getting a discount on the initial purchase also helped
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