Can You Afford To Drive A Ferrari? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Dave S. · 03-30-2009, 04:06 AM

A friend sent me this article after we were discussing my anticipated cost of ownership of my (new to me) '03 Boxster S compared to the extremely affordable Triumph TR8 I've had for the past 24 years. Now I can tell my wife, "at least I didn't buy a Ferrari" ;-)

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/articles/archives/939

Dave S.

Ofishbein · 03-30-2009, 05:55 AM

Buying a Ferrari is an emotional decision; a Porsche is an intelligent one. The trick is getting the emotion out of your system before you commit.

JP308 · 03-30-2009, 06:19 AM

Or you can do both and have 1 of each like I do.

regards,
JP

Ofishbein · 03-30-2009, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP308

Or you can do both and have 1 of each like I do.

regards,
JP

I've owned three Ferraris ('72 Dino, '79 308, and '83 512BBi) and, while I had a great time, I no longer regard them with the same love-blind loyalty that I had in the '80s.

RandallNeighbour · 03-30-2009, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ofishbein

Buying a Ferrari is an emotional decision; a Porsche is an intelligent one. The trick is getting the emotion out of your system before you commit.

I guess that depends on the size of your wallet. Buying my boxster was an emotionally-driven decision and the car has cost me plenty to keep it on the road creak and squeak free (poorly built control arms, etc.). Not as much as a Ferrari from what I've heard, but far more than I have spent on any other car I have owned.

Of course, I'm not whining... I really do love my Boxster and will keep it for a very long time! It's just a very expensive car to keep in excellent condition after it has 75k or ten years on it.

eightsandaces · 03-30-2009, 08:39 AM

Randall, a lot of your expenses have been discretionary, not that I'm judging, after all we spend a long time in the dirt.

vath2001 · 03-30-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ofishbein

Buying a Ferrari is an emotional decision; a Porsche is an intelligent one. The trick is getting the emotion out of your system before you commit.

I'm with Randall on this one. Buying a Toyota Camry is an intelligent decison. Buying a Porsche is still an emotional choice.... potentially an expensive emotional choice.

JP308 · 03-31-2009, 09:13 AM

Every car I have ever bought has been an emotional choice. I have never bought a car to go from A to B, to me, it's all in the drive to get there.

mylamb · 03-31-2009, 10:05 AM

That article was not surprising. I have read in numerous magazines that the maint. on the 12 cylinder Ferraris is through the roof - makes the 8 cylinders seem like bargains. They pretty much shoot down the notion of purchasing a 456GT.

Still, I can remember shooting the sh#@ with one of the salesmen at Luxury Motors about 360 Modenas, and he said the first major service (12 mos) is $8000. I don't know if he was pulling that from his rear or what, but that seems a little ridiculous.

eightsandaces · 03-31-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylamb

That article was not surprising. I have read in numerous magazines that the maint. on the 12 cylinder Ferraris is through the roof - makes the 8 cylinders seem like bargains. They pretty much shoot down the notion of purchasing a 456GT.

Still, I can remember shooting the sh#@ with one of the salesmen at Luxury Motors about 360 Modenas, and he said the first major service (12 mos) is $8000. I don't know if he was pulling that from his rear or what, but that seems a little ridiculous.

I believe it, worked with a cardiologist who owned a Ferrari, they are rich men's toys. I only wish I had trained to service such vehicles, if you are a cracker jack Ferrari wrench, you're going to do fine in life...