Ekona

Get a cat. They love the buggers.

It's an absolute offence. You either are speeding, or you're not. If you are, even by a single mph, you can have zero complaints.

"The bottom line is to check the precise conditions for driving other cars with your insurer. Otherwise, the outcome could end up costing you a packet." Yeah, that.

You might hurt someone at 30mph. You might cripple them at 40mph. You might kill them at 50mph. Better to go 50 than 40, save them the pain of a lifetime of agony.

Man, I really hate the way Ferrari spell that. Should be a space and a capital B! Anyway, I got to drive one of these today. We were at Silverstone for the Ferrari Racing Days, with full hospitality. Upon arrival we were told that we could book garage tours and a test drive of our choice, so now that I've had extensive drives in the 458 Spider I decided to go for the big one: The F12. Now, this wasn't going to be a proper test drive: I knew that before getting in, so I didn't expect to be able to thrash it round corners and play with the balance. It was one of the their driving coaches that went out with you, so as they're not trying to sell you anything and they don't know you from Adam they're not going to let you risk their car. All totally fair enough, but just a bit of warning so you know why I don't massively go into vehicle dynamics in this one. It's not actually as big a car as you think, y'know. Sure, it's imposing, and those gorgeously sculpted front flanks give you a wonderful view from the cockpit, but it never feels huge. It's a clever trick, and one I think Ferrari have mastered pretty well now. Everything in there felt very similar to the 458, as the steering wheel and display are identical. That's fine, I'm quite used to the location of the indicators and the LCD info now, and it's certainly ergonomic enough. For an Italian car I mean: The air vents could do with having a little more movement in them, as I found having air blowing directly onto my hands a little off putting. Picky? You have to be with this car. It's stunning. No, I still haven't lost my holiday belly So we pootled out of Silverstone, and there is nothing like driving a V12 Ferrari to make people stop, stare, and yank their camera phones out of their pockets for a photo. I felt like a f*cking film star, I tell you. The second you touch the red ENGINE START button though, you feel every bit the mere tea boy to the Hollywood idol of that V12. 6.3 litres, directly related to the one from the Enzo, but bigger and with another 80bhp. Seven hundred and thirty horsepower. In a 1500kg car. My old 911 weighed more than that, and with just 385bhp it felt nippy. This is utterly starship warp factor 11. Out of the 40mph zone around the track, and on the sliproad down onto the A43. Second gear. Manual mode. Throttle down, but progressively. Holy. Mary. Mother of God. At first, there's a rumble. Then a whine. Then a ferocious roar as the exhaust valves open, and from 3000 up to 6500 RPM there is a shove of the like I have never felt. Keep the foot in, and you fly round to the 8500 RPM redline where the V12 is at its most vocal, almost finding another breath with which to pummel you with. Grab the right hand paddle, push the throttle again, and it takes off like a stabbed rat. I have no idea what it sounds like from outside, but from inside it's just a symphony of ignition with a backing track of valves and conducted by pistons. Mesmerising is not the word. Ballistic certainly is. I catch my breath and settle into a 75mph cruise, in 7th. Now it's like I'm driving a Focus, only one bathed in the finest alcantara and the snuggest comfort seats wrapped around your posterior. Honestly, like this it's a pussycat, proven by how comfortable Jo was with her one that she went out in. Still, I'm not here to cruise, I want more. So I back off and find some space, come down the gears to second, and push the pedal down with more assuredness this time. After all, I'm used to it now, right? Nope! It lulls you into a false sense of security, and as the rear wheels start to spin up as they cannot contain the 730bhp and 509ft/lb I'm asking them to, I pause a fraction. They find grip, I nail it again, and off we go. This thing just puts on speed like you would not believe. The 458 feels like a diesel compared to this. 3rd, 4th, 5th: The gear changes just lock in with a lovely mechanical thump, leaving you concentrating on the rapidly approaching skyline. Suffice to say, a Ferrari V12 on full chat is a magnificent thing to behold. As I said, this wasn't a handling test so I cannot in good faith comment on that too much. I will say that when other reviews mention how quick the steering is, they're really not kidding. The F12 darts for apexes like a much smaller car with the weight behind you, but you never feel like you have lost feeling or control. It weights up nicely at speed to make lane changes a cinch, and low speed manoeuvres are obviously going to be easy. The brakes felt good and strong, but again with just one real application you would expect that from any car. Suspension was full of feedback, and the car handled the lumps of the A43 very well indeed. I remember reading about this car before it was released, on how the engine and gearbox mated to the chassis, how the design of the aero was integrated into the styling, and how the interior was designed around the driver. I wanted so much at that point to drive one, above any other Ferrari out there today. They say never meet your heroes, but to that I give it b*llocks. This is one hero I would love to spend a lifetime with.

Owned, leased or finance: I've never ever seen an insurer stipulate that. It wouldn't make sense, I reckon 60% of cars out there fall under that these days. Also it's only 3rd party, so they have no interest in the actual vehicle. Owned in the household would not matter either, but obviously you can't own it yourself. Again though, with continuous insurance that makes that scam impossible. As ever though, ask your insurer. They're all different.

Correct about the 10 years (well, up to 9 years and then you can't put it on the year after). It won't cost any more if you've had other servicing, but they might well insist that you have either a minor or major service (next due one, basically) done before they let you take it out. Some OPCs are more lenient than others. Break in warranty won't matter a jot. Mine had a break last year, and when I had the 111pt check done for the buyer I could've put a warranty straight on. Oh yeah, you'll need a 111pt check done too, at £180 +VAT. I got mine for £200 all in, but there's not much room for negotiation on those.

Ugly hatch, or your Dad's repmobile? Tough choice, i agree.

911 warranty is £1100 a year, including Porsche Assist breakdown cover.

Not true, it depends in your insurer. However, that's irrelevant now that every car must either be taxed and insured, or SORN'd. So you're right, but for the wrong reason

BMW AUW covers everything bar consumables. It's excellent value for money.

Day off.

Some myths on here, but Stevo is right. You can be covered DOC if under 25, but most insurers do not. It can be included by default, but some insurers do not. You cannot get DOC FC on any common road policy. Trader policy should do, though. If in doubt, call and ask. Always!

PPE stuff is excellent quality, that was what I ran last on the MR2 when it was NA.

http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/81289-bmw-m6-v10/ Worth a read again. I know I have. And now I want one again

The bill for the 911 would be more like £10K, as a good example of a repair done correctly i.e. all sleeves and pistons, not just the one in the case of bore scoring. SMG or V10 failure likely to be at least the same. But yeah, you know what level of risk you're willing to take. The good thing about the M6 is that it looks like any other 6 series, but that's also the worst thing. A 911 is, well, a 911, and as such will always attract the attention. I loved it, not every one does. A 911 will reward you as a driver, an M6 will flatter you.

A sensible decision, and the right one I think

If fun isn't an issue, then you might as well get the Pug. If it is, I'd stretch or get a 182. 182 is a better steer than the 197, it wasn't until the 200 that Renault perfected that gen Clio.

Whilst I wouldn't buy an M6 without the AUW, neither would I get a 997.1 without either the OPC or Hartech warranty, so swings and roundabouts. The M6 will always appeal for that engine, but the 911 will get under your skin more. Plenty of choice with 911s, you can always get one next. In a straight line the M6 will leave any 911 bar a turbo/GT2 for dead, but in the corners? It won't even see which way the Porker went. If you drove the Zed as a cruiser, get the M6. If you thrashed the pants off the Zed in the corners, don't walk past the 911. But yeah, either will be awesome

I think you'd need actual measurements, but I agree the 207 looks bigger in those pics.

I suspect they weren't, you just had no basis for comparison so anything would do

You'd not fit them in a 207, would you? Just wheels I assume, no tyres?

Who cares about an image of the car, as long as you like it? FWIW, the 207 is a safe but dull warm supermini. The equivalent Clio is a much better car all round, in every aspect. The Mini too, but that'll be a bit more to buy and run.

Given that the M6 is the one car I've driven that made me think that selling the 911 isn't that bad, I'm not sure I'm going to be much help If I wanted a car to thrash around the lanes with, I'd get the 911. If I wanted one primarily for long term cruising, the M6 would win. If I wanted a car with heritage that gave me goosebumps just looking at it, I'd get the 911. If I wanted one with an engine that made my spine tingle, I'd get the M6. If I ever wanted to be let out of junctions again, I'd get the 911. If I ever wanted to not be called a w*nker, I'd get the M6. Both amazing cars. I'd be tempted to get the M6 though in your shoes, purely before all the SMG 'boxes become too expensive to repair.

I snogged my form tutor. Okay, so it was two years after I left school, but definitely a high point in my life. Given that these days 18 year olds are still in school, I guess that would never happen these days.