I have a friend of who lives just up the road from me. He had the first 997S that I saw just after they were released.

Eighteen months ago, he bought a 997Turbo. Fantastic car.

Three weeks back he called me over; the Turbo was gone. Imagine my surprise - in the garage was a Ferrari 430.

I buzzed around in it a bit. In fear of sounding iconoclastic - this is, after all, supposed to be the best Ferrari ever made and my friend had just spent a heap of cash - I raved about the car's sound and feel and amazing power but in truth, I was underwhelmed. It was big, it rattled and shook, it needed 5000rpm to really excite, it took him 10 minutes to get in or out of his garage. Oh, and did I say it was big? I thought it must just be me.

I got back from an overseas trip yesterday and there was a message from him; Call me.

Well, the Ferrari has gone.....after just three weeks! In the garage is a white 997GT3. Apparently the Ferrari developed some problem - a banging in the front suspension - and he used the excuse to hand it back. I guess he probably fought a bit but he's good at that. He admitted that the car had actually been a disappointment and a bit of a pain.

Today, my son and I went and played with the GT3. Focussed and revvy, more than my S. Slight boom in mid-range which I think could rankle after a while. I'm used to my car's low-rev torque and the GT3 didn't seem as muscular down below 4000rpm (although it happily spins over 8000 at the other end).

All in all, a cracking car; but I think for me, a non-track driver, my S is all the car I'll ever want.