I've been a life-long car nut, with Porsche and Ferrari right up at the top. I've now owned 4 Porsches and loved each one. I'm really attached to my GTS, but there are some items that are starting to get under my skin:

* Road/Tire Noise. Even with new Michelins...some roads are almost unbearable in terms of road noise...even the decent tollways around Dallas.
* Rattles & Stuff. Given the 997 has a fair amount of plastic in the interior, as well as a lot of hard-hard surface contacts, it seems prone to it's share of squeaks and rattles. I think this generation of cars tend to age fairly quickly.
* I'm no Manual Shifting Pro. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy shifting the gears myself, and I really like the ability to hold a gear at a certain rev, but off the line (Stop->1st->2nd) I'm sure there are some rental cars that can make me look slow. I know driving lessons would help...so that one is probably on me and not the car.

Before you respond about the 991: I'm not sold on it. While I have stated in previous posts that it is better than the 997 in every way, it is also much more sedate in every way as a DD, and really needs to be pushed hard to feel as sporty as my GTS. So I'm (currently) not considering one. Maybe the new GT3 will change that, but I also don't like wings on my cars either.

So what do I enjoy about my 997?
* I think it's just below the 993 in terms of contemporary 911 styling and pure 911 joy. I do believe that over time it will prove to be one of the classic eras of 911 models
* It is pure driving fun.
* What is there not to like about having that engine sit out back?
* The fat a$$ of my WB has such great lines.
* There is a legacy in the 911 model that no other sports car can really match (maybe a Corvette???)
* I am most certainly emotionally attached to this car.

So to the dilemma: Considering a Ferrari (599 at that).

As much as I love my Porsches, Ferrari's have always felt a little like the Holy Grail to me. Never a Lambo fan here...just Porsche and Ferrari. I grew up loving the 308/328, and even got to sit in a Magnum PI car when we lived in Hawaii. So now I'm at a point that I can 'afford' a Ferrari, and the bug has bitten: hard. I've driven a few F430s. Great car: not for me. I can't fit my golf clubs in it...and my most interesting drives are to/from the course on the weekends. So then comes the California and 599. Truth be told, the California would probably suit this family best as my wife likes them and it is a convertible. But it just doesn't feel like the raw Ferrari that you look for, and current pre-owned market prices are more than a 599. And then there's the 599. Holy Bat $hit...what power. And great Italian lines. And Emotion??? It's oozing emotion.

So I have a beat on a few cars, trying to decide to pull the trigger. Only issues I'm dealing with now are:

* Payments go up to the edge of my comfort zone
* OUT OF WARRANTY - Even though current Ferrari generations are much more 'reliable' and can be driven regularly...it's still out of warranty for a 07/08
* It's a classic Ferrari V12 GT...fits within that legacy of car.
* Did I mention the warranty thing???
* 4 years left of payments in this GTS...would be extending payments a few years with the 599.
* 599s have already taken hard depreciation hits with F12 launched, so I'm not as concerned with losing too much $$$ on a 599.

But I find myself absolutely hooked to getting one....so help me out in removing the emotional items and tell me what you think about this type of move. Or, go ahead and tell me that the emotion (for the Porsche or the Ferrari) is absolutely required here.

I look forward to the wisdom of the group given me some direction.

 

599 is sick, I have been in the same debate and the 599 would be my ONLY choice in a Ferrari, i owned a Stradale and this is in itself a sick car, but for me the Ferrari (barring the Enzo) is all about 12 cyl front engine and the 599 is the best example they have come out with since the 60's IMO.

If you can do it go for it, Porsches are great I have owned 9 996/997 variants, now that I am done and back in an R8 again I dont know that I am in such a rush to jump into a 991 even the GT3. I have a slot if I want it, but I am still not sold on the looks, I am with you 997 is closest to the Mecca of the 993 which I think is the best 911 variant ever.

GL with whatever you choose to do and DO NOT rush. My Stradale purchase turned into a mess of lies from the Seller which I wont go into, but tarnished my reputation due to no fault of mine. This all happened as I was in a rush and had to have it, go thru whatever you buy well and make sure it is 100% complete ...

Marc

 

I think this will assist in your decision process: Chris Harris sold his 4.0 RS to buy one - and mind you, he's not a fan of the company.

Re: warranty, that's just one of those things ya gotta accept. You could try to get an aftermarket, but cost might make it more practical to self-insure. But FWIW, the 599's are supposed to be very reliable.

Re: payments. Hear ya on that. But you probably won't own it forever. Figure out your ownership time horizon, assume some costs for maintenance and just accept that it's not an investment. That said, I think the low mileage 599's are nearing the bottom of their depreciation curve. Another thing on maintenance, living in Dallas, you have access to a lot of quality mechanics who work on high end foreign marques. This might be a more challenging experience in other parts of the country.

Re: heritage and legacy, cant relate on those matters. I'm just looking for something that puts a smile on my face. Pretty sure I'd have a perma-grin after driving a 599.

A front engine 12 is going to be a lot different than a rear engine 6. Less go cart experience; more hold-on-we're-going-for-a-ride sorta feeling (think Z06 or ZR1 but w/a nice mechanical whine as opposed to a burly V8 grumble). Also, most of these were fitted with the F1 trans. A 6 speed is rare but they're out there (think RAC had one a few months back).

I envy your dilemma, sir.

 

Thanks guys. I'm so on the fence here...but have found a car and working through final numbers before calling a local Ferrari specialist for a PPI. The thing about it is I'm less concerned about whether I'll enjoy the 599 as I am with the potential regret of letting go of the GTS. I've had a couple of cars that I let go of that I've regretted ever since: a 01 Boxster S and an old 98 RX-7.

 

Took a little searching:

2007 Ferrari 599 GTB for Sale - 1012149 - duPontREGISTRY.com

 

Your asking the wrong crowd buddy. We are here because we are abnormally over emotional about cars and focus to much energy, time and money on them like an addiction. And a Ferrari is never not an emotional buy. There is nothing sensible about spending that much on a Ferrari, but I would do it if that is what I wanted for now.
Get it and enjoy it, give us pics and impressions.

 

you miss those cars because you loved em. i get it.

you will love the 599. i do. prob is, i cant buy one.

what IF you passed and couldnt ever have another chance at getting one?

OR what IF you just bought it the second you wanted and worked instead of dreaming? ive done this twice and never regretted it... bought over the phone and never saw the cars and never been in these cars... i think its more fun to do this.

doesnt the 599 have factory warranty left?

 

it's an 07, i believe warranty ran out some time ago. I'm not sure what the original warranty period was on a 07 Ferrari, but it's not the 7-year deal that they have today.

 

get a 991 C4S with powerkit. that solves the power dilemma without wings

 

I'd would say the 599 would be a wise chose over a porsche. Far more exclusive.

Now I could be wrong but I've been told that in order to purchase a ferrari you need to have owned on in the past. Or did that only relate to the Enzo?