| Author | Message | ||
| John A (Jarends)
Junior Member Username: Jarends Post Number: 78 Registered: 7-2001 |
Best: Driving through New Hope, PA on a sunny Saturday, top down, with my beautiful wife sitting next to me. Had to creep along as there was a great deal of traffic that day. Six people shouted out compliments on the car and one on the passenger. Felt like a million. Worst: One afternoon I took the Targa top off the 328 GTS with my wife's help and wanted to flip it over to go behind the seats. As I flipped it, the edge hit the passenger window that was up. Shattered it into a zillion pieces. Felt real cool + I had to replace the window and fix the chip in the top. Nika: I've been reading many posts that mention a dead battery. The worst part is that the battery can be damaged by discharge and a new one needed. I purchased battery maintainers from JC Whitney for $39 (Schmacher) for all three specialty cars I own. They work great and can maintain a battery for years without overcharging it. You don't have to worry about not driving the car for long periods (of course, that's never a good idea).But it's very much worth the money. I attached a wire from my battery to a small connector just under the front bumper. When I park the car, I simply connect the wire to the charger on the wall and I'm ok for as long as I need to be. | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
Intermediate Member Username: Magoo Post Number: 2426 Registered: 2-2001 |
Allen, That passenger who stood on the door sill to balance your car should be your friend for life. How many people would do that. Glad it worked out Ok except for the cosmetic damage. | ||
| Nika (Racernika)
Member Username: Racernika Post Number: 410 Registered: 12-2001 |
WORST - right now - ran home to drive the car for the first drive this year. CLICK and no turn over <nika> Broke a nail getting the $#@!@$ spare tire out too so I could GET to the battery. | ||
| pete gorrell (Rufus)
New member Username: Rufus Post Number: 8 Registered: 2-2002 |
Best: In 1974 a run down thru France in my 330GTS to meet friends at Troisgros' (Then, probably the best restaurant in the world). No speed limits an the autoroutes, grand touring as it was intended! Another best: Bringing the car back to Canada, arriving at a small customs post at one in the morning. They were bored, so decided to give us a rough time. "What are you smuggling? Last chance to tell us!" Checked everything out -- twice. Finally, gave up and passed us through. What were we smuggling? The car! Worst: Every dam' time the car won't start, 'tho my 308 does it (doesn't do it?) oftener. There's always a crowd!. | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 341 Registered: 7-2001 |
Best Day: I picked up the car on a Wednesday in Salt Lake knowing I was going to drive it the next day to Denver. A carefully mapped trip took me through 2 canyons and over 3 remote mountain passes. It was awesome. I'd never driven a Ferrari before I owned mine, and the day was unbelievable. Worst Day: Same day, rolling into Denver at 4:00pm with a blown water pump. A missed flight, a tow truck ride, seven days and $$$$ later, I was back on the road to bring it home. Welcome to Ferrari ownership. | ||
| Tyler (Bahiaau)
Junior Member Username: Bahiaau Post Number: 219 Registered: 12-2001 |
Billy, I think that people gawking at the F-car and having an accident is pretty frequent. I've seen tons of close calls and more than a few accidents caused by the attention these cars get. | ||
| tCoupe (Allen)
New member Username: Allen Post Number: 39 Registered: 3-2001 |
Worst- After a night of spirited driving ( I mean it felt like it was on rails!) on new Pilot Sports tires on Mountain roads I know so well, had to pull over for a pit stop. Pulled off onto a wash-out. The car is now balancing on the side of a cliff. Had the passenger stand on the door sill so it wouldn't fall down the mountain. Flagged down a SUV. No chain or rope had to use my leather jacket tied to our tow eyes. SUV pulled me out. I was relieved! then he hit his brake before me and I rolled the Ferrari into the nose of the SUV. Did cosmetic damage. | ||
| michelangelo pinto (Michelangelonyc)
New member Username: Michelangelonyc Post Number: 17 Registered: 2-2002 |
my friend totalled another friends 456 last summer .. that was not fun | ||
| magoo (Magoo)
Intermediate Member Username: Magoo Post Number: 2381 Registered: 2-2001 |
I'm going to cross my fingers here. All of my experiences have been good and none bad. SO FAR. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Intermediate Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 2276 Registered: 2-2001 |
Ferrarijoe I had the same thing happen to me the first time I brought the Fcar to school (back in highschool). I responded with an appropriately obnoxious comment as the kid was a bit of weirdo and I didn't like him very much. The ignorance still amazes me, could any kit car really sound like a Ferrari? Eric lol, I did that once too, except I just left mine open from the beginning. I got about 1/4 mile down my road when it dawned on me, it was really dark outside so looking in the rear view I couldn't really tell that it was open. | ||
| billy zissis (89tr)
Junior Member Username: 89tr Post Number: 158 Registered: 4-2001 |
No I felt bad for the kid. I even stopped and looked to see if I could help. It was funny the way it happened. Actually now that I think about it, it's actually scary. How many of you are driving on the highway and someone in the other lane is staring at you and not paying attention and almost get into an accident with you or someone else? Happens almost all the time with me | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
New member Username: Hugh Post Number: 35 Registered: 1-2002 |
>>The funniest thing that ever happened to me while driving the TR was a kid driving some sort of honda was so busy gawking at the car that he jumped the median and cracked his axle. Made me laugh.<< Wow, you have a very "interesting" sense of humor. | ||
| billy zissis (89tr)
Junior Member Username: 89tr Post Number: 156 Registered: 4-2001 |
The funniest thing that ever happened to me while driving the TR was a kid driving some sort of honda was so busy gawking at the car that he jumped the median and cracked his axle. Made me laugh. | ||
| Greg Rodgers (Joechristmas)
Junior Member Username: Joechristmas Post Number: 224 Registered: 3-2001 |
Oh I forgot this one. I drove my 308 from San Jose to Vegas then Vegas to TN. On the way home I stop in Nashville for gas. I then proceeded home. One set of my points stayed closed and wouldn't open. Well the car would backfire every minute or so on the highway. People would drive up to it and have this great exciting look on their face like WOW honey look at this great Ferrari and BAMMM it would back fire loud as hell a cloud of black dust would come out. The look on their faces after that. One guy got right up on my rear end and then BAMMM. He almost went off the road it scared him so badly. Quite the experience. That was my first post on ExpensiveCar.com was how to fix this. | ||
| Greg Rodgers (Joechristmas)
Junior Member Username: Joechristmas Post Number: 223 Registered: 3-2001 |
When I first picked up my 308 I was driving it from San Jose to Las Vegas. On the way I lost my radiator fans. Well the car started to get hot. I pulled over as it was 110 outside going through Death Valley. There were about 10 cars pulled over and a bus load of tourists. I waited a while and then thought I would check the coolant level. Well when I loosened the cap it blew off and coolant sprayed about 4 feet in the air out of the recovery tank. Of course everyone was looking at this. The other time I was at a gas station and my fuel pump didn't have power so I jumpered the fuse to another part of the block that had power and it took a while to get it started. I then heard the nice comment "It won't even start haha". People can be very rude. The latest was with my QV before I fixed the hot start problem. I turned it off and filled it up with gas and went to start it. Not even close. I tried and tried. Then I had to raise the bonnet, take off the air box and get it to build up pressure while the world watches. Then it fired up and I put it back together. I guess it is nice to be the center of attention though. | ||
| Andrew (Mrrou)
Junior Member Username: Mrrou Post Number: 74 Registered: 3-2002 |
I wish that before people looked and gawked at for example a TR not starting..they would realize that while its easy to poke fun, that ferrari owners have an extreme passion for their vehicles and even if it breakss down, they still love the car, I doubt owners of a lot of other car owners have that kind of passion for their vehicle | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member Username: Owens84qv Post Number: 303 Registered: 10-2001 |
If you are driving a Yugo...they laugh anyway. | ||
| billy zissis (89tr)
Junior Member Username: 89tr Post Number: 155 Registered: 4-2001 |
It was embaraasing sure, but wasn't there a thread I'd rather push my Ferrari.... Anyway if I would have got stuck with a Yugo you think anyone would help me push? | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member Username: Owens84qv Post Number: 301 Registered: 10-2001 |
Best: The first few months I owned my 308QV, I didn't have an extra garage space to park it, but, thanks to a great friend with a two-car garage being used to store a single lawn tractor, the garage was mine. Anyway, they were gone one weekend so I took advantage and decided to take the F-car out late in the night. This was my first time out in the F-car at night. Why I'm not sure, but driving the F-car at night at 100+mph with the dash gauges dimly lit (standard 308 dash lights!), running through the curvy roads of Virginia countryside was a awesome experience. Worst: Took the car out one morning to run an errand to see my real estate agent. He asked to have a ride and I said "sure". We hopped in, pulled out onto the road and the car had zero power at any RPM. He said, "so...this is what a Ferrari feels like?..." Evidently, I had hit a bump coming into the parking lot and one of the wires connected to the rear-bank coil came loose thus making my 308 a weak 4-cylinder Italian machine. | ||
| Andrew (Mrrou)
Junior Member Username: Mrrou Post Number: 68 Registered: 3-2002 |
Billy Zissis..I have to say what happened to you is probably my nightmare with a ferrari...wow  im glad you got through it..i probably would of sold it afterwards..im really sorry.. And Mark, did you go to the cheerleading thingy to have ur car washed? heheheh | ||
| Mark C. Gordon (Markg)
Junior Member Username: Markg Post Number: 161 Registered: 2-2001 |
Worst: car died 3 times in same night, had to have some gawkers help push it off road...(cracked fuse)...best: stopped at red light across form local high school, Cheer-leaders having a fund raising car wash; 2 talked to me but third just staired with mouth open, like she was having a Religious expierence... I have a low threshold of tolerance..if it leaves me stranded 1 more time its sold! | ||
| billy zissis (89tr)
Junior Member Username: 89tr Post Number: 152 Registered: 4-2001 |
I've had a problem with my starter on the TR for the longest time. Always hated when it wouldn't start. I go out one night to eat with my girlfriend and after we were done everyone was staring at us. I was praying the damn car would start but nothing. Usually after twisting the key about ten times it would catch on but not on this night. After a while people were coming out and asking if I needed any help. Within a couple of minutes I had about 5 guys push starting me in the middle of a busy road with everyone pointing fingers. It was the last time my girlfriend stepped foot in the car. Til this day I have not figured out the problem but I make sure I park on a hill just in case. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 1849 Registered: 5-2001 |
Hey Mark, great, that makes 3 chatters then in Miami. William is moving in late September I think. He is closing on his new condo in a week or so. My wife found him a great place. Let me know if you need some help finding a place to live. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 1848 Registered: 5-2001 |
Oh another one: The first Ferrari I imported from the US to Germany was a black 308. I took it for a ride to get the german DOT/EPA done, which was in the next town about 30 Miles. On the Autobahn all of a sudden I hear a BLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA coming from the exhaust. The pipe from the engine had rusted through at the point where it goes into the muffler and the muffler had fallen a little lower, so I had a straight pipe all of a sudden. Needless to say I did not pass the inspection that day. I would consider this my then (for my age) the worst experience and also the best, because the engine just sounds great without a muffler  | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
New member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 28 Registered: 2-2002 |
Eric, you should have explained to her that you had just deployed your speed brake. | ||
| Daryl Adams (Daryl)
New member Username: Daryl Post Number: 19 Registered: 12-2001 |
Worst: Running my Dino up throught the gears, hearing what sounded like a hole opening up in my exhaust, and then having the engine go rough. I shut it down, checked the oil and found smoke coming from the crankcase. Diagnosis - ingested valve, holed piston and mangled head. Treatment - full engine and gearbox rebuild. Best: The first time I drove the Dino after the rebuild was complete. Felt like a time-warp back to 1974, driving a brand new Dino! | ||
| Greg Rodgers (Joechristmas)
Junior Member Username: Joechristmas Post Number: 220 Registered: 3-2001 |
Ed, I can answer yours. VRROOOMMM!!!! SMASH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH!!! Cough, Hack, Choke!!!! "$#&% Digiplex Boxes!" I love my House! (LOL) ;^) | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 321 Registered: 10-2001 |
Mark, I had a similar experience. I was racing my brother in law's NSX in my Europa on twisty back roads. We were really going at it; He takes the road to his house and I'm a mile from mine. I stop at a light and when I go it's "thump, thump thump"...left front tire flat from a broken valve. If that had happened minutes earlier I would not be telling this story now. | ||
| Eric Eiland (Eric308gtsiqv)
Junior Member Username: Eric308gtsiqv Post Number: 250 Registered: 11-2001 |
Had a funny experience not long ago... Had been detailing the 308, including the engine compartment, earlier in the day. Later that same day my wife wanted to go for a spin -- it was beginning to get dark. As we turn onto the main street halfway out of our neighborhood, we see a 20-something gal (walking her dog), and she's staring at us very puzzled. We assume she's trying to figure out what sort of car this was, or simply in awe, so we wave back. After a couple more turns, I check the rearview mirror -- I can't see a thing -- just pitch black. Curious, I look over my shoulder, only to find the rear deck lid raised at full mast! Apparently, I forgot to latch it earlier in the day, and after a few dips and turns, up it went -- which explains the strange look from the young lady on the street corner! Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself  | ||
| F-J'87EuroTR (Ferrarijoe)
Junior Member Username: Ferrarijoe Post Number: 101 Registered: 5-2001 |
Not a particular bad experience, but I seemed to be asked by the young crowd up here in the Pacific NW. �Is it a kit car�? The first time or two was when I first bought it and of course, I said it is real! But after that I thought if they don�t know why not tell them that it�s a kit car, with a wink of the eye. Then as I depart, and accelerating away, I leave them with that beautiful sound for them to think about.  Joe | ||
| Mark (Study)
Junior Member Username: Study Post Number: 220 Registered: 10-2001 |
Martin- I'm still looking for my 328 (after briefly flirting with the idea of a 355)... I'll probably end up buying one from you! I'm moving down to south florida in July. But as one sales guy to another.... can you imagine how bad the guy felt? I was embaressed for him! Very funny... the car looked like a pressure cooker going off with high presure fluids spraying out from all over the bottom of the car. I just stood there trying not to laugh. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 1846 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mark....so did you buy the car? LOL | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 1845 Registered: 5-2001 |
Oh I got another one: Leaving the top home is one of my favorate things to do. No emergency top, so you always hope the weatherguy is right. PFFFTHHH, year right! Driving and some 2 miles from my house it starts to rain. Cool when you sit ther elike an idiot and get rained on while the others look over smiling! I don't remember if it was tears or rain running down my cheeks. The though of the soft italian leather getting wet was not cool! | ||
| Mark (Study)
Junior Member Username: Study Post Number: 219 Registered: 10-2001 |
I had one of the best nights of driving in Tampa. It was late and no traffic. Founds some great turns and ramps around the airport and bridge heading over to Clearwater. Spent 2 hours kicking the hell out of 308....never had so much fun on the street before. Woke up the next morning and drove to meeting I was in town for. Everything was going great. Came out from meeting and the right rear tire was blown out! Looked like it popped as heat of day warmed up the parking lot. Tire was in completely shredded. If this tire would have gone the night before I could have been killed. If it would have blown that morning... I would have been late for business meeting. I have never had a tire pick such a perfect time to completely come apart Another story almost the same... While shopping for a 328, the sales guy in took me for a hell of a drive, I was smileing from ear to ear.. as we pull back into his lot to talk about the car... about 4 differant fluids start to pour out from under the car. It was leaking from everywhere like crazy. Poor sales guy, he was speechless.. this car's rubber and seals must have all dry rotted and his great drive just pushed the car to pop like a water ballon. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 1844 Registered: 5-2001 |
I would have given you mine also in your Talon | ||
| Nika (Racernika)
Member Username: Racernika Post Number: 405 Registered: 12-2001 |
driving back from the track - - ponytail and baseball cap. I stop at the lights. 2 girls in a car behind me start primping - pull up next to me and gasp....shocked to see a "GIRL" driving (hey I was at a track all day not a fashion show) The girl says "Nice Car" and I say thank you.....she then squeals "Did ya rent it?" grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr But really the only "bad" experiences have been the guys that come up to me at a gas station and give me their cards. I say it's somewhat bad because I doubt they'd be doing that if I still had my AWD Talon. | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
New member Username: Ross Post Number: 22 Registered: 3-2002 |
had a 348ts a few years ago, and took it to the ascot horse races (dressed in a morning suit w/ tails etc). on the way into the venue the traffic was huge and the ol'tempometer started to reach for the sky. so since the line wasn't moving at all, and the engine was getting hot, and i was sucking down lots of $5/gallon gasoline at idle, i shut the engine off. then of course, when i wanted to start it up again, nothing happened. since i had to get out of the line to let others pass, there i was pushing the thing in a tux, w/ my wife at the wheel ! very embarassing, and the 'buy a real car' comments didn't help. after the races, i went back out and it started right up like nothing had ever happened. it was like god was making me pay for showing off. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Intermediate Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 2272 Registered: 2-2001 |
I've had a couple of those type things, but always at the gas station for some reason. Once took apart the whole front compartment to tighten down the battery attachments which I presumed had come loose (turn key and no power), all after pushing the 308 away from the pump after filling up. When I used to have hot start problems it would give me attitude and I would have to wait til it cooled down, or I started going to this one gas station that had a small downhill road coming out the one side of it, just pull off the ebrake, roll out the driveway and down the hill a little, and a 2nd gear kick start. Other than some ahole younger guys (like mid 20s) making gay comments, no really bad things from other people. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 1843 Registered: 5-2001 |
Oh I have another one. I just got my car in March of 2000 and this is about two weeks later. I parked direct in front of a Bar in South Beach "Cafee Nikki". We had a few beer decided that we are going to the design district for some more. People outside. You all know that feeling when you walk to the car and open the door and think: YEAH ! ME! Turn the key and nothing! Again and NOTHING Now people are stearing at me. I open the engine and after a while searching I found the problem. The battery cable to the starter was broken and when you wiggled it a little it got enough contact to turn the starter. Needless to say I felt like : OUPS! | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 1842 Registered: 5-2001 |
My car was overheating a few weeks ago. I was low on coolant. So I get into a traffic jam in blazing heat (90s) on the Turnpike. The gauge gets hotter and hotter. The engine heat light comes on and I pull into the left sholder and stop the car. I though it was one of the fuses for the radiator that was gone so I crawled into the passenger side to the fuse box and tried to find the right fuse. Leaning half way out of the car. The engine open. That most have been a great feel for some of these people that I passed earlier at 120Mph. One yelled: "buy a Ford". Turned out it was just the coolant. | ||
| Andrew (Mrrou)
Junior Member Username: Mrrou Post Number: 67 Registered: 3-2002 |
Any thoughts on people best and worst experiences in their ferrari's? Bad public stuff anything goes..hope for a nice and fun thread on this one.. |