So, you’re thinking about buying a Ferrari. You can colour us jealous. Moving past that, you’ve got plenty on your plate to think about, because if you’re even half passionate about cars, choosing just one Ferrari – and the right Ferrari for you – is quite the headache to have.

A nice headache, admittedly. There is no such thing as a bad Ferrari. Far from it, in fact, but there are very different Ferraris out there that appeal to different types of petrolhead, to different lifestyles and, naturally, different budgets.

Where to begin, then, in your quest to find your Ferrari? Here are five basic areas of consideration that should help you round things down.

The cost

Hopefully you’ve got a bit of cash lying around, as even the cheapest Ferrari you can find at your average used Ferrari dealer will be tickling 6 figures. Much cheaper Ferraris do exist – options like the 400i or the Dino 308 GT4 – but for one reason or another (desirability, reliability, maintenance) these are unlikely to be the sort of thing you had in mind when thinking of purchasing a supercar from the Prancing Horse.

If you are just looking to get on the Ferrari property ladder, then a “budget” Ferrari may appeal. Otherwise, you’ll need to get your biggest chequebook out to secure the car you’ve got your eye on.

Your priorities

People buy supercars for different reasons. Some for the general prestige of owning one, others for the history of the vehicle. You may want a performance focused, track engineered beast, or you may wish to find the model that turns the most heads aesthetically. A manufacturer with the pedigree of Ferrari has plentiful options in all these categories, so it’s important you figure out what you want before you pull the trigger.

Luckily, there is often some crossover in categories in many Ferraris, but understanding the features at the top of you wish list will help narrow down your search significantly.

Your lifestyle

While you’re buying your dream car, there also needs to be a sense of reality in your purchase. If you’ve got the cash to afford a Ferrari, we can assume you’re doing OK for yourself, but there may be certain facets of your lifestyle that dictate which models make more sense for you.

For example, if you live in the city with on street parking only, should you really buy a Ferrari that is going to attract the most eyes possible? Perhaps you have intentions to use your new supercar regularly or only once in a blue moon, in which case you need to look into comfort and reliability factors in individual models.

If you’re looking for the best Ferrari for a family of four, you’re not going to find it. You need to understand how your dream of owning an F50 ties into your everyday life.

Speed vs style

We’ve already alluded to it above when discussing your priorities as a buyer, but one of the most divisive debates in Ferrari fandom is the matter of speed vs style. Yes, every Ferrari is fast, and every Ferrari is stylish, but there are undoubtedly models, especially from years gone by, that fit firmly into one category over the other.

You have Ferraris that are design icons, like the 90s poster boy Testarossa, whose 5.0l, 390bhp, flat-12 engine is no slouch, but wouldn’t stack up to the raw power of modern Ferraris. If speed is your bag, then a look towards the manufacturer’s latest creations, the 812 Superfast and the hybrid F90 Stradale, is recommended.

In the end, finding the right Ferrari for you will be a very personal decision, but considering factors like those above will help steer you in the right direction. Whatever you end up with, we’re sure you won’t be too unhappy.