none of the above...

buy a spec Miata, or a Spec E46

Go racing.

The Ferrari will eat you out of house and home, I’d go with the GT4. But of the three I’d vote to keep the money unless retirement is already set.

I think the two statements are independent.

It's like saying "new Corvettes are all bought by guys going through a mid-life crisis with gold chains and bleach blonde bimbos. You should buy a corvette." While the first may sound like negative point, it doesn't change the fact that corvettes have matured into a impressive sportscar with lots of value. So may be a recommendation.

"I'm looking for a fun, cheap, sporty car. Should I get a miata or a Chevy Sonic 4 door?"
"Miatas are cars for hairdressers and gays. You should get a miata."
I think most of us would understand that. (I can say that since I've had 2 miatas and now have a boxster which has a similar reputation in some people's minds.)

If I had enough money to throw away on a GT4 of Ferrari and not care, I would commission a mental build. I am a sucker for sleepers that ruin peoples day.

Just look at maintenance cost of the Ferrari. That might scare you away from the marque.

The GT4 is a great car, and if some idiot offered me my price to sell my 911, I would likely get a Cayman, and very likely a GT4. Since people with stupid money don't just want my old 911, it will never happen.

Order a C8 Corvette.

Are you looking for it to be a street/showpiece car or a track day car?

I have a track only '04 GT3. It's tons of fun but the operating costs are stupid. Many of my Porsche track buddies are going to GT4s. They are not as fast but are point and shoot easy to drive fast. I have a hard time with a Porsche that's not rear-engined (not a 911) but I need to get over that.

I am thinking of going to the C8 Corvette in a couple years. I have too much $$ tied up in the GT3 to feel OK about selling it...I figure 2 more years of track fun before I should make a change.

I still can't believe the C8 is a real dry sump while Porsche is still doing the stupid "integrated dry sump" BS.

Having driven the F430 and its clunkomatic transmission I'd go for the GT4 in a heartbeat.

I've faced a similar dilemma several times. The answer was always

I have driven an F430 and found it too wide and heavy to describe as chuckable. I have also been in my daughter's current Cayman not even an S) and found it to feel lighter and more wieldy than the F430.

Ferrari all the way...I meant to say Hurracan

I vote the Ferrari + Cayman for sure.

Ferrari will be more maintenance, GT4 will be more depreciation, maybe the same-ish in the long run financially?

I had an e46 M3 that required a lot more maintenance than a friend's 330i of the same year. Of course, her car went to 0 value and I sold the M3 for over $10k. M3 was cheaper to own in the long run.

;d

Anything faster than a Cayman is a downgrade