| Author | Message | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Member Username: Davewapinski Post Number: 632 Registered: 8-2001 |
Art, LOL, like your anology (sp). Dave | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Advanced Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2716 Registered: 6-2001 |
These are Italian cars. Up to the 348s, all of them were built, by hand by Italians. Their great art, but they are not Japanese. The 355, 360 are great cars, but they have a little Japanese in them, along with the Italian. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Advanced Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2715 Registered: 6-2001 |
These are Italian cars. Up to the 348s, all of them were built, by hand by Italians. Their great art, but they are not Japanese. The 355, 360 are great cars, but they have a little Japanese in them, along with the Italian. | ||
| Mark (Markg)
Member Username: Markg Post Number: 625 Registered: 2-2001 |
Ken - heck no! I was left stranded by a bad #3 fuse (fuel pump)that seemed fine when I replaced it with a glass one. Seems I treated the symptom not the cause, and a year later it was fuse block time! A few times my car just plain would not start, did this for 2 weeks, then it started and ran fine for 18 months, until the thermo-time switch failed for good! Right rear had a growling noise that would go away with ever so slight a turn or allignment adjustment - until the wheel bearings got to the point where nothing hid the noise. So I do full preventative maintanance now: replaced both fuse boxes, fuel pump and accumalator, radiator fans, etc. BEFORE they fail | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Intermediate Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 1215 Registered: 10-2001 |
Mark, I'm sure you don't reccommend the 'self fixing' route for a rule of thumb, but I have seen it happen with my 31 year old car. Of course, whatever it was eventually has you stranded on a lonely road, late at night. In the rain. An ounce of prevention is worth $2000 worth of cure. | ||
| Dave White (Dwhite)
Junior Member Username: Dwhite Post Number: 162 Registered: 5-2003 |
Possibly the cam seals. When did you do a major last. I had mine smoke every now and then. After a major it never smoked again. But I knew the seals needed to be replaced a year before I did the service. Obviously, first try to get a handle on where the leak is, to cause the smoke. I bet it is a very minor fix. | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1568 Registered: 3-2001 |
So Jim E, what's the diagnosis on the car? Hope it's minor! | ||
| Lee Pierce (Leepierce)
Junior Member Username: Leepierce Post Number: 217 Registered: 1-2003 |
Oh, and Dave W: I'm glad to hear of your experience. The Mondial T cab. is my dream car! | ||
| Lee Pierce (Leepierce)
Junior Member Username: Leepierce Post Number: 216 Registered: 1-2003 |
Yeah, and no PPI can stop that smoke from rising 15 minutes after the title changes hands, either. Most of us own older cars, more than 6 or 8 years old is "older" in my opinion. And let's face it, these things were unreliable from day one. They'll engineer reliability for the length of a race; that's about all the factory cares about, isn't it? Having owned 2 Nisssans and now a Toyota truck, I've always worshipped reliability as the hallmark of good automotive engineering. And I've always known Italian cars, Ferraris especially, have a reputation for breaking down, constantly needing work. And old cars in general are just tow truck bait. Why, then, is there a 25-year old Ferrari in my garage? Wait...there's a Ferrari in my garage? There's a Ferrari in my garage!! THERE'S A FERRARI IN MY GARAGE!! Rambling aside, point made. They are Ferraris. They are exciting. They fire the imagination. They are functional art. They move us. They remind us what we are capable of. | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Intermediate Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 1078 Registered: 5-2002 |
Jim E. My biggest fear in owning a Ferrari is the little b/s things that happen ever once and a while that end up costing an arm and a leg.. A good friend here in F-chat summed it all up for me. He reminded me that some people are buying cars 15, 20 & 25 years old.. This is the time that many parts may need to be changed.. After hearing that I feel I just have to take the time to fine the right car.. Don't be uspet, just keep in mind that you are the owner something very special. Special enough that a guy driving an E420 stopped to take to you about the car.......  | ||
| Mark (Markg)
Member Username: Markg Post Number: 618 Registered: 2-2001 |
Jim E: Feel the pain! Went to Albuquerque from Colorado Springs a few weeks back; stopped for lunch in Trinidad (3 hours drive) and my passenger points at the blue smoke pouring up out of the rear deck louvers; nice palm sized puddle under car and small drips from each stud on pavement. Oil doesn't even register on dipstick! Add 2 spare quarts that I carry and decide to risk it and push on to Albq. Get to Albq, park in motel lot, check oil level - its fine and virtually no leaks and no smoke. By next day, with some in town driving, ALL oil leak symptoms are gone; used less than 1 qt oil driving home. Been fine since.... I had overfilled the gear box somewhat just before leaving and then jacked front end up to replace front pads (R4S - great pads by the way!)...only thing I can think of is with front end jacked up oil may have leaked out and soaked lower engine area...??? All I know is its fine now....and this isn't the first 'self-fixing' problem I've had with my 308. But, like Ed, Nika, maybe you, I too will come to the 'enough is enough' state and leave the F car arena. | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Member Username: Davewapinski Post Number: 614 Registered: 8-2001 |
Jim, Good luck. It seems there is a big variance in Ferraris. Do not know what to think of it, especially since I own one. At first, thought it could be they are hand made. However, this does not seem to explain the big difference between cars of the same model. Any thoughts? On mine, first month using it, drove it 3,000 miles. Now using it 1,000 to 2,000 per month. Only costs so far have been a new battery, replaced some cables as a precaution, and gas. However, the experiences of some people worry me. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Senior Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 6325 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jim, it is tough. I had the same with the Challenge car. It was not just the cam seals but the head gasket. Drop the engine and pull the heads off. Nice bill. The parts for the gaskets and the pullies come to $ 2600. And that is saving a lot. Check HG parts for good savings on parts guys. Heiko can deliver. But when you get her back and drive it is all worth it then. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2443 Registered: 10-2002 |
Dave, thanks for that. Didn't know that. Have to pay better attention next time I see one of these. Maybe I was looking at a replica wheel without the horse. My apologies to Alan. | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 897 Registered: 10-2001 |
Cool Ben. Sorry I took your note wrong. Jim Good luck on your 328. Great car! Well worth a bit of work. | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Intermediate Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 1002 Registered: 6-2002 |
Mark- I like the NSX, I have driven two, and I even consider it an exotic (because it sure as hell is.) But it is the most passion-less exotic I personally have ever driven. It was quick enough, handled well, and the interior controls worked perfectly. Yet I found myself wanting something unidentifiable that wasn't there. To me, NOTHING but NOTHING is a Ferrari. That statement makes about as much sense as my feelings in this matter, so there you go. My comment was not negative, and clearly meant to address the vast majority of other HONDA automobiles (read: all of them sans the NSX) which are relatively soulless, undoubtedly good cars. PS: We owe the 355 and even moreso the 360 to the NSX. I'm actually an NSX supporter, know thine ally... | ||
| Dave Quick (Davequick)
New member Username: Davequick Post Number: 28 Registered: 5-2003 |
MS certainly does have a cavalino on his steering wheel - there is always room for the prancing horse - it's subtle because it's black on black. 2002 steering wheel:  Check out Todd Walke's (Todd is active on ferrarilist) page on F1 steering wheels over the years: http://www.pureluckdesign.com/ferrari/wheelthing/index.htm -dq | ||
| TOM BUCKLEY (Tom_b)
Junior Member Username: Tom_b Post Number: 98 Registered: 6-2003 |
Jim, As long as you don't start to LOOK like Nika. | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Intermediate Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 1919 Registered: 7-2002 |
once all the oil has drained out your leak will cure itself......... | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Intermediate Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 1196 Registered: 10-2001 |
Don't panic on the oil leak, yet. They can be very simple. I had one once onto my exhaust and it turned out to be from the unused mechanical fuel pump. I removed it, fabricated a blanking plate and no more leak. Yours could be as simple as a bad bung crush washer. | ||
| Mark (Study)
Member Username: Study Post Number: 896 Registered: 10-2001 |
Ben- Yes, but you could be in a HONDA and have the same thing happen (but withought the whole zest for life thing...) Ben, just can't stand to think Honda owners might have a zest thing going on? Thanks for your negative comment.  | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Advanced Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 2658 Registered: 7-2001 |
I just went down at lunch to check things out, my new oil leak put down a puddle the size of the palm of my hand in 3.5 hours. Great. Ownership is SUCH a joy. | ||
| Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Member Username: Lawrence Post Number: 788 Registered: 4-2002 |
My 328 used to smoke on the passenger side. The valve cover was leaking and it dripped down onto the exhause. Since I did the service on it two summers ago, it no longer leaks. I suffered with the leak for several years until it was time for me to service it. I could not see mine in the mirror, however. But I could see it if I got out of the car, and it certainly would stink up my basement. | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 1000 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yes, but you could be in a HONDA and have the same thing happen (but withought the whole zest for life thing...) Take heart! Best! Ben. | ||
| benedict caiola (Benedict)
New member Username: Benedict Post Number: 26 Registered: 9-2003 |
Your post reminded me of a story. A couple of years ago I was driving around NYC in a Porsche 911 Cabriolet . A bra-less (and buxom) girl in a clingy t-shirt was walking down the street alongside me. Our eyes met for a moment and she immediately lifted her top giving me a bird's eye view of her ample breasts! I was impressed! (My wife less so). She was obviously a Porsche fan. I often wonder what my Ferrari would have caused her to do! LOL | ||
| Andrew Menasce (Amenasce)
Intermediate Member Username: Amenasce Post Number: 1469 Registered: 10-2001 |
Yeah that happens to all cars..but yours is a Ferrari. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2422 Registered: 10-2002 |
Good point. 9/11 had a lot to do with me taking the plunge finally. As well as getting older. | ||
| Alan Leach (Speedy308)
Junior Member Username: Speedy308 Post Number: 232 Registered: 12-2002 |
I bought my car shortly after watching my father pass on. When people ask me why I drive it every day, I say "Because life is too short NOT to!" Everybody have a great weekend! Weather is great for a drive! | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Senior Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 6823 Registered: 8-2002 |
Because this girl isn't matrixed with Kia race statistics... There's a balance with everything, Jim, you know that... Just having a bad day and we can respect that... | ||
| Alan Leach (Speedy308)
Junior Member Username: Speedy308 Post Number: 230 Registered: 12-2002 |
Damn, you're right! When did this happen??? I'm outraged! Next time I chat with Jean Todt, I'll insist they put it back! MOMO is a great firm as well. Always had a lot of respect Moretti and the 333SP effort. He responded to my congrats after Daytona personally. A class act | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2419 Registered: 10-2002 |
Alan, although I get your point and agree with it, technically I believe you're wrong: There is no horse on Schumi's steering wheel. Simply no room. All it says on it is 'Momo'. | ||
| Alan Leach (Speedy308)
Junior Member Username: Speedy308 Post Number: 229 Registered: 12-2002 |
Take heart, the last time my header burned thru a guy pulled alongside on th highway and gave me the frantic international symbol for "Hey dude, your car's on f_____in' FIRE!" LOL! | ||
| James Adams (Madmaxx)
Junior Member Username: Madmaxx Post Number: 223 Registered: 11-2002 |
The joys of any old(er) car. Try locating parts for a Hemi ANYTHING, cost is out of this world. If you love the feeling you get when you drive...if all your cares seem to drift away, and are replaced by both pleasure and paranoia, then it's worth it. It's a fine balance of having fun and worrying like $#*( if something is going to break LOL. If you do not enjoy it, then sell it. Regardless, you always have your memories of it..which is more than most can say they have eh? James | ||
| Alan Leach (Speedy308)
Junior Member Username: Speedy308 Post Number: 228 Registered: 12-2002 |
Because the Horse on your steering wheel is the same as Micheal Schumachers!! As I tell folks all the time, "It ain't easy being me, I just make it LOOK easy, I'm a trained professional!" Actual results may vary. Good luck bro! | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 6463 Registered: 12-2000 |
I have a similar problem sometimes where wiffs of smoke will come up from oil hitting something hot. Not a major leak as I never have to add oil between regular changes. Come on Jim, you don't like that your Ferrari is "smokin!" | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 2418 Registered: 10-2002 |
You love it because the owner in the E420 wanted to talk to you and not vice versa. Just reason # 2734 out of about 10,000. | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Intermediate Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 1914 Registered: 7-2002 |
Because you have one and I don't. | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Advanced Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 2655 Registered: 7-2001 |
I drove the 328 to work this morning, it's a beautiful day and I took the top off. At a stoplight a guy in an E420 rolled down his window and asked me if the car was fun. "Of course!" I replied, and I told him I highly recommended it. At the next stoplight, I glanced in my rearview mirror and saw white smoke coming up through the deck vents. It wasn't heavy, but I hadn't seen it before. I pulled over to take a look, and I now have a new oil leak. This particular leak is conveniently located so that the drops of oil get blown back on the exhaust manifold, causing the smoke. It's always something with this damn car. Every 45-60 days, here it comes again. The last repair was only $350, I wonder how much this one will be? Somebody remind me why I love it? |