Used Ferrari SF90 vs Porsche 918: Which Hybrid Hypercar Is Smarter in the UK?
Comparing a used Ferrari SF90 Stradale against a Porsche 918 Spyder on the UK market reveals starkly different value propositions — one appreciating asset, one accessible performance bargain.
- Two Very Different Hybrid Philosophies
- Performance: Power, Torque, and Weight
- What the 918's Price Trajectory Tells Us
- The SF90 as the More Accessible Alternative
- Which Should You Buy?
- Key Takeaways
- Sources
Both the Ferrari SF90 Stradale and the Porsche 918 Spyder sit at the apex of road-legal hybrid hypercar engineering — but on the UK used market, they now occupy completely different financial territories. The 918 has matured into a blue-chip collectible, while the SF90 remains the closer-to-attainable option for a driver who actually wants to use their car.
Two Very Different Hybrid Philosophies
The Ferrari SF90 Stradale pairs a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 with three electric motors to produce a combined 1,000hp and 800Nm of torque, sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The car weighs 1,570kg — a relatively lean figure given the hybrid hardware on board.
The Porsche 918 Spyder takes a different route. Rather than a turbocharged engine, it uses a naturally-aspirated 4.6-litre V8 supplemented by two electric motors, generating 887hp and a substantial 1,280Nm of torque. The higher torque figure — nearly 60% more than the SF90's — reflects the 918's philosophy of exploiting electric motors for immediate low-speed thrust rather than chasing headline power numbers.
Both cars are all-wheel drive, making them genuinely fast in all conditions, but they feel and drive differently as a result of those engineering choices.
Performance: Power, Torque, and Weight
On raw numbers, the SF90 holds a meaningful power advantage:
| Metric | Ferrari SF90 Stradale | Porsche 918 Spyder |
|---|---|---|
| Combined power | 1,000hp | 887hp |
| Combined torque | 800Nm | 1,280Nm |
| Drivetrain | AWD | AWD |
| Kerb weight | 1,570kg | ~1,674kg |
| Engine | 4.0L twin-turbo V8 | 4.6L NA V8 |
| Electric motors | 3 | 2 |
The SF90's advantage in power and weight means it is the quicker car outright. In a drag race featuring both cars alongside the Lamborghini Revuelto, the performance hierarchy reflects those numbers — the SF90 is a genuine modern benchmark, not merely a fast car by normal standards.
For a driver focused on outright pace, the SF90 is the more current machine. The 918 was designed over a decade ago and its 887hp, while still formidable, has been eclipsed by newer rivals.
What the 918's Price Trajectory Tells Us
Here is where the buyer's calculus shifts sharply. The Porsche 918 Spyder originally cost around £800,000 when new. As of early 2024, examples are changing hands for approximately £1.3 million — a 60%-plus appreciation that puts it firmly in the category of cars you buy partly as an investment.
That appreciation reflects several factors: the 918 was made in strictly limited numbers (918 units globally), it was the car that effectively launched the modern hybrid hypercar era alongside the McLaren P1 and LaFerrari, and it represents a closed chapter of Porsche's history. Values have consistently risen rather than stabilised.
For most buyers, that trajectory means the 918 is no longer a practical used hypercar purchase — it is an asset acquisition. Running costs, insurance, and the anxiety around depreciating something worth over a million pounds all change the character of ownership.
The SF90 as the More Accessible Alternative
The SF90 Stradale arrived later, is still in production, and carries a different value story. While it is not inexpensive — new examples of the SF90 sit in a price bracket well above most supercars — used specimens represent a genuine opportunity to access 1,000hp hybrid performance at a fraction of the 918's current asking price.
Crucially, the SF90 is also a car Ferrari has continued to develop and sell, meaning parts availability, dealer support, and the broader ownership ecosystem are all more straightforward than they are for a decade-old limited-production Porsche. For someone who wants to drive their hypercar regularly and put miles on it, that matters considerably.
The SF90 also has more power, more modern electronics, and a more current chassis — which matters if your interest is in the driving experience rather than the investment portfolio.
Which Should You Buy?
The answer depends almost entirely on intent.
Buy the Porsche 918 if:
- You are treating it as a store of value and expect continued appreciation
- You want a piece of automotive history — the car that defined the modern hybrid hypercar genre
- Miles and running costs are secondary considerations
- You have £1.3 million or more to commit
Buy the Ferrari SF90 if:
- You want the faster, more powerful car by modern standards
- You plan to drive it regularly and put genuine miles on it
- You prefer current dealer support and a more active ownership community
- You are buying purely as a driver's car rather than a financial instrument
The 918 has become too valuable for most people to use as intended. The SF90, for all its performance, is still in the range where ownership means actually driving it.
Key Takeaways
- The Porsche 918 Spyder has risen from an ~£800,000 new price to approximately £1.3 million on the used market as of 2024 — making it an appreciating collectible rather than a practical used car purchase.
- The Ferrari SF90 Stradale produces more power (1,000hp vs 887hp) and is lighter (1,570kg vs ~1,674kg), making it the faster car by current metrics.
- The 918's 1,280Nm torque advantage over the SF90's 800Nm reflects different engineering philosophies — the Porsche prioritises immediate electric thrust, the Ferrari prioritises outright power.
- For buyers who plan to drive their car, the SF90 offers better value, better support infrastructure, and superior performance at a lower price point than the 918.
- For buyers treating the purchase as an investment, the 918's established appreciation trajectory and historical significance make a compelling case — but at over £1 million, the entry bar is high.
Sources
Carwow — Drag race: New Lamborghini Revuelto vs Ferrari SF90 vs Porsche 918 Spyder (April 19, 2024)