550 vs 996, was suprised at the outcome
Discussion
I was thinking of switching to a 550, drove one over the weekend and was suprised.
I loved the look of the 500, stunning car. It was more nimble than I had imagined and a demon on the motorway. Could not believe the tourque but still something missing. The engine was very quiet and the drive was very much a GT feel.
Cold hard look at the maint. cost and petrol were a bit of an eye opener. I am not one to worry about petrol on a sports car but 12mpg makes you think a bit.
Jumped back in the 996 and planted the right foot on the way home and realized what a great car Porsche are. Still a good comfy GT but felt much more sporty than the 550. Can not see why people give the Porsche a fast Audi type rep, its a great car that I am having troubble giving up.
So, did I miss something with the 550? It was only a test drive so maybee the 550 would come alive if you drove for a while.
I loved the look of the 500, stunning car. It was more nimble than I had imagined and a demon on the motorway. Could not believe the tourque but still something missing. The engine was very quiet and the drive was very much a GT feel.
Cold hard look at the maint. cost and petrol were a bit of an eye opener. I am not one to worry about petrol on a sports car but 12mpg makes you think a bit.
Jumped back in the 996 and planted the right foot on the way home and realized what a great car Porsche are. Still a good comfy GT but felt much more sporty than the 550. Can not see why people give the Porsche a fast Audi type rep, its a great car that I am having troubble giving up.
So, did I miss something with the 550? It was only a test drive so maybee the 550 would come alive if you drove for a while.
There are many brilliant cars out there and the 550's rightly resplendent within the firmament thereof.
When cars are this accomplished, I suspect the full repertoire cannot be appreciated unless reasonable exposure ensues.
For example, I never tire of championing the M5 because it's one of the only cars I've ever driven which over time, has achieved or surpassed the magazine-bourne plaudits made over the years.
The same thing is true of the 550 - as it is your 911.
I suspect the broader benefits of the 550 would crystalise over time; perhaps we meld with our cars?
When cars are this accomplished, I suspect the full repertoire cannot be appreciated unless reasonable exposure ensues.
For example, I never tire of championing the M5 because it's one of the only cars I've ever driven which over time, has achieved or surpassed the magazine-bourne plaudits made over the years.
The same thing is true of the 550 - as it is your 911.
I suspect the broader benefits of the 550 would crystalise over time; perhaps we meld with our cars?
I test drove a 550 (after being singularly unimpressed with trying a 355 spider) and whilst it was impressive, came to the conclusions below. For context, I had a 996TT at the time and the 550 was my dream car.
1) Porsche was faster
2) Porsche was cheaper to buy and run, never mind
the depreciation bit!
3) 996 MUCH easier to drive. Everything felt heavy in the Ferrari - not akward, just heavy.
4) 996 handled better
Summary view was, why would I want one compared to a 996 turbo?!
Dave
1) Porsche was faster
2) Porsche was cheaper to buy and run, never mind
the depreciation bit!
3) 996 MUCH easier to drive. Everything felt heavy in the Ferrari - not akward, just heavy.
4) 996 handled better
Summary view was, why would I want one compared to a 996 turbo?!
Dave
Further down the scale, but i test drove a couple of 348's and a 355 not too long ago (can't afford my dream 550) and was totally, utterly bewildered as to why anyone would want to pour thousands of pounds into owning such ridiculous cars.
Not that fast, not very nice to drive, sounds glorious from outside but awful inside, looks great from the outside but awful inside, and shocking build quality.
I got in my 993 and drove home with only one conclusion:
porsche = driver
ferrari = poseur
N.B. don't mean to offend anyone, just my opinions of course, and these things are subjective.
VS
Not that fast, not very nice to drive, sounds glorious from outside but awful inside, looks great from the outside but awful inside, and shocking build quality.
I got in my 993 and drove home with only one conclusion:
porsche = driver
ferrari = poseur
N.B. don't mean to offend anyone, just my opinions of course, and these things are subjective.
VS
this is developing into an intersting thread.
a couple of years ago i test drove a 360 spyder and 996TT.
started in the 360. lovely car , looks great, and the drive was good. felt quite special driving it.
got into the turbo.... different ball game. much more involved, fun to drive, gear changes infinetly better a really fun car that left a grin on your face after. 1000 times better than the ferrari in all ways.
however now i have had a chance to put on my rose tinted spectacles, why would i much rather have a 360?
it makes no sense. have ferrari spiked the water porsche drivers drink?
a couple of years ago i test drove a 360 spyder and 996TT.
started in the 360. lovely car , looks great, and the drive was good. felt quite special driving it.
got into the turbo.... different ball game. much more involved, fun to drive, gear changes infinetly better a really fun car that left a grin on your face after. 1000 times better than the ferrari in all ways.
however now i have had a chance to put on my rose tinted spectacles, why would i much rather have a 360?
it makes no sense. have ferrari spiked the water porsche drivers drink?
I faced this exact conundrum in late 2003 when I had £60K to spend on a car, and settled on a LHD 996TT (working in and out of Germany at the time). A GT3 was never considered however.
I loved the presence of the 550. The Daytona seats are the best sports / comfort seats I have ever sat in. Peddle box too tight for my tastes. Friends of the earth blessed the 456 as the worlds least environmentally friendly car ever – 550 is a 456 with heavy changes. Engine far too quiet. Not 4x4 like a 996TT. Only a 2 seater. + £ 1,000 p/y ownership on a 996TT and more like + £ 6,000 if you factor depreciation. Ferraris are true poseurs cars and I like the 996TT for being (relatively) discreet for it’s type.
I have never regretted my decision. Incidentally I test drove the latest Aston recently from curiosity (the one everyone raves about) and it was IMHO worse than the 550 and the best part of that test drive was going home in the TT !
I loved the presence of the 550. The Daytona seats are the best sports / comfort seats I have ever sat in. Peddle box too tight for my tastes. Friends of the earth blessed the 456 as the worlds least environmentally friendly car ever – 550 is a 456 with heavy changes. Engine far too quiet. Not 4x4 like a 996TT. Only a 2 seater. + £ 1,000 p/y ownership on a 996TT and more like + £ 6,000 if you factor depreciation. Ferraris are true poseurs cars and I like the 996TT for being (relatively) discreet for it’s type.
I have never regretted my decision. Incidentally I test drove the latest Aston recently from curiosity (the one everyone raves about) and it was IMHO worse than the 550 and the best part of that test drive was going home in the TT !
Good thread.
I have spent a lot of time in 996 and enjoy the car very much in all of it's forms (particularly turbo). An extremely capable vehicle in all situations.
but...
I have just spent a little time in the 575M F1 and have to say that the car is BREATHTAKING! This particular car had the Fiorano handling pack and just redefined what I thought motoring was all about.
I know we are talking different money here but what I am trying to get across is (IMHO) that other cars lack is the sense of "occasion" that the Ferraris deliver, at every level.
Getting in and out of them still feels good, and I have been in the trade for twenty years.
Just my 2p
I have spent a lot of time in 996 and enjoy the car very much in all of it's forms (particularly turbo). An extremely capable vehicle in all situations.
but...
I have just spent a little time in the 575M F1 and have to say that the car is BREATHTAKING! This particular car had the Fiorano handling pack and just redefined what I thought motoring was all about.
I know we are talking different money here but what I am trying to get across is (IMHO) that other cars lack is the sense of "occasion" that the Ferraris deliver, at every level.
Getting in and out of them still feels good, and I have been in the trade for twenty years.
Just my 2p
poorcardealer said:
"Sense of occasion" is really important with these cars, thats what give them that bit extra........very few cars have it......a Merc is a better car than a Bentley no doubt but give me a Bentley anyday.
Couldn't agree more with this. The whole being very much more than the sum of the parts never applied more.
I also think it important to compare sensible models (comparing a spider/targa with a hardtop is asking for trouble), to try several of the same marque and to be brutally honest with what it is you really want out of a car.
Let's face it, TT, GT3, 550, 355, 360. You're not going to be left with a bad car on the driveway... and they're all so very different in character that to compare them too seriously begins to miss the point.
Haven't driven any of the above, but find it interesting trying to quantify 'sense of occassion'. Without trying to offend anyone, doesn't this just mean what you think other people think about what you are driving. In the end if one car feels better to drive than another (Porsche better than Ferrari)isn't that the most important thing? I'm one to talk though, I just want to be the fastest off the lights!
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