458 Spider is a go

[PHC1]

[ame=http://youtu.be/RBhHnngIyfo]1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Sells for $4.1 Million - YouTube[/ame]

[PHC1]

Yep, I have a 250GT SWB too. I stare at it every day. It cost me $4,099,500 cheaper too.

[Freestone]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Quite a price difference between the two...

The 246gts Dino is pretty close to a 458.

Yes, the 250gt swb is definitely pricier. Even the non alloy one - that auction one is no doubt a sefac. I drove one to crater lake - really fun on those roads!

I don't mean to take away from the 458 - they are just too good for today's roads and traffic.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Freestone

The 246gts Dino is pretty close to a 458.

Yes, the 250gt swb is definitely pricier. Even the non alloy one - that auction one is no doubt a sefac. I drove one to crater lake - really fun on those roads!

I don't mean to take away from the 458 - they are just too good for today's roads and traffic.

Speaking of roads and traffic, the world population has tripled since the '50s. That's right, TRIPLED....


I have owned and drove the last 3 generations of Ferrari V8 Berlinettas with the last 2 on the track as well as the street (the 458 and the 430 Scud) let's just say that even my current 360 Challenge Stradale is way too much for the street. What isn't for most local roads that still have 25 MPH speed limits.... That fact will not change unless our government makes us all drive golf carts....

We certainly can't blame the car manufacturers for making technological progress. It is what the customers want and expect. We can wax poetical about the days of the cars with more personality, soul and character and a more direct, mechanical feel. No drive by wire, none of those nanny electronics, no ABS, no traction control, no stability control. Just give me that raw fumes and unburnt fuel V8 or V12 with a hot cam, flames shooting out the exhaust and badly in need of carb tuning... Except it's 2012 now.... We can forget about cars like that...

While I also respect and enjoy looking at cars of the years gone by, I have to say, I am not in any hurry to fill up my garage with those vintage cars. I much prefer to drive my cars when I have time instead of trying to maintain and repair them. I don't enjoy spending tens of thousands of dollars on getting the car running for a period of time only to do it again when something else breaks. I like to drive my cars fast, hard and put them away wet. When something breaks, I hand over the keys to my local Ferrari dealer and have them fix it under warranty and within a few days since parts are readily available. Not that I've had any real problems with any of the 3 generations of my Ferrari cars.

I love the styling and looks of Porsche cars of the '70s and '80s but every time I drive one, they feel like technology from 50 years ago, massive initial understeer, a threat of snap oversteer when pushed hard so unless it is a track prepped 911, I would not have that much fun with it.... Just not for me at this point in my life. It is the same for older Ferrari cars. I drove a few older Ferrari cars and they felt like I was driving a BUS....

I'll stick to the modern cars for now, depreciation be damned. (I ride the depreciation curve carefully though, only buying brand new and hot Ferrari cars that command a premium when sold with a few thousand miles or the recent cars that have deflated like a balloon but have stabilized). No pain...

Having said all that, I can certainly appreciate the passion of vintage car collectors as well. God bless those that can afford the Ferrari cars of the 50's and '60s.

[PHC1]

The Chariot is here. That's good news for someone else though.... I decided to pass. What can I say, after 5 Ferrari cars in 2 years, I just didn't feel like paying $327K for a Spider which ultimately is not my cup of tea... I'll let another enthusiast enjoy the car (evidently one buyer was willing to pay much, much more right away for it, no surprise there! ).

In any case, I think I did a pretty good job spec'ing the car for the custom build. I got compliments from virtually everyone who saw it. This Chariot is not for the shy or timid!


From a blank page on the Ferrari configurator to the custom built car and reality in 6 months...

[Audio 1]

Not much to say but simply AWESOME!
At least you were able to see the reality of your custom build in person before going to its new home.

[Freestone]

Ferrari does interiors really well. Much more luxurious than Porsche, which aren't nearly as nice in comparison. Perhaps since the base Porsche model is lower in price, or maybe the German outlook on life.

[Still-One]

Serge
Your dealer is probably very very happy that he is going to be able to sell it for a nice mark-up over what you were going to pay. I am sure you are going to be very high on his Christmas list.

That is one nice looking car. I like the dark interiors so much more than Tan.

Jim

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Audio 1

Not much to say but simply AWESOME!
At least you were able to see the reality of your custom build in person before going to its new home.

Good practice for next time if I ever decide to get a new Ferrari...

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Freestone

Ferrari does interiors really well. Much more luxurious than Porsche, which aren't nearly as nice in comparison. Perhaps since the base Porsche model is lower in price, or maybe the German outlook on life.

Yeah, there is that pretty significant difference in price too... Let's not forget that this car had somewhere around $80k in options and one can buy a whole Porsche Boxster for that or a base 911 for just a bit more. Porsche interiors are quite nice as well if some $$$ are thrown at them.