[ds968]

Since the subject came up on another thread but it's way off-topic there, I thought I'd beat the moderators to it and continue the conversation here ; setting aside the outrageous upkeep costs ( and the frequency of that maintenance requiring the car to be in the shop half of the time ) which most Ferraris demand, is there anyone here who would prefer their 968 over a Ferrari if given the choice to own either / or ? I'll also share how I feel about the matter as a start : I would take most Ferraris over the 968 with the following exceptions : Mondial, 400i, GT4, Testarossa, and FF ; I find those to be so ugly, I simply refuse to be seen in one. I probably missed a few other f-ugly ones, but those are the ones with which I am familiar. I have driven only four Ferraris : a BB ( Berlinetta Boxer ) , a 308 GTB, a Testarossa and a 550 Maranello . I was considering buying a low mileage 550 Maranello for about $ 75k and as impressive as it was to drive it somehow fell short of the feedback and that one-with-the-car feeling the 968 gives me. I have the same opinion of my boss's brand new Maserati GT I drove recently : beauty, speed, fantastic exhaust note, and yet just not quite the in control of the car experience of the 968. I know how strange this may seem to some, but that's how I feel. How about others here ? Which Ferrari over the 968 ?

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[Inkedupfatboy]

Ridicule me if you want, but I would like to own a Dino. I like the way they look and they are reasonably affordable right now. The auction prices for Ferrari's are stupid. They Daytona's are sweet, but no way would I ever pay two million for a car.



Actually and off topic, If push came to shove, I think I would rather have a Lotus.

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[Cloud9...68]

As I said in the other thread, I've always had a soft spot for the 308 (although I guess I'd have to grow a big mustache if I ever bought one...). I agree that the Dino is gorgeous, but it's an absolute dog of a car that the 968 (and maybe even a 924) would run rings around. Of the more modern ones I like the 360 best.



But there is a MAJOR upkeep issue with all the mid-engined Ferrari's starting with the 308 - not only are belt replacements needed at least as frequently as on the 968, but up until I believe the one that succeeded the 360 (can're remember the model - 4-something), you have to REMOVE THE ENGINE to do the job, making it something like a $5000+ piece of routine maintenance.

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[flash]

i also like the 308, but it's really slow. a 328 would be better. i like the targa too.



personally, i think i would probably be looking at either a 355 or a 360. now that i have really grown to appreciate the tip, i think i would be ok leaving the manual trans behind, which makes the 360 more to my liking. i always like it, but wanted a manual. now i think i would be fine.



budget is not a consideration on any of those for me, including maintenance. it's really all about whether or not i want it badly enough.

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[ds968]

Beauty is subjective of course, but I do think the Dino is THE most beautiful car of all time. Followed by the DB9. :-). As underpowered as the Dino is, I'd love to own one but I'm puzzled by the differences in value I see for those cars and it makes no sense : there are some listed at " reasonably affordable " prices , and others at $ 250 k +, or some even more than $ 1 million. And all of them appear to be in very nice condition , so are the bargain price ones possibly replicas ?

See link :

http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Sear...246%20Dino

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[Cloud9...68]

Yeah, "reasonably affordable," and "Ferrari Dino" don't really belong in the same sentence, unless you have "Slim" of "Gates" somewhere in your name. I haven't seen one under about a quarter mil in a long time, but I can't say I follow the Dino market very actively.



I love the 360. If I had the money and the inclination, it would be fun to do what the guy in the GRM article did with his 308, though, and upgrade it mechanically to bring it up to modern standards, while retaining the classic appeal of the 308. But if you're looking at a two-pedal car, that is obviously out.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

I was thinking of the squared off wedge shaped ones when I said Dino & affordable in the same sentence.

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[Bulti]

I'd have the 512 TR Testarossa (not the M version!). In any case, it should be a 12-cilinder for sure. In this case a 180° V12.



DS maybe the Enzo is one more for your ugly-list?

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[Cloud9...68]

I'm with DS here - the Testarossa just looks goofy to me, with those huge strakes on the sides. At least it looks better than the Lamborghini Countach - hard to imagine a much uglier car, although the Enzo is definitely up there!



Even if I had the money, though, I can't see myself getting a flashy exotic like a Ferrari, even a "pedestrian" only like an early 308. I barely drive during the week - I commute to work in a vanpool, and alternate driving the four miles to the pick-up point with a fellow rider who lives up the street. So, the car I use for that purpose (currently the 968) bakes in the Texas sun all day. I'm OK with doing that with the 968 for now, since I've ruined it by converting it to a track car, but no way would I do that with a Ferrari, or even a new VW GTI. And I wouldn't want to go back to driving my car to work, as that's pretty much the opposite of fun. So I'd be left with a weekend toy, but that's what the track is for.

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[Bulti]

If I had to choose between a Ferrari and a Lambo, I'd go for the Lambo (even the Countach). Maybe less beautiful or elegant, but it makes it all up with an abundance of Italian drama. And that's an important plus for this type if car.

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[flash]

i've driven quite a few different lambs and the only one i would consider is way out of my range, extremely rare, and i would not subject it to socal traffic.

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[ds968]

[quote name='Bulti' timestamp='1385839986' post='153029']I'd have the 512 TR Testarossa (not the M version!). In any case, it should be a 12-cilinder for sure. In this case a 180° V12.

DS maybe the Enzo is one more for your ugly-list?

[/quote]



Yes - Very exaggerated looks, f-ugly in my book for sure. But that one I'd drive..in spite of its appearance, just as I would a Veyron, another aesthetic disaster IMHO. I can't stand the looks of any Lambos ( since they started all those blunt nose, angular lines models )

I have driven a Countach and for the half hour of s that I had the wheel I must admit it was a blast...only to realize of course that as intimidatingly fast as they look and sound, the first generation Countachs run pretty much neck in neck with a NA 968 ( six speed ) with just the air box and chip mod in both 0-60 and the Q-mile...but they do have a materially higher top end potential..

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[flash]

miura - nothing more to say

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[DaveN]

I certainly agree with DS that the DB9 is one heck of a looker. Ferrari wise I would pick a 458 if they would just move all the crap off the steering wheel and put it back on the dash where it belongs!

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='flash' timestamp='1385850646' post='153036']

miura - nothing more to say

[/quote]

That's what I was going to guess! Stunning car for sure. But it's a coupe!

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[ds968]

Yup, and after the Miura someone at Lambo thought : hey, this car is way too good looking and people might mistake it for a Ferrari, so why don't we cut the front of the car in half so it looks like it smashed into a wall, and then also iron out any semblance of a curve in the body lines. But it still sells, so clearly there are many folks out there who like it .

As for the DB9 I saw a brand new one ( 2014, I guess ) and they changed the body style a little bit but just enough to mess it up IMO. It's bulkier somehow, stands taller all around and it's one of those things not easy to describe but it diminished its sex appeal ; the best comparison I can draw is the first generation Audi A5 vs. the S5 ( it's not just the engine that's different, there are minor body lines differences but once again enough to turn the S5 into the stronger but less attractive sibling of the two )

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[flash]

lol - we liked the new one better than the previous one. the front end looks smaller and sleeker.

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[flash]

back on the topic of a ferrari though, for me, it's as much about features as anything else. i really like the targa idea. best of both worlds sort of thing. that's fairly limiting though, as it's either the 308/328 or the superamerica, which is really out of my range at this time.



then comes the trans. i am stuck living where i really cannot take advantage of and enjoy a manual trans. that takes the 308/328 out of the running.



so, really there isn't even a ferrari that i like enough to say "yeah - that's it for sure"



no idea what's next. i just know that i am moving on from the 968. i love the car, but i can't manage to drive it enough to justify it sitting here. i spend way too much time cleaning it.



i'll probably just drive the SL550 for a while, as i think about what will be next, and why.

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[DaveN]

How about a California? After all, it was made for you Socal guys. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.png" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ph34r.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Cloud9...68]

I had thought about that one. It's styling has gotten a lot of criticism, but I happen to like it. When he mentioned he wanted something lighter, though, I thought it wouldn't fit the bill. I've never sat in a California, but I did stick my head inside one (the closest I'll probably ever get to driving one...) on a warm day once, and that had to be the best-smelling interior I've ever experienced. The leather alone in that thing is probably worth more than a cherry 968.

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