Decisions, decisions... What would you do?
Discussion
Last night I sold my second 550 maranello to an acquaintance that loved it, this comes after an original 550 and a 360 F1 in the middle...
I also went to see Simon Evans at Graypaul Birmingham to talk about Maserati's - let's face it, the GranTurismo MC Shift is a fine looking beast...
So my 'dilemma' is this. The pitter patter of tiny feet will materialise in about 5 months, the wife is going to take over the Q7 as a daily drive and I am free to have an every day supercar for my car (though she has suggested that 4 seats might be useful). I will shoe-horn a company hack out of the office, so we're looking at a 12k miles per annum speed machine that is comfortable enough for the wife to enjoy being a passenger, will stand up to regular mileage over the 4 years i plan to keep it (then share options kick in and we look again for cars)
I am 6'6", so some of my potential choices are limited (DB9 too small for example)...
The shortlist looks like:
- Another 550 with far lower miles(i like them)
- 360 F1 (maybe a bit raw)
- GranTurismo (ideally a MC Shift, but it might be a tad tight on £60k to get a good one)
- 575
- R8
- XKR
- 612 (grave reservations as they look like money pits and the smart money says buy a handling package car which is £75k)
- 996TT
- 997 Turbo
- 997 C2S/C4S
- SL55 AMG / SL63 / SL65 AMG (probably an older model)
- Continental GT
Things I want to take into account:
- depreciation (it will get sold on again for something else)
- Running cost (those that say if you have to ask, you can't afford it can swing as I've happily run my Ferraris for 27k over the last 2 years or so and I'm fine with the running costs provided they arent too stupid)
- Thrill factor (doesn't have to be a 911 GT3 as i don't track or take roundabouts at 250mph, but when you wind a 550 up for example, the pace and noise is awesome)
- Ability to take 12k+ per year in all weather
What do you think?
All i know, is i am going to have a lot of fun deciding...
Ta
I also went to see Simon Evans at Graypaul Birmingham to talk about Maserati's - let's face it, the GranTurismo MC Shift is a fine looking beast...
So my 'dilemma' is this. The pitter patter of tiny feet will materialise in about 5 months, the wife is going to take over the Q7 as a daily drive and I am free to have an every day supercar for my car (though she has suggested that 4 seats might be useful). I will shoe-horn a company hack out of the office, so we're looking at a 12k miles per annum speed machine that is comfortable enough for the wife to enjoy being a passenger, will stand up to regular mileage over the 4 years i plan to keep it (then share options kick in and we look again for cars)
I am 6'6", so some of my potential choices are limited (DB9 too small for example)...
The shortlist looks like:
- Another 550 with far lower miles(i like them)
- 360 F1 (maybe a bit raw)
- GranTurismo (ideally a MC Shift, but it might be a tad tight on £60k to get a good one)
- 575
- R8
- XKR
- 612 (grave reservations as they look like money pits and the smart money says buy a handling package car which is £75k)
- 996TT
- 997 Turbo
- 997 C2S/C4S
- SL55 AMG / SL63 / SL65 AMG (probably an older model)
- Continental GT
Things I want to take into account:
- depreciation (it will get sold on again for something else)
- Running cost (those that say if you have to ask, you can't afford it can swing as I've happily run my Ferraris for 27k over the last 2 years or so and I'm fine with the running costs provided they arent too stupid)
- Thrill factor (doesn't have to be a 911 GT3 as i don't track or take roundabouts at 250mph, but when you wind a 550 up for example, the pace and noise is awesome)
- Ability to take 12k+ per year in all weather
What do you think?
All i know, is i am going to have a lot of fun deciding...
Ta
Based on your list, my shortlist would be 997 Turbo, R8, Merc SL. If I had the choice of those three then, as a daily driver, I'd go for the Porsche (assuming you can get a comfortable driving position with your height?).
Considered a Nissan GTR? I suppose you could say that, although it's a super car, it's not really a 'supercar' and that seems to be what you want.
Considered a Nissan GTR? I suppose you could say that, although it's a super car, it's not really a 'supercar' and that seems to be what you want.
Im 6ft5. I don't know if you've tried them but I couldn't drive an R8 comfortabley. Spyder version is worse than the hard top.
jshell said:
6'6" in a 911? Comfortably? Doubt it.
I drive a 997 GT3, its one of the most spacious supercars i've encountered.Edited by threesixty on Tuesday 23 August 13:39
If it`s a weekend/high day/holiday car doing up to 12,000pa it`s got to be Italian and I`d be going cheaper, slightly higher mileage 360F1. Just make sure it`s serviced right and bish bash bosh jobs a good`un. Buy cheap, sell cheap.
ETA- obviously I`m not very observant, I see you`ve already had one. Go Maserati!
ETA- obviously I`m not very observant, I see you`ve already had one. Go Maserati!
Edited by jontysafe on Tuesday 23 August 13:43
Midds said:
I am free to have an every day supercar for my car (though she has suggested that 4 seats might be useful). I will shoe-horn a company hack out of the office, so we're looking at a 12k miles per annum speed machine that is comfortable enough for the wife to enjoy being a passenger, will stand up to regular mileage over the 4 years i plan to keep it
- Ability to take 12k+ per year in all weather
Your biggest question is two seats, 2+2 or a real four seat car. Some 2+2’s are really 2+1’s or no better than a two seat car with a parcel shelf. - Ability to take 12k+ per year in all weather
Answer that, then your list gets a whole lot smaller.
threesixty said:
Im 6ft5. I don't know if you've tried them but I couldn't drive an R8 comfortabley. Spyder version is worse than the hard top.
I've tried sitting in a few variants but simply cannot get my legs out of the way of the steering wheel. Perhaps the 997 variant is different. I've always been surprised how roomy the 360 and 430 are though...jshell said:
6'6" in a 911? Comfortably? Doubt it.
I drive a 997 GT3, its one of the most spacious supercars i've encountered.jshell said:
threesixty said:
Im 6ft5. I don't know if you've tried them but I couldn't drive an R8 comfortabley. Spyder version is worse than the hard top.
I've tried sitting in a few variants but simply cannot get my legs out of the way of the steering wheel. Perhaps the 997 variant is different. I've always been surprised how roomy the 360 and 430 are though...jshell said:
6'6" in a 911? Comfortably? Doubt it.
I drive a 997 GT3, its one of the most spacious supercars i've encountered.I've only tried F430s with daytona seats, these things are a ferrari joke and designed for midgets it seems. Even in their lowest position my head was pressed against the ceiling with my ear nearly touching my shoulder. Apparently sports seats remedy this but cars fitted with them are relatively rare.
The previous owner of my 550 is a very big man, not fat but wide shoulders and around your height. He just loves his 612. He owns a 599 as well but feels more comfortable in his 612, the only car he really fits in he says.
The reservations you have about the 612 I haven't heard about, but then again I have little experience with them. I would guess that the 599 might be a good choice, they are dropping in value fast and they are fantastic cars. But, as a fellow 550 fan, I think you could do worse than have another 550. I can't imagine ever selling mine.
Onno
The reservations you have about the 612 I haven't heard about, but then again I have little experience with them. I would guess that the 599 might be a good choice, they are dropping in value fast and they are fantastic cars. But, as a fellow 550 fan, I think you could do worse than have another 550. I can't imagine ever selling mine.
Onno
I had a 360 for a year and put 8,500 on it - the seating position was fine, my biggest problem was lowering myself into the car - hurt my hip if i did it 12 times a day for a couple of months on end (i used it as a daily driver for 2 months last year).
It doesn't HAVE to have 4 seats, but i get the feeling that the missus might really like the option of us blatting to see friends with the bairn in the back
That is why the GranTurismo looks so appealing...
I still have a bit of a 550 / 575 / 360 battle going on (after all, i have ferrari key fobs, pens and clothing... i would have to buy it all again for Maserati...)
The wife would like an R8 9which is the only non 2+2 that she really likes... clearly if i get one of these i will find it missing on too many occasions and deposited back to me with gouges out of the wheels (her Audi is on the 3rd wheel refurb)
It doesn't HAVE to have 4 seats, but i get the feeling that the missus might really like the option of us blatting to see friends with the bairn in the back
That is why the GranTurismo looks so appealing...
I still have a bit of a 550 / 575 / 360 battle going on (after all, i have ferrari key fobs, pens and clothing... i would have to buy it all again for Maserati...)
The wife would like an R8 9which is the only non 2+2 that she really likes... clearly if i get one of these i will find it missing on too many occasions and deposited back to me with gouges out of the wheels (her Audi is on the 3rd wheel refurb)
Midds said:
It doesn't HAVE to have 4 seats, but i get the feeling that the missus might really like the option of us blatting to see friends with the bairn in the back
That is why the GranTurismo looks so appealing...
GranTurismo in MC shift form has a way to fall yet price wise, take a ContiGT out, four seats, big boot, mega bhp and 4WD for all year driving. Once the newbie is two, chop it in for the Maser which will be at least £25-30k less than it is now. That is why the GranTurismo looks so appealing...
The Q7 is too big for the UK, I'd give up on the refurb alloys until you sell it.
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