Proud new Portofino owner

[chuds285]

ZT260SE said:

Hi Ian,

I see you ve had a string of Astons in the past but made the jump to the Portofino.

I m on my second Aston (one of the last VH era V8S s) and a natural evolution for me would go into a second century car. As I want a 2+2 convertible, the DB11 would have been a natural choice. What s your views now you ve had both? I have to say your Portofino is striking and they look very tempting as an alternative.

Thanks in advance,

David

Hi David

My apologies for not responding sooner!

The modern Aston is a brilliant car, especially when compared to the older versions (this is subjective I know) I was fortunate to own 4 VH platform Vantages namely 4.3, 4.7 and two 4.7S versions, the last S was a 2016 model.

I then purchased a Merc AMG GTS as I fancied a change, It had the 4.0 V8 bi turbo engine and to be honest the difference between that and the AM 4.7 was huge, it had more power and torque and the car was certainly a drivers car with the excellent Merc technology.

To cut a long story short it was this car which made me want to buy a modern Aston basically due to the engine, I purchased a 2019 new shape Vantage from AM Bristol and of course it had the 4.0 engine. In my view this version of Vantage was light years ahead of the older versions, considerably more power and again in my view a far better drivers car. The next one was a 2021 DB11 fitted again with the 4.0, absolutely beautiful car and it drove like a GT should, effortlessly power with all the refinement….i was very tempted to try the V12 but I'm glad I stuck with what I knew.

So why the jump to Ferrari?

As most car guys I had always dreamt of owning one and it hasn’t disappointed! What a stunning piece of engineering and each time I press the red start button it’s pure theatre. Every angle of the car is beautiful and it drives faultless, it’s equally at home around town or on faster roads and it has the advantage of being a hard top convertible.
Without a doubt it’s a GT and not a super car but the performance and noise is incredible and you can fit a lot of luggage in!

Would I buy another…yes in a heartbeat.

Hope this helps and good luck with the search.

Regards

Ian.

Edited by ZT260SE on Saturday 17th May 07:44

[ZT260SE]

chuds285 said:

ZT260SE said:

Hope this helps and good luck with the search.

Regards

Ian.

Edited by ZT260SE on Saturday 17th May 07:44

No apologies needed, Ian. Interesting to hear your car journey. I started with a 4.7 and then more recently bought a 4.7S (from AM Bristol too, coincidentally). with three supercharged 5.0 Jaguars along the way and a 6.2 AMG to boot - v8’s are addictive!

A few people who have made the leap have noticed the big difference between the 4.7 and 4.0 engines.

I have to say the Portofino interior looks a step up on the Aston s and as you say, what a dream come true to own a Ferrari.

I need to get out to try one!

Edited by ZT260SE on Sunday 1st June 15:41

Edited by ZT260SE on Sunday 1st June 18:15

[Cartographer]

Love the Portofino. Good looking and easy to drive. Enjoy!

[456mgt]

The Portofino is a very underrated model in my opinion. You expect it to be soft and cruisy compared to a mid engined V8 or a V12. My wife has a 2017 car and only recently let me have he keys and permission to press on when we were touring in Italy. Lots of fast corners and switchbacks, I was expecting it to be a bit soft, but it was really impressive- tip it into corners, hit the throttle and it just spools up and fires out without any drama. I never managed to unsettle it, and I was trying; just took it all in its stride. I think it has one of the most well-matched chassis/powertrain combos out there. It's a real gem

[willy wombat]

We took ours to Le Touquet for a couple of days recently. Photo selected to demonstrate that, if touring, you can get a really large case in the boot if you’re happy to keep the roof up. Or there’s always the option of squashy bags but we prefer, where possible, just to be able to take one case into the hotel rather than several bags.
We just love the car and it gets loads of use, whereas I’m afraid my 458 spider isn’t getting the use it deserves.

[bennno]

willy wombat said:

We took ours to Le Touquet for a couple of days recently. Photo selected to demonstrate that, if touring, you can get a really large case in the boot if you re happy to keep the roof up. Or there s always the option of squashy bags but we prefer, where possible, just to be able to take one case into the hotel rather than several bags.
We just love the car and it gets loads of use, whereas I m afraid my 458 spider isn t getting the use it deserves.

We got a pair of these expanding carry on cases, unzipped they fit perfectly under the luggage guard at 25x40x54cm.

Gives circa 90L of combined storage.

https://www.wenger.ch/global/en/Products/c/Legacy-...

[Lifesbloodygood]

Think these (especially the M) look way better than the Roma tbh

Grats op, looks lovely

[bennno]

Lifesbloodygood said:

Think these (especially the M) look way better than the Roma tbh

Grats op, looks lovely

I agree

[MingtheMerciless]

It is a lovely car.

If you are in Kenmare I assume you took it over Moll's Gap. Probably a better car for that than the 458.

[bennno]

MingtheMerciless said:

It is a lovely car.

If you are in Kenmare I assume you took it over Moll's Gap. Probably a better car for that than the 458.

Indeed we did as part of the ring of Beara today , we did Ring of Kerry Sat, Dingle peninsula yesterday,

[AB]

Porto M was on my list for a cruiser, as was the Roma/DB12. When I see them I do get a small pang of regret for not going for it. My business partner had an M before his 488 Spider and tells me it was the best car he's ever had and he definitely misses it. He used to use it a hell of a lot more than he does the 488.

Lovely understated colour too which really suits it.

[chuds285]

Thank you everyone for the great comments, the Portofino looks fabulous in red!

Very interesting and useful regarding luggage solutions, we are starting to plan a road trip to the French Riviera ultimately finishing in Monaco….we have been a couple of times and it’s always been a ambition of mine to drive around the circuit in my own Ferrari, so hopefully this is the year!

If anyone has any tips on routes including great scenery and hotels they will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Ian.

[bennno]

chuds285 said:

Thank you everyone for the great comments, the Portofino looks fabulous in red!

Very interesting and useful regarding luggage solutions, we are starting to plan a road trip to the French Riviera ultimately finishing in Monaco .we have been a couple of times and it s always been a ambition of mine to drive around the circuit in my own Ferrari, so hopefully this is the year!

If anyone has any tips on routes including great scenery and hotels they will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Ian.

I’m off there next week, Swiss alps, then Italy for mile miglia, flying visit to Monaco, Provence, millau viaduct on way back.

I did it 25 years back on the gp weekend as soon as qualifying finished on the Friday as casino square car park exits directly to the track once they unbolt the Armco. did 3 laps before the gendarmes realised we weren’t an official display and banished me ina tvr and a pair of f40’s from the principality….

[Lifesbloodygood]

bennno said:

chuds285 said:

Thank you everyone for the great comments, the Portofino looks fabulous in red!

Very interesting and useful regarding luggage solutions, we are starting to plan a road trip to the French Riviera ultimately finishing in Monaco .we have been a couple of times and it s always been a ambition of mine to drive around the circuit in my own Ferrari, so hopefully this is the year!

If anyone has any tips on routes including great scenery and hotels they will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Ian.

I m off there next week, Swiss alps, then Italy for mile miglia, flying visit to Monaco, Provence, millau viaduct on way back.

I did it 25 years back on the gp weekend as soon as qualifying finished on the Friday as casino square car park exits directly to the track once they unbolt the Armco. did 3 laps before the gendarmes realised we weren t an official display and banished me ina tvr and a pair of f40 s from the principality .

Similar story for Le Mans, themz were the days

On our way back from Croatia at the mo, Coming back through the Riviera via Italy day after tomorrow, moving there again in a few weeks… and there’s nowhere quite like it for roads, restaurants and decent attitudes toward money (or more a lack of bad attitude should i say)

Funnily ive always skirted the Ferrari ownership (apart from an ‘ashamed’ Enzo non driven thing that doesnt count imo) mainly due to my perception of ferrari owners left over from my uk living days, so i went the Maserati route for many years.

Since living in Europe for the past 15 years though, its completely different over here, not only the attitude of the public toward Ferrari as a brand but nearly all the owners ive met on rallys etc have been really nice guys, obviously there are exceptions but on the whole really nice.

I went to Lambo later on as i was a poster boy for the Countach but the 488 Pista, Porto M & 812 GTS have all caught my attention recently, the latter 2 as very useable cars for long euro trips, maybe..

That slightly darker red name was given to me recently by Dominique at Meridien, cant remember what it was though, remember it was triple layer and pretty pricey but their 488 pista was in it, it’d have to be in that colour, something like this..

[AB]

This is my business partners which he swapped for a 488 Spider, I remember the red being more similar to the Pista above, could be the light or my failing memory.

[andyr]

chuds285 said:

If anyone has any tips on routes including great scenery and hotels they will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Ian.

For the route down - I would follow the Harry Metcalfe routes. I did UK to Reims. Then Gap. Set off early from Gap to avoid the worst of the traffic on Route Napolian. Then stayed in Grasse. Then to Monaco. On that trip we then went into Como and the Monza F1.

[Lifesbloodygood]

andyr said:

chuds285 said:

If anyone has any tips on routes including great scenery and hotels they will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Ian.

For the route down - I would follow the Harry Metcalfe routes. I did UK to Reims. Then Gap. Set off early from Gap to avoid the worst of the traffic on Route Napolian. Then stayed in Grasse. Then to Monaco. On that trip we then went into Como and the Monza F1.

Don’t forget original v5, copy won’t do if you get stopped in Monaco, that’ll seize your car until you produce original unless you get a jolly official, which is unlikely in that abomination of a place

Route wise I can only recommend Villa Louise near Beaune, if it still exists

Grasse is a good shout if you only want to visit Monaco for the day, there’s a lovely hotel there called ‘Bastide St Antoine’ which has an amazing cheese board

[MingtheMerciless]

Ouch good tip on V5. Is that the same in France/elsewhere on the continent?

[Lifesbloodygood]

MingtheMerciless said:

Ouch good tip on V5. Is that the same in France/elsewhere on the continent?

Never had an issue in eu countries, even since brexit, probably due to Schengen..
but Monaco is its own principality, you won t show passport etc to get in but if the police stop you for any reason, then you have an issue.

A more obvious one but one can still forget, is that places like Montenegro arent part of the eu and require stringent checks on V5 data before entering their country, you pass police control and customs control separately, same if you want to use Bosnias motorway to get into Montenegro from Croatia, don t ask how I know

[andyr]

You def need the original V5 with you in the EU. I had to produce it to the police when they thought my car was being stolen. It wasn t - it was being loaded onto a car transporter.

I would recommend Bastide also. Staying there again in a few weeks time.