Ferrari F355 Vs Nissan GTR

[Audi 525i]

I've had a F355 Berlinetta for over 5 years now.

Needless to say, she will never be for sale.

Not driven a Skyline GTR before, so cannot comment there.

Every minute in the F355 is special. Very special.

The noise between 5000-8500 rpm is stratospheric.

[Runnyg]

I had the very same question in summer 2009 having drooled over 355s for many years, and over the gtr for slightly less.

The final decision came down to the fact that I was really looking for a "weekend" car - one to enjoy both driving it and just looking at it in the garage.

I arranged test drives of both vehicles and found each to be totally amazing. However I went for the 355 and am still delighted with it although at this time of year I know I would have still been able to use the gtr every day but the 355 remains in the garage - looking superb!

[Diamond blue]

Nedzilla said:

There are still a few people posting here who think the nissan is going to be a far cheaper car to run than the Ferrari.I have been considering a GTR for my next car but like the OP I have always fancied a Ferrari (360).
I have been looking into running costs and from what I can gather the GTR would probably be the more expensive option.

-Tax is in the same band but insurance is around £100 more for me on the GTR.
-The GTR needs a costly service every six months regardless of mileage or 6k(08/09/10 models) wheras the ferrari needs servicing annualy or 6k.Lots of indys for servicing ferraris,GTR a bit more difficult.
-Difficult to get a fix on fuel consumption figures but im guessing a GTR would return less(heavier+more powerful)
-consumables such as tyres and brakes are FAR more expensive for the GTR.

The 355 is a bit more expensive to service than the 360 and chances are there will be more reliability issues with an old ferrari but providing you dont buy a dog,on a like for like basis I dont think there would be much in them and if anything the GTR may cost you a bit more.

The one thing in the ferraris favour at £40k money is that it wont depreciate anymore wheras a £40k GTR will.Maybe best then to scratch the Ferrari itch now then get a GTR at a later date.

FWIW my take on this is there is no way the Ferrari will cost less. Even if its a garage queen and god so many of them are, everything costs so much on any Ferrari and especially an older one like a 355.
Its very pretty (Though for me its dating very quickly now), sounds wonderful and its the alpha dog in the image stakes. For me thats a bit of a problem as its very showy but there you go.
But on some of your points here Neil,
Insurance is equivalent, shop around a little on GTR for specialists and you'll get better rates
Road tax is the same.
The GTR will do 3-5 mpg more than the 355
There are several excellent GTR independents who are inexpensive and excellent.
There's also a large community of specialist tuners and part suppliers sourcing wonderful stuff from Japan and the US. Making it go even faster is childishly easy, sound better (Great actually)and now even improve its one achilles heel, the ride.
I thought tyres were going to be cheaper on the Ferrari I have but 3 tyres for mine have just cost more than a set of 4 for the GTR and they last two thirds the time.
GTRs may have some depreciation to come but be careful if you think they are dropping. New 2009 cars cost £53k! and are selling for £33k minimum 3 years and 35k miles on.
The fact the subsequent years model has cost more seems to have left used values rock solid. If you do weekend only miles it will depreciate liek a glacier. Do 35k miles in 3 years in the 355 and see how you get on with that depreciation free calculation.
Servicing is 6 monthly on pre 2011 cars (12 mthly after that) but they'll cost £450 - £600 from Litchfields for example.
They're proving to be mechanically bombproof even running prodigious power and you dont need to remove the engine to change a cambelt !!

[sideways sid]

The GTR is likely to depreciate faster than the F355, which may even appreciate in value, so buy the Ferrari now and enjoy having the option to swap for a GTR anytime in the future.

[GBWC]

It truly amazes me the amount of "buy the ferrari, because that other car's just a Nissan" comments on here, this is the type of comment I hear from friends that are completely clueless about cars....

For the record I dont own a GTR and for reasons other than "its a Ferrari" I'd have the F355.

[Diamond blue]

sideways sid said:

The GTR is likely to depreciate faster than the F355, which may even appreciate in value, so buy the Ferrari now and enjoy having the option to swap for a GTR anytime in the future.

Yes, Absolutely true.

The GTR is much newer but is actually depreciating really slowly. Will it reach a plateau? Dont know for sure as its too new but signs are they will not get much below £30k for some time.
You will also be able to do many, many more miles in a GTR without affecting its value too much. More than a couple of 1000 a year with the Ferrari starts hurting its value and bringing up those big bill maintenance items.

I'm not sure they are really comparable though, very different cars.If I was considering a 355 I'd be thinking Aston Martin or perhaps GT3 myself.

[Dave Hedgehog]

Diamond blue said:

sideways sid said:

The GTR is likely to depreciate faster than the F355, which may even appreciate in value, so buy the Ferrari now and enjoy having the option to swap for a GTR anytime in the future.

Yes, Absolutely true.

The GTR is much newer but is actually depreciating really slowly. Will it reach a plateau? Dont know for sure as its too new but signs are they will not get much below £30k for some time.
You will also be able to do many, many more miles in a GTR without affecting its value too much. More than a couple of 1000 a year with the Ferrari starts hurting its value and bringing up those big bill maintenance items.

I'm not sure they are really comparable though, very different cars.If I was considering a 355 I'd be thinking Aston Martin or perhaps GT3 myself.

deprecating slowly?

they drop to 40k like 100 tonnes of lead being slung out of the back transporter, i think the only comparable car that looses money quicker is the RS5

[Streetrod]

Before you jump I suggest you read this written by a 355 owner who has owned the car from new, it makes for sobering reading:

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[LuS1fer]

After careful consideration, Corvette C6 Z06.

[Nedzilla]

Streetrod said:

Before you jump I suggest you read this written by a 355 owner who has owned the car from new, it makes for sobering reading:

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

A massive chunk of that is depreciation though,something that wont be an issue on a second hand £40k car.Still expensive for so little use though.

[Diamond blue]

Dave Hedgehog said:

deprecating slowly?

they drop to 40k like 100 tonnes of lead being slung out of the back transporter, i think the only comparable car that looses money quicker is the RS5

2009 car - New £53k Now £33k min,most £36k
2010 car - New £59k Now £42k min -£47k
2011 car - New £71K Now £52K min - £60k

You find me a 2010 car that's less than £45k even with 20k miles.Franchised dealer cars are near £50k

Dropping like a stone is a Ferrari that costs £192k including options in 2009 and you can buy for £116k now.
Thats the cost of a 2012 GTR lost in under 3 years.

[Trommel]

Early GT-Rs are holding their value better than contemporary GT3s, not sure where the confusion is coming from.

[Dave Hedgehog]

Diamond blue said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

deprecating slowly?

they drop to 40k like 100 tonnes of lead being slung out of the back transporter, i think the only comparable car that looses money quicker is the RS5

2009 car - New £53k Now £33k min,most £36k
2010 car - New £59k Now £42k min -£47k
2011 car - New £71K Now £52K min - £60k

You find me a 2010 car that's less than £45k even with 20k miles.Franchised dealer cars are near £50k

Dropping like a stone is a Ferrari that costs £192k including options in 2009 and you can buy for £116k now.
Thats the cost of a 2012 GTR lost in under 3 years.

the fezza and the datsun are not like for like thou, i had a deposit on one of the first 100 before launch and it was 59k on my receipt

dumping 20k in a year is a bloody car!!

supercar depreciation and running costs are well just silly but if you got that kind of money what does it matter

[Trommel]

Dave Hedgehog said:

it was 59k on my receipt

That must have been post-VAT increase, mine said £53k or £54k from memory.

[anonymous-user]

traffman said:

When i watch as a Ferrari drive past i ache to own one , when i see a Gtr drive past i yearn to drive one at least once.

Couldn't of put it better myself!!

[Blue62]

Lucky enough to own 2x 355's in the 1990's, second one had Fiorano handling pack and is my all time favourite, but if I were you I would probably opt for the GTR. Much quicker in the real world, contemporary looks (i know the 355 is pretty but it looks dated imo, too new to be classic just yet) and running costs and making sure you've bought a good 'un. The 355 needs a new cambelt every 3 years, that's engine out, which if you go main dealer is thick end of £3k, although I was able to haggle mine down to £2k back in 1999. Good luck.

[Diamond blue]

Dave Hedgehog said:

the fezza and the datsun are not like for like thou, i had a deposit on one of the first 100 before launch and it was 59k on my receipt

dumping 20k in a year is a bloody car!!

supercar depreciation and running costs are well just silly but if you got that kind of money what does it matter

But you suggested that they lose money very quickly. That's not been the case.I'm pretty sure the first UK cars were £53 and it quickly rose to £59. That's all in of course because Nissan don't take £10-£20k over and above for must have options.
Examples with tiny Ferrari like mileages also command a premium but most are actually used by their owners, not just polished.
Nor is it true that they cost a fortune to run or repair if you have a 5mph bump. Or that they are fragile.
Is the Ferrari like for like with the GTR, not really. But my original point is that the GTR is , mile for mile, going to cost less than even a non-depreciating older Ferrari.

[VidalBaboon]

I'd go for the 355.

The GT-R doesn't engage me on any other level other than the ability to cover ground quickly.

[The Mp]

Dave Hedgehog said:

the fezza and the datsun are not like for like thou, i had a deposit on one of the first 100 before launch and it was 59k on my receipt

dumping 20k in a year is a bloody car!!

supercar depreciation and running costs are well just silly but if you got that kind of money what does it matter

So you could buy an 09 GTR in 2010 for £39,000 could you?

[blueg33]

I would have the Datsun for an everyday driver and the F355 for a weekend toy with sense of occasion.