When it comes to Ferrari, the term ‘entry-level’ takes on a whole new meaning. The Ferrari Portofino may have been the cheapest model from the manufacturer that you could buy when it was new, but it’s still superbly made, ludicrously quick, eye-catching, and exciting to drive. Most Portofino buyers were new to the marque, and many wouldn’t have appreciated the progress that Ferrari made in the move from California to Portofino, but we noticed the more engaging handling, considerably improved roof, more polished interior, and much more.
The Portofino is inescapably expensive to buy and run, but if you have a big budget and you want a user-friendly supercar, then look no further. Ferrari will celebrate its 80th birthday in 2027, and ever since its first car was driven through the gates of the Maranello factory back in 1947, the firm has focused on fast, exclusive cars for the well-heeled.
Some have been better than others, but even on an off day, Ferrari has tended to produce a car that most petrolheads would sell a kidney to acquire. The California was one of those rare Ferraris that wasn’t universally loved, but when its Portofino successor came along, it’s fair to say that many of the major criticisms leveled at the California were fixed.
View Price on AmazonThe cheapest car in Ferrari’s range, the Portofino still lived up to the brand’s reputation with its blend of performance, quality, looks, and noise. The newest Portofinos are now three years old, and you still need deep pockets to buy one, but is the expense worth it? The Portofino was unveiled in September 2017, but the first cars weren’t delivered in the US until July 2018. It was priced at around $214,000 without options, and under the bonnet was a 591-horsepower twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8 engine that powered the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
A heavily revised Portofino was launched in September 2020, known as the M, for Modificata. This moniker denoted a significantly upgraded car, which in this case brought an eight-speed gearbox, a five-position Manettino (which meant two extra driving modes, including a Race setting) switch, plus Ferrari squeezed an extra 20 horsepower from the turbo V8.
The M is a better car than the ‘regular’ Portofino, but whether or not it’s worth the hefty premium is debatable. Some owners say yes, while others disagree. Whichever you decide you want, there’s no need to settle for an example without many options, because all of these cars came with some extra-cost options (some far more than others), and you now won’t pay a big premium for many of them.
Standard kit included front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, LED headlights, electrically adjustable seats, and 20-inch alloy wheels. The options list was extensive, and while items such as painted brake calipers and carbon-fiber parts inside and out were very popular, the thing worth homing in on is the Magneride suspension. Front and rear parking cameras and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity are other desirable options.
Compared with Ferrari’s contemporary mid-engined V8s (488 and F8), the Portofino doesn’t feel as ludicrously fast, but it still does 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and can hit 199mph. What’s striking is how accessible this performance is; the car suffers no turbo lag and can get its power down even in poor conditions. But using the Manettino on the steering wheel will help you to get the most out of it.
With tactile steering, lightning-fast gear changes, superb brakes, and impressive ride quality, the Portofino is a much better all-rounder than you might expect. The very bottom of the Portofino market is around $100,000, which buys an early car with 50,000 miles on the clock. Most of the Portofinos for sale are low-mileage examples; if you buy something that’s been well looked after, you can expect years of trouble-free motoring.
Source: autoexpress.co.uk
