| Author | Message | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2986 Registered: 9-2001 |
James, but is it a problem ? Doesn't a new auto trans for a $35k car cost about $6k ? That's a little less than 20% of the cost of such a car. Same ratio as for the 456. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Advanced Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 2593 Registered: 10-2002 |
Frank I think the problem is that the cost to develop an auto box for a few cars doesn't make sense. Those costs can't be recouped and the co that made that box probably lost money. I also think if one wants an auto box sports car a P with a triptronic is the way to go. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2984 Registered: 9-2001 |
James, that's about right I suppose. $52k is less than 20% on the cost of the 456 new and that is probably the ratio of an auto trans. cost for other non-Ferrari cars ? | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Advanced Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 2592 Registered: 10-2002 |
V.Z. They're avaible but according to Sheehan they cost 52K. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2982 Registered: 9-2001 |
Martin, if you say you don't remember when you in fact do remember, that is a lie. But, you ARE a used car salesman so I suppose that's par for the course. What's the old saying,...How do you tell if a used car salesman is lying ? .... His lips are moving. But, then again I think that's been said about lawyers too? | ||
| V.Z. (Ama328)
Member Username: Ama328 Post Number: 260 Registered: 11-2002 |
James, at one time auto manufacturers were required by US laws to maintain replacement parts for 10 yrs after date of manufacture, so if this law is still on the books, there *should* be availability of auto boxes for any of the 456 cars, at least for a few more yrs on the early automatics. Might not be cheap, however. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6017 Registered: 5-2001 |
I did not say I would be lying, I would not remember if I was on my hands-free set: " I have no clear recollection of any of these events" See you don't have to lie to circumvent a question or the truth. Why does a statement like: "When the other side lies, I start salivating !" make me think of a pack of rats?  | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 553 Registered: 9-2001 |
And duh, my point exactly. Thus the chatroom is a place to resist the urge to post conclusions or revisionist history. - JMG | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2962 Registered: 9-2001 |
98TCAB, well duh....this is a chat forum not a face to face meeting to gather all pertinent facts to make a well reasoned opinion. | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 552 Registered: 9-2001 |
Actually, I do agree that it takes coordination but I disagree that that skill alone makes for a decent one. (Handsfree is just as bad IMHO.) My point is that it seems to me all of your emails take a similar tack. As you are well aware form your profession, when someone says "can't" it may be a question of skill, handicap limitations or even desire. Frank never indicated why his wife "can't" drive a manual. Perhaps she is uncoordinated, perhaps she is one-armed, perhaps she drives in stop and go traffic all the time and decided that a manual was more trouble than it was worth. My point was as with the Dino comments (noted again in your most recent post), you have decided the facts in the case without all of the relevant data. - JMG | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Advanced Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 2552 Registered: 10-2002 |
Frank W. Auto Ferrari's are IMHO not the way to go. Rijk is correct about the GM. The box in the 456A is no longer made and IF you can find one a repacement box starts at 52K. P makes a GREAT auto box. The one in my wife's turbo Cayanne is fantastic and if you want you can shift it. (Triptonic) The F1 on auto is not the way to go either. If I have a drink my wife can get us home in my F1 on auto but in bumper to bumper unless you enjoy the smell of burning clutches and lurching about it's NG at best. For this reason I think the 4Porte won't work as well. I'd get her a P car with a triptronic. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2960 Registered: 9-2001 |
89TCAB, so you don't agree that it takes coordination to be a good driver ? My point was that if someone isn't even coordinated enough to operate a clutch and shifter then how can they be coordinated enough to be a good driver. My wife too drives an automatic transmission vehicle. But, she CAN drive a manual very well and is better at threshold braking than me. She has had her own M5 as a daily driver as well as a little V8 Dino 328 as well. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2959 Registered: 9-2001 |
Martin, by a really good answer do you mean a "lie". I love defendants that lie under oath. I had one one time that denied at deposition that he was on the phone at the time of the accident even though my client said he saw him just before impact. I obtained his cell phone records through discovery. The cell phone record showed that he was on a 15 minute phone call that ended just after the time of the accident as noted by the witnesses and on the police report. I impeached his credibility before the jury and his attorney then settled with me in the courthouse hallway. When the other side lies, I start salivating ! | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 551 Registered: 9-2001 |
Consider the new Maserati Quattroporte. Starts in auto mode and has the paddles if you ever drive it. Frank, your posts continue to amuse me. No disrespect intended but now, not only are you the keeper of all Ferrari branding, you are able to determine driving ability through the ether of the internet as well as declare your phone use in the car sensible while seeking damages for others. Your cup runneth over... - JMG | ||
| Rijk Rietveld (Rijk365gtb4)
Member Username: Rijk365gtb4 Post Number: 288 Registered: 1-2002 |
Frank The 400iA had a 3 speed auto from GM. A long time ago I drove one once and found it very wanting and went on to look for a 5-speed. The 456GTA's have come down in price and will feel much more spirited. Rijk | ||
| Frank Wiedmann (Frankieferrari)
Junior Member Username: Frankieferrari Post Number: 221 Registered: 8-2003 |
No,my wife is an excellent driver.(she's 46) never got into an accident No tickets,doesn't drive and talk on a cellphone. A really good driver. We tried a stick,but,she kept dumping it,and letting it lurch forward. So,instead of having the possibility of breaking her accident-less record,and bumping into another car,I thought that an automatic would just be a much better choice. Thats probably why 90% of the cars on the road ARE automatics. Hey,when I worked at a furniture store,15 years ago,you wanna talk about some real dumbasses? We sold furniture that came from Europe,mostly,Denmark,that alot of it needed to be assembled. Nothing technical,basic tools,very basic assembly,easily read directions. And,you want to know who the biggest morons were that had the hardest time putting this stuff together? Doctors,Lawyers,"highly educated people" with zero common sense,or the knowledge to work with the most basic tools!( we used to say,"the guys probably got a masters degree in engineering,but can't operate a screwdriver"!) Yeah,these are the guys that I want cutting me open or defending me in court! So,there you go. They'd always f*ck it up,and bring it back and try to tell us that "it was like that in the box!" (Naturally,not all doctors and lawyers are incompetent with tools.But...thats who a good majority of our returns came back from)"High end store,High end customers" But,I am pretty sure that they may have been competent in their "chosen" field.(hope so!)And I am not about to "condemn all of them",or,throw them all in the same barrel,and call ALL of them idiots.That would be just as stupid. Same with drivers. just because they can't drive a stick,doesn't mean they aren't a good driver. have a nice day! ! | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6012 Registered: 5-2001 |
since you can not prove if I was on a hand held set or a had-free by the phone conversation I can not see where you will win any case against me. It rarely is part of a police report. A good defendant will pick up on your line of questioning and have a good answer ready in no time. Ever fondled with the radio while driving, looking for CDs while driving, smoking while driving, trying to get that darn cigarette lighter activated? Next time you listen to a morning talk show that has a topic that interests you remember me and ask yourself: Was I just taking so into the conversation on the radio that I have no clue ho is next to me, behind be, in front of me or how did I get here" You will be amazed. I would have that fact finding thrown out of court in no time. I can be convincing in a jury. But then most lawyers try to not let it come to that. I would and the mere fact that I will take it to a jury will make you back off that line of questioning and supposedly fact finding very quickly. Reminds me of the idiot that said he was insured and tried to claim PIP from my insurance. I sent a letter to his lawyer and one to my insurance Co with copies to both that I do not allow the insurance to pay a dime and that if the plaintiff wants to try his case in court I will defend accordingly. Never heard from him or his sleazy lawyer ever again! His property damage claim was equaly dismissed by the insurance co once they knew where I was standing. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2955 Registered: 9-2001 |
Martin, be careful. On MVA injury cases I always obtain in discovery the name of the defendant's cellular service company and obtain a copy of their bill from the month of the accident. If I can establish that the defendant was talking on the cell phone at or near the time of the accident I will seek punitive damages for reckless conduct. I almost always win on that and some states have even outlawed the driver talking on a cell phone in a moving car unless it is via handsfree. So, I suggest that you get a hands free unit ASAP | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6006 Registered: 5-2001 |
that is "clutch"...I agree I never received peoper writting skills. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6005 Registered: 5-2001 |
Well maybe you are not so coordinated yourself then if you can not work and drive at the same time. She is accident free for the past 15 years doing it. I don't have a hands free phone, actually have two phones that sometimes ring at the same time while driving on I95 at 85Mph and also never had an accident. I can talk on two phones simultaniously, eat a burger and reverse park with a cluyutch into a parking spot downhill. As I said, maybe it is just you that has never received proper automotive skills | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2952 Registered: 9-2001 |
Martin, my Christian spirit lies with wanting to protect others from drivers so uncoordinated that they can't even operate a clutch and shifter. Do you think such a person can drive an automatic car and work at the same time safely ?I too work in my car which is an M5 with a 6 speed tranny. Unless you have a handsfree phone, which I do, you should never talk on the phone while driving anyway. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6002 Registered: 5-2001 |
Most of the 4 seaters were offered in Automatic or as the Mondial in an almost automatic. I recently had a 400A and the car was a lot of fun. Just as you, my wife wants an automatic. I was looking at 456s to get a more modern car. AC is a consideration. Frank, gheez, I am wondering where your christian spirit is. Personally I think that people that believe in some stories that were told 2003 years ago should sit next to those that can not drive stick, but then that is just me! Besides my wife is an excellent stick driver, drives also the Challenge car (next time Oct 4 in Sebring), she just needs the extra hand to work while driving. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2947 Registered: 9-2001 |
Teach her to drive a manual. I taught my 15 year old daughter to drive a Porsche 924 in one afternoon in an empty parking lot. No disrespect intended, but if she doesn't have the coordination to drive a manual, she shouldn't have a driver's license anyway. It's scarey to think there are people driving on our roads that are so uncoordinated that they can't even operate a clutch and shifter. Put them on the bus ! | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Intermediate Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 1897 Registered: 12-2002 |
If you can swing it, go for the 456. Its modern enough to be fairly reliable, powerful, and easier for her to drive with the automatic transmission. | ||
| Izel K. (Ferrarist)
Member Username: Ferrarist Post Number: 286 Registered: 3-2001 |
Mondial's Valeo Transmission version is semi automatic, it's a clutchless stickshifter. In newer models F1 transmission also offers a fully automatic mode (355s,360s,575s). You can go for 456GTA or 456M GTA which has fully automatic trans. I've no idea about putting another cars' transaxle in a Ferrari. But there are talented guys here to talk about it. | ||
| Malcolm West (Ferrari_uk_tech)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_uk_tech Post Number: 108 Registered: 7-2003 |
You could try and find a Mondial t with a Valeo clutch - this was a two pedal car with a gearshift, the gear lever disengaged the clutch automatically, but in my opinion they were nothing but trouble and in the UK we use to convert them back to a normally operated clutch. Best thing if you want the best of both worlds is to buy a F1 355 - more expensive, but a great car. MW | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Senior Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 6213 Registered: 8-2002 |
456GTA...? | ||
| Tillman Strahan (Tillman)
Member Username: Tillman Post Number: 928 Registered: 11-2001 |
The Mondial t Valeo offered a clutchless manual transmission (or more accurately an electronically controlled clutch, I believe). They're rare, but an option. See http://www.qv500.com/ferrarimondialp4.htm for more info. | ||
| Frank Wiedmann (Frankieferrari)
Junior Member Username: Frankieferrari Post Number: 220 Registered: 8-2003 |
Don't laugh,but it would be for my wife. I insist on a stick shift in a Ferrari. But,if I ever decided to get another Ferrari...one that she could drive,what models came with an automatic transmission? Obviously,any comments about teaching her how to drive stick are useless. We've already tried,but,she just can't do it. I am only aware of the 400iA,and 412iA. Any Mondials? Is a Mondial T an automatic? What about the F1 trans. in the newer cars? are they "semi-automatic",or,have a fully automatic mode? I even considered getting a Decent,(not extremely mint) 308,or 328,and,seeing about putting in a transaxle from a Porsche,or something. Is that even possible? (please-no comments about that . I am against "ruining" a perfectly good car. But,if it could be switched back,no big deal. Plus,I bet that I would never have a problem selling a car like that,to someone else looking for the same thing) |