Help! I'm in such a quandry!
Discussion
Apologies straight away for giving my brief life history. I'm 42 own small but successful business for 18years,married 2 kids in private school and consider myself a total petrolhead with no financial worries .I'm getting to the point where the "get a Maser/Ferrari" thing won't go away. The problem is I'm scared! Scared of what people will think ( my customers, employees, general public)and scared of big bills. It's not that I particularly couldn't afford them but just don't like them!I've been incredibly lucky in the past with 4 TVRs,HSV and a Noble and never had a bill over £1000 ! I appreciate the cars are in a different division but I've been a bit spoilt.I'm assuming unless I'm really unlucky £3K to £5K would cover annual costs? Am I just being a total wimp?
The cars in question would be a fairly late 4200GT or a earlier 550, used virtually every day at approx 7000 miles P.A and warranties would be essential either way. A 2nd cheap car isn't an option as I've done that with previous cars and it just meant that the main car stayed tucked up in the garage when raining, snowing, not in mood etc.and hence hardly got used.
So do bills spoil your enjoyment, whats the perception of the cars to yourself and others
what convinced you totally you had made the right/wrong decision when you bought/sold?
The default choice is a new Monaro VXR500 for 35grand with 3 years waarnty and 200 quid servicing!
Going into hospital for an op later today so will thank you in advance for the replies that will aid my recovery when I'm out in a couple of days.
I've already got that nervous excited feeling just thinking about, (the cars not the op!)
Sorry for the long post!
The cars in question would be a fairly late 4200GT or a earlier 550, used virtually every day at approx 7000 miles P.A and warranties would be essential either way. A 2nd cheap car isn't an option as I've done that with previous cars and it just meant that the main car stayed tucked up in the garage when raining, snowing, not in mood etc.and hence hardly got used.
So do bills spoil your enjoyment, whats the perception of the cars to yourself and others
what convinced you totally you had made the right/wrong decision when you bought/sold?
The default choice is a new Monaro VXR500 for 35grand with 3 years waarnty and 200 quid servicing!
Going into hospital for an op later today so will thank you in advance for the replies that will aid my recovery when I'm out in a couple of days.
I've already got that nervous excited feeling just thinking about, (the cars not the op!)
Sorry for the long post!
Any Italian sports car could turn into a money-pit overnight, and if you are worried you shouldn't do it.
If you're not used to bills over £1000 you're in for a lot of sleepless nights with any Lambo, Ferrari or Mazzer, though, if you buy well, there are plenty of independent servicing facilities.
In short, this type of decision is not for the faint hearted. If you have to try and rationalise it you'll never do it. You have to WANT to do it.
Good luck and hope I didn't sound too negative.
If you're not used to bills over £1000 you're in for a lot of sleepless nights with any Lambo, Ferrari or Mazzer, though, if you buy well, there are plenty of independent servicing facilities.
In short, this type of decision is not for the faint hearted. If you have to try and rationalise it you'll never do it. You have to WANT to do it.
Good luck and hope I didn't sound too negative.
I'm with all above.....
Just do it, and chose wisely, following good advice from the wealth of experience of the wonderful possee on here....
By the way, hope it all goes well.... myself and Mazzer3.2 ocasionally get together for a bit of a hoon around North ish Essex - would be pleased to take you out for a bit of a drive (as part of your recovery) to show you a 'proper' drive of the 4200 (mine's the CC)....
Just do it, and chose wisely, following good advice from the wealth of experience of the wonderful possee on here....
By the way, hope it all goes well.... myself and Mazzer3.2 ocasionally get together for a bit of a hoon around North ish Essex - would be pleased to take you out for a bit of a drive (as part of your recovery) to show you a 'proper' drive of the 4200 (mine's the CC)....
Edited by johnnyboy225 on Monday 9th October 16:00
Had some of the same cars as you (Noble/HSV) and currently considering the VXR 500...and had the Ferrari's too.(355 and 575)I suspect two things:
1. The cost/worry of the cost and hassle of ownership will outshine the pleasure for you.
2. It's an itch you'll have to scratch anyway, so you might as well get it over with.
That's how it was for me anyway. Like you...not because I can't afford it, but chucking two grand away and getting the same car back with no appreciable difference just isn't my idea of fun.
1. The cost/worry of the cost and hassle of ownership will outshine the pleasure for you.
2. It's an itch you'll have to scratch anyway, so you might as well get it over with.
That's how it was for me anyway. Like you...not because I can't afford it, but chucking two grand away and getting the same car back with no appreciable difference just isn't my idea of fun.
O.K. thanks for the well balanced and honest replies so far and thanks Polarbert , op seems to be a success they think.
Now, has anyone bought and REALLY regretted it because of the bills or did the ownership experience still make it worth while?.Whats ownership really like, peoples reactions etc?
Assuming I got a 4200 still in warranty, then I assume other than the Cambio clutch most things would be covered,so other than servicng,and consumables it'll be fairly painless. Moving that along if I was too scared to get a 550 ( although I do ache for one) then maybe a Gransport would be the answer but I wonder would I still have the "wish I'd got the Ferrari thing"!
How long did it take you from first getting the itch to scratching it?
Maybe I've got to get it in my head that
it I deserve it!, even my lovely wife
has said go for it, but for me it's all about justifying a lot of money and potential money.
Maybe I need to do some
and see if it blows me away!
Thanks again,
Excited and nervous.
Now, has anyone bought and REALLY regretted it because of the bills or did the ownership experience still make it worth while?.Whats ownership really like, peoples reactions etc?
Assuming I got a 4200 still in warranty, then I assume other than the Cambio clutch most things would be covered,so other than servicng,and consumables it'll be fairly painless. Moving that along if I was too scared to get a 550 ( although I do ache for one) then maybe a Gransport would be the answer but I wonder would I still have the "wish I'd got the Ferrari thing"!
How long did it take you from first getting the itch to scratching it?
Maybe I've got to get it in my head that
it I deserve it!, even my lovely wife has said go for it, but for me it's all about justifying a lot of money and potential money. Maybe I need to do some
and see if it blows me away! Thanks again,
Excited and nervous.
sjc said:
O.K. thanks for the well balanced and honest replies so far and thanks Polarbert , op seems to be a success they think.
Now, has anyone bought and REALLY regretted it because of the bills or did the ownership experience still make it worth while?.Whats ownership really like, peoples reactions etc?
Assuming I got a 4200 still in warranty, then I assume other than the Cambio clutch most things would be covered,so other than servicng,and consumables it'll be fairly painless. Moving that along if I was too scared to get a 550 ( although I do ache for one) then maybe a Gransport would be the answer but I wonder would I still have the "wish I'd got the Ferrari thing"!
How long did it take you from first getting the itch to scratching it?
Maybe I've got to get it in my head thatit I deserve it!, even my lovely wife has said go for it, but for me it's all about justifying a lot of money and potential money.
Maybe I need to do some and see if it blows me away!
Thanks again,
Excited and nervous.
Now, has anyone bought and REALLY regretted it because of the bills or did the ownership experience still make it worth while?.Whats ownership really like, peoples reactions etc?
Assuming I got a 4200 still in warranty, then I assume other than the Cambio clutch most things would be covered,so other than servicng,and consumables it'll be fairly painless. Moving that along if I was too scared to get a 550 ( although I do ache for one) then maybe a Gransport would be the answer but I wonder would I still have the "wish I'd got the Ferrari thing"!
How long did it take you from first getting the itch to scratching it?
Maybe I've got to get it in my head that
it I deserve it!, even my lovely wife has said go for it, but for me it's all about justifying a lot of money and potential money. Maybe I need to do some
and see if it blows me away! Thanks again,
Excited and nervous.
Apologies for getting into your topic late SJC but although my 4200 lives away from home, I've had very little (major) problems from it considering that it lays dormant for a long time, it has a Ferrari exhaust note with none of the perceived lack of taste. The only problem I had was a basic electronics fubar, which was cheap and easy to fix, and common on many other cars. The 550 looks more aggressive and has an image associated with its badge, but you will lose nothing to it when driving the 4200, at least off track. Good luck with your purchase, relax and ENJOY IT.
find a good garage and build a relationship (eg verdi) and much of the worry will disappear- buy wisely and you'll be fine.. life is short.. carpe diem.. i've had a noble, various lotuses, 911's, caterhams etc - they all cost in their own way, but deliver such undiluted pleasure - recently bought a spanking 308, and yes, there will be bills, but the money would only get spent anyway, so go for it!
hi there lets put it this way, the doctor gives you a year to live!!!!so..at the end of the year would you liked to have lived the dream you have always had or...will you always have wondered what it would have been like....only one shot on this earth mate.....i went white and came out in a cold sweat when i bought my first lambo, and second but the third cost me a fuc..... fortune...let me tell you something ...in summer when i open up the door to let the beast out to play again ...WHAT A SMILE THAT WILL GIVE ...you have to fill the void..DO IT.
Other experiences may vary, but I've never had anything but good reaction from all the nice cars I've had and that includes the Ferrari's. For every person who doesn't let you out of a junction, there's another who makes a special effort to do so, just so they can look at/listen to, the car. If you get a 550, depreciation shouldn't be too much of a problem...normally...but with 7k a year, there's going to be depreciation and significant servicing costs etc. Plus 12 mpg!!!
You only live once etc, but once the novelty wears off you're left with a car that is not going to give you any more pleasure than a Noble/Porsche etc but is going to cost multiples more to run in the way you intend.
Know what you're saying about the second car situation (leave em in the garage) but these cars are only 'special' when you use them sparingly. Every day becomes well, every day.
You only live once etc, but once the novelty wears off you're left with a car that is not going to give you any more pleasure than a Noble/Porsche etc but is going to cost multiples more to run in the way you intend.
Know what you're saying about the second car situation (leave em in the garage) but these cars are only 'special' when you use them sparingly. Every day becomes well, every day.
There is some very very interesting and valid points brought up here,thanks for them all, some that I was hoping to hear, and some that I was expecting but hoping not to hear! I'd pick out the ones that really got me thinking but have no idea how to pick out bits from several different comments and put them in one post!
Maybe just maybe I'd be a little too nervous for the running costs of a 550, it's the justifying to myself which is the problem.I sold the Noble because I felt guilty seeing it sit there for days on end, when my wife could have the money spent on a car for her (which I did, she's got a CLS now and it's lovely, although she thinks I was insane to sell the Noble and frankly now, so do I
)).Through time constraints I've been 5 months without a special car and I'm gagging again
I've driven 4200's and they didn't quite excite me enough,certainly not as focused as I'd want. Which maybe leaves the Gransport,more than I'd want to pay for a 4200 but seems to be holding money a bit better than the standard car, still in warranty and a bit more me.Thanks again for all the opinions, please keep them coming, really been helpful.
Maybe just maybe I'd be a little too nervous for the running costs of a 550, it's the justifying to myself which is the problem.I sold the Noble because I felt guilty seeing it sit there for days on end, when my wife could have the money spent on a car for her (which I did, she's got a CLS now and it's lovely, although she thinks I was insane to sell the Noble and frankly now, so do I
)).Through time constraints I've been 5 months without a special car and I'm gagging again I've driven 4200's and they didn't quite excite me enough,certainly not as focused as I'd want. Which maybe leaves the Gransport,more than I'd want to pay for a 4200 but seems to be holding money a bit better than the standard car, still in warranty and a bit more me.Thanks again for all the opinions, please keep them coming, really been helpful.
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