Justification for top end sports cars

I think we can all agree that comfort and practicality must be sacrificed somewhat for performance. As in a Mercedes S500 is a more comfortable and useful car than any Ferrari or Lamborghini for day to day driving.

Besides, you can't use the full performance of a Ferrari or Lamborghini on the road without risking losing your life or your license.

But on the track, the most expensive performance cars in the world can't match a purpose designed track car. I mean the Carrera GT did a 7min 34.44 sec. around the N'ring. But a Radical did it in 7min 19 seconds. And I'm sure a F3 car would be much faster again although I'm not sure how much they cost.

I'm desperately trying to hold on to hope here. I dearly love to keep a Ferrari as my dream car. But I feel that dream slipping away as I'm starting to see it as a pain on the road and not even close to being dominating on the track.

I have a F430 on order for July 2006. The dealer said:
base price - $420,000
On road costs - $ 20,000
F1 gear - $ 25,000
Ceramic brakes - $ 25,000
Race seats - $ 10,000

Racing seat price is my guess, not from the dealer. But it makes it a nice round and EYE WATERING $500,000 Aus. Dollars.

Now can anyone PLEASE give me a reason why I should buy that and not a S500 for $270,000 for the week days and a formula ford for track use?

My heart says Ferrari. But my head just screams DON'T BE A F-ing DICKHEAD!!!

If you have the time and resources to run a race car then I say do it.

I know a growing number of people who have traded in thier exotic sports car for more humble daily drivers and a proper race car.
As traffic numbers build up along with the cost of offences many people are simply finding that they are not getting the enjoyment out of thier exotic cars as they used to. They find more pleasure on the race track in a proper race car that they don't mind putting a few dents in.


I guess it all depends on what you really want to do, and why you want the Ferrari.

If you want to get into motorsport then forget the Ferrari and buy the Merc and Forumla Ford.

But if you want a very exotic car that will make people look at you, and is a real blast to drive while still being comfortable (remember its still a road car, and alough must harsher than a Merc, its still ment to be driven on the road), then by the Ferrari and live your dream.

Like Moppie said, if you really want to get into motorsports, don't buy the Ferrari. Its just too expensive for an effective track car. A Radical, or a similar car would definitly be better for competition. A track only car would also be cheap enough to get a nice big luxury boat as a daily driver.

That said, theres just something about owning a Ferrari. The name Ferrari is god-like in the car world. They build the best looking, and fastest road going cars in the world. There is nothing quite like that title. For recreational use, the Ferrari is a great car. Its much nicer to drive then a track-only car, but also much more fun then a S-Class Benz.

Conclusion:
If you want to really compete on a track, dont buy the F430
If you want to have just about the fastest, nicest looking car you'll see on open roads, go for the Ferrari

Personally, I'd go with the Ferrari

I have a F430 on order for July 2006. The dealer said:
base price - $420,000
On road costs - $ 20,000
F1 gear - $ 25,000
Ceramic brakes - $ 25,000
Race seats - $ 10,000

Did you win Lotto?! :eek7:
Wish I had that much cash to throw around.

Anyway, I think you should get the Ferrari. Its something few people ever get to experience (like going into space).

If you do get the Ferrari don’t forget to post us some pics and of course change you account name (with the F430 being a V8 an all :naughty: ).

The best way to get at this is with math







Comfort
I..X
I.....X
I.........X
I............X
I...............X
I.................X
I....................X
I........................X
I..............................X
I..................................X
I........................................X
I................................................X
I................................................. .....X
I................................................. ...........X
I................................................. ................X
I................................................. .......................X
I------------------------------------------------------------Speed/Fun
MercSL600/BMW7 BMWM3/M5 F430/Viper/911 CS/RS/Mosler/Radical



Now remember even if you like track racing most of your driving will be done on the street. So where on the curve do you want to drive on the street(the Xs make the curve)

half a million? damn! ooh i see, australian dollars. Wow even I could afford that! :p

I mean couldnt you import a track worthy car like a Noble M12 GTO or a Lotus Exige or something of that caliber? I know they are a bit pricey but they do very well on the track...if you dont want to break down and get a race car...

We get screwed royally in Australia on the price. Even though the queen doesn't live here.

I mean the prices I got from English car magazines, were:
base price - 117,000 pounds
f1 and brakes - 10,000 pounds each
sports seat at a guess - 4000 pounds
on roads I don't know but would 9000 pounds do it?

That comes to 150,000 pounds. At $1 Aus to 42 pence you get about $360,000 Aus. So basically the government takes $140,000 off me for nothing. And I hear it's even cheaper in the U.S.

On second thought don’t buy any cars.
Instead use that money to raise a people’s army and seize control of the state!
I would. :icon16:

How did you get that money? My guess is, you've been saving a while with that ferrari dream we all have. But now you've got the money, the reasonable voice in your head is telling you a much better way to spend the money.

I say, follow that dream, get the Ferrari, it's probably the reason why you saved up the money in the first place.

If you were a flat out billionaire then taking a modified ferrari to the track would make sense, because dumping that money away simply doesnt matter...but to own a ferrari for regular use makes you exactly what everybody, not just car buffs, dream about....you also get handling, and braking that very few cars can match....plus....you own a ferrari