| Author | Message | ||
| Nader (Nader)
New member Username: Nader Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2002 |
I don't think I've ever ridden a car worth more than maybe 60K, but a few months ago, I had a high-speed ride in a Murcielago, of all things. Not a Ferrari, but still surreal. Can't describe the feeling of over 500 horsepower at your back, roaring. It was thrust more than acceleration, pushing me to 100mph on a short stretch of fresh blacktop in no time. Was probably only at 4K RPM in 3rd. I'll never forget that. | ||
| Damon Bottorff (Prova7)
New member Username: Prova7 Post Number: 3 Registered: 7-2002 |
My favorite drives in my car have all been on the track or around Lake Travis in Austin, but my favorite roads are undoubtedly in the mountains around Lake Tahoe. My gf and I landed in Reno and picked up a Sebring convertible for the week. Being in Tahoe in August I knew I wanted a convertible, the scenery was gorgeous and the roads in the mountains beautiful. We took the long way everywhere we went and must have driven completely around the lake at least 3 times in our week's stay. I think we put something like 1200 miles on the rental that week with a trip white water rafting as well. I kept kicking myself driving the Sebring on those roads thinking "This would be fun in the 7, this would be fun in the 7..." I have promised the 7 a trip there in the near future. Can't wait to hear the pipes bouncing off the mountain passes while rowing the gears =) | ||
| Marcus Mayeux (Mmayeux73)
Member Username: Mmayeux73 Post Number: 343 Registered: 4-2002 |
I have told this story once before, but my first time I was able to drive an F-car was this past summer. My best friend's uncle bought a white on camel F-355 6 speed. I was able to drive it in Houston for about an hour, windows down just to listen to the engine. I have never sweated from being so excited in my life! For once in my life I felt stress free and complete. There is something that comes over you when driving a car like this, that for me is almost unexplainable. All I know, is that I want to feel this way everyday. I have set a realistic goal to get a 328, but never had the chance to drive one yet. Once I get closer to buying, I will test drive one. | ||
| David S (Djs308)
New member Username: Djs308 Post Number: 15 Registered: 9-2002 |
About a week after a close family member was killed, a friend of a friend came over to pay his condolences. He owns a Porsche 911 and after glimpsing some of the Ferrari stuff I have strewn around the house, he kindly offered to give me a ride in his 911 on the upcoming weekend. I said that would be really great (not truly expecting him to follow through). Well, lo and behold, Sunday afternoon a sparkling white brand new Porsche 911 pulls up in front of my house. He rang the bell and said "let's go, and you're driving!!" I was in shock, to say the least. Well, I got in, got aquainted with a 911 for the first time. I started reaaallllllly sloooooowwwly as I didn't want to do anything foolish. After 5 minutes of going around my neighborhood I was waiting for him to ask me to stop and switch. Instead, he said "go ahead and get on the highway". I wasn't going to argue and away we went! This time, I was a little more comfortable and got it up to speed. Kept my eyes glued to the mirrors to check for the state troopers and kept things conservative. Anyway, he let me go 20 exits before we turned around for home. A full hour of cruising. When we got back, I thanked him profusely and he had one more surprise for me: His good friend owns (owned) a 1987 red Testarossa and he wanted to get me a ride. Sure enough, he brought me over and yes, I got a ride in the TR. The owner gave me a ride I won't soon forget! He hit REDLINE several times without breaking a sweat (this was on local suburban streets). By the way, the TR would have smoked the 911 in a drag race. It was an unbelievable day and certainly helped me at that time. Now all I need to do is get one for myself... | ||
| Ton Visser (Lion315)
New member Username: Lion315 Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2002 |
My most beautiful experience was the first time I drove a Ferrari. My neighbour had just picked up his brandnew Barchetta and stopped on my driveway to pick me up. This was a very pleasant and above all unexpected surprise. I got in the passengerseat and we drove for about 15 minutes when he suddenly pulled the car over and asked me if I wanted to drive the car home. I can't describe what I was feeling at that moment but I was in pure shock, still absorbing the intense emotions from the ride in the passengerseat. I got in the driverseat, pushed it in first gear and tried to drive away as gently as I could. But this car was screaming for emotion. And after some positive inputs from my neighbour I floored it. I will never forget this intense emotional feeling. The acceleration was enormous with its 485 Hp. The engine was screaming with pleasure. The changing of gears was easier then I expected and even in sixth gear the power was unbelievable. The handling of the car was sensational, even at high speeds. My drive only lasted 10 minutes but it is burned in my brain forever. After I parked the car on my driveway I just gazed at the car for another 10 minutes. It changed my life forever. It will never be the same again. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Junior Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 227 Registered: 10-2002 |
Bittersweet perhaps. The door gunner came home in a box...Those of us who are lucky enough to have made it home for the holidays should never forget how lucky we are. Best | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Junior Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 137 Registered: 9-2002 |
Jim, That had to be one of the best short pieces I've read online yet. Most amusing! ;) --Dan | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Junior Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 224 Registered: 10-2002 |
"That kid was right." He said as we drove through the night from Coney Island towards the city in my 308 with the lights from the unmarked Police car Jason was escorting us along with throwing red flashes across our dash. " I was SOL, dead, gone, fineato, when slowly I heard the sound of Puff opening up from the cargo bay of that C130 and starting to puke a million rounds a minute into the jungle floor. Maybe, maybe...Then came the Heuy and the door gunner laying down 50 cal in short bursts. That's what told me, the short bursts...He wasn't panicing. I was going home. As he pulled me off the skid and we lifted off I noticed a sticker on his helmut, a Black Horse,like the one on the front of your car. As we flew back he told me that someday he was going to ride in a Ferrari and I would too... He was half right." He took a swig, looked at me and said "Better Days." | ||
| Michael Davidson (Cabrio_fan)
New member Username: Cabrio_fan Post Number: 21 Registered: 3-2002 |
21 years old in the military, TDY to Germany -- driving my rental car on the AUTOBAHN! I didn't care one bit that my rental was a 5 speed Ford Escort station wagon. All I cared was that it did over 100 MPH. I was in auto-heaven. I hope to vacation in Germany someday with an F-car rental and enjoy the Autobahn even more. ...and yes, thank you, I know all about the speed limits that are imposed as you near the towns. My co-worker got busted with photo radar and stuck with a $350 ticket. They didn't care he was TDY in a rental car either. The ticket caught up with him stateside 3 months later. [BTW - TDY stands for Temporary Duty] Looking back, I can't believe that Uncle Sam let's 21 year old military members rent cars in Germany on official business. Wow. | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
Advanced Member Username: Magoo Post Number: 3752 Registered: 2-2001 |
When I saw my 79 308 GTS which I was to own, sitting in a dehumidified garage with other classics and still had the temp. tag on it. A feeling I will never forget. | ||
| Terry Springer (Tspringer)
Member Username: Tspringer Post Number: 343 Registered: 4-2002 |
There have been many really fun moments in my 308, but few could top my first 30 minutes with the car. I picked it up from the open trailer transporter in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I bought this car on ebay and based on an independant 3d party PPI. I had seen many photos and a video, but had never seen it in person. The car was in the front and on bottom of an open car transporter trailer. It had been trucked all the way across the country and was FILTHY. I mean so dirty you could not see through the windshield. We unloaded it and I borrowed some towels and windex to clean the windshield enough to drive it. Mostly it just created a bigger mess, but finally there was enough vision to drive it home. I fired it, it started right away. I let it warm up a bit while looking around the engine bay. When I finally took off, it was about 5 miles of slow traffic until the on ramp to the highway. The on ramp was clear, I floored it in third gear to make a fast approach, drilled the brakes and double clutched down to second, turned into the on ramp and floored it. The 308's nose tucked in and she screamed down the on ramp wailing to 7500rpm through 2nd and 3d gear. The tubi and carb combo gives a FANTASTIC sound and I was instantly in love. The car may have looked horrible but she sure sounded sweet.  BTW. A little soap and an afternoon of detailing and she is gorgeous today. When asked, my 3 1/2 year old son still says we got the Ferrari at Walmart! | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Advanced Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 3091 Registered: 2-2001 |
There have been several moments with girls that have made me think this Fcar thing might not be such a bad idea after all. Rallies and racing around are awesome too. The whole rebuild/modifying knowledge I'm gaining is invaluable also. It's kind of sappy, but onetime I was washing the 308 in the driveway of my Grandfather's shop and a couple 7 or 8 year olds were walking by pushing their bikes up the hill and one of them yelled out "hey mister, nice car" I naturally yelled back "thanks". Afterwards though I was like whoa, wtf just happened, I'm getting old here (I was like 17 or 18 at the time). It was the first and only time anyone ever called me mister (obviously people have called me mr. bret, etc joking around, but never plain old mister). | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 944 Registered: 8-2002 |
Tillman, Well said. My dad loved cars. We would go to dealships just to look. He liked p-cars and I liked f-cars. We have been estranged for about 10 years. We had a big fight and that was it. When I got the Ferrari, on the drive home, I was deeply saddend. Not for getting the car, but because I could not share it with him. There is no hope for reconcillation. But on a nice warm day on the road, I can feel him in the passenger seat. Matt | ||
| Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member Username: Hardtop Post Number: 345 Registered: 1-2002 |
I would say driving home my first one (84 308). It was the culmination of many years of admiring from far, building a business, raising a family and finally being able to go for the big indulgence. Paid with cash and life was good. Tillman, Your story really hits home with me. My father, who was a mechanic, died young when I was 20. I still have a number of his tools. I missed him most when I got married, when my son was born, and when I got my first Fcar. One day when I was using his tools to do something on the car, I could not help but think he would like his tools being used on an Fcar and be proud that I could own one. He's been dead 31 years, but you never quite get over losses like that. Dave | ||
| James Adams (Madmaxx)
New member Username: Madmaxx Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2002 |
hehehehe!! All in good time, I keep the people updated these days Seriously though, soon! I've gone a little nuts and ordered a very large bill worth of tools needed for production. Tell your "friend" everything will work out!! MM | ||
| Mitchell L. Davidson (Jussumfastgi)
Member Username: Jussumfastgi Post Number: 356 Registered: 4-2002 |
James, my "friend" wants to know when your friggin soft top will be done! lol | ||
| James Adams (Madmaxx)
New member Username: Madmaxx Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2002 |
Hi I do not own a Ferrari either, but am currently in love with a Dodge Viper. I had gotten my kicks driving/restoring vintage muscle (Mopar mostly), and even had a few VERY fast drag cars in the past. I bought the car for me, and no one else. I love driving it with the top off, winding through the mountains and blasting the straits! Even in town, she is extreamly docile. It has been very easy to work on, and maint is about the same with any car. Unlike the vast majority of viper owners, I drive my car. I am a firm believer that if a car sits, she develops problems. Hi-po cars were not ment to be looked at from within their protective bubble and zanio'd every week ;) I'm interested in Ferrari because of its history and uniqueness. If I was into impressing the high-school crowd, i'd just drive a replica :D I'm finaly turning what I love (cars) into a something that will support me. I've developed several new products for the dodge viper, and will be selling them to the public soon. I have also ventured into other makes of cars, and will be carrying Ferrari aftermarket parts (and possibly making new pieces if there is lacking of a particular product). As for my "best" car experience, that's hard to nail down. I think the best feeling I ever got was when a local vintage car club did a rally for the Make a Wish foundation. I, and others, let these children have a feild day with the cars, and it really makes you appreciate how something so simple can bring joy to others! It was quite moving actualy, to know I brought hope into one childs life, even though he was facing a dark road ahead  Anyway, Enjoy the ride! MM | ||
| Tillman Strahan (Tillman)
Junior Member Username: Tillman Post Number: 218 Registered: 11-2001 |
The best experience I've had in my Ferrari was watching my dad drive it. He and I have always dug cars, and have had hot rods, classic cars and even a whole driveway filled with X1/9s. Shortly after I bought the 328, I drove it over to my parents' house and let my dad take it for a spin. The weather was beautiful, the top was off, and he was having the time of his life zipping around town in the car. Truly a cool feeling for me. I've also let other family members and close friends drive the car, and that's always been a cool feeling to watch them have a good time. | ||
| Mitchell L. Davidson (Jussumfastgi)
Member Username: Jussumfastgi Post Number: 352 Registered: 4-2002 |
With all this talk of posers, wanna bee's and "I bought it for me" in three or four thread on Fchat right now, lets talk about the REAL DEAL. Tell us about the best experience you have ever had with your current / past Ferrari. Was it driving it home from the dealer? Your first time on the track? Just taking a midnight drive all by yourself in the middle of nowhere. This is why we buy cars folks, share your happiness with the world. While I don't have a Ferrari, (Black 512TR anyone?) I can tell you about my best car experience. I was 20 years old and a friend of mine has crashed my Chrysler 300M a few months back. While I was waiting for the insurance company to pay out, I had only a 1988 Honda civic DX to drive. (with no AC... in the summer, lol!) I went to a friend of mines house after about two months with the Honda and started complaining. He said "Hey, lets kill some time and go look at cars." Why not! At the time I had no idea how little a nice 328 could be had for, and I had always liked the corvette, so myself, my friend and my girlfriend (later married her) took a ride up to John L Sullivan to take a look at some new vettes. Being I was so young I did not expect to be treated very well, and expected this. To my surprise when I arrived the sales staff was quite friendly to me and showed me their inventory. I was in love! But being conservative, I thanked them for humoring me and started walking back to my car. My then girlfriend walked over to me and before I got in the car said " Oh, just get one! " )8^0 !! I said "OK!" It took about 30 minutes to cross the T's and dot the I's, but after I got into my car and turned the key... well, my love for cars was born. No longer where they just transportation. They had turned into my obsession. The first drive home was the best drive of my life. I hope to repeat that feeling with my first Ferrari purchase. I can tell you this, life is sure fantastic. You only get one shot at it, you might as well smile and spend it with a woman who understands. SHARE! |