Used Ferrari Portofino (2018-2020) buyer’s guide: beautiful GT is the perfect Luce antidote
A full used buyer's guide on the Ferrari Portofino that was on sale in the UK between 2018 and 2020
Verdict
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 levelled at the California were fixed. The 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?
History
The Portofino was unveiled in September 2017, but the first cars weren’t delivered in the UK until July 2018. It was priced at £175k without options, and under the bonnet was a 591bhp twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 engine that powered the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
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Cash £9,100A 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 20bhp from the turbo V8.
Which one should I buy?
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-fibre 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.
On the road
Compared with Ferrari’s contemporary mid-engined V8s (488 and F8), the Portofino doesn’t feel as ludicrously fast, but it still does 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and can hit 200mph.
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 gearchanges, superb brakes and impressive ride quality, the Portofino is a much better all-rounder than you might expect.
Prices
The very bottom of the Portofino market is £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 done around 20,000 miles, you can expect to pay more like £125,000 for it, but values are dependent on the number of options fitted, and also colour schemes. White cars are hard to shift, whereas those finished in grey, red, blue and silver will find owners more readily.
The Portofino M is significantly rarer and you’ll pay a big premium to buy one, because the cheapest examples fetch around £150,000. This is the ceiling for the regular Portofino, but if you want the best M on the market, you’ll need to be prepared to spend as much as £170,000. This bags a 2023 car with around 3,000 miles on the clock and plenty of choice extras.
Unfortunately, there are no used Ferrari Portofinos available through our Buy a Car service, but you can get your hands on a used Ferrari California for less than £80,000.
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Alternatives to the Ferrari Portofino
There are no other coupé-cabrios in this segment, but there are supercars that come in coupé or convertible forms, the latter always with a soft top. The closest rival is the Aston Martin DB11, which is a bargain compared with the Ferrari. The British model is fast, great to drive and looks fantastic.
The Bentley Continental GT/GTC feels special, but it’s less exciting than the Ferrari. The Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio are in the same mould as the Aston Martin, as is the Mercedes-AMG GT, which uses the same twin-turbo V8 as the DB11. Don’t overlook the Porsche 911; it’s readily available, superb to drive and very usable for a supercar.
What to look for
Peace of mind
When new, the Portofino was covered by a four-year warranty with no mileage limit. Buy a used car from a dealer and it will have a fresh two-year warranty.
Feeling flat
One of the most common problems is a duff battery, especially with cars used sparingly, even if kept on a trickle charger. Test the battery to see if it’s past its best.
Body beautiful
Check everywhere for damage or signs of poor impact repairs; fixing the bodywork is a costly job for specialists. Also check that the wheels are undamaged; they’re easily kerbed.
Braking news
All Portofinos came with ceramic brakes as standard. They work well but they can be quite noisy until they’ve warmed up. They last well, but replacements pads cost £10k
Interior
Luxuriously finished, the Ferrari’s dash feels modern but there are still switches for the key functions, which is very welcome. The front seats are superb, but the back ones are only suitable for small children. They fold down to improve boot space, which is just as well because there isn’t much of it with the roof down. With it up, there’s a very usable 292 litres on offer.
Roof
The roof mechanism is extremely complicated and it’s usually reliable, but sensor glitches can lead to it not raising or stowing properly, so put it up and down a few times to check it. It’s possible to activate the roof at up to 31mph, but so the mechanism isn’t stressed, it’s always best to do this when the car is stationary.
Engine
All Portofinos came with a twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 engine that provides a fabulously linear spread of power, with excellent tractability. So far, reliability is generally proving to be very good, and while there have been instances of turbocharger failure on early cars, it’s not a common problem.
Running costs
You can’t run a Portofino cheaply, because parts are expensive and any decent workshop has big overheads to cover, such as labour and diagnostic equipment. The service interval for all Portofinos is 12 months or 12,500 miles, with routine maintenance covered for the first seven years. Main dealers often have deals to keep cars within the official network, but there are lots of really good independent specialists that can help you save money.
Outside the routine maintenance, expect to pay around £700 for a minor service and about double that for a major. The ceramic brakes are costly to replace (the pads are £1,000), but they last well; there’s no cambelt to replace. Insurance is expensive (group 50), while an average of 18-22mpg is the norm. Vehicle Excise Duty costs £200 per year, plus a £440 supplement until the car’s sixth birthday.
Recalls
Ferrari has issued two recalls, both for the Portofino and the Portofino M. The first, in July 2021, involved cars built up to May that year, which had faulty stop-start software. The second recall came in February 2022, and affected all cars made up until this point; they had faulty caps on the brake-fluid reservoir.
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