@Gibbo I did take your advice seriously and you were right - plus I took a hard look at the likely running costs even with the Ferrari Power warranty and decided that the whole endeavour was a bust. F12s seem to have appreciated strongly to the point where they are out of reach for me plus as you say they are a bit spikey and hyperactive. I had FFS run the numbers on a gorgeous spec one in Leeds but while I could do it, it wouldn't be sensible and would affect my life in ways I don't want a car to. Portofino has the numbers more in my realm but is basically a California T facelift in a lot of ways. Totally gorgeous in the flesh when in the right colour but I think with my Ferrari itch I'll scratch it with a classic in a few years time, 40th birthday present maybe.
I've looked at the 570GT - the issue with the 570GT is that the GT exists. It is *so* much nicer inside and just better for relatively worry-free travels. The GT has the same sort of ride height as a saloon car with the lift up but otherwise sits quite high (for the type of car) compared to the 570GT. I've been out on drives where 570S/GT have been left for dead on cambered roads because of grounding, bucking etc means they can't actually drive the car properly. I don't want that sort of compromise in this car - I'd rather have a car with the edge taken off that I can stretch rather than always having to hold back to save the car. Basically, I never want to feel that I've taken the wrong car out, which happened frustratingly frequently when running two cars either side of the tourer/sports car divide.
I know buying a 2021 McLaren more or less no matter what the model has the potential to be fairly savage in depreciation but then so does the DB11. My rough estimation is that a £140k GT is going to depreciate about as much as a £140k DB11 AMR over the same period. You're right about 911 GT3 values being strong and they absolutely would be the depreciation-proof accountant-friendly purchase but I just can't. I have never liked the 911, I more than appreciate them from a technical/mechanical point of view but they do nothing for me in the feels - I don't covet them in the same way as I do pretty much any Ferrari, Aston, some McLarens, even the Merc AMG GTR holds more "want" for me than the 911. I know that's illogical but that's just being human, isn't it?
@Housey I went to Mercedes and got the usual abhorrent Mercedes dealer treatment. We went in to look at a brand new EQA for the mrs and then an AMG GTR. Wouldn't unlock even the EQA and even after demonstrating more than sufficient ability to buy both on the spot they didn't change their attitude. They offered to take our number and call us to make an appointment which of course they didn't call. I had a similar experience as an actual Mercedes owner years ago and vowed never to go back but gave them this one more chance and they blew it. I have many friends with near identical dealer experiences and that's killed my interest in the brand stone dead now. McLaren, Ferrari and Aston Martin were nothing like this at all, with each of them going out of their way to make me feel welcome. You would imagine those brands to be more like the Merc experience due to the sheer number of dreamers they must get but nope.
I get what your saying on Porsche, I think a 911 GT3 is a petrol heads supercar, but its not a super car it is just another 911 which are ten to a penny on the roads, as such to many as yourself they are not special at all, even when they have massive wings slapped on they simply to most are just a 911 or fancy beetle. So I do get that totally, just wanted to mention it because they can be forgot about, it is the car when you sit in it and drive it you want it, they drive so superior to pretty much anything on the road but for many people they simply don't have that feel good factor, its just a 911.
Ferrari dealers seem very friendly, they want to throw car keys at you, it is easy to spend hours at a Ferrari or Lamborghini dealer, its a case of sir let us make you some fancy coffee, now which cars do you want to go out and play in, their hospitality is superb. Ferrari "Power Warranty" is however somewhat poor, it covers very little on them, so oil leaks, fuel pumps, dampers all the stuff which can and does fail is not covered, generally the engines and DCT boxes are pretty reliable now. A lot of Ferrari owners, now myself included don't bother with warranty and just put the 3k in a pot each year to cover any potential bills for issues.
Have you considered a 488? It is not a car for me as I find them a bit numb as I far prefer the screaming NA engine of a 458 and its less grippier setup, but a 488 is one hell of a car and the prices have softened in the last year.
Just make sure you consider cost of ownership over say a three year period, I drove so many things when I was hunting, when I drove a 458 I fell in love as it was such an occasion to drive and every drive still is three years on and it has been reliable with zero issues. On bad roads it can bottom out, had it a couple of times in Scotland but I found the cure was to set the suspension to stiffest mode and then it was fine as the damping even in race is actually pretty good, but advantages of a mid-engine reasonably light car and all that. I paid 152k three years ago, retail on my car is still 140-150k and 458 values seem to move up more or less monthly now so in short it has cost me hardly anything to own it, as servicing has been free, insurance is under a grand a year so I just put petrol in it and now it does enjoy drinking but so does any super car or V8/V10/V12. When I got my 458 a Mclaren 720S was 210k starting price for cheapest on market in retail, those have dipped as low as 130k retail, so 80k depreciation versus around 10k for the Ferrari. The GT3's have also hardly moved in price over past three years, Lamborghini also pretty solid though not quite matching Ferrari or Porsche but Mclaren is a bit of a joke but if you buy right your laughing as a friend of a friend got into a 720S for like 127k, he purchased at right time as its now worth circa 140k retail.