Book - One year with a Ferrari, any body done this with a Porsche?

[Elombard]

See link

http://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Ferrari-David-Boxberger-ebook/dp/B0077QWUBC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1398208109&sr=1-1&keywords=one+year+with+a+ferrari


I really enjoyed reading it, but in the end it is horrifying. Especially since I would really like to have a Ferrari some day.

Got me thinking. Has anybody a done a book like this about air cooled 911s?

I dont want to spoil the book but it would be interesting to compare and contrast the differences in ownership experiences.

Warning - it only takes a bit over an hour to read and you wont be able to put it down when you start. :-)

The writer also owns a 964 and it is very interesting to see his comments about that car compared to the F355 early in his F car ownership vs the end. Track days interestingly bring out the best in our 911s.

[Jrboulder]

The Gold-Plated Porsche: How I Sank a Small Fortune into a Used Car, and Other Misadventures:Amazon:Books

[clutch-monkey]

i suspect for a lot of us, one year in a 911 would be "i drove it heaps and took it for it's scheduled service, the end"

[Elombard]

Of Course - I forgot about that one. It seems like there was a couple of others that I read prior to owning one. Lots of horror stories and warnings about what to look for when buying. Hard to imagine owning one of these if you dont tinker. It would cost a fortune.

[Elombard]

Good point - I think I did an oil change the first year and I did that my self. Might be a boring book :-)

[aquazulu2]

I got to tinkering after my first service cost me 2,500. They threw out the battery and put in a new alternator and did not think of calling me for a go ahead. The car was running great before I took her in. 2,500. kiss my granny. I called the shop not long ago to borrow a Cam gear tool, they did not lend me the tool but told me to bring the car in for a tune when I finish the refurb turned rebuild. Tinkering, The costs for our obsession turn us all into mechanics and electricians.. The forums are our modern day campuses where perfectionist professors share their knowledge for free, with Bentley as or textbook. I would be negligent if I did not mention the parts store guide to while you are in there happiness. (Just Dance).

[Hnichols]

So he buys a 355? I don't have to read the book to know how this ends: $$$$$

I doubt a similar 911 book would have quite the drama. I've owned my '88 for a little over 2 years, have driven it quite a bit, and have yet to look for an area Porsche mechanic. A boring book.

As someone who always dreamt of owning a Ferrari -- in my case a 70's or '80s 308 or Mondial -- I did some research on the joys and perils of Ferrari ownership before buying the 911. Basically, routine, every third year timing belt replacement is the financial equivalent to a top end on the 3.2. That's assuming that nothing breaks in the Ferrari.

[grizzfan]

Jrboulder says:

"The Gold Plated Porsche: How I Sank a Small Fortune into a Used Car, and Other Misadventures" - Stephen Wilkinson

+1

This book is not only hilarious but almost as useful as "101 Projects for You Porsche 911" (Sorry Wayne )

Tom

[mystro]

Basically that is the story with ALL my air-cooled 911s over the last 20 years. My downfall was with newer offerings from Porsche and Audi. They were not necessarily unreliable but general maintenance cost and minor issues got expensive regardless how much I drove them. On the opposite side of the spectrum, all my air-cooled 911's were down right affordable and reliable to own. No electronic gremlins or poor build trim pieces to replace and are always in style.

Originally Posted by clutch-monkey

i suspect for a lot of us, one year in a 911 would be "i drove it heaps and took it for it's scheduled service, the end"

[Cluskera]

Or as a documentary once said: " If you own a Ferrari you'll always be walking around with a part of it in your hand trying to stick it back on. If you own a Porsche , every time you close the door you know it will close and lock."

[Elombard]

One thing about the story that is very interesting is that he bought it right around the crash in 07' or was it 08'. He was counting on minimal depreciation over 1 year on an 11 year old car. Normally this is not unreasonable expectation. Unfortunately the economy did not play along and it ends up being shocking, and disheartening. I want the experience of an Fcar but this book did not help.

Its also fascinating because he struggles with being a father, husband, and car enthusiast and he does a great job of describing the feelings of guilt that our passions for cars can bring when we make different choices.

[ParkerFE]

I owned 6 Ferrari automobiles over the last 2 decades; 328GTS, 400GT, Testarossa, 348Spider, 330GTC and BB512i. The only one I miss is the 330GTC. While they all had a great sounding engines, the rest were all maintenance nightmares. Over that same 2 decades, I have owned 3 Porsche automobiles; 924, 993 and my current 991C2S. They were all as reliable as a Honda and a pleasure to drive.

[ruwoodbury]

I have a friend who purchased an '89 348 for $40k that was supposed to have had regular maintenance and all records to prove it. The car showed up from Florida without any books or records and a little rough. $11k in, mostly, maintenance and a few small repairs later and it was running fine. in a little over four years he drove the car less than 6,000 miles and spent over $25k total for maintenance and repairs. He can't remember how many times the car conked out and he needed a jump-start or tow. He experienced one engine fire, unfortunately, his son had just rescued him with a jump start and was following him home and had an extinguisher in his truck (the 348 was insured for $50k in the event of a total loss). He contemplated leaving it parked outside his business with the keys in the ignition. He spent two years trying to sell it for his original purchase price, then $35k, then $30k, $25k...with no takers. Finally sold it a few months ago for $15K and he bought a new Corvette. Now that's taking it in the shorts!!
He's happy now to have the Ferrari gone and a modern, reliable rocket ship! And his wife is so happy with the Corvette, she's nearly forgotten the pain of owning a Ferrari. Nearly.
Oh, I tried to get him to go for a Cayman, but money and timing worked better for the 'Vette.

[Elombard]

Wow I thought the 348s were pretty DIY friendly.

[ruwoodbury]

There's little that's friendly about Ferrari ownership.
My concern now is for the guy who bought it for $15k. Another friend. The car is now in good mechanical condition, the interior is good it just needs some TLC to the exterior. His plan is to spend a few thousand dollars on paint refurbish and sell it this spring. My sage counsel to the new owner was, "Mark, do not drive the car." He ignored my advice and took it for a spin in the warming weather. He was lucky and only tore the bumper up. He found an aftermarket replacement and is having it painted and installed in preparation for a sell. He thinks he can get $25-$30k for it. I suggested $20k+ and he can make a couple thousand.
Good Luck!

[Elombard]

Ouch - so he bumped it into something?

Cant blame the car for that :-)

[swbstudios]

Originally Posted by Cluskera

Or as a documentary once said: " If you own a Ferrari you'll always be walking around with a part of it in your hand trying to stick it back on. If you own a Porsche , every time you close the door you know it will close and lock."

That is ridiculous. I've owned numerous Ferraris over the years(250 GTs, 330GTCs, Daytona, Mondial, GT4, 308GTB,etc) Other than a miserable experience with one of the Mondials, they were ALL great cars to own and drive.
I've also owned many of the iconic Porsches(RS, a variety of early S and SWBs, SCs,Carreras,etc). Most of these were also great cars(with a few duds,too)
My 60s 250 spent time at Riverside Raceway, a few trips to the Historics and much more. Total reliability once it was set up. The 330 GTC was equally reliable. At least as solid as any 911 I've owned and an even higher standard of materials and build.
Daytona-freeway flyer with incredible sounds.
More modern versions like the GTB were again, quite reliable. True they do require belt services every few years, but other than that my experiences were good. A DIY job if desired and not too expensive when shopped to independents.
The 550 Maranello is also a great car with staggering performance, comparatively low service costs and very good reliability. A much nicer interior than any Porsche from the same time frame too, IMO.
Perhaps Ferraris don't suffer fools as easily as Porsches do, but they are every bit as rewarding to drive and for some models, even more of a "special" car for those roads we all love.
One disadvantage is that you can't really modify Ferraris to any great extent without a massive outlay of funds.

[RSTarga]

How about a year, (in dog years) with a 66 XKE?

[not_hans_stuck]

No, but I lived a year with a Ferrari 308 and it was nothing like that. It just ran and ran. It had no real issues once I sealed up the footwell. Stupid thing wanted to blow hot air onto your feet all the time. It was utterly reliable and would pull to redline everytime you shifted if you wanted it to.

[Elombard]

A 66' XKE would be boring too, so simple those straight sixes with carbs. The maintenance would be the only boring part. Super neat cars.

I wonder if the F type coupe will be a fun car - great looks but I am shocked they have a torque converter gear box. I guess modern performance automatics are amazing.