Overall, I’ve been extremely pleased with my first ownership experience with a Portofino (purchased last year), as it has been an upgrade vis-a-vis other luxury Marques in terms of service, maintenance, ownership experience. What has been surprising to me is the value retention of some of the models, and if you pick the right model and right spec, you can have an incredible experience AND not lose a lot in the process.
For certain the Pista is an incredible car - extraordinarily sharp and sticky handling, a NA like engine with a robust torque band, and it is best when you drive it fast! Maybe what was surprising to me was how *easy* it is to drive the car - it’s crazy but under control (the 812 is insane and very difficult to drive). I think the biggest downsides is probably the interior noise and the relative lack of creature comforts (no real GPS screen, minimally adjustable seats, etc) but i think that adds to the longevity of the vehicle if you plan to keep it long long term. This also means that for longer trips, I can imagine it can be more uncomfortable and the best way to deal is with a trailer,
Beyond the color, the rest of the spec will be extremely important especially in terms of carbon fiber (outside and inside and wheels), telemetry, seat adjusters, lifter (a must have in my book), and electronics - while there are less options than other models, you want to max out, as additions after the fact are expensive and may impact value and the experience. Also one of the biggest considerations I’ve been looking at is condition - perhaps more than other models, the Pista is a track car and you will need to pay closer attention to the wearables (brakes, tyres, rims, suspension) and bodywork (carbon fiber and paint is incredibly expensive to replace and fix) - and in some cases this is more important than miles.
Anyway, good luck with your decision! I think Pistas are absolutely incredible and are probably among the last line of V8s without hybrid/electric assist - and they are limited in general. I will say my wife is hesitant for me to get a Pista / 812 but has really loved the Ferrari experience - good luck with this!
Cheers
Peter