GT3 or 550 Maranello

[carreraboy]

Well both similar dough about £45-£50K similar age one has double the pots, both GT Touring cars in my book...Both can have massive repair bills, which one to drive down to L'Hermitage ****** La Baule for Le Weekend with the Siliconed up Minx?

[Davey S2]

Totally different cars imo. GT2 or Turbo would be a better comparison.

If you can afford the bills and want a big comfy fast GT for trips on the continent then 550.

If you want something more sporty for road and track (and probably cheaper to run) GT3

[Wanta996(Gotta)]

Evo had a 550 as a long termer and from what i remember, the bills seemed ridiculous. Strange as when it was first released, all magazines said it was the first Ferrari that could be used as an everyday car - Bloke next to our office has a blue 550 and he arrives every morning in it and i can never remember i trailer coming to take away.

Personally i would choose the ferrari if i had a bigger bank balance for the yearly cam-belt changes and other things that may go pop.Heart with Ferrari BUT head with the 911 - i took a friends GT3 out a few years ago and it seemed a very well put together car - almost flawless.

[Thorny]

Agree they are quite different cars but both will do the GT job if asked alhtough the 550 is a GT by definition and will be a lot more comfy to do it in... The GT3 is more track focused although I am informed that the 550 can cut it on track too...

If it were my money and I could afford the bills it would be the Fezza - just more special and better looking IMHO, esp in black (although that does not mean it is a better car!).

[carreraboy]

Davey S2 said:

Totally different cars imo. GT2 or Turbo would be a better comparison.

If you can afford the bills and want a big comfy fast GT for trips on the continent then 550.

If you want something more sporty for road and track (and probably cheaper to run) GT3

Got the track boy 964RS N-GT which is a keeper have to bury me in it......just want a minx tourer love Porsche owned Ferrari just love the look and just seems to offer double the bang for same bucks, tossing your keys to the car jockey at L'hermitage in a Maranello with fitted luggage as a opposed to what could be a 996 looka like just no buzz....and probably more silicone friendly....

[Flying Trotter]

nearly took the 550 plunge myself - car in question was 4 years old having done 6k from memory - anyway the dealer had had to invest a fortune (discs, pads, clutch, tyres, exhaust......) to get it saleable and it was still scruffy with the drivers door having dropped and rubber seals crazing - a great occasion car but you better be ready for maintenace costs way beyond GT3 money

[Dr S]

Thorny said:

although I am informed that the 550 can cut it on track too...

On the 'Ring it will struggle to show a Boxster S it's place in the pecking order

[HAB]

Flying Trotter said:

nearly took the 550 plunge myself - car in question was 4 years old having done 6k from memory - anyway the dealer had had to invest a fortune (discs, pads, clutch, tyres, exhaust......) to get it saleable and it was still scruffy with the drivers door having dropped and rubber seals crazing - a great occasion car but you better be ready for maintenace costs way beyond GT3 money

Incredible that a car needs so much work after only 6000 miles.

What do they make them out of-cheese?

[Thorny]

Dr S said:

Thorny said:

although I am informed that the 550 can cut it on track too...

On the 'Ring it will struggle to show a Boxster S it's place in the pecking order

Fair enough (and glad to hear it!) but a mate of mine owns one and says he regularly overtakes 360s on track in it... Never seen this for myself mind

[Wanta996(Gotta)]

From what i remember it won Autocars 1998 "Best handling car of the year" award when it first arrived - It was the 575 that was a dog on track until it got the Fiorini handling pack added.

Edited by Wanta996(Gotta) on Tuesday 31st July 14:04

[Dr S]

Thorny said:

Dr S said:

Thorny said:

although I am informed that the 550 can cut it on track too...

On the 'Ring it will struggle to show a Boxster S it's place in the pecking order

Fair enough (and glad to hear it!) but a mate of mine owns one and says he regularly overtakes 360s on track in it... Never seen this for myself mind

Must be the 360s that already kissed the guard rails...

[scoobyc]

i thought about one as well before going for a 996tt from a carrera2 but when i looked into running costs the difference was huge especially warrantys so went for the sensible tt option

[SNDa]

Des,

Given that you've already got the 964RS N-GT as the track star, isn't the main goal of the 'other car'* to turn eye candy into bedroom candy? 550 might be a little too subtle for that, no?



* no, I'm not talking about the audi

[rubystone]

carreraboy said:

[
Got the track boy 964RS N-GT which is a keeper have to bury me in it......just want a minx tourer love Porsche owned Ferrari just love the look and just seems to offer double the bang for same bucks, tossing your keys to the car jockey at L'hermitage in a Maranello with fitted luggage as a opposed to what could be a 996 looka like just no buzz....and probably more silicone friendly....

550 for those reasons for sure. Absolutely stonking car...but perhaps, just perhaps, I'd choose a Countach Anniversario - will still guarantee you a parking place near the main entrance and ought to be a good investment.