They put me in the F12 and I turned it on and drove for a bit.

OMG

It had incredible pearlescent paint. Clever *******s....

Then I tried out an all black 458 (actually affordable for me).

My heart is torn. I love my F-Type but there is so much more Ferrari ownership seems to offer. regular drive clubs, events, dinners and all that.

Jaguar has nothing to offer. Even the performance academy seems a bit ****.

What to do. what to do?

 

If you can afford it, of course go with Ferrari, just remember those cars are not Dailey Drivers. Ferrari has this Free Pre Paid Maintenace Program I saw on their site yesterday that you get 7 years of all the Maintenance done (for free I'm pretty sure) if that's really correct I'd Definitley get a 458 Spyder (Hard Top Convertible is awesome) if I was you. But keep the F-Type for everyday. Funny thing is, my cousin and I were driving next to a 24-26yr old Red Ferrari 458 Driver, and my cousin and I were chatting with him for a bit and decided to race down a 60mph street with nobody around at all. We were in my 2009 XKR Portfolio Convert and from a 20mph start we took off and holy **** we couldn't even hear our jag exhaust (top down, so we went slower..) and all we could hear was his insane stock 458 exhaust!! We were almost tied for the first 2 seconds then his car Definitley started to pull away from us then we started to brake before we passed the speed limit and he kept on speeding by since he wasn't putting anyone In danger (seriously no other cars at all just his and mine) and wow did he get really far from us! After we caught up with him I asked if he had any Mods and he said he didn't have any at all, just some visual ones which were Carbon Fiber on the Engin and the interior and that's it. The XKR is stock as we'll and since it's before 2010 it's only got the 4.2 Engine not the 5.0 and has 90hp less then the 2010+ 5.0 XKR engine.

 

I would have to sell my F-Type to fund it and it would be my daily driver. Having said that I work most days from home so the most I drive is down to the shops etc. Its an all black 2012 Spider. $220k. My F-Type was $115 new.

 

I'd suspect pretty much any one of us here can get the money together for a used 458, but to be blunt, if you (or one of us) have to sell our F Type to fund it then you/we most probably can't afford it.

On a more constructive note, I've had some fairly extensive seat time in a 458. It's a tremendous car. It really is. With that said, other than on a track it's really not that much quicker than a V8 F Type. Can't argue with the looks, noise, heritage or pedigree of the 458, but you're paying a ton for reasonably marginal gains.

If I were you, and this is what I actually AM doing, I'd look out for a decent 430 or maybe even a 360 and *add* that to the stable rather than try to squeeze in to a 458 which you'd have to use as a DD.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Hi Swajames. Thx for your insight. I can afford it, its just a matter of current cashflow etc. I prefer to buy my cars with cash. Just my preference since I view it as a luxury item. I don't see it being any less practical than the F-Type as my DD but appreciate your opinion on a 430/360. I'm not the type that cares about mileage etc. If I buy it I'll drive it and enjoy it like I have been doing with my F-Type so far and previous marques in the past.

I'm not really a huge fan of the 360 body shape. I owned an F355 GTS (6-speed) many moons ago and much preferred the older Ferrari V8 aesthetics.

I'm not going to keep a 458 AND an F-Type since I have fairly limited time to actually drive them properly I prefer to focus on one car at a time and have a deep engagement with it. I'm keeping the one space in the garage for a Series 1 E-Type when I have more time on my hands to enjoy driving.

 

Alex, if you're using this car to drive to the shops, how well will it stand up to being bump parked, and having SUV doors opened into its flanks?

Not out of any malicious intent, just that that's what happens in car parks.

Perhaps if you got yourself a 'red-neck Ferrari' where dents and scrapes enhance the 'truckliness' of its looks for the shopping run?

 

Jaguars have always been a poor man's super car. I'm glad someone has that business model for us poors, but please do not go comparing it to 911 Turbo model and up, Ferrari, Lambo etc. The only reason to get an F-Type over a performance-equivalent $200,000-$400,000 Ferrari, Porsche etc. is that you can get the F-Type for $100,000.

 

Also, I don't know what circle you run in, but keep in mind the "douchebag" factor.

You can drive a $200,000 porsche, mercedes, or top of the line jaguar without people viewing you as a total tool. But once you get into Ferraris, Lambos, or top of the line Corvettes, then be careful. Make sure it's the right color.

 

Maybe it's just me, but I want my cars to look like cars and not futuristic spaceships!

To me, Jaguars are just so much more understated and sumptuous. I just wish they perhaps sacrificed a little more luxury and creature comforts to make something more sporty.

 

Can't imagine a Ferrari 458 as a daily driver. Would be too much theater going to the market for some beer. A California maybe but not a 458. Total cost of ownership has gotten better with that 7 year maintenance plan. But I imagine its still a bit pricey compared to say an R8 or Turbo S. You could keep the Jag and get a used Lambo or 12C. Heard the prices on the 12C have dropped like a rock
rock. R8 Lambo or 12C + Jag not a bad combo if want a flashier car.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Let me address some of them.

Going to the shops. I live in Tiburon so its very safe around here and the spaces are huge. When I drive to the city I go to a secured parking lot where there is someone watching over the car.

The cost of fixing a dink/dent on the aluminium of my F-Type isn't going to differ hugely on the 458. To date I've had no issues with the F-Type. As I said, its very safe around this area and I am usually parking beside a 911. lol?

Of course on the weekends I will be ripping the car up or down the coast here, like I do with my F-Type currently.

Douche-bag factor? I really don't care what other people think. I'm buying the car for me, not them.

I agree the Jags are more understated but then I rip around with exhaust open in a black/black/black F-Type so eh...perhaps not!

The Ferrari is also Black/black/black.

My main reasons for thinking about it aren't financial but the access to the Ferrari community here which seems very active in comparison to Jaguar North America and our small F-Type community. Please don't take this personally. I love the posts and personalities on here.

Shift - Lambo's aren't my favourite aesthetically or handling wise, nor McClarens although I admit I've never been in a McLaren. I've had a love affair with Ferrari since I was a kid and my old man bought one. Also my uncle had an e-type so there is an emotional attachment to these marques.

 

How could one say no to the 458!!! If it fits your budget and your needs and you are ok with the daily drives, do it! Im pricing one now but I want a new one and they are tough to deal on. (I dont have good contacts with F cars)

 

You can drive whatever you want.


Though I sweat driving the F-Type and leaving it is a tight parking lot and I'd have a coronary with any true exotic. That's why I have the blown FX-35. It's quick, handy, fun to drive and if it gets a ding I just get it fixed without being tempted to find the person that created the ding and teaching them the fine art of water boarding.


Oh, think you mentioned you wanted an E-Type. I've owned two a '68 and a '64. The '64 almost broke me. Given the age I'd be tempted to get one with a bad engine and drop in a modern V8 and trans. Series 1 cars had a non-syncro granny first gear (for driving in the fog, you can walk next to the car at idle or for pulling stumps) which basically means it has a 3 speed. Series II cars got a better trans and a bigger engine and were a ton easier to maintain though you lost a bit of performance when they went from three SUs to double Strombergs (supposedly you can swap out the trans but there goes the investment value). Series 3 cars, to me, look like crap and the V12 with 4 Strombergs is a nightmare to keep in tuned (though it does sound really cool starting up and you can pull the smog off now). Now the 6, if it has been maintained well, is nearly bullet proof but you'd want all new electrics or you'll be buying fuses in bulk (good news is the same fuse rarely goes out twice and they are easy to get to). I've been tempted to buy an Eagle (updated E-Type) but I'm happy to watch others with them these days.

 

One of the columnists for EVO magazine runs a 458 as a daily driver. Might be a useful read.

The main problem seemed to be a fuel gauge that didn't drop to empty, leaving him stranded when he ran out of fuel.

 

Get the 458 if it makes you happy. Price seems fair.

 

I drove it again and while it felt different I'm not sure I want to sacrifice my F-Type. It didn't knock me out so to speak. I'm highly tempted to buy another F355 since they are cheap these days and keep my F-Type. I really am in love with the F355 since I was a teen. I love it's shape so much more than 360/430/458 but they are a pain to maintain....