Discussion
Congratulations. Just in time for them to grit the roads again 
Still, wait a week then go and have fune
I suspect the 12C owner wasn't really bothered about selling and it will still be on the market in 12 months. My wife walked away from selling hers a couple of years ago by a small amount, it's still here, she's still open to offers, but just not anywhere near what it is actually worth.
Still, wait a week then go and have funeI suspect the 12C owner wasn't really bothered about selling and it will still be on the market in 12 months. My wife walked away from selling hers a couple of years ago by a small amount, it's still here, she's still open to offers, but just not anywhere near what it is actually worth.
davek_964 said:
I think you'll love it.
I owned my 360 for about 7 years I think, and still thought it was a brilliant car when I sold it.
Totally agree with this. I had mine for 15 years and always felt that for me personally it was in the Goldilocks zone of being the right car at the right price and the right value for my circumstances. I owned my 360 for about 7 years I think, and still thought it was a brilliant car when I sold it.
Enjoy!!
mikemmw said:
I have an update, a car has been purchased!
After much deliberation and with help from the comments above I decided that in fact the Mclaren was the better car in nearly every way.
When I'd previously viewed the 12C in question I'd told the owner where I needed to be price wise and although he didn't say the words, he led me to believe he would accept that offer if I settled on that car.
So after I'd made my decision I went to see him and the car for the third time and told him I'd have it, at this point he said he wouldn't accept my offer and he wasn't willing to budge. After discussions I came up a bit and he came down a bit but we couldn't meet, so I walked away.
When I left I was really gutted and I thought I'd wait a couple of days to see if he changes his mind and if not I'd probably increase my offer anyway.
Well just a couple hours later I heard from him, a text saying he was rescinding his previous offer he'd made in person and the price had gone back up to his original price. With this I was able to strike this car from my mind as there was no way I would pay a price for a car that was more than I could have had it for earlier that day, it would bother me for my entire ownership.
I was very specific with the condition and spec of 12C I was looking for, nothing else similar was for sale. I expanded to 650S but again nothing in my ideal colour and it was also stretching the budget a bit. I have never financed a car and don't ever want to so my budget is fixed with the savings I have.
I began looking at Ferraris again and ultimately decided that was the route to go. I admit the Mclaren is still the better car, but I've always thought of myself as a 'Ferrari guy', even though I'd had very little to do with them and never been able to afford one. I've loved the F430 since I first saw it on Top Gear as a teenager back in 04/05. I know if I didn't get one I would always want one and the only way to know if I would like it and be able to cross it off my list is to try owning one. I also took a lot of weight from people who replied here telling me if you're going to own an F430 and a Mclaren, get the Ferrari first.
So I went back to the F430 owner, the car was never advertised officially so it didn't look its best. He'd pulled it in the garage after its last drive in November and then not touched it since. Before I went to view it again he had the car detailed and ceramic coated so it looked much better. A deal was struck and then yesterday I went to see him for the third time, but this time took my trailer.
I'm happy to say that now at 34 years old I'm the owner of a 2007 Rosso over Crema F1 F430.
How I will take to the car is yet to be seen. It might be a case of never meet your heroes and I might be trying to get out of it before Summer, or it may be a dream come true. Either way I'm pretty certain that after this I will be moving in to a 12C or 650S. Regardless of how much more money I can save in the next few years, I don't think I'd be comfortable owning a 6 figure car and nothing else really appeals to me in this price range.
Thanks for all the help.
That looks stunning ! After much deliberation and with help from the comments above I decided that in fact the Mclaren was the better car in nearly every way.
When I'd previously viewed the 12C in question I'd told the owner where I needed to be price wise and although he didn't say the words, he led me to believe he would accept that offer if I settled on that car.
So after I'd made my decision I went to see him and the car for the third time and told him I'd have it, at this point he said he wouldn't accept my offer and he wasn't willing to budge. After discussions I came up a bit and he came down a bit but we couldn't meet, so I walked away.
When I left I was really gutted and I thought I'd wait a couple of days to see if he changes his mind and if not I'd probably increase my offer anyway.
Well just a couple hours later I heard from him, a text saying he was rescinding his previous offer he'd made in person and the price had gone back up to his original price. With this I was able to strike this car from my mind as there was no way I would pay a price for a car that was more than I could have had it for earlier that day, it would bother me for my entire ownership.
I was very specific with the condition and spec of 12C I was looking for, nothing else similar was for sale. I expanded to 650S but again nothing in my ideal colour and it was also stretching the budget a bit. I have never financed a car and don't ever want to so my budget is fixed with the savings I have.
I began looking at Ferraris again and ultimately decided that was the route to go. I admit the Mclaren is still the better car, but I've always thought of myself as a 'Ferrari guy', even though I'd had very little to do with them and never been able to afford one. I've loved the F430 since I first saw it on Top Gear as a teenager back in 04/05. I know if I didn't get one I would always want one and the only way to know if I would like it and be able to cross it off my list is to try owning one. I also took a lot of weight from people who replied here telling me if you're going to own an F430 and a Mclaren, get the Ferrari first.
So I went back to the F430 owner, the car was never advertised officially so it didn't look its best. He'd pulled it in the garage after its last drive in November and then not touched it since. Before I went to view it again he had the car detailed and ceramic coated so it looked much better. A deal was struck and then yesterday I went to see him for the third time, but this time took my trailer.
I'm happy to say that now at 34 years old I'm the owner of a 2007 Rosso over Crema F1 F430.
How I will take to the car is yet to be seen. It might be a case of never meet your heroes and I might be trying to get out of it before Summer, or it may be a dream come true. Either way I'm pretty certain that after this I will be moving in to a 12C or 650S. Regardless of how much more money I can save in the next few years, I don't think I'd be comfortable owning a 6 figure car and nothing else really appeals to me in this price range.
Thanks for all the help.
Yes 12C is faster and has a more sophisticsted chassis... but so do loads of other sports cars... what a 430 will give you is a more visceral experience the mclaren just cannot.
Also with 500hp it is not slow - low-mid 8s to 100mph - you just have to work the box to stay in the zone !
Congratulations!
As mentioned, you are now in the cool club of owning a Ferrari, slightly jealous as I don't think that will happen for me now. (I couldn't cope with the rawness of a 430 having tried one after a couple of Pork GT3's so went 570S Spider)
Properly tied down with ends of straps secured, check
Neat garage with industrial tools, car lift and painted floor, check
I think you'll love it, and being still a baby (age wise) you've got plenty of time to try many other cars. Here's to a sunny summer
As mentioned, you are now in the cool club of owning a Ferrari, slightly jealous as I don't think that will happen for me now. (I couldn't cope with the rawness of a 430 having tried one after a couple of Pork GT3's so went 570S Spider)
Properly tied down with ends of straps secured, check
Neat garage with industrial tools, car lift and painted floor, check
I think you'll love it, and being still a baby (age wise) you've got plenty of time to try many other cars. Here's to a sunny summer
i've had two manual 430s mate, had a grigio first for a couple of years and regretted every day after i'd sold it. jumped straight back in to another manual but this time same colour scheme as yours with the rosso/crema. that was nearly 14 years ago and i still have that car to this day. you'll love it pal.
IMI A said:
Super choice. My son is now 19 and tells me F430 is his poster car. These are incredible VFM when you think somthing like a 996 GT3 or aircooled lamb dressed up as mutton are more expensive.
Surprising a 19 year old has such fondness for a model of this age.I wonder if when he is in the position to buy one if the 488 will be the model at the bottom of the market price wise and the 430 will have appreciated. Be interesting to see...
congrats - they are great cars to drive and imo enjoyable at slower speeds, which is - for me - much more important than ultimate performance which I could only access on track or the Autobahn (if only focusing on acceleration).
I still think my 355 was the best car from a total driving experience I ever owned and that was one of the slowest sports cars I ever had.
Now you just needs lots of sunny days
nice garage, wish I had that
I still think my 355 was the best car from a total driving experience I ever owned and that was one of the slowest sports cars I ever had.
Now you just needs lots of sunny days
nice garage, wish I had that
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