Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Empty garage syndrome

The Fezza! Sold it this afternoon.

As I said when I bought it, the plan always was to sell after 2 years but this is a little earlier than I expected. I had a decent offer on the car and all reports suggest that high end car prices like house prices are weakening, so I decided to accept.

The 430 is a fabulous piece of kit and I am really lucky to have owned one. Its a true sports car whose slightly modified relatives were racing at le Mans just 10 years ago. And whose offspring the 458 has only just finished racing there. It goes like stink, holds the road like glue and drinks the finest like George Best. And in Rosso Corsa it looks stunning.

But unless you are really wealthy and I am not, a Ferrari isnt that useable. You cant afford to pile on mileage - depreciation is about £2 per mile. Other running costs are high. Security is an issue. So it was fun for a while and I might sometime return to Maranello but until the market stabilises one way or the other, I will do something else.

Question is what. I know how much you all enjoyed my indecision last time round so I plan on keeping you fully informed again. And the first possibility I am looking at as a way of having fun for a year or two without losing too much of my Future Ferrari Fund is to buy a Plus 4.

Possibility mind you. Anyone giving advice? Or offering odds?

Just going to watch the expanding thread with glee!!
Good luck in finding a replacement and congrats on selling the Ferrari at a reasonable price

Buy one soon and enjoy the summer. I always thought that you should have bought SteveT's immaculate Plus 4.
Go for the anything after 2011.

Howard, I have the utmost respect for you & the Ferrari ownership thing. It's not my taste, and I wouldn't want one but having once driven one I can see why you did it. I admire the way you actually used your head and not your heart, something that I'm incapable of doing with my cars & bikes. Well done on having the experience.

The Morgan thing is slightly difficult I think. Not only have I wanted one for years, it's also opened the door to so many adventures and new friends, so for me it's more heart than head especially when I've just swapped the 4/4 for a 300bhp monster..

I'm sure you'll do it, but I hope it's the best compromise for you, because they deserve to be loved.

Now I'm sitting watching, just like Graham..!

The issue I wonder about most is again the useability. Is the Plus 4 just a car for a nice sunny afternoon bimble to the pub? Or can it be used by two golden oldies fond of their comforts for a trip to Spain.

If I wanted to rough it I would buy a Caterham. I dont. I like comfortable seats, good heaters, dry trousers, and arriving with my fillings still in place. I thoroughly enjoyed the short two test drives I have had in a Plus 4 but I did wonder how long it might be before fascination with the old style ride / handling / facilities would turn into irritation.

Hire one..

Weekend away & time to think as well..

Last year as part of the Wild Mogs sunshine and great fun through Spain to Portugal, all the way there and back roof down.
This year Wild Mogs trip to the Isle of Man. Travelled up M5/M6 to Liverpool in the rain, roof down.
Weekend on the Isle of Man, sunshine and fog, roof down. Great fun.
Remind me where was it that young woman sat in my car!

Missing info - how old are you?

Oh lor.. Haven't we been here before? You'll probably get as many opinions as there are TM members Howard. For me a Plus 4 was very comfy on our run to Caramulo last year and I managed to keep my trousers dry! But it depends on your reference point, against a Caterham its a luxury ride but compared to almost every modern car on the road it's a bone shaker.
I'd hire one as Steve says but make it at least a week and drive it lots. A couple of days isn't enough for the novelty to wear off.
Wish you luck in your search, maybe go classic for a while? No gizmos to worry about, zero RFL and hopefully no depreciation.

That's a hard one Ian, WHICH woman? I seem to remember several!

And Howard, he's old enough!