[Mr.7]

I have a friend who lives way below his means. I've known the guy for 20 years and he only really spends a lot on things he really wants. He currently drives an F10 530d daily driver and a 370z coupe for the track. He's planning to buy a Ferrari 458 this year but he thinks he should go for a "lesser" sports car first like a 911 or R8. I told him to get the Ferrari, no need to get a 911 or R8 first since he already knows how sports cars are like(he had an S200, 350z and Boxster before the 370z) and he already knows how to drive around a track well(we drive around a track every saturday).

Should he practice in a more powerful 911/R8 or should he go for the Ferrari already? I think he can handle the Ferrari and that's what he really wants. Besides, he has more driving experience than those celebrities who have Ferraris/Lambos as their first cars.

[BMW269]

If he has already owned lesser sportscars, S2000 is on of the best learning tools, if he has track experience and goes to track that regularly, and it even comes to his mind a 458 Italia is "too good for his ability", then if he can, I see no reason why to doubt getting the 458 Italia. He had a Boxster, maybe he might be interested in a 911. Let him have a look at the new 911 GT3 (991), that is going to be revealed next week. Brand new racing Flat6 with 9.000 RPM redline and PDK.

[elwesso]

The way I see it, you drive the car the car doesn't drive you. In other words, most cars like this aren't going to be "too much" to handle, you just might not be able to take full advantage of what the car can offer.

I think one could argue if a 458 will truly be that much better of a sports car than a 911 turbo or R8.

[Year's_End]

None of these cars are difficult to drive. The main thing he should be concerned with when buying cars of this pedigree is figuring out which car's experience suits him best. They're all fantastic drives, but each one has a distinct character. He won't know what's best until he gets some drive time in. Who knows, he might prefer the relatively stolid 911 to the more flamboyant 458.

They're all good choices.

[sherman9800]

To give another perspective. Since he lives his day to day rather frugally, even though price doesn't matter in this instance. Would he perhaps have buyers remorse when spending possibly $70,000 more on a 458 compared to a Turbo S which is actually faster, even if the older styling.

One thing I've learned with high end stereos is that everyone has different tastes. He has to test them out thoroughly himself in order to know which he truly wants. Personally if I had the money, I would pick the 911 before the 458 if I lived modestly.

[py0413]

They are all great cars. Price tags don't determine one is better than the other. It all comes down to what he likes to drive. Each have unique driving experience. 911 is classic and somewhat practical/easier to live with plus you don't usually attract so much unwanted attention compare to the other 2. I am a Porsche guy and I'd go with a 911, but those F cars are also hard to resist.

[NemesisX]

Originally Posted by sherman9800

To give another perspective. Since he lives his day to day rather frugally, even though price doesn't matter in this instance. Would he perhaps have buyers remorse when spending possibly $70,000 more on a 458 compared to a Turbo S which is actually faster, even if the older styling.

One thing I've learned with high end stereos is that everyone has different tastes. He has to test them out thoroughly himself in order to know which he truly wants. Personally if I had the money, I would pick the 911 before the 458 if I lived modestly.

The median liquid net worth of this class of people who who can afford >$200,000 supercars is $25M (which I'll assume applies to the person in question if we can take the OP's claims about his frugality at face value). There's really no such thing as "buyer's remorse" at this level.

Cars aren't seen as investments. Whether or not a car will hold its value after X years and Y miles isn't of chief concern (this is only of concern insomuch as the individual wishes to satiate his own need for extreme and often unwarranted frugality despite being an ultra high net worth individual).

P.S. There's a non-linear relationship between price and liquid net worth. $200k represents ~1% of $25M. However, it isn't the case that an upper middle class person with a liquid net worth of $2M can only afford 1%($2M) = $20,000 on a car.

$2M (not including primary residence) is usually the cutoff to be able to afford a $100,000 car, outright, although age and income play into this as well, obviously.

By the way these numbers are all from forbes (I believe they specifically said that $2M and $350k/year pre-tax non-investment income is sufficient to afford a $100k car, especially if you're younger), although I don't have the exact article on hand.

The $25M median net worth for owners of > $200,000 exotic supercars is independent of non-investment income.

[sherman9800]

I agree that the total cost of any of these cars compared to OP's friends net income or worth is irrelevant. I was just trying to give another perspective that he is used to spending approximately $30,000 on a track toy and then he would be jumping to over $230,000. That's all.

The test will be whether he thinks the way the 458 drives is worth it to him over the others.

[Top_Gear_Fan]

I've driven countless 911s and a V10 R8 once. My dad has a 458 and there's really nothing quite like it. I'd get the 458 in a heartbeat. That being said, you can't really go wrong with any of those choices.

[DRedman45]

the R8, aventador and 458 are the most attractive looking sports cars currently being built in my opinion...personally I would go for the audi and down the line do a twin turbo or stasis supercharger

the 911 is fantastic but much more subdued in looks

[NemesisX]

Originally Posted by robsoncarbon

i think r8 is overpriced, better go for 458

The v10 or the v8? I honestly like the v8. It's not all that fast necessarily compared to what you can buy at the $120k level, but I love the fact that the v8 R8 has a "supercar" look at a relatively cheap price.

[DRedman45]

Originally Posted by robsoncarbon

i think r8 is overpriced, better go for 458

It's 100k less expensive than the 458 for the v10 r8

[Top_Gear_Fan]

Originally Posted by DRedman45

It's 100k less expensive than the 458 for the v10 r8

I think he means to say that the 458 is worth the price while the R8 isn't worth it.

[DRedman45]

I get the thought...but really the r8 is a gallardo for a hundred grand less, with less eccentric styling...I definitely love the 458, but in my opinion value you get for the money isn't any different between the two