Autocar asks one of those questions that we love so much

The kind that makes you pause in your tracks: new Lotus Exige 260 Cup (£45,950), or used (<30K miles) 1999 Ferrari F355 GTB (£42,995)? This is a torturous question for us (we love Lotuses, we love the Exige and what it’s all about, we love track days), and yet, we found ourselves arriving at an answer fairly quickly: the F355.

The Exige is a wonderful toy, track scalpel, and roadgoing go-kart, and like many of you, we would breathlessly jump at the chance to own one. But the F355 is a truly special machine. You are bound to come across an Elise or Exige (or several) at your local autocross or track day, but the same can’t be said about the 355 (which, come to think of it, may actually be an indictment of the average Ferrari owner more than anything). Our point is that this type of exclusivity does count for something, even among the hairiest-chested of track drivers (not that anyone would be quick to admit it). And besides, the 355 is drop dead gorgeous and probably a certifiable future classic. The Exige is many things, but “gorgeous” probably isn’t one of them (though in its vigorous defense, neither is it unattractive— far from it).

As for the unflattering perception of owners who treat their Ferraris more as status symbols than as proper driving instruments? Well, we would happily volunteer for the chance to do our part in helping to correct it.

Via Autocar

~ by velofinds on March 2, 2010.

Posted in Still images, What would you buy
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3 Responses to “Autocar asks one of those questions that we love so much”

  1. I would have to choose the 355. As stated… That will go up in value where as the Lotus will take a while to depreciate long before it increases.

    You coul save up to buy the Lotus in a year or two at a fraction of the new cost and enjoy your 355 in the meantime 🙂

    Brandon: Richmond, VA said this on March 2, 2010 at 11:21 am

  2. F355. Prettier for one. Pretty sure you will not be lacking for fun for two. The wife for 3. She pretty much hates the Lotus with the white hot passion of 1000 burning suns. If she is cool enough to let me have another car, have to get the one the doesn’t make her want to puke.

    Why is everything in lists of three?

    Jim said this on March 2, 2010 at 1:55 pm

  3. That Ferrari interior is the best use of red inside I’ve seen.

    Nater said this on May 23, 2010 at 4:14 pm

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