Ferrari & its allure

[memps]

Driving home today in north London in my gen 1 997 I was behind a convertible F430 which was drawing a lot of attention as was a Lamborghini I saw minutes earlier, as I got nearer home another F340 was parked up & some guy was taking pictures of it. Amazing to see 3 top cars in the space of 15 minutes but my point is that Porsche simply does not have this panache, except, maybe, for other Porsche drivers. I love my car & have owned a few 911's but even I admit to being giddy seeing a Ferrari on the roads. An earlier poster compared Porshe to BMW & I have to agree. Incredible driving machines but the everyday cars are a little dull & with little character. I pick up a 991 3.4 in a week but I think it may be my last Porker. The majority of these types of cars (not just Porshe) are uninspiring & if I go back it will in time to pre 996.
Just my thoughts.

[MDL111]

Ferraris do have somehing special - they are also quite loud and look extraordinary (not necessarily as in good, but as in different from other cars) - so attract a lot of attention. I love the cars, especiallythe engines and they give me a buzz that porsches dont regardless of track performance, capabilities etc.

Unfortunately they dont make manual cars anylonger, I wish I could get a manual F12

I do like porsches too, especially old ones and RS models - but I would rather have a 250 SWB than a 2.7 RS - ferrari V12s of all generations - magic imo

Edit: a carrera gt for me beats every ferrari made in the last 40 years though

[anonymous-user]

memps said:

Driving home today in north London in my gen 1 997 I was behind a convertible F430 which was drawing a lot of attention as was a Lamborghini I saw minutes earlier, as I got nearer home another F340 was parked up & some guy was taking pictures of it. Amazing to see 3 top cars in the space of 15 minutes but my point is that Porsche simply does not have this panache, except, maybe, for other Porsche drivers. I love my car & have owned a few 911's but even I admit to being giddy seeing a Ferrari on the roads. An earlier poster compared Porshe to BMW & I have to agree. Incredible driving machines but the everyday cars are a little dull & with little character. I pick up a 991 3.4 in a week but I think it may be my last Porker. The majority of these types of cars (not just Porshe) are uninspiring & if I go back it will in time to pre 996.
Just my thoughts.

You are correct, not much compares to a Ferrari, classic or contemporary. They even look fast while parked up. I've also found the 928 gets more attention than my old 911 Targa did, probably down to the thumping V8 soundtrack like the F's. The Lamborghinis are also a special event, although definitely not for the shy.
Mind you, the 918 parked outside my office on Thursday drew quite a crowd. Sounded good too

[ORD]

Auto only. Meh.

Nice to look at, but no interest in buying one.

[rubystone]

ORD said:

Auto only. Meh.

Nice to look at, but no interest in buying one.

What's auto only?

[renmure]

I have a foot in both camps with a Ferrari 360 Spider and a Porsche 987 Boxster Spyder so am definitely not dissing the Porsche, but they ain't the same. There is no getting away from the wow factor effect of a Ferrari among the general public. You tend to get a reaction (usually positive) no matter where you are driving or what you are doing. Even the "anti" brigade react. It is pretty rare that nobody bothers, the noise tends to mean that not bothering isn't really an option most of the time anyhow. I totally get the idea that for some folk, these are the exact reasons not to have a Ferrari but I doubt there are many folk who are shallow enough to buy one just for those reasons tho.

I don't think it is an "Italian car" thing, I think it is simply that they are still a rare sight on the roads and most folk who see one can tell what it is and know they don't see too many.

I have never really been "into" Lamborghini's and think of them as almost a caricature supercar, but definitely a supercar, and turn my head and smile when I see or hear one like everyone else and would stop to take a snapshot if possible.

You see a lot of Porsches. I live out in the countryside in the middle of nowhere and can probably bargain on seeing a couple of Porsches throughout the week. Unless it was a big spoilered, in-yer-face GT3 RS or something more exotic then I am not sure I would give much of a 2nd look. But, for the owner, that nod towards being discrete might be part of the reason for buying it.

[Koln-RS]

I have to say, in all honesty, Ferraris do very little for me.

Some of the historic models are quite interesting, but the recent and current stuff is too big, overstyled and for my tastes. Same with Lambos. Prefer Porsche subtlety.

[offshoreeddy]

As an ex-driver of a couple of 997s and a current driver of an F430 and previously an F360, I have to agree. I've driven past countless people in my 997s and nobody gives them a second glance. Drive past almost anyone in the 430 and they turn and stare, because it's a rarer sight than a Porsche. Doesn't make it a better car - more 'exotic' maybe, but only because they're seen less. I love both of them, and I'd have another 997 in a heartbeat.

[Upnorthgt3]

Ferrari and lambo rarity contribute to the event so seeing them is interesting for anyone with a liking for cars. I love some of the older stuff - thinking California Spyder or muira (both of which look frankly gorgeous) but the new stuff is becoming increasingly bling and contrived (in my opinion) - cannot argue with the technical prowess though

It's why I like Porsches like the GT3 - it's smaller, more under the radar, will take a thrashing that would destroy its Italian rivals and only appreciated by those in the know.

Now what did Charlie Sheen say about Ferraris in No Mans Land......

[sidicks]

I think some Ferraris and Lamborghinis look great as your archetypal sports car, but while I'd like to be able to afford one, I've no interest in owning one, purely because they are so in your face and attract so much attention.

Even with a big rear spoiler, the GT3 in boring silver is fairly subtle and can be left in places where I wouldn't dream of leaving a Ferrari or similar.

Additionally, although I've not driven either, from what i've read I'm not sure that those cars are actually any better or more fun to drive, and are seemingly more about being seen and heard. Happy to be corrected by someone who has driven them and can compare against Porsche.

i'm sure if i owned a Ferrari or Lambo it wouldn't get half the use my GT3 gets.

[Carlson W6]

I drive a 997 Turbo S as a daily.

Because Porsche's are not that unique on the road i can just about get away with driving mine to work without it causing too many comments from my employers.

A Ferrari would be a step too far.

[APOLO1]

Carlson W6 said:

I drive a 997 Turbo S as a daily.

Because Porsche's are not that unique on the road i can just about get away with driving mine to work without it causing too many comments from my employers.
A Ferrari would be a step too far.

That's why I like the 91 Turbo S as a daily, you can just "lose it" any place. Then turn up at a track day, press a few buttons and be faster than 2 off the Top 3 on some tracks.......

[renmure]

sidicks said:

Additionally, although I've not driven either, from what i've read I'm not sure that those cars are actually any better or more fun to drive, and are seemingly more about being seen and heard. Happy to be corrected by someone who has driven them and can compare against Porsche.

You really think there are lots of folk out there who buy a Ferrari just to be seen and heard? Enough folk that you are able to read about them? Maybe you are right, but I expect they will be as unrepresentative of normal Ferrari owners as it would be to say that Porsches are more about being able to leave in a carpark than about driving performance.

"better to drive"? Hmmm.. I guess it comes down to what you want at any given time. Sometimes I wish my 360 Spider was as fast as the 996 Turbo S it replaced... but only for a few seconds.. because it is plenty fast enough. Admittedly, sometimes I wish I could park it at the train station without too much worry like I could the Porsche.

[supersport]

memps said:

Driving home today in north London in my gen 1 997 I was behind a convertible F430 which was drawing a lot of attention as was a Lamborghini I saw minutes earlier, as I got nearer home another F340 was parked up & some guy was taking pictures of it. Amazing to see 3 top cars in the space of 15 minutes but my point is that Porsche simply does not have this panache, except, maybe, for other Porsche drivers. I love my car & have owned a few 911's but even I admit to being giddy seeing a Ferrari on the roads. An earlier poster compared Porshe to BMW & I have to agree. Incredible driving machines but the everyday cars are a little dull & with little character. I pick up a 991 3.4 in a week but I think it may be my last Porker. The majority of these types of cars (not just Porshe) are uninspiring & if I go back it will in time to pre 996.
Just my thoughts.

Interesting that you say that. I came out of a Ferrari dealer to find my 911 surrounded and guys taking photos.

[sidicks]

renmure said:

You really think there are lots of folk out there who buy a Ferrari just to be seen and heard? Enough folk that you are able to read about them? Maybe you are right, but I expect they will be as unrepresentative of normal Ferrari owners as it would be to say that Porsches are more about being able to leave in a carpark than about driving performance.

There clearly are, just as there are people who do the same for Porsche. Looking at the average mileage (and running costs) for Ferrari versus Porsche, I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that some people bought them as a status symbol rather than to drive. Clearly not everyone though.

renmure said:

"better to drive"? Hmmm.. I guess it comes down to what you want at any given time. Sometimes I wish my 360 Spider was as fast as the 996 Turbo S it replaced... but only for a few seconds.. because it is plenty fast enough. Admittedly, sometimes I wish I could park it at the train station without too much worry like I could the Porsche.

In my view, better to drive isn't really about speed - you only have to see the number of awards given to Porsche compared to Ferrari by the motoring magazines in the last 10-20 years, to suggest that Porsche's are more fun. However, that's subjective, and different people seek different things in a car.

Edited by sidicks on Sunday 10th April 22:07

[stuno1]

Have to agree with this. Was a big detraction for me when looking at the 997.2 as a purchase late last year. Love them for what they can do but as a weekend car it lacked the 'event' and 'occasion' I was after.

[Chris Stott]

Modern Ferrari's (and Lambos) remind me of Donkey from Shrek... 'LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME!!'

You drive a Porsche because they are brilliant to drive, not because kids want to take a picture of your car as you crawl round a city center at walking pace with the exhaust on max loud.

[Sam All]

Porsche is more accessible - purchase & maintenance - and surely there are far more 911's on on the road than the low slung & pretty Ferrari/Lamborghini.

Rarity really. As someone said, a CGT and the 918 will get plenty of attention.

A 1950's VW Beetle will get more attention than a 991 Carrera S

[Upnorthgt3]

stuno1 said:

Have to agree with this. Was a big detraction for me when looking at the 997.2 as a purchase late last year. Love them for what they can do but as a weekend car it lacked the 'event' and 'occasion' I was after.

Very simple answer to that one - if you can, buy a GT3 (any variant) and it will be job done

In my opinion, there is no better (modern) weekend car - big call I know, but get the right exhaust on it and it's an amazing 'occasion' of sound, feel, poise etc etc - could go on for ages, but then I'm biased

[anonymous-user]

For me the fact that people often don't give a Porsche a second look is one of the brand's plus points. My skin is nowhere near thick enough to drive a modern Ferrari - would love a 308 or Dino though. Very cool.