Ferrari 599

No-one can quite believe how good the 599 is. Staggeringly fast but remarkably easy to drive. It’s pretty much as fast as an Enzo too, which just shows what a difference a couple of years can make.

• Comfort

  The GTB wouldn't meet the demands of its market if it wasn't superbly comfortable and refined. Yes, you can wring its noisy neck cross-country, but you can also waft about as a picture of calm and dignity.

  

• Performance

  A top speed of 330km/h is a good indication of just what the 599 is about, but that's only half the story. Super-slick sequential manual gearbox and 608Nm of torque mean there's never a moment when it can't knock the wind out of you.

  

• Cool

  The 599 GTB gets the nod for the simple reason that it is so damn good. In the hands of someone who will really use it, it's cool.

  

• Quality

  For $624,300 you'd expect the 599 to be pretty bloody well screwed together, and it is. Fingers crossed for all that ultra-hi-tech Italian electronica, but no problems to report thus far.

  

• Handling

  Despite GT characteristics with that big V12 up front, the 599 handles like a proper sports car. It's ridiculously advanced traction settings also mean it's getting on for idiot proof.

  

• Practicality

  Within reason, the 599 is a useable two-seat tourer, with plenty of space for kit and a nicely sorted cabin. It's also very easy to drive around town, although it'd take balls of steel to park it in the street and leave it there.

  

• Running costs

  If you're looking in this box you're a tourist. Anyone who's prepared to spend $624,300 on a car is going to worry about the odd outgoing. Service, insurance, fuel: it'd buy you a decent hatchback every year.