also thinking of defecting - Page 2 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

If you have the balls and the wallet then go for it mate. You only live once!

Can you hold on a while 'till the new baby Lambo comes out of the wraps? It looks and interesting beast and a lot smaller than the Diablo. Proper Audi build quality as well and given the big brother new merky-wotsits-largo £160,000 price it should be priced around new 996T/GT2 money. it has been discussed by various PH'ers on the Ferrari forum

porkers are great but the Lambo is something else, as RR says, you're only young once..... and you can give us all rides at the meets

Ahh, you mentioned the sacred GT2. The daddy of all cars. I couldn't consider a diablo over a GT2. If only I were filthy rich. Maybe UV will buy me one with some spare cash from his xmas bonus. Go on, you won't notice it!

Yup, I would do it. You have your eyes open, unlike poor old RR who thinks the speed six runs like a swiss watch these days The Diablo is calling your name... just get a later model as they fixed a few design flaws, and they are also arguably more dramatic and characterful than the new Murcielago. I believe this is why Night is keeping his Diablo SE and not getting a Murcy.

Tony, go for it. This is probably the only time I could condone such an act of treachery. Indeed, in your position, I wouldn't hesitate. Before I bought my beetle, I drove a '99 SV around the HR Owen environs at thoroughly shopping trolley speeds and it was pleasantly unrecalcitrant in the clutch/gearchange areas. The sound is really something else and it's the ULTIMATE experience by the simple act of merely sitting therein. With prices on the way down (relatively speaking, of course), only the clutch seems to be the potential achilles heel but I guess so long as you avoid too many boisterous traffic light getaways and journeys along the M6, it's possibly all a bit fishwives-talery anyway... Look; what on God's earth compares ito dramatic effect? Can you imagine the sheer orgasm achieved by the knowledge of what would be parked in the garage? I've just told Raceboy that I intend to experience Diablo ownership myself, one day. Frankly, were I dumping the pig, it's be a 360 or one of these. So if you have the means...

Buy Buy Buy It looks like your going into it with your eyes open, so you know it's not going to be cheap, but you can't take it with you when your time is up. Read the Evo buying guide last night and want one more than ever but it's probably not going to happen but I can still dream, never say never. If that doesn't get your pulse racing your dead

Domster, why are you so anti TVR? Some speed six engines (and probably the majority of them) do run like swiss watches. I have heard of many Porker engines going bang too mate. And of a few Porkers going backwards through hedges recently too......

No need to wrap it, I'll drive it home if you can afford this little baby how can you refuse?

I'll comment on this one... I purchased a 94 VT a few years back from a collector with 1,000 miles on it. The guy had several cars and kept them in great shape. I took the car in to have all the fluids changed and was told that the car needed some work. The Dealer recomended that a small oil leak be corrected, and that the car get a new clutch. The total for the work was $15,000 US. I sold the car and have been happy with my 996TT (It's under warranty . If the maintainance was normal, I would have kept the car, however, after my experiance I could not drive the car without thinking that a mis-shift or a minor problem would cost me tens of thousands of dollars. I'd wait for the new baby Lambo. 500hp, 4 wheel drive, and just over 3,000lbs. It will kill a Diablo performance wise and it will have a warranty!! Just my .02 worth. Roy www.lotussource.com/My%20Lotus.htm

Ouch!

Flash, you old grump, you know I am not *anti* TVR, but I will rightly try to stop one of our Porsche forum boys disappearing to the murky world of Tivdom if I can Yes, Porsches aren't all that reliable either, their wet weather handling can be tricky and they have a dodgy image to some. And some Tiv engines are fine, especially now the finger follower problem has been sorted. But I have known, seen, experienced and heard enough about TVR unreliability to come to my own conclusions. And on the Porsche forum you know I will be flying the Porsche flag a bit higher than elsewhere on PH... However, I don't listen to the bad stuff only. I also take account of the good stuff like driving Scottster's Griff (best idle exhaust note ever IMHO), hearing about Jeremyc's trouble free cerb and seeing the nice Tams of you and ALT. They just aren't *quite* enough to convince me to buy a Blackpool bomber. Maybe one day that will change.

Cannonball Run Europe 2002 3000 miles in 5 days, including a day at the track (Imola). One of my fellow competitors was in a 1970 'H' reg 911, in bright orange. Didn't miss a beat. Funny how the only TVR on the run (Yellow Cerbera 4.5) blew its engine on the way back to Blighty. ALL the porkers made it back just fine...

Sobering comments from Roy.... I will not be showing the wife his comments! However, my own simplistic brain can still rationalise the purchase because the SV, being only 2wd and lighter than the VT, is apparently "easier" to maintain. Also I am only looking to purchase from a specialist garage/dealer and definitely not privately, as such I will have a certain amount of comfort re. warranty. One particular dealer I have in mind seems to have very good servicing facilities and does not charge the normal extortionate offical-garage labour costs. In terms of the new baby Lambo, I expect that the waiting lists will be considerable and preferential treatment will go to existing Lambo owners, so that seems too much of a long wait. I will keep the forum updated.

Getting a late Diablo will help in many respects, as build quality is much better. But it still no where near Porsche quality, and IMO Ferrari's are notably better built. Just beware that the Diablo can suddenly get expensive. And even independant specialists can't save you from parts prices, so don't just compare servicing costs. Also, HR Owen are your dealers (make what you will of that! ) If you can get a late one, esp with a warranty, your situation makes the perfect sense for a Diablo. But be warned it can get expensive. Nearly bought a 92 reg model, with very low miles, about a year or two ago, but the very helpful owner pointed out some interesting things that scared the crap out of me. I walked away. Financially, if you are strong enough, there is nothing quite as intimating as a Diablo (bar an F50 ). Heart says go for it, head says be careful, consider hard, and GO FOR IT! Seriously though, I think Anjum has posted some interesting points too, in that his car has been very reliable. I think perhaps asking his opinion will help considerably, as you already have one to on from Roy Oliver, and it's the past/present owners who can shed the most light.

Oh yeah... Or an Aston Vantage (twin blower axample...) Or... Or... I'm so excited I'm going to lie down.And its got nothing to do with me. GO FOR IT!!!

a Diablo SV (circa. 1998/99) has now become a serious alternative. Go for it Tony!

So.. Whats the latest Tony?

Tony, this is my opinion, my 2p I am mean and cheapskate. I find paying the buying price hurts my wallet once. After that, I want a car that's cheap to run and maintain, because maintenance and running costs hurt my wallet on an ongoing basis. Only "mass"-produced cars will give you that. Almost all hand-built bespoke cars will - someday - cost you an arm and a leg in repairs - and I would HATE the car for that. You might as well buy the beastiest blackpool beast you can find (Tuscan S?) for half the money as a Diablo and spend the difference on something else sexy, or on your 2nd hobby. I don't think there will be any difference reliability-wise between a Diablo and a Tuscan. If I were in your shoes I would go for one of the fast,stripped-out 911s (RS, GTx), or a 911 turbo. All the Ferrari owners just LOVE their cars, but the expense of running and repairs makes me wince and question their sanity. Why even my Mondeo has cost me more to maintain than my 911. As I said, just my 2p. Go for what floats YOUR boat with your eyes open - and the very best of british. Rgds, WalterU >> Edited by WalterU on Sunday 19th January 13:43

Any update on the Diablo idea Tony??? Lamborghini vs Porsche.... I live in London and walk over Waterloo bridge and down Embankment every day... I see lots and lots of Porsches but am yet to see a Lambo (except in the Lambo dealership ). Buy a Lamborghini! It makes sense! you know it does

See separate thread:- www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=63&h=0&t=31954 It's looking quite likely, touch wood!!!

What a great choice to have to make, it's a tough job but some one has to do it. I got my 996 Turbo just after Xmas, after several other Porsches I have to say this is the daddy.......I LOVE this car,the grunt , handling,toy's & usability add up to an unbeatable package. But I have to admit that the Lambo is a special beast with BIG presence if you have big pockets. I wish you well with your decision,I have to say I would love to have a blast in a Diablo but I don't think I would swap the Turbo,it really is as good as the press say it is. Enjoy your new toy.

...although not to TVR.... after 10 years of 911 ownership, I had plans to move up to the 996 Turbo in the New Year, however for that sort of money, a Diablo SV (circa. 1998/99) has now become a serious alternative. I no longer do tens of thousands of miles per year in the 911 (in fact only 3000 in the last year), so why not something a bit different. Having done the preliminary homework, yes the servicing will be a "bit more" expensive, but specialists will do an annual service for under a grand and due to limited mileage I don't expect to go through clutches every year!!! Unbelievably insurance quotes have been coming in cheaper than a 996 Turbo. I know it won't be as quick from A to B as the 911, and probably not as reliable, but I can live with this. However am I missing something in my reasoning, or is this a sensible PH thing to do?