I just went to the grocery store in my Miata to pick up a few things. When I got there, there was a guy putting his bags in the back seat of a sweet looking new 996 series 911 Carrera Cabriolet. I sighed, and knowing I have always wanted to own an exotic, started thinking about foregoing my RX-8 purchase, saving for a year or three and getting a whopping down payment on a Boxster S, or a used NSX or some such.

This train of thought did not last long as the guy got into his 911, and nothing happens. I saw him through the car's window fussing around, obviously something was wrong. After a bit, the 911 starts drifting down the hill, and I see the car lurch and hear the engine cough. He stopped the car, let it drift a bit further this time, dropped the clutch and the engine puttered to life. After letting it run at high speed for a bit, he finally and gingerly pulled out and exited the supermarket, not stopping for the stop sign in the lot. I got the distinct impression he had done that before! Nothing like those electrical (and other) problems in modern Porsches, BMWs, Audis, and even VWs! What has happened to the Germans?

I then remembered then why I did not get a Boxster last time around, and why I wil never own an exotic unless I become fabulously wealthy and not care about quality control and reliability. My Miata has had a perfect reliability record in five years of driving, and my 1981 RX-7 never needed anything other than wear items and oil changes. My Infiniti is creeping up on a year and has not done so much as hiccupped.

I left the lot knowing in a few months I would be in an RX-8 and would not be dreaming of 911s when I saw one. I like quality for my money, and that the Germans can't deliver close to the reliability and trouble-free nature of Japanese cars is truly an embarassment to them.

Long live Japanese reliability!

Say what you will about exotics...

But I'd take a Ferrari 360 Modena ANY DAY over the RX-8 :p

When I am fabulously wealthy (as I said) that is the one I want!

The two year waiting list sucks, though... longer for the Spyder.

Originally posted by DonG35Miata
When I am fabulously wealthy (as I said) that is the one I want!

The two year waiting list sucks, though... longer for the Spyder. I think I can hold out :D

For all you Ferrari 360 Modena shoppers:

To get on the waiting list to buy a new one at MSRP two years hence, you need a 25% deposit in cash and you do not get a test drive. If you do not like the terms, they show you the door. If you can't afford the car right now, you do not get on the list even with your 25% deposit and you are not allowed to order. It's an exclusive club and they brook no pretention...

So, even if I put together a plan to bust my @ss, scrimp, save, and put away $20,000 per year for three years for a $60,000 down payment and finance $90k, I still would not be able to get one because I would not get on the list for three years at a minimum. After three years I could get on the list, but the Modena is scheduled to be replaced in 2005... not to mention the cost of the car going up, etc. I have good credit and I do OK financially with all the things that I do, but I would feel sheepish applying for a $90k car loan and don't know how the loan officer would look at it.

So unless my newspaper column gets picked up by a really big syndicate and I get a sweet book deal, no new 360 Modenas for me... :-( So much for an unattached single guy's dream for his 40th birthday five years from now!

I never shopped for one, but I hung around the Ferrari newsgroups long enough to find out what the deal is.

My Mazda dealer took a $100 deposit on my
RX-8 order... better terms and I enjoy it now without totally mortgaging my present and future. No $5,000 oil changes either. The 360 is a better TOY, but the RX-8 is a better CAR!

Yeah, Sour grapes! :D

Originally posted by DonG35Miata
The 360 [Modena] is a better TOY, but the RX-8 is a better CAR!

Yeah, Sour grapes! :D

:D in my starvin' student POV, i could say the same (as you have about the Ferrari) about Hot Wheels ;) hee hee hee!!

How much was wrong with the car, and how much was wrong with the driver? I know what you mean about exotics and reliability, but current Porsches are alot more daily-driver friendly and reliable than exotics of old. If that was car trouble, then it's time to take it back to the dealership. And it is something that will occasionally happen to cars in our league too (including our Miatas).

---jps

If you check Porsche Pete's Boxster board for any length of time, you will find lots of problems with low-mileage Porsches. Road and Track mentioned the Boxster's poor quality in their tagline to a Boxster article this month.

They don't make 'em like they used to...

But I'd take a Ferrari 360 Modena ANY DAY over the RX-8 :)
Amen!
Our Vw Corrado Vr-6 broke down all the time because of electrical faults or that was what we thought. It later turned out to be a very craply installed aftermarket alarm system that was busting up all the electrics. After this alarm was removed two years ago not a hiccup since so it could have just been an aftermarket system (hands free kit or something) on that guys Porsche. (Highly unlikely however)

... sigh ...
if your rich everything is a toy.

my boss has a 6 month old porsche GT2, and it has broken down twice already..

From what I've heard, recent Ferraris at least (355 onwards say) are very reliable if serviced properly. However the servicing is so sky-high expensive that lapsing must be tempting even if you are loaded (or were loaded before you bought it :) ).

My favourite Ferrari has to be the F40, but I don't think they'll make anything that raw again. Their recent top of the line models look more like miniature spaceships than racing cars. :)

like the enzo.

I will take a Ferrari 360 also

Yep, the 355/360/550 are all nice, it was more the F50 and Enzo I was thinking about with the spaceship comment. :)

Oh, I would take a 360 in a heartbeat. If given to me, I think I could afford to own it (insurance, taxes, maintenance), but I don't live in a dream world.

Ferraris are not out of reach. Very nice condition 308, 328, Mondials can be had for <$40K. Yes, maintenance is expensive, but it shouldn't be your daily driver. They should be for beautiful, 70 degree, sunny weekend romps on windy country roads. Most ppl who drive their Ferraris put about 3K-5K miles/yr on their cars. This means minor tune ups once a year and major tune ups once every 3-5 years. Though even a minor tuneup can cost over a grand, that's still not too bad.

I like the style of most German cars, but for the money there are much better buys out there for much less. Current M3s, even with 333HP, are beautiful, and if money was not an issue, I would considering purchasing one inaddition to many other exotics, but $50K+, I would get something like an Evo or STi with $20K left over for mods or food. :)

$70K-$90K for a 911 is also rediculous. At half the price, I'd consider a 350Z just a good. I'm sure Stillen is working very hard on a turbo kit for it as we speak.

If the market can bare it, the Japanese can make great supercars for a fraction of the price of the European exotics and still be able to out perform them. Alass, they will never have the panche to garner the prices the Europeans can.

Originally posted by max_stirling
If the market can bare it, the Japanese can make great supercars for a fraction of the price of the European exotics and still be able to out perform them. Alass, they will never have the panche to garner the prices the Europeans can.

...maybe not on such a wide scale as something like a 911, but the honda NSX is still alive and well... i really do think that it's got nearly as much draw to it as any other European sportscar icon, even to "un"car people.

IT also has alot to do with how you treat them. lots of these custom made exotic cars, they do go fast, have impressive stats, but the production isnt set up to withstand lots of years of punishment.... if you drive these cars NICE they will last you a long time...

if you dont... well be forwarned...

BUT .... Lamborgini Diable SV.... oooohhh.. 555 WHP through 4 wheels....


heh...fun times, fun times...

well....in my opinion i think people want to get porsche because it has good performance....but i think the biggest reason is that so they could SHOW it to people that he or she has the money to get a porsche....there are lots of cars out there could out perform it.....

Originally posted by RotaryXTypeSH
well....in my opinion i think people want to get porsche because it has good performance....but i think the biggest reason is that so they could SHOW it to people that he or she has the money to get a porsche....there are lots of cars out there could out perform it.....

I totally agree. I work hard for my money and have very strong opinion regardling value. To some ppl, the monitary difference between a $35K 350Z and a $90K 911 is insignificant, but the prestige value is enormous.

I'm not one of those ppl. Though I can still appreciate the beauty of these exotics and until I win the lottery, you will not see one of them in my driveway.