first supercar
Discussion
as the title which to go for that you aren't really going to lose money on?
I'm currently stuck on whether to buy myself a new RS3 next september OR going down the supercar route
if looking at ferrari does the colour make a real difference to value?
will gallardos go up in value?
i see the 12c is currently heading south in value with prices around 88-90k are these likely to go down more before recovering if so how far?
im liking the look of the ferrari 308, 348, theres a lovely looking black 360 spyder on auto trader with the cream sports seats, i think a 430 is out of my price range as is a 550/575
I've driven a gallardo 6spd and a mclaren 12c and loved both (preferred the lambo for noise and drama)
any car must be a manual and does colour dictate if not wanting to lose massive money, OR is the bubble going to burst and it be best waiting? (i nearly bought a 355 when they were around 35k and kicking myself now, and back in 2011 i could have had a 996 turbo for 20k and again they've gone up in value)
i don't see the porsche as "special" though (sorry to any owners) so which ones are to have and whats to avoid? whats to look for? some ppl say the 348 is a dog of a car but i wouldn't know what to look for
cheers in advance
I'm currently stuck on whether to buy myself a new RS3 next september OR going down the supercar route
if looking at ferrari does the colour make a real difference to value?
will gallardos go up in value?
i see the 12c is currently heading south in value with prices around 88-90k are these likely to go down more before recovering if so how far?
im liking the look of the ferrari 308, 348, theres a lovely looking black 360 spyder on auto trader with the cream sports seats, i think a 430 is out of my price range as is a 550/575
I've driven a gallardo 6spd and a mclaren 12c and loved both (preferred the lambo for noise and drama)
any car must be a manual and does colour dictate if not wanting to lose massive money, OR is the bubble going to burst and it be best waiting? (i nearly bought a 355 when they were around 35k and kicking myself now, and back in 2011 i could have had a 996 turbo for 20k and again they've gone up in value)
i don't see the porsche as "special" though (sorry to any owners) so which ones are to have and whats to avoid? whats to look for? some ppl say the 348 is a dog of a car but i wouldn't know what to look for
cheers in advance
It looks like you're looking at two very different types of cars - a hot hatch with an automatic box versus what must be a manual supercar that will be c.8/10+ years old.
Personally I would stay with the RS3 and wait until I could afford something where my biggest concern wouldn't be a) what colour to buy and b) if the market will fall away.
Personally I would stay with the RS3 and wait until I could afford something where my biggest concern wouldn't be a) what colour to buy and b) if the market will fall away.
It’s not primarily of importance I just don’t want to buy something that is not desirable I’d i ever had to sell
And I should have added in the first post
Options would be
A) RS3
B) new mondeo estate and a weekend supercar
I have the option for a company car so my funds would be clear whereas RS3 would be mine this then allows me to put the money into something else!
And I should have added in the first post
Options would be
A) RS3
B) new mondeo estate and a weekend supercar
I have the option for a company car so my funds would be clear whereas RS3 would be mine this then allows me to put the money into something else!
The older cars you're talking about are going to be so far removed from something like an RS3, just a massively different driving experience. Yes, manual is wonderful, as are 308's-355's, but an RS3 is Playstation stuff whereas a 308 would be left for dead by a modern 2ltr diesel.
And don't forget these are delicate cars and expensive to maintain (my 355 is anyway), and I think they're currently dropping in price (OK, will probably firm up a little over the summer).
I get that these are beautiful and desirable machines but if you want a reasonably practical and useable sports car that you can really drive hard whilst not fearing for your wallet you may want to reconsider. I did recently and moved from a LHD 550 to a Cayman GTS.
And don't forget these are delicate cars and expensive to maintain (my 355 is anyway), and I think they're currently dropping in price (OK, will probably firm up a little over the summer).
I get that these are beautiful and desirable machines but if you want a reasonably practical and useable sports car that you can really drive hard whilst not fearing for your wallet you may want to reconsider. I did recently and moved from a LHD 550 to a Cayman GTS.
The problem is though I want that theatre and sense of occasion I know the cars I’m talking about will be slow compared to today’s machines but I’ve always said I wanted a Ferrari when I was in my thirties, I’m 35 this year and wanted to get into something before I’m priced out of the market
Plus after 5yrs an rs3 will have gone from £52k down to been worth 20-25k whereas the cars I’m looking at will more than likely stick where they are or go up! And more so after 10yrs and I’m only thinking in a trading up aspect
From speaking to a few dealers I expect maintainance costs to be around £2.5-3k a year
Plus after 5yrs an rs3 will have gone from £52k down to been worth 20-25k whereas the cars I’m looking at will more than likely stick where they are or go up! And more so after 10yrs and I’m only thinking in a trading up aspect
From speaking to a few dealers I expect maintainance costs to be around £2.5-3k a year
You should allow man maths to help you acquire your dream but also assume depreciation and build in a healthy tolerance for maintenance and things going wrong at wallet shocking prices.
I don't think an early Gallardo is anything special to drive, but have had limited experience. They call red "resale red" in Ferraris and there is a basis for this - Rosso/crema is the classic combo. This combination is possibly easiest to shift, although there is a substantial support level for black also. You might find other colours (and particularly something outlandish) difficult to shift. Conversely, you might find a bargain in an unloved colour. Yellow for example is a marmite thing, and I would definitely be on the positive side (having owned a yellow 360). If you are looking for a Ferrari, I'd get a 360. They are easier to maintain than earlier cars, not much more expensive than a 355 (or possibly even cheaper) and there is a substantial performance advantage over earlier cars. That said, its still only a 400 bhp car and won't blow your mind away compared to an RS3. Unless you are planning to track it, stick a Tubi on and you will have a thing of drama and beauty. One other thing, I assume cheaper 360's will be F1 and the earlier F1 gearboxes aren't that great. You definitely need a decent test drive before committing. I know you said Porsches aren't that special, but drive the best level of 997 you can get into hard and see if you still think that.
I don't think an early Gallardo is anything special to drive, but have had limited experience. They call red "resale red" in Ferraris and there is a basis for this - Rosso/crema is the classic combo. This combination is possibly easiest to shift, although there is a substantial support level for black also. You might find other colours (and particularly something outlandish) difficult to shift. Conversely, you might find a bargain in an unloved colour. Yellow for example is a marmite thing, and I would definitely be on the positive side (having owned a yellow 360). If you are looking for a Ferrari, I'd get a 360. They are easier to maintain than earlier cars, not much more expensive than a 355 (or possibly even cheaper) and there is a substantial performance advantage over earlier cars. That said, its still only a 400 bhp car and won't blow your mind away compared to an RS3. Unless you are planning to track it, stick a Tubi on and you will have a thing of drama and beauty. One other thing, I assume cheaper 360's will be F1 and the earlier F1 gearboxes aren't that great. You definitely need a decent test drive before committing. I know you said Porsches aren't that special, but drive the best level of 997 you can get into hard and see if you still think that.
Cheers for that
The lambs for me was the noise and the click clack of the manual box and it was a lovely easy gearbox to drive quickly the only thing I didn’t like was how much the drivers wheel well intruded into the car making it very narrow
I do like the 360 and I was looking for tdf blue or black with crema, red seems common and I’m not a massive fan of it, love the yellow though and the manuals are around 79k manual 430s seem north of 100k and 355s seem to be around similar to the 360 if not abit more
The lambs for me was the noise and the click clack of the manual box and it was a lovely easy gearbox to drive quickly the only thing I didn’t like was how much the drivers wheel well intruded into the car making it very narrow
I do like the 360 and I was looking for tdf blue or black with crema, red seems common and I’m not a massive fan of it, love the yellow though and the manuals are around 79k manual 430s seem north of 100k and 355s seem to be around similar to the 360 if not abit more
I know its different to what you originally posted but would a manual R8 not be a good first supercar? If you can handle that for a year or 2 make the move to something more exotic?
There is a few v10 manuals with the extended carbon trim for sale at the moment, I hove no idea on re-sale value after a few years.
Just an idea, I have no personal knowledge I drive a van!!
There is a few v10 manuals with the extended carbon trim for sale at the moment, I hove no idea on re-sale value after a few years.
Just an idea, I have no personal knowledge I drive a van!!
joshcowin said:
I know its different to what you originally posted but would a manual R8 not be a good first supercar? If you can handle that for a year or 2 make the move to something more exotic?
There is a few v10 manuals with the extended carbon trim for sale at the moment, I hove no idea on re-sale value after a few years.
Just an idea, I have no personal knowledge I drive a van!!
Is an Audi R8 really a Supercar?There is a few v10 manuals with the extended carbon trim for sale at the moment, I hove no idea on re-sale value after a few years.
Just an idea, I have no personal knowledge I drive a van!!
MingtheMerciless said:
If you are looking for a Ferrari, I'd get a 360. They are easier to maintain than earlier cars
I'd disagree with that. A 308 is simple & mechanically very easy to work on, thus fewer hours at the garage. Parts are also widely available and much is now reproduced on the secondary market. Find one that has been well looked after & I really doubt annual service bills would ever tot up to more than a 360 - increasingly so as the 360 ages.They are very, very different cars to drive, of course. I'm on my 2nd 308 after considering a switch to a 360. You really need to go test drive both for an hour or two each to see which you get on with. The 308 may be slower but it's a much more engaging and visceral drive. The noises, especially with a carbed car, are captivating. I found the 360's power unusable on British roads & I have much more fun click-clacking through the gears exploring more of the rev range on the 308.
As for colour, don't worry about it. Get whatever you want. The value will remain and there will always be a buyer as long as it's the original factory colour. My first was Rosso Corsa (bought at about your age o/p) because I knew no different. Heart of hearts, I really wanted a carbed Nero all along, which is what I now have.
As mentioned already - there is a premium for red Ferraris, but since you pay it when you buy and get it back when you sell it doesn't really make much difference to the overall cost. My first Ferrari was red (and I think most people want the first one to be red) but I didn't want a red one the second time around.
348s don't deserve the reputation they have. I thought mine was great - it might be relatively slow compared to modern cars but it felt like a go kart. It was a huge amount of fun, and convinced me that Ferrari's were not as fragile as I had always assumed they were.
It was an old car though and needed fairly regular maintenance - however, it was usually very minor (e.g. the wiring at the door pillar which is a known weak point). Overall, a very good car - however, in my humble opinion - not good enough to command the kind of prices they're advertised for these days.
After a break of a year or so, I bought a 360 - had it about 4.5 years now, and still think it's fabulous. Again - not really all that fast compared to modern cars, but it is superb - so much fun to drive. There is a twisty road on the approach to my work and on the rare occasions I use the 360 and get a clear run, I literally arrive at work with a smile on my face.
A 430 probably is better - but then again, they cost more and my 360 does everything I want. I think if I upgraded, I'd probably skip 430s and go 458 but then you're talking serious cash.
Love the 12Cs - but as you've said, they just keep going down. Which would be bad enough - but they just keep going down when everything else is going up and that bothers me.
However - I think there is some risk with buying most things at the moment. I don't know if it's a bubble or not, but prices have shot up recently and they could very well go down again. If you do decide to buy a ~£70k car I think you have to go in knowing that you <might> lost a big chunk of it. I bought my (manual) 360 in 2013 with ~20k miles on it, and I paid less than £40k. It's now got about 32k miles on it, and if I advertised it for £40k today I am absolutely sure it would be sold before the end of the day. Even at 50% more than I paid for it, it would be a bargain at current prices for a manual 360. That's obviously great if you own one - it means if I sold tomorrow I've had almost 5 years in a 360 for free since I'd get my running costs back. But it would make me nervous to buy one now.
On the other hand - you only live once, and could be run over by a bus tomorrow. It would be a shame if you hadn't lived your dreams a bit first.
ETA : And don't get a Porsche. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz - soulless and dull.
348s don't deserve the reputation they have. I thought mine was great - it might be relatively slow compared to modern cars but it felt like a go kart. It was a huge amount of fun, and convinced me that Ferrari's were not as fragile as I had always assumed they were.
It was an old car though and needed fairly regular maintenance - however, it was usually very minor (e.g. the wiring at the door pillar which is a known weak point). Overall, a very good car - however, in my humble opinion - not good enough to command the kind of prices they're advertised for these days.
After a break of a year or so, I bought a 360 - had it about 4.5 years now, and still think it's fabulous. Again - not really all that fast compared to modern cars, but it is superb - so much fun to drive. There is a twisty road on the approach to my work and on the rare occasions I use the 360 and get a clear run, I literally arrive at work with a smile on my face.
A 430 probably is better - but then again, they cost more and my 360 does everything I want. I think if I upgraded, I'd probably skip 430s and go 458 but then you're talking serious cash.
Love the 12Cs - but as you've said, they just keep going down. Which would be bad enough - but they just keep going down when everything else is going up and that bothers me.
However - I think there is some risk with buying most things at the moment. I don't know if it's a bubble or not, but prices have shot up recently and they could very well go down again. If you do decide to buy a ~£70k car I think you have to go in knowing that you <might> lost a big chunk of it. I bought my (manual) 360 in 2013 with ~20k miles on it, and I paid less than £40k. It's now got about 32k miles on it, and if I advertised it for £40k today I am absolutely sure it would be sold before the end of the day. Even at 50% more than I paid for it, it would be a bargain at current prices for a manual 360. That's obviously great if you own one - it means if I sold tomorrow I've had almost 5 years in a 360 for free since I'd get my running costs back. But it would make me nervous to buy one now.
On the other hand - you only live once, and could be run over by a bus tomorrow. It would be a shame if you hadn't lived your dreams a bit first.
ETA : And don't get a Porsche. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz - soulless and dull.
Edited by davek_964 on Tuesday 10th April 12:51
davek_964 said:
A 430 probably is better - but then again, they cost more and my 360 does everything I want. I think if I upgraded, I'd probably skip 430s and go 458 but then you're talking serious cash.
ETA : And don't get a Porsche. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz - soulless and dull.
Edited by davek_964 on Tuesday 10th April 12:51
And I disagree on Porsches - I have had several 911's and a 997 C2S manual for example is not as dramatic as a Ferrari but a seriously good car. The 997 Turbo is a warp drive supercar but unfortunately sounds a bit like a dishwasher, the only thing wrong with it. And the 991 GT3 which I have driven extensively is nearly as good as the 458 in my opinion, albeit in a different way and without as much shoutiness - and I'm not saying shoutiness is a bad thing by the way. So to say that Porsches are soulless and dull as a general statement is a little wide of the mark. Again in my view.
MingtheMerciless said:
davek_964 said:
A 430 probably is better - but then again, they cost more and my 360 does everything I want. I think if I upgraded, I'd probably skip 430s and go 458 but then you're talking serious cash.
ETA : And don't get a Porsche. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz - soulless and dull.
Edited by davek_964 on Tuesday 10th April 12:51
And I disagree on Porsches - I have had several 911's and a 997 C2S manual for example is not as dramatic as a Ferrari but a seriously good car. The 997 Turbo is a warp drive supercar but unfortunately sounds a bit like a dishwasher, the only thing wrong with it. And the 991 GT3 which I have driven extensively is nearly as good as the 458 in my opinion, albeit in a different way and without as much shoutiness - and I'm not saying shoutiness is a bad thing by the way. So to say that Porsches are soulless and dull as a general statement is a little wide of the mark. Again in my view.
/\ /\ this is a very good summary OP.
Buy the car which makes you the most excited for whatever reason.
Any of those Ferrari, the Lambo, and even a decent R8 will be a better long-term buy than a RS3, even with a few big bills thrown in. And a lot less likely to be nicked off your drive too.
Buy the car which makes you the most excited for whatever reason.
Any of those Ferrari, the Lambo, and even a decent R8 will be a better long-term buy than a RS3, even with a few big bills thrown in. And a lot less likely to be nicked off your drive too.
davek_964 said:
As mentioned already - there is a premium for red Ferraris, but since you pay it when you buy and get it back when you sell it doesn't really make much difference to the overall cost. My first Ferrari was red (and I think most people want the first one to be red) but I didn't want a red one the second time around.
348s don't deserve the reputation they have. I thought mine was great - it might be relatively slow compared to modern cars but it felt like a go kart. It was a huge amount of fun, and convinced me that Ferrari's were not as fragile as I had always assumed they were.
It was an old car though and needed fairly regular maintenance - however, it was usually very minor (e.g. the wiring at the door pillar which is a known weak point). Overall, a very good car - however, in my humble opinion - not good enough to command the kind of prices they're advertised for these days.
After a break of a year or so, I bought a 360 - had it about 4.5 years now, and still think it's fabulous. Again - not really all that fast compared to modern cars, but it is superb - so much fun to drive. There is a twisty road on the approach to my work and on the rare occasions I use the 360 and get a clear run, I literally arrive at work with a smile on my face.
A 430 probably is better - but then again, they cost more and my 360 does everything I want. I think if I upgraded, I'd probably skip 430s and go 458 but then you're talking serious cash.
Love the 12Cs - but as you've said, they just keep going down. Which would be bad enough - but they just keep going down when everything else is going up and that bothers me.
However - I think there is some risk with buying most things at the moment. I don't know if it's a bubble or not, but prices have shot up recently and they could very well go down again. If you do decide to buy a ~£70k car I think you have to go in knowing that you <might> lost a big chunk of it. I bought my (manual) 360 in 2013 with ~20k miles on it, and I paid less than £40k. It's now got about 32k miles on it, and if I advertised it for £40k today I am absolutely sure it would be sold before the end of the day. Even at 50% more than I paid for it, it would be a bargain at current prices for a manual 360. That's obviously great if you own one - it means if I sold tomorrow I've had almost 5 years in a 360 for free since I'd get my running costs back. But it would make me nervous to buy one now.
On the other hand - you only live once, and could be run over by a bus tomorrow. It would be a shame if you hadn't lived your dreams a bit first.
ETA : And don't get a Porsche. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz - soulless and dull.
Cheers for that! Yeah I’m kicking myself that I didn’t buy a few yrs ago and I’m hoping by next September (especially through winter) I can be abit cheeky with asking for money off!348s don't deserve the reputation they have. I thought mine was great - it might be relatively slow compared to modern cars but it felt like a go kart. It was a huge amount of fun, and convinced me that Ferrari's were not as fragile as I had always assumed they were.
It was an old car though and needed fairly regular maintenance - however, it was usually very minor (e.g. the wiring at the door pillar which is a known weak point). Overall, a very good car - however, in my humble opinion - not good enough to command the kind of prices they're advertised for these days.
After a break of a year or so, I bought a 360 - had it about 4.5 years now, and still think it's fabulous. Again - not really all that fast compared to modern cars, but it is superb - so much fun to drive. There is a twisty road on the approach to my work and on the rare occasions I use the 360 and get a clear run, I literally arrive at work with a smile on my face.
A 430 probably is better - but then again, they cost more and my 360 does everything I want. I think if I upgraded, I'd probably skip 430s and go 458 but then you're talking serious cash.
Love the 12Cs - but as you've said, they just keep going down. Which would be bad enough - but they just keep going down when everything else is going up and that bothers me.
However - I think there is some risk with buying most things at the moment. I don't know if it's a bubble or not, but prices have shot up recently and they could very well go down again. If you do decide to buy a ~£70k car I think you have to go in knowing that you <might> lost a big chunk of it. I bought my (manual) 360 in 2013 with ~20k miles on it, and I paid less than £40k. It's now got about 32k miles on it, and if I advertised it for £40k today I am absolutely sure it would be sold before the end of the day. Even at 50% more than I paid for it, it would be a bargain at current prices for a manual 360. That's obviously great if you own one - it means if I sold tomorrow I've had almost 5 years in a 360 for free since I'd get my running costs back. But it would make me nervous to buy one now.
On the other hand - you only live once, and could be run over by a bus tomorrow. It would be a shame if you hadn't lived your dreams a bit first.
ETA : And don't get a Porsche. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz - soulless and dull.
Edited by davek_964 on Tuesday 10th April 12:51
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