ViribusUnits

As far at the reliability issue, what I'm hearing doesn't sound that much diffrent than what Iw as told before I bought a 928. The maintace is impossible to do yourself, often screwed up by shops, and expensive no matter what.

A good over all car, with brakes, hanndling, and stability, if lacking a bit in the power department.

Does this sound fimiler to anyone?

The truth later came out the 928 is fairly easy to work on. The WSM lay everything out for you. It's reliable, fast enough for just about anything I want to do, and hanndles wounderfuly. Heck, I even get good gas milage!

So I don't really trust all this downing it's ability. Maybe the Italians don't have their big three. If so that would be a deffent down side.

However, I wouldn't trade in my 928. Why? Well, I got a solid, reliable, built car that I'm fimiler with. I know it runs well, and run well into the high miles. I know it's easy to work on, and have most of the reqired tools. To put it simply, I'm a 928 enthusest. I have respect for the Italian cars, but I like my German one better for no other reason than it's already mine. (thats not to say I'm not going to modify the heck out of it!)

Z

I knew someone that bought a brand new Ferrari 328 and a brand new Corvette, at pretty much the same time. Both were white. When I asked him how the two compared, I was kind of surprised to hear his answer. He said that the Corvette was quicker, faster, rode better, handled better, was more comfortable, more reliable, easier to get serviced, parts were cheaper and more readily available, got better gas milage, and was cheaper to insure. The Corvette was basically better in pretty much any way like that, but there was one way in which the Ferrari was vastly superior. It was much, much better for attracting and picking up very materialistic women. Depending on the individual, that might make the Ferrari the clear winner, and make it worth having to put up with all of the other stuff. He did really kind of like that Ferrari.

seanball72

Thats has to go through a head or two at purchase time. I guess that makes them even more expensive then I realized. I forgot about the most expensive service of all.......Mrs. Drainyouforallyouvegottski!

glack

That would be "Ms." Drainyouforallyouvegotski

seanball72

GOOD Point! It could be worse........


Mrs Takeyouforatleasthalfofallyougotplusferrariandspousalsupportington

T_MaX

I don't think I would trade (maybe add). I have always had my eye on a 400i!

doc_erik

I've now got one of each. This is my first Porsche, but I've had a Ferrari for over 6 years now. Ferraris aren't as delicate as people think, the trick is to maintain it (DON'T LET IT FALL APART SITTING IN THE GARAGE!!!), and to drive it regularly. They are the same as all cars, who ever is under the hood needs to know what they are doing. Its when someone who knows nothing about cars (or preventative maintenance) gets ahold of one that you run into problems and get a car with stories. Unfortunately, most of the Ferraris on the market have stories, the well sorted ones never seem to be for sale.

I've found maintaining the Ferrari has been cheaper than my Mercedes 500 SEL. Parts have been cheaper too.

As always, find the best example of the one you like that you can afford, and you'll be okay.

John..

Well I already have Testarossa and F355 straight line performance, in fact probably better, but it was still cool to drive it for a day.

Gretch

No long explanation here. Not interested in trading my 928. If I come across a Ferrari for free, then I will trade it for a TT, or a GTS. In fact, I would rather have a new hunting truck than a Ferrari (ok, 8 hunting trucks).

UKKid35

Just suppose I could afford a Ferrari, which I can't, and suppose the cam belt failed, like my 928's has, how much would it cost to put right?

Somehow I don't think a Ferrari would be a good idea for me...

Oh, and I was a passenger in a 456 at a track day, very quick for sure, but the interior was horrible and it's not even that good looking outside.

John..

I agree the build quality is nowhere close to a 928, but for that matter, nor is a Boxster or 996 these days either.

I have a friend in town who does some restos of Ferrari and Porsche....they are not put together as well as a Porsche, you can see this if you get a chance to see one torn down a good bit.

I would still not kick one out of my garage, but I agree with you the best performance/ quality combination for the money is with a Porsche.

doc_erik

Busted timing belt will result in anywhere between $4k to $12k depending on type and year of car. 308 and 328 belts can be done with the motor in the car.

Build quality on the Pininfarina body cars (V12 2+2's) are much better than the Scaglietti bodies (3x8's, TR's, etc...).

The reason services run so much is usually fixing everything the PO didn't fix. Ferraris are usually a study in deferred maintenance.

JEC_31

My Shark is showing 137,000+ miles, and of all the receipts that came with it none mentioned anything more major than A/C recharging. It's all oil changes, belt changes, new wipers, etc.

While I admit to drooling over the beautiful Italians, I reply to the question with a question:

"Are there any fine running 137,000 mile unrebuilt-motor Ferraris out there?"

EspritS4s

Does anyone know what kind of production numbers Ferrari has historically run vs. Porsche? I've always but Lotus some slack on their fit and finish because of their low numbers, but I don't know Ferrari's volumes.

-Gary

athenian

The production numbers for Ferrari are very low compared to Porsche's numbers...I don't know the exact numbers produced so I can only tell you about the Ferrari 348 which I'm familiar with....

The TOTAL number of production 348 cars from Maranello between 1989 - 1994 were less than 9,000 cars.....Most of those cars are still on the road today (unlike the 928s)....The 348 had a list price of $80K - $100K (the 93-94 Spider was more like $125K). The Porsche 928S4/GT/GTS had a list price of around $80K - $90K in the early 90's....

Fast forward to 2003....Most 348 cars in above average condition are going for $50-$70K today (source: Cavallino magazine)....The 928 cars, except for the late years GT/GTS models, are nowhere near this price range....And I'm willing to bet anyone, that 10 years from now the same Ferrari 348 cars will be selling at this price or most likely at a higher premium....The Porsche 928 cars will likely sell for the price of a used Toyota!

Those who slam Ferrari cars as been unreliable, tricky, expensive, delicate etc, etc never had a chance to drive any of these cars and experience the thrill of a Ferrari motor at speed....Ferraris just like Porsches are meant to be driven and not sit for a long time as garage queens (hence most of their problems). Yes, they are expensive to service and maintain because they are specialty road racing cars, to this day mostly hand-build. Enzo Ferrari's philosophy, still true today, was to build race cars first and foremost, while people at Porsche are more interested in building road cars with experiences gained on the race track...

Forza Ferrari