Logistical challenges

Lovely shiny F355 5.2 Motronic engine bay

The big question in regards to Project 458 is whether I would trade the F355 in for a 458? The current value of F355’s would go a long way towards a 458 (even a 488). Another school or thought also suggests that a 458 is a much more modern car with more creature comforts and therefore better. While all these arguments are true, I have decided that, unless I really have to, for a variety of reasons, I am not planning on selling the F355. Having a manual sports car just has a certain appeal to it and honestly the F355 has always been my dream car.

Ok, with that decision made, now come the logistical challenges. The first of which is that with having multiple “fun” cars, the question arises when do you enjoy them? My current regime is an early morning Sunday drive the F355 and generally back before mid morning. I know the F355 requires a good run at least once a week to keep it in condition and I have settled into a nice routine. However, add a second car and things start to become complicated.

Spending all that additional cash on yet another “weekend toy” means that you want to ensure you get the full enjoyment from it, right? So does that mean that immediately upon returning with the F355 I turn around and jump into another car and take it out for an extended run as well? As much as I would love to that, by that time of the day there are more cars, traffic, enforcement and so on. The downsides start to accumulate. It also means that instead of having most of Sunday to myself, half of it is consumed driving. I feel that may become somewhat of a chore after a while and that’s not value for money because then all the enjoyment has gone out of it.

So, let’s say that I retain the current F355 routine and perhaps take a second car out only occasionally? That’s a lot of money to pay for something that is only enjoyed fully every few weeks. Also, 458’s really do need to driven every week or hooked up to a trickle charger in the interim (which is another logistical challenge I’ll cover soon). Now a 458 is eminently more a car you can drive everyday but would you want to? It still kind of draws attention to itself. So, how does one reap the benefits from a second “weekend only” car?

Of course, these are all first world problems and there are argument for all points of view. It is clear that I know I’d regret selling or upgrading the F355 because every owner I know who has owned one has said that. So that means two cars. Two cars introduces many challenges and the first major one is logistical. The biggest questions is, would I get value from spending all that money on a car that I only drive occasionally? Would I feel the ‘obligation’ to drive it regularly and in doing so take the shine off ownership?

All very good questions that I have not fully come to a decision on as yet. In short, it’s a lot of money to pay for something that appears will only be used occasionally. Could I live with that?