New Ferrari eh, things

[MingtheMerciless]

Anyone else a bit bamboozled by the recent Ferrari announcement?

https://jalopnik.com/the-ferrari-purosangue-will-b...


"So that’s 15 upcoming cars, including model replacements and all-new models like top-tier mid-engine hybrid and the Purosangue SUV, with a new dual-clutch and V6 sprinkled in there somewhere. All of that on top of the Monza SP1 and SP2 special series cars that were also revealed."

So there will be a 488 replacement hybrid, a 488+ hybrid and a bunch of other things including an SUV and another grand tourer and of course the irrelevant collectors' items.

Not feeling the want for any of this I have to say. Perhaps that is just the usual old fashioned reaction to new things like the howling of the air cooled Porsche brigade but I for one am not in that much of a hurry to get rid of my distinctly old hat yesterdays' news n/a 458. I really don't need a twice as fast hybrid that sounds like a washing machine.

[Roof down]

MingtheMerciless said:

Anyone else a bit bamboozled by the recent Ferrari announcement?

https://jalopnik.com/the-ferrari-purosangue-will-b...


"So that’s 15 upcoming cars, including model replacements and all-new models like top-tier mid-engine hybrid and the Purosangue SUV, with a new dual-clutch and V6 sprinkled in there somewhere. All of that on top of the Monza SP1 and SP2 special series cars that were also revealed."

So there will be a 488 replacement hybrid, a 488+ hybrid and a bunch of other things including an SUV and another grand tourer and of course the irrelevant collectors' items.

Not feeling the want for any of this I have to say. Perhaps that is just the usual old fashioned reaction to new things like the howling of the air cooled Porsche brigade but I for one am not in that much of a hurry to get rid of my distinctly old hat yesterdays' news n/a 458. I really don't need a twice as fast hybrid that sounds like a washing machine.

Plus 1

[Bunty Killa]

More cars more choice - can't see anything wrong with it

[Behemoth]

MingtheMerciless said:

Not feeling the want for any of this I have to say. Perhaps that is just the usual old fashioned reaction to new things like the howling of the air cooled Porsche brigade but I for one am not in that much of a hurry to get rid of my distinctly old hat yesterdays' news n/a 458.

I see no problem in some people wanting the new machines whilst others cherish the older ones. My 308 is 40 this year & I'm in no hurry to part with it either, but I'm all for Ferrari pushing ahead.

[Roof down]

Actually if the long anticipated Dino was to be one of the new cars, maybe the cloud would have a silver lining so to speak, but the end of Ferrari as we know it, i.e just cars maybe coming to a close.
TBH i'm surprised they have'nt done this earlier, will the earlier cars now become a little special in light of this, agree with an earlier comment regarding power speed, it gets to the point that its useless on the road, I have been very lucky lately, twice camera vans have been sitting were I have never seen them before over twenty years of using the same road, I should add that I never deliberately speed, but its so easy to just to slip over 30MPH for a second. Love my cars but some of the pleasure is going with regards to constantly worrying and being so vigilant.

[_Leg_]

MingtheMerciless said:

Not feeling the want for any of this I have to say. Perhaps that is just the usual old fashioned reaction to new things like the howling of the air cooled Porsche brigade but I for one am not in that much of a hurry to get rid of my distinctly old hat yesterdays' news n/a 458. I really don't need a twice as fast hybrid that sounds like a washing machine.

I find myself in the same boat across all marques.

I must look at the classifieds, new cars, upcoming new cars from 40-300k ish twice a week, often going over the same ground. Nothing interests me for the first time in 31 years of having a driving license (not that I could always afford them). 2018 will be the first year that I haven't bought a car in a decade and I see nothing coming in 2019 that is likely to change that. The only things I do fancy are unobtainium. :-(

Ferrari have missed a trick not bringing something in below the 488 that's simpler, smaller, lighter and sub 200k specced up IMO too.

[The Surveyor]

Roof down said:

Actually if the long anticipated Dino was to be one of the new cars, maybe the cloud would have a silver lining so to speak, but the end of Ferrari as we know it, i.e just cars maybe coming to a close.
TBH i'm surprised they have'nt done this earlier, will the earlier cars now become a little special in light of this, agree with an earlier comment regarding power speed, it gets to the point that its useless on the road, I have been very lucky lately, twice camera vans have been sitting were I have never seen them before over twenty years of using the same road, I should add that I never deliberately speed, but its so easy to just to slip over 30MPH for a second. Love my cars but some of the pleasure is going with regards to constantly worrying and being so vigilant.

Cars have been faster than speed limits for longer than there have been speed limits, but I get your point about performance being less usable on the road.

Love or hate McLaren or Lamborghini, they have battered Ferraris position as the 'halo' manufacturer that people aspire too so they have to evolve. Ferrari make fabulous cars but they are no longer the only player on the pitch, they have real competition in the sector which used to be exclusively theirs.

I would 100% agree that rather than chasing the SUV market, they should use the V6 Turbo from the Alfa and Maserati parts bin and bring out a new Dino to sit below the V8 Portofino. Pitch it against the McLaren Sports Series cars, the Vantage and upper 911 variants. Make it small, pretty, and playful.

[PompeyReece]

Bunty Killa said:

More cars more choice - can't see anything wrong with it

Diluting the brand?

[MDL111]

_Leg_ said:

MingtheMerciless said:

Not feeling the want for any of this I have to say. Perhaps that is just the usual old fashioned reaction to new things like the howling of the air cooled Porsche brigade but I for one am not in that much of a hurry to get rid of my distinctly old hat yesterdays' news n/a 458. I really don't need a twice as fast hybrid that sounds like a washing machine.

I find myself in the same boat across all marques.

I must look at the classifieds, new cars, upcoming new cars from 40-300k ish twice a week, often going over the same ground. Nothing interests me for the first time in 31 years of having a driving license (not that I could always afford them). 2018 will be the first year that I haven't bought a car in a decade and I see nothing coming in 2019 that is likely to change that. The only things I do fancy are unobtainium. :-(

Ferrari have missed a trick not bringing something in below the 488 that's simpler, smaller, lighter and sub 200k specced up IMO too.

agree, don't want many new cars (well the Monza would be on the list, but unobtanium financially as well as availability) - the good thing is that there are so many older cars that I would love to own - so I will never run out of ways to spend more than is sensible on cars.

for your search of the classifieds a few ideas from my "want to own" below 600k list - Porsche CGT, Ferrari 550 Barchetta, Jaguar XJR-15, Porsche 997.2 RS, BMW M3 CSL, Ferrari 458 Challenge with road reg, Ferrari 355 Challenge with road reg, Porsche 2.5 ST or 2.8 RSR period correct copy, Lambo Aventador SV, Mitsubishi Pajero Evo, McLaren 675 LT, Audi RS2, Audi RS4 (the first one), Porsche 996 GT3, Corvette C6 Z06, Broadley T76

that got away from me quickly ....

[Never you mind]

This makes me think that buying a GRP4 MK2 Escort shell and spending a bit of cash on it is probably better than waiting for the next generation of supercars.

[Bunty Killa]

Maybe but can increase market share

PompeyReece said:

Diluting the brand?

[willy wombat]

It does make you wonder why you'd then want a 488 - either stick with the naturally aspirated 458 or go to the fully monty hybrid 488 replacement.

[av185]

PompeyReece said:

Bunty Killa said:

More cars more choice - can't see anything wrong with it

Diluting the brand?

The Porsche Caysters did nothing to dilute 911s.

[The Surveyor]

av185 said:

PompeyReece said:

Bunty Killa said:

More cars more choice - can't see anything wrong with it

Diluting the brand?

The Porsche Caysters did nothing to dilute 911s.

It did for me.

Porsche used to be a sports car manufacturer, now they are just a car manufacturer. The 911 is just another model off the generic VW production lines.

And yes I know that's not totally true, and yes I know about the 924 in the past, and yes I know the 911 is still fabulous, but the perception is certainly diluted.

[MDL111]

The Surveyor said:

av185 said:

PompeyReece said:

Bunty Killa said:

More cars more choice - can't see anything wrong with it

Diluting the brand?

The Porsche Caysters did nothing to dilute 911s.

It did for me.

Porsche used to be a sports car manufacturer, now they are just a car manufacturer. The 911 is just another model off the generic VW production lines.

And yes I know that's not totally true, and yes I know about the 924 in the past, and yes I know the 911 is still fabulous, but the perception is certainly diluted.

I get the feeling, I lost interest in Maserati once they started producing cheaper versions and especially Diesel engined cars (it did not help that I thought the old Quattroporte looked much better than the successor)

[isaldiri]

The Surveyor said:

Porsche used to be a sports car manufacturer, now they are just a car manufacturer. The 911 is just another model off the generic VW production lines.

I'd probably go further and say Porsche today are a SUV maker with a sideline in sports cars.

[Spiritual_Beggar]

_Leg_ said:

Ferrari have missed a trick not bringing something in below the 488 that's simpler, smaller, lighter and sub 200k specced up IMO too.

Would love Ferrari to do an entry level model below the 488. Something driver focussed to rival the Cayman market.

[ntiz]

MDL111 said:

I get the feeling, I lost interest in Maserati once they started producing cheaper versions and especially Diesel engined cars (it did not help that I thought the old Quattroporte looked much better than the successor)

I don't understand what the future holds for Maserati these days. They seem to be permanently limited so not to step on the toes of Ferrari. I looked at buying Ghibli but the fastest one was nearly M5 money but was only 420bhp when the then current M5 was 550. It's the same with the Granturismo. They always seem to be bringing a knife to a gun fight which is a real shame as they drive well and look fabulous inside and out.

Just don't get why they don't let them have 600+bhp but keep it luxurious to go toe to toe Bentley and Aston plus the top end of the German marks. Kind of position them as the GT soft version of Ferrari. Let Ferrari focus big thrills and racing while Maserati clean up the less hardcore side of the market with 4 seaters.

[MDL111]

ntiz said:

MDL111 said:

I get the feeling, I lost interest in Maserati once they started producing cheaper versions and especially Diesel engined cars (it did not help that I thought the old Quattroporte looked much better than the successor)

I don't understand what the future holds for Maserati these days. They seem to be permanently limited so not to step on the toes of Ferrari. I looked at buying Ghibli but the fastest one was nearly M5 money but was only 420bhp when the then current M5 was 550. It's the same with the Granturismo. They always seem to be bringing a knife to a gun fight which is a real shame as they drive well and look fabulous inside and out.

Just don't get why they don't let them have 600+bhp but keep it luxurious to go toe to toe Bentley and Aston plus the top end of the German marks. Kind of position them as the GT soft version of Ferrari. Let Ferrari focus big thrills and racing while Maserati clean up the less hardcore side of the market with 4 seaters.

I didn't really care about it at the time of the last QP - sure it was slower than the equivalent German cars (and clearly inferior) - but it just felt special as hardly any were around and was only available as a nice Ferrari V8 (and initially only with a for the car probably inappropriate gearbox). now with Ghibli and diesel models, it is just no longer as special in terms of perceived ownership value - more of a white good and less of a special ownership experience as a result (and that is not just because other people might see it as more high value, as most people probably don't know what a Maserati is anyway)

[Behemoth]

ntiz said:

MDL111 said:

I get the feeling, I lost interest in Maserati once they started producing cheaper versions and especially Diesel engined cars (it did not help that I thought the old Quattroporte looked much better than the successor)

I don't understand what the future holds for Maserati these days. They seem to be permanently limited so not to step on the toes of Ferrari. I looked at buying Ghibli but the fastest one was nearly M5 money but was only 420bhp when the then current M5 was 550. It's the same with the Granturismo. They always seem to be bringing a knife to a gun fight which is a real shame as they drive well and look fabulous inside and out.

Just don't get why they don't let them have 600+bhp but keep it luxurious to go toe to toe Bentley and Aston plus the top end of the German marks. Kind of position them as the GT soft version of Ferrari. Let Ferrari focus big thrills and racing while Maserati clean up the less hardcore side of the market with 4 seaters.

Maserati have long occupied that niche. When the Biturbo saved the company, these very same arguments were played out about cheapening the brand. Even back in the days of the original Ghibli and Quattroporte, well before the Fiat era, their cars tended to be less powerful than the equivalent class Ferrari.