From Porsche to Ferrari

From Porsche to Ferrari

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Andrew911

Original Poster:

850 posts

108 months

Thursday 14th September 2017
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Interested to hear about your stories from Porsche to Ferrari ownership. What you have changed from to which Ferrari & why & how the ownership experience differed.

I have owned several porkers - most recent being a 981 Spyder & currently I have a 997.1 turbo. All of mine have been DD. I think i might have one more porker in me before a change (have a LOI since last year for the next GT4). By then will hopefully be taking early retirement so got me thinking what toy would i want in retirement. Can't stop looking at 599's & also quite like F430's - haven't driven either or any Ferrari tbh so can't compare with Porsche.

MDL111

6,895 posts

176 months

Thursday 14th September 2017
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I had a 355 for about 2.5 years and 20k miles - loved that car
Then a 997 GT2 CS - had that for 4 months to the day and about 10k km until a rather bad accident
Now an FF for c 2 years and 30k km

Overall the Porsche was great and hilarious to drive, but prefer the (sound of the) engines and sense of occasion of the ferraris.
I would however buy a 991.2 GT3 manual if offered the chance to do so as I miss having a manual in my daily
355 was awesome and hold that car in very high esteem but had to sell at the time unfortunately - imo it was the perfect daily driver / fast enough but not too fast and looked lovely

br d

8,388 posts

225 months

Thursday 14th September 2017
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I bought a new 997 Turbo when they first came out, after the initial shock of its straight line speed had subsided I didn't like the car at all, this was a big surprise to me as I had loved my previous Carrera 2 to death. So I was looking to get rid of the Turbo after the first couple of months.

This coincided with a period of ill health when the consultants thought I had something very bad "You won't be here at Christmas" type bad. After a grim few weeks it turned out I only had something semi-bad and with proper management I'd probably be around for a while. I'd always fancied a Ferrari but thought it was probably about ten years away after I'd got other stuff out of my system, however after my little health incident I had a definite change of priorities. First weekend after the reprieve I went over to Colchester Ferrari "Just to browse".

On entering the showroom I was confronted with a gleaming F430 sitting on the tiles and my heart missed a couple of beats, with my new found "No-one knows how long they've got" attitude I was test driving the car, signing paperwork and losing a kings ransom on the Turbo before you could say Take My Money!

My OH was wonderful about it "If it's what you want then get it!"

Your first proper Supercar is a wonderful experience and though I've had better cars since nothing will ever beat that drive back home after picking it up.
I loved Porsche, I was committed to them for a few years but a Ferrari is a whole new deal.

I'd say go for it. You can always go back if it doesn't work out.

Edited by br d on Thursday 14th September 17:58

Nero77

190 posts

145 months

Thursday 14th September 2017
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Done it twice - first from a 996 Turbo to a 360; then from a 997.2 C4S to F430 (albeit via a 4C)

Chalk and cheese....Germanic precision v Italian heart. Sure some will accuse that of hyperbole, but it really comes down to what you want. The 911 is quick, a good drive, practical but - IMHO - lacked any form of soul. The Ferrari is just pure drama, it's far more of an occasion. And the noise, well there is absolutely no comparison. One is a supercar, the other a sports car.

And - though I am sure to be shot down - I would hazard a prancing horse is a much better place for your money than anything from Stuttgart (save for GT models). Buy from a reputable dealer/indie and running costs aren't horrendous at all. And ok, the big service can be pricey, and there's the odd thing that needs doing but it hasn't been horrific for me at all.

But if you need the practicality, get a Giulia QV smile

Andrew911

Original Poster:

850 posts

108 months

Friday 15th September 2017
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Thanks for the comments! All sounds great. I maybe a couple of years away before getting my first Ferrari but keen to hear from those that have made a similar journey from Porsche to Ferrari. Top of my list are 599 & F430 - both very different - but both look gorgeous.

Nano2nd

3,426 posts

255 months

Friday 15th September 2017
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Nero77 said:
Done it twice - first from a 996 Turbo to a 360; then from a 997.2 C4S to F430 (albeit via a 4C)

Chalk and cheese....Germanic precision v Italian heart. Sure some will accuse that of hyperbole, but it really comes down to what you want. The 911 is quick, a good drive, practical but - IMHO - lacked any form of soul. The Ferrari is just pure drama, it's far more of an occasion. And the noise, well there is absolutely no comparison. One is a supercar, the other a sports car.

And - though I am sure to be shot down - I would hazard a prancing horse is a much better place for your money than anything from Stuttgart (save for GT models). Buy from a reputable dealer/indie and running costs aren't horrendous at all. And ok, the big service can be pricey, and there's the odd thing that needs doing but it hasn't been horrific for me at all.

But if you need the practicality, get a Giulia QV smile
i'd pretty much echo that, i went from and 997.1S to a 981S to a F430, i'm now actually looking at going from the 430 (and M4CP) back to a 991.2GTS or 991.1 Turbo... i know they won't compare emotionally to the Ferrari but i need to have a practical few years and i'm just not using the M4 enough to justify the cost, ideally i'd buy a 458 and run just that, but i can't be showing up to clients in something too extreme

jimmyslr

798 posts

272 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
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I've done the back and forth between these brands. I had a couple of Porsches, a 964 RS and then a 993 RS, and wanted to try Ferrari. I was also coming out of my racing/track day phase so opted for a manual 612 that the kids could go in the back of. Lovely car that I still have, but it was too far the other way so I wanted something more "sportscar" in addition. I then bought a 430 Scuderia to get back to the sportier feel which had drama aplenty! Brilliant fun, but I didn't use it all that much as it was so nice and attracted so much attention; it was more difficult to blend into my everyday life. The Scud went and 6 months later I returned to the Porsche ranks with 997.2 GT3 that I also still have; this addressed the sportscar desire whilst being a bit more usable and low key.

Running costs on all of these are relatively high. I do very modest miles but service costs are never less that 1000 and if you have a biggy can be 3000. They aren't punitive though. The Ferrari has tends to be pricier, but I haven't had anything dreadful at all. Insurance is much of a muchness also.

For me I love the range of cars. I'm a petrolhead who likes all sorts and I also like to experience them all. There's no one best car in my mind. I'm always wondering what else would be fun. At some point I'd like a McLaren, I've never had an Aston, I'm trying to get porsche to sell me a 991.2 GT3 and it goes on. Many a happy evening is spent exploring car reviews and the classifieds wondering what would be fun in coming years.

Good luck. There aren't many mistakes to be made in this choice.

bordseye

1,975 posts

191 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
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I have just sold my 430 and am thinking of going in the other direction to a Porker. The 430 was beautiful to look at in gleaming Rosso Corsa and there certainly is a sense of occasion in using it as everyone says. My local FOC is a good bunch of people so there is a social aspect too. The car goes like stink and it has handling that rivals an Elise which in my book is brilliant.

So why did I sell? A complex of reasons , and maybe they wont apply to you. Certainly this post will get argumentative responses from others on the forum who disagree or "know better". .:

1/ Running costs are high - mileage related depreciation is about £1 to £2 per mile, fuel 16mpg driven like mother Theresa, service and repair at main dealer £1500 to £3000 pa, insurance £1000, tax £550. Budget a total £5k pa
2/ Against that there has been some price appreciation but are Ferrari prices in a bubble? Fellow member of the FOC bought his 328 at £25k and its now £85k. Another bought new at 110k, value dropped to £30k then came back to £120k. I wouldnt buy now.
3/ The car isnt very useable. No go in multi storeys or parked on city side roads, 195 mph cant be used, so you end up mostly doing 1000/2000 miles a year. A Porker is anonymous which makes it useable.
4/ If you are by nature a witterer ( I am) and read the forums, you will have sleepless nights wondering about exhaust manifolds, replacement clutches, the 19 or whatever ECUs in the car etc. It is, after all, a big red FIAT and isnt built to German or Jap standards.

I enjoyed having the car but the reality is that a Boxter S will do everything that the 430 will do and be useable as well. Problem is - it isnt a red Ferrari so I might yet end up buying another!

red_duke

799 posts

180 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
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I had a new Boxster S for 1 year before realising I preferred coupes so chopped it in for a new Cayman S. Fell out of love with Porsche shortly after that as you see them everywhere; a consequence of their "build 1 less than than the market will bear" attitude.

I swapped the Cayman S for an F430 6 years ago and Ill probably be buried in it.

67Dino

3,581 posts

104 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
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Agree with many of the comments here, and would stress that really the two Marques provide very different things.

I've had a 964, two 996s and a 997, and in all cases have used them as regular transport. They're reliable, reasonably comfortable for journeys, and can be left in a station, pub or work car park without attracting much attention. Plus they're enjoyable to drive, albeit with later models being less exciting at normal speeds. Great all-rounders.

I've also had a 328, 355 and a 456, and they're really weekend cars for driving for pleasure. Wonderful to drive, a work of art to look at, and attract plenty of attention. But, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them in a station car park, and you can't do more than a few k pa on them without the value plummeting. Plus maintenance is extensive and expensive.

So depends what you want the car for. If you want one car you can use for work and pleasure, I'd have a Porsche any day. If you have something else for regular use and want a weekend plaything, then suspect a Ferrari will give you more pleasure.


br d

8,388 posts

225 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
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I have to gently and respectfully disagree with a couple of points above. People always talk about depreciation with Ferrari and the like "The value will plummet if you drive it", "1 to 2K a year" etc. I don't think this is an issue with the cars it's an issue with the attitude one has when buying the cars.

I always put lots of miles on my cars and they do indeed shift quickly downwards monetary wise but I accept that as part of the experience.
I have said it on here a few times before, I just can't get my head around buying a car like a Ferrari and then being concerned to drive it in case it loses money, surely just buy a car that you won't worry about and enjoy it all the time!

I think something like a Ferrari (in fact, especially a Ferrari) is a car that people dream of owning all their lives, they sit down one day and realise that they can actually do this now, the fantasy can be realised but it's actually just a stretch too far and then the realities of ownership and residuals keep you awake at night. Somebody once said "Don't buy a Ferrari unless you can afford two".

I'm no zillionaire but I couldn't comprehend buying such a wonderful thing and then worrying my nights away about depreciation.
Working out how much it's losing per mile!!! Who would buy a house that they really can't afford to pay the mortgage on?

Porsche of course are far more resiliant in this area so probably a better choice if that's a big concern.

MDL111

6,895 posts

176 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
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67Dino said:
Agree with many of the comments here, and would stress that really the two Marques provide very different things.

I've had a 964, two 996s and a 997, and in all cases have used them as regular transport. They're reliable, reasonably comfortable for journeys, and can be left in a station, pub or work car park without attracting much attention. Plus they're enjoyable to drive, albeit with later models being less exciting at normal speeds. Great all-rounders.

I've also had a 328, 355 and a 456, and they're really weekend cars for driving for pleasure. Wonderful to drive, a work of art to look at, and attract plenty of attention. But, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them in a station car park, and you can't do more than a few k pa on them without the value plummeting. Plus maintenance is extensive and expensive.

So depends what you want the car for. If you want one car you can use for work and pleasure, I'd have a Porsche any day. If you have something else for regular use and want a weekend plaything, then suspect a Ferrari will give you more pleasure.
I still think they are perfectly fine as daily drivers, my 355 lived On The street in London for extensive periods of time - sure it did not look like a concours example, but for me anyway a scratch or ding does not reduce the pleasure of driving it - big supporter of treating them like cars, gives the most pleasure imo. And if it should get stolen, it is insured - even if with a 10k deductible which would clearly hurt ... they also are less trouble when driving regularly as best as I can tell

67Dino

3,581 posts

104 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
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Fair points from br d and MDL111 above*.

Often see the 'usage vs depreciation' being debated on PH. Totally agree that cars shouldn't be treated purely an investment assets, but as something to get pleasure out of. Whether someone does that by keeping them pristine or driving them as much as they like, I don't mind at all. Personally, think it's great to see a classic car all mud-spattered and obviously used, but also quite like to see pristine low-mileage ones too.

Guess my point was really that all things being equal, you can pile on a lot more miles in a Porsche than a Ferrari before you've got a rather knackered car that isn't worth much. So if the OP doesn't mind that, they should get a Ferrari and drive the hell out of it. If they do, they should probably go for a Porsche.


  • Appreciate we are on the edge of what is appropriate for PH here. Contributors who know what they are talking about disagreeing in a respectful way? Whatever next.
Edited by 67Dino on Saturday 16th September 18:29

BrodyK

7 posts

79 months

Saturday 16th September 2017
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I currently have a 997 Turbo S and a Ferrari California 30. Like what some have mentioned, the P is a very precise tool while the F brings a lot of emotions even though not as fast. Both are beautiful in their own ways.

If you have the budget, I would say keep one of each as their personalities are quite different. Or get a good DD car separately which in my case is a C63.

Because no matter how good a car is, as they say, you can't have steak everyday...


corinthian

217 posts

132 months

Sunday 17th September 2017
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I don't post on here often, mostly because if I wanted financial advice, I'd read the guff my advisor sends me, that aside, only buy what you can afford and it'll all be fine.

That dream car Brd talks about became my dream car, he'd had it from near new and, as he said, used it well. I fully intended doing the same and therefore didn't want to pay a premium for an undriven one, this one had 26k miles. The car was perfect when I bought it and six years later, now 46k miles, still is.

True running costs, Brd spent a lot on maintenance and so have I, but you don't actually have to. Some of the suspension parts clatter long before they're actually worn out and much of the cost goes to preventive maintenance which anybody could do themselves. The dealers are great but they won't bother with anti corrosion measures unless you tell them to. These jobs swallow hours of labour, but are a must on an older car being used regularly, even behind all the undertrays, my car looks brand new.

The other costs aren't at all bad, currently insured for £350 with Aviva, tyres do at least 10k. Brad replaced the clutch shortly before selling and 25k later, it shows 30% worn. I had to buy manifold this year, went for nouvalari, should never need redoing and sounds even better.
This added £1500 to the annual bill which has averaged £1500.

I do park in side streets and shopping centres, granted, I'll only use a space at the end of a row or such like, but I've never had a problem with other people.

I had had a few Porsche cars before and they were great too, but somehow, the greatness fades quickly and you yearn for the newer one. Much as I like the newer model Ferrari's, this urge to get the next one doesn't happen, red Ferrari's are all great for all time!

Instead of replacing, I've kept it and simply added various others types to my garage.

My advice, spend whatever you're comfortable with and do it, ferrari are in a league of their own when it comes to feeling like something special and they are great to drive. The quicker you go the less they rattle and, I believe, the less they'll go wrong.



LA458SP

104 posts

105 months

Sunday 17th September 2017
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Gone from 911's (used as DD) to Ferrari. Absolutely no comparison as Ferrari are in another league altogether.

I swapped out my 911 for a 458 thinking I could use it as a DD laugh but the Ferrari is just so intense. Sure you could use a Ferrari as a DD but I believe a Ferrari is an event, not a DD (especially if OP is looking at 430/599) I only drive mine for drivings sake. A perfect retirement toy!

bordseye

1,975 posts

191 months

Monday 18th September 2017
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Put all the above answers together and you get a fair view in my opinion. There really isnt anything like a red Ferrari. How much fun you have with it depends on your attitude towards the £100k its likely to cost you.

If like an acquaintance of mine you have a large income, then you wont bother about kerbed wheels, dents etc as he doesnt on his 488. Parks it anywhere, uses it as his daily.

If like me you are retired and that 100k cannot be replaced from income, you will be more cautious and likely end up with a garage queen used the typical 1/2k miles a year.

But in the end, its more about you than the car. A Ferrari will do anything that a Toyota will do day to day. What you use it for is your decision.


Behemoth

2,105 posts

130 months

Monday 18th September 2017
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bordseye said:
There really isnt anything like a red Ferrari
Except any other colour is almost always more elegant and very often a better choice to reveal the amazing styling work that these cars (usually) display.

Andrew911

Original Poster:

850 posts

108 months

Monday 18th September 2017
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Some great comments here & advice. I have had many years driving various 911s & a 981 Boxster Spyder. But my current 997.1 turbo is leaving me a bit cold. After the initial fun with the torque & shove after six months I am already getting bored which i hadn't expected so soon. I thought the foray into a Ferrari might be a couple of years away but tempted to do it sooner. If i did it wouldn't be a DD like all the porkers I've had. Also, it will on finance so it will be weighing up costs etc.

I wouldn't want to push any higher than 100K & ideally less than that. Its whether I hang on & hope 458 prices will fall or I guess I also need to consider a Cali or 612 as they would both be within budget. What's people's views on a Cali? At least thats one Ferrari I'll be able to fit in my garage laugh

Edited by Andrew911 on Monday 18th September 10:41


Edited by Andrew911 on Monday 18th September 10:58

carpov

190 posts

160 months

Monday 18th September 2017
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I went from a 997.2 turbo to a Cali and absolutely did not regret it.
I was worried about the drop in performance, but needed have done so. It's barely noticeable, and the character more than makes up for it.