Discussion
Roadrunner said: Do you guys find the V12 models more costly to maintain than the V8's? Or am I splitting hairs?
Conventional wisdom says that they do, and logic suggests that with half as many cylinders again, there's more to go wrong. Base price servicing costs are higher.
Having said all that, and in my limited experience with running one of each, they were about the same.
What are the service intervals on the 550 ?
Do the cam belts need doing regularly ?
What's an "average" service bill.
My GT2 had it's first year, 12,000 mile service and wasn't any more than an oil + filter job really (less than £300). Timing belts are required every 4yrs or 48000 miles (from memory) and those services aren't more than £600. For a £100K car, it seems great value, and very little goes wrong with them in general.
I had a F355 before that. They need their buttresses repainted regularly (less than 2yrs) due to cracking/corrossion. It's not uncommon for a 7000-8000 miler to need new electronic dampers. Then there's the cambelt £2000 from a Ferrari dealer which needs doing every couple of years, then the clutch (if you have an F1) is a good £2000+ every 8000-10000 miles. and that's before you start regular servicing costs (oil/filter changes)
One argument is that if you have a "supercar", you should expect to pay "supercar" maintenance costs, but that's a cop-out when Porsche can deliver a car with similar performance with very low running costs.
I really want to get myself a 550, but shudder at what the running costs are like.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be a Porsche-bore, I really want to know how much these things cost to maintain.
>> Edited by GT2man-2 on Wednesday 14th May 20:26
Do the cam belts need doing regularly ?
What's an "average" service bill.
My GT2 had it's first year, 12,000 mile service and wasn't any more than an oil + filter job really (less than £300). Timing belts are required every 4yrs or 48000 miles (from memory) and those services aren't more than £600. For a £100K car, it seems great value, and very little goes wrong with them in general.
I had a F355 before that. They need their buttresses repainted regularly (less than 2yrs) due to cracking/corrossion. It's not uncommon for a 7000-8000 miler to need new electronic dampers. Then there's the cambelt £2000 from a Ferrari dealer which needs doing every couple of years, then the clutch (if you have an F1) is a good £2000+ every 8000-10000 miles. and that's before you start regular servicing costs (oil/filter changes)
One argument is that if you have a "supercar", you should expect to pay "supercar" maintenance costs, but that's a cop-out when Porsche can deliver a car with similar performance with very low running costs.
I really want to get myself a 550, but shudder at what the running costs are like.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be a Porsche-bore, I really want to know how much these things cost to maintain.
>> Edited by GT2man-2 on Wednesday 14th May 20:26
But you managed it so well 
First up, I think your generalisations on 355s are somewhat wide of the mark (desperate not to sound like your dis'ing my girlfriend/child/etc you understand, but realise I'm about to fail ).
It sounded like you were implying that all of them need their buttresses repainting every two years? Mine's over 4yrs old and has never had it done and currently doesn't look like it'll be needed (despite it getting used "well"). Similarly the dampers seem fine (and are covered by warranty anyway). And an oil change can be had for 225GBP tops from a main dealer...
Anyone entering into Ferrari ownership expecting to get away with an oil change every year is kidding themselves.
But then there are probably less than a tenth of the number of Ferraris on the road than there are Porsches, so the number of development miles done is significantly less.
They're also Italian, not German. This traditionally means they are not as robust, but they are somewhat prettier to look at and sound shed loads better.
Of course these last two measures are somewhat subjective and, perhaps, irrational. But then spunking 100k on a car is hardly the most rational thing to do in the first place.
If I want relaibility, I'll buy a Toyota. And leave the passion with the other toy.
Whilst I'm being a Ferrari bore here, I'm far from blind to their faults and shortcomings. But the nub is that Ferrari has that added something, often that people cannot explain, that makes them that bit more special than pretty much anything else on the road.
Ask 100 people off the street which car they'd prefer to be given a spin and I reckon the vast majority would choose the Ferrari. Why? Not totally sure, but it's what makes them worth any compromise that might have to be made on running costs.
I have no doubt that were I to own a Porsche I'd smile when I saw it in my garage. But the grin I get every time I see the 355 is insane. And the sound of the thing through tunnels has had even non-petrolhead passengers wet themselves laughing. No Porsche would do that.
Crikey, bit of a rant that. I do like Porsches, honest.
First up, I think your generalisations on 355s are somewhat wide of the mark (desperate not to sound like your dis'ing my girlfriend/child/etc you understand, but realise I'm about to fail
). It sounded like you were implying that all of them need their buttresses repainting every two years? Mine's over 4yrs old and has never had it done and currently doesn't look like it'll be needed (despite it getting used "well"). Similarly the dampers seem fine (and are covered by warranty anyway). And an oil change can be had for 225GBP tops from a main dealer...
Anyone entering into Ferrari ownership expecting to get away with an oil change every year is kidding themselves.
But then there are probably less than a tenth of the number of Ferraris on the road than there are Porsches, so the number of development miles done is significantly less.
They're also Italian, not German. This traditionally means they are not as robust, but they are somewhat prettier to look at and sound shed loads better.
Of course these last two measures are somewhat subjective and, perhaps, irrational. But then spunking 100k on a car is hardly the most rational thing to do in the first place.
If I want relaibility, I'll buy a Toyota. And leave the passion with the other toy.
Whilst I'm being a Ferrari bore here, I'm far from blind to their faults and shortcomings. But the nub is that Ferrari has that added something, often that people cannot explain, that makes them that bit more special than pretty much anything else on the road.
Ask 100 people off the street which car they'd prefer to be given a spin and I reckon the vast majority would choose the Ferrari. Why? Not totally sure, but it's what makes them worth any compromise that might have to be made on running costs.
I have no doubt that were I to own a Porsche I'd smile when I saw it in my garage. But the grin I get every time I see the 355 is insane. And the sound of the thing through tunnels has had even non-petrolhead passengers wet themselves laughing. No Porsche would do that.
Crikey, bit of a rant that. I do like Porsches, honest.
PS Anyone dwelling on the cost of a car versus the performance it provides should probably steer clear of Ferraris and other "supercars".
Let's face it, sh*t loads of 30k or less motors these days will be able to keep up with even the best supercars in the real world.
That's why I have a Caterham - which is more than capable of lapping the 355 over and over again on most circuits, and on plenty of circuits would show a GT2 a clean pair of heels too. And it has a (albeit nice sounding) Metro engine up front
Let's face it, sh*t loads of 30k or less motors these days will be able to keep up with even the best supercars in the real world.
That's why I have a Caterham - which is more than capable of lapping the 355 over and over again on most circuits, and on plenty of circuits would show a GT2 a clean pair of heels too. And it has a (albeit nice sounding) Metro engine up front
hehe, nice rant Murph, but you're already preaching to the converted. I'm a big Ferrari nut too, which is why I bought the F355 am are looking at a 550.
Re: Buttresses, seems you are a lucky one ! Every car I looked at (main dealers) while finding my F355 had had the buttresses resprayed at some point.
So.. can anyone tell me what they've been paying to maintain their 550 ?
Re: Buttresses, seems you are a lucky one ! Every car I looked at (main dealers) while finding my F355 had had the buttresses resprayed at some point.
So.. can anyone tell me what they've been paying to maintain their 550 ?
I guess it depends if he wants a nice term relationship with someone great in the sack, or someone who's good looking, but just after his money 
On the subject of women, I found that women react better to the GT2 than the F355. Both get lots of attention, sure, but from what they've said, they find Ferraris a bit crass/tastelessly showy (Rosso/Giallo colours), whereas they found the GT2 more classy/understated as if not trying to prove/compensate for something but at the same time just as potent.
Again I don't want to get into advocacy wars, I love both marques, it's just the feedback I got from women.
>> Edited by GT2man-2 on Thursday 15th May 19:09
On the subject of women, I found that women react better to the GT2 than the F355. Both get lots of attention, sure, but from what they've said, they find Ferraris a bit crass/tastelessly showy (Rosso/Giallo colours), whereas they found the GT2 more classy/understated as if not trying to prove/compensate for something but at the same time just as potent.
Again I don't want to get into advocacy wars, I love both marques, it's just the feedback I got from women.
>> Edited by GT2man-2 on Thursday 15th May 19:09
As much as I can stand back and admire the absolute class of a Ferrari, I'd still go with the mighty GT2, given a fantasy choice. The lack of Goldfinger style fiscal clout is one reason. A lust for space-time distortion is the other; 500bhp with a derestricted exhaust is just the beginning. Unfortunately, me ending up in a bush, could be the end.
Think you're making the right move RR. Your heart doesn't seem in the Ferrari thing (just yet).
Really is a shame that the latest 911 incarnation sounds like a bag of spanners and has a back end that Bella Emberg would be embarrassed about.
As it is, should the garage ever get big enough to store more cars (or parking in central London become cheaper), I'd stick with a 70s RS or a 993 of some descrption.
After the obligatory Miura and sundry other items were tucked away
Good luck with the GT2.
Really is a shame that the latest 911 incarnation sounds like a bag of spanners and has a back end that Bella Emberg would be embarrassed about.
As it is, should the garage ever get big enough to store more cars (or parking in central London become cheaper), I'd stick with a 70s RS or a 993 of some descrption.
After the obligatory Miura and sundry other items were tucked away
Good luck with the GT2.
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