Aug 23, 2017 8:56:32 PM
The name Portofino is often used by American mid level boat builders to give a mediocre offering an upmarket appearance. Don't care much for the car but not for any specific reason just seems derivative. The 911 is long in the tooth but that's part of its appeal.
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"Don't worry about avoiding temptation, as you grow older it will avoid you" Churchill
noone1:crayphile:noone1:Guess the California T wasn't selling too well. It came out in late 2014 and is already replaced.
This is a normal product cycle for Ferrari.
Huh? All their recent cars haven't debuted until like 5-6 years after the previous one. Cali was Oct 2008, Cali T was Feb 2014.
This one is showing up only 3.5 years after Cali T.599 -- Geneva 06
F12 -- Geneva 12
430 -- Oct 2004
458 -- Oct 2009
488 -- March 2015
FF -- March 2011
GTC4 -- Sept 2016
You mean McLaren is not stupid doing one "model" every year but all basically the same car?
Cali T was just a .2 of the Cali, so almost 10 years for a new version. Seems perfectly normal to me.
Whoopsy:The Portofino actually grows on me, it's seems to be the most attractive package from Ferrari. This baby Superfast has just enough HP to be fun and with a hard top convertible to boot.
Might actually get one instead of the Superfast.
If it was NA 600hp, I might agree with that choice. But an NA 800hp V-12 is not in the same category as this...
But I have never driven a turbo Ferrari, so maybe I should withhold my opinion until then...
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73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (1,890 lbs), 06 EVO9 with track mods. Former: 16 Cayman GT4, 73 911S, Two 951S's, 996 C2, 993 C2, 98 Ferrari 550, 79 635CSi
The more aggressive and masculine lines, along with 600hp, less weight and sportier setup seem to be appealing many people on Fchat that did not consider the California before (like Nick probably). The stigma of being a Ferrari below the 458 (at the time) seems totally gone. The outside is cleaner and the inside looks as good as the Lusso one. If the price is the same as the California T, they will sell a bunch of them. Kudos to Ferrari, sorry but no 911 can even come close to the package they offer especially if you factor in the price.
I have to say, yes, there is no substitute to the experience of a NA Ferrari V12. I have had 2 of them. But the current 800HP version is really way too powerful for the street. The 730HP version in my F12 is already borderline bonkers.
I am hoping the Aston's NA V12 would be close, I know it sounded awesome for sure.
Also just realized I will have soon have. turbo 4 (Golf R), turbo flat 6 (Turbo 3.6 and the Turbo S Exclusive and the GT2RS), turbo V8 (Cayenne Turbo S and maybe the Portofino), a Supercharged V8 from the SVR. A NA flat 6 from the 911R, a NA V8 as in the 918, NA V10 from the Huracan and the NA V12 from the Aston.
Aug 24, 2017 4:58:35 AM
SciFrog:Grant, Ferrari turbos have the least lag of even turbo engine out there according to many here including RC. Plus they sound better than other turbos too.
I was referring to the 488, not sure about the Portofino (never gave too much attention to the T) but I assume Ferrari won't disappoint (at least I hope).
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet (2015), Porsche Cayenne S Diesel (2017), Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mini JCW (2015)
Whoopsy:I have to say, yes, there is no substitute to the experience of a NA Ferrari V12. I have had 2 of them. But the current 800HP version is really way too powerful for the street. The 730HP version in my F12 is already borderline bonkers.
I am hoping the Aston's NA V12 would be close, I know it sounded awesome for sure.
Also just realized I will have soon have. turbo 4 (Golf R), turbo flat 6 (Turbo 3.6 and the Turbo S Exclusive and the GT2RS), turbo V8 (Cayenne Turbo S and maybe the Portofino), a Supercharged V8 from the SVR. A NA flat 6 from the 911R, a NA V8 as in the 918, NA V10 from the Huracan and the NA V12 from the Aston.
Perfect.
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet (2015), Porsche Cayenne S Diesel (2017), Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mini JCW (2015)
SciFrog:The more aggressive and masculine lines, along with 600hp, less weight and sportier setup seem to be appealing many people on Fchat that did not consider the California before (like Nick probably). The stigma of being a Ferrari below the 458 (at the time) seems totally gone. The outside is cleaner and the inside looks as good as the Lusso one. If the price is the same as the California T, they will sell a bunch of them. Kudos to Ferrari, sorry but no 911 can even come close to the package they offer especially if you factor in the price.
Related to this, I also noticed more than a few women driving the various Cali models. Well known that women do not usually care a bit about lap times, but respond to a balance between driving emotion and useability. I seem to recall that Ferrari had this as one objective of the Cali line.
2017 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2009 Porsche 911S
When my wife saw the California, she liked it a lot. I would never get one (because this would be clearly a car for her and not me) but women clearly love the California because it has that SLK-type roof and many women hate soft tops (funny enough, my wife used to hate soft tops but now she loves them, weird...).
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet (2015), Porsche Cayenne S Diesel (2017), Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mini JCW (2015)
RC:When my wife saw the California, she liked it a lot. I would never get one (because this would be clearly a car for her and not me) but women clearly love the California because it has that SLK-type roof and many women hate soft tops (funny enough, my wife used to hate soft tops but now she loves them, weird...).
When my wife saw a Cali in Vancouver, female driver, she asked what it was. My answer was "an inferior copy of your beloved 911". She accepted that...
2017 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2009 Porsche 911S
4trac:RC:When my wife saw the California, she liked it a lot. I would never get one (because this would be clearly a car for her and not me) but women clearly love the California because it has that SLK-type roof and many women hate soft tops (funny enough, my wife used to hate soft tops but now she loves them, weird...).
When my wife saw a Cali in Vancouver, female driver, she asked what it was. My answer was "an inferior copy of your beloved 911". She accepted that...
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet (2015), Porsche Cayenne S Diesel (2017), Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mini JCW (2015)
Better looks, more power, better handling. Great .
Those who knock it before driving it will probably never drive one or can't afford to buy one anyway.
If you are hopelessly addicted to the 911 shape and its decades of endless and often boring permutations,( hint to la jolla Nick ) it is not the car for you. The new Portofino seems like it will be the quickest, best handling and fastest 2 + 2 convertible available. ...... and dare to say this...It's more practical than a GT3 and might be quicker.
JimFlat6:Better looks, more power, better handling. Great .
Those who knock it before driving it will probably never drive one or can't afford to buy one anyway.
If you are hopelessly addicted to the 911 shape and its decades of endless and often boring permutations,( hint to la jolla Nick ) it is not the car for you. The new Portofino seems like it will be the quickest, best handling and fastest 2 + 2 convertible available. ...... and dare to say this...It's more practical than a GT3 and might be quicker.
most likely it will also be quicker than the GT3RS, gen 1 and gen 2, 911R, actually all 911s except GT2RS. and it looks so much better than the past, current and future 911s (which look all the same anyway).
JimFlat6: It's more practical than a GT3 and might be quicker.
Maybe in a straight line (but not track) and resale not as good as GT3...
73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (1,890 lbs), 06 EVO9 with track mods. Former: 16 Cayman GT4, 73 911S, Two 951S's, 996 C2, 993 C2, 98 Ferrari 550, 79 635CSi
The new car is a good evolution of the California design. Ferrari designers played it safe with the new model, à la Porsche designers who let their models evolve rather than make them radically different.
Those who like the Ferrari brand and the Ferrari style will most probably like the Portofino too.
The Portofino looks little more aggressive than the outgoing model. I believe Ferrari expect that this will make it more attractive to a larger male clientele i.e. men who would go for it imagining it as a mini 812.
"Form follows function"