| Author | Message | ||
| Lee Hamner (Tennlee)
Junior Member Username: Tennlee Post Number: 89 Registered: 2-2002 |
"East Tennessee is miserable on the exotic scene." Hey... we're getting better! | ||
| Lee Pierce (Leepierce)
Junior Member Username: Leepierce Post Number: 148 Registered: 1-2003 |
God, you guys are hair-splitters. It's nerve-wracking. I saw a TR replica a few weeks ago and it fooled me. I followed him into a parking lot and he showed me the 350 V8 and the whatever interior. Seemed kind of sad, but a great-looking car nonetheless. To my credit, I had NEVER seen a real TR; East Tennessee is miserable on the exotic scene. | ||
| Chris Coffing (Valence)
Junior Member Username: Valence Post Number: 121 Registered: 3-2003 |
HaHa you know what I mean of course - exterior looks the same - mechanical internals like engine, suspension, steering are much of what gives a Ferrari (or a rolex) its "soul." Replicas lack these personality traits. Driving one must ultimately be an unfulfilling experience. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1475 Registered: 10-2002 |
Ok Chris, you're right of course. But the tick is not as pronounced as in a quartz. Listening to/watching my fake Rolex right now... | ||
| Chris Coffing (Valence)
Junior Member Username: Valence Post Number: 120 Registered: 3-2003 |
Rolex does tick - several times per second - the second hand jumps almost imperceptibly at each one of these ticks - making the motion appear smooth. Listening to/watching mine right now... | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1473 Registered: 10-2002 |
Well, a Rolex doesn't tick at all, because its heart is mechanical and not a quartz. Easy way to spot a fake: The index for the seconds jumps instead of a sweeping motion. On a similar note: Saw once a TR on Fiero base. Already looked funky. Proportions out of whack of course. The owner happened to show up, so I watched the spectacle: Some mighty wimpy breembreemm sounds came out as he started the engine. Not the growl you'd expect. That's what always puzzled me about having a replica: As people said, it is only for posing, but you can't really do that either. Unless the thing is parked. | ||
| Chris Coffing (Valence)
Junior Member Username: Valence Post Number: 118 Registered: 3-2003 |
...it doesn't "tick" the same! | ||
| Chris Coffing (Valence)
Junior Member Username: Valence Post Number: 117 Registered: 3-2003 |
Kind of like a fake rolex - it might look the part, but... | ||
| Dom Vitarella (Dom)
Member Username: Dom Post Number: 274 Registered: 11-2002 |
IMHO, I think the Fiero was a pretty nice car for what it was. Cheap, mid-engined 2 seater, meant for fun. And I bet it is fun to drive, judging by Ben's description and photo. If you like the Fiero, keep it as a fiero, don't try to convert it to something it isn't. If you want to build a car, make up your own design and at least make it unusual. Dom | ||
| jeff ryerson (Atheyg)
Member Username: Atheyg Post Number: 300 Registered: 8-2002 |
I drove a Miami Vice McBurnie Daytona replica in Burlingame Ca about 10 years ago,being on a Corvette chassis is bad enough but it flexed and groaned over bumps etc, not an enjoyable car to drive The reason I went to check it out was my Father who introduced me to Ferrari at age 5 exclaimed a shop had a Daytona for sale in its showroom, after I told him it was a fake he could not believe they made replica Ferraris While driving the car you could tell it fooled most people especially women whom gave admiring glances, the men who knew cars would give it a double glance or funny looks followed by a sneer I would never want a replica Ferrari just driving this one made me feel like a total fake, if your goal was just to get attention or pick up women maybe you would be happy with one | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 510 Registered: 6-2002 |
Charles- If a 308 looked and drove like a 308 to me, but looked like a YOUGO to everyone else, I woud STILL be up late at night lusting after one! Best! Ben. The Fiero's a neat car for sure, but it's no Ferrari, nor will it ever be. Why try and match Enzo and fall 90% short? I'd much rather commit my sacralige as follows; wrench on an F355 and drop in a 550's V12 with reworked cams, put the rest of the car on a diet :D) | ||
| Charles Brading (Austin308)
New member Username: Austin308 Post Number: 14 Registered: 6-2003 |
thought I would throw my $.02 worth in. The Fiero looks nice. But far me I didn't buy a Ferrari for people to think I have a Ferrari. I bought it for me. I wanted a Ferrari and I think that most people in Fchat bought one for the same reason. If a replica is what you are happy with knock your self out. Just isn't where I wanted to be. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1472 Registered: 10-2002 |
F1 paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Intermediate Member Username: Peters Post Number: 1052 Registered: 1-2003 |
OK..I'm an idiot..Whats a 'paddle'? | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 509 Registered: 6-2002 |
Looks like one of the better replicas I've seen, though it's still glaringly obvious it's a fake. IT'S AN AUTOMATIC!!! AAGH! Why oh why are they always autos? This isn't a car you buy for performance, you buy it because you are attention starved and desperate. Lastly, replics just aren't cost effective. Better to save and buy the real thing IMO. I actually still own a Fiero. 1988, last year they made them and only year with the tubular rear suspension. (and hey, it's one of 'only' 1300 T-tops ever made, <g>) It actually handles pretty well, 2:13 at sears point (my first time on a track, with 140hp, so go easy  The v6 is at best an OK engine. Only the low weight of the Fiero saves it. The quickest Fiero v6 did manage to be about as quick as an injected 2v 308, which ain't saying a whole lot, but it's in the corners that this car shines. But get this, a Northstar bolts up, and weighs ~10lbs less than the V6. Interior finish is hardly up to new car standards, but not awful either. The view from the dash is actually surprisingly f-car like, and so is the 'feel' driving. Engines and soft factory suspensions were really the only problem with Fieros. I've fixed the latter, and soon the former   Best! Ben. | ||
| Andrew H (Stokpro)
New member Username: Stokpro Post Number: 38 Registered: 6-2003 |
Andreas, That's one of my favorite chase scenes -- F355 chasing down an H1 on the streets of San Francisco! May just have to put that DVD in right now to hear that engine rev. | ||
| Al Johnson (Bigal)
Junior Member Username: Bigal Post Number: 102 Registered: 3-2002 |
Be easy to tell as soon as the engines fires up. NOTHING sounds like a Ferrari! | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 982 Registered: 1-2002 |
gene (my version of the old saying): imitation is the greatest form of laziness -hubert | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 2006 Registered: 6-2001 |
replicas like this are worth about what you pay for them. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2628 Registered: 9-2001 |
The problem I see is that it looks to sell for about the price real ones will soon be sellling for ! | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Intermediate Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 1367 Registered: 11-2002 |
DES, I don't think people doubt how much time and effort was put in, per se. I just think that they general concensus is that the time and effort was wasted. He could've put his expertise to better use building something else. Cheers | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Senior Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 5090 Registered: 8-2002 |
i think sometimes you all are a little rough on the people out there who put these replicas together... This is, by far, the best example of a 355 that i've ever seen... Sure, we'd all prefer to have the real thing, but whoever made this put a lot of time into it; a lot of energy, a lot of work and so forth... To us, it's just another replica out there, among thousands of others; but to the person who made it and maybe even the person who buys it, it's a work of art. Just my two cents. | ||
| Tony Fuisz (Fuiszt)
Junior Member Username: Fuiszt Post Number: 102 Registered: 10-2002 |
The paddles are the wooden kind. These cars float very nicely. Try that in your real F-car! | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 1469 Registered: 10-2002 |
It would look good meeting a San Fran trolley a la The Rock. | ||
| Ron Shirley (Easy_rider)
Member Username: Easy_rider Post Number: 561 Registered: 12-2002 |
You would think the person that is selling it would choose a friend that can spell. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Intermediate Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 1047 Registered: 10-2001 |
I loved my Fiero when I had it, but mine was an 84 that had an anemic 96 HP 4 banger and weighed 2800 pounds! Needless to say, it was a 'sporty' car and not a real sports car. Cornered okay but nowhere near my Europa, and was awful 0-60. I agree the replica must have awful cowel shake unless someone knew what they were doing; and even then I bet it's a VERY heavy car. | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Intermediate Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 1363 Registered: 11-2002 |
I'd take the Fiero with engine mods over this monstrosity. Even people who don't know what the hell a Ferrari is will be able to tell it's a fake. Especially when they look inside. Fieros are actually fun cars. The trim and stuff might break but you can whip it around a track! And stay within your limits. Cheers | ||
| Patrick Denonville (Arizonaguy)
Member Username: Arizonaguy Post Number: 301 Registered: 4-2003 |
That thing must have cowl shake and a really flexy chassis being stretched 3.5 inches and having the roof chopped off. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Intermediate Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 1046 Registered: 10-2001 |
The Fiero 6 is not a bad engine and he says it's been tweaked. Fieros weren't great cars overall though, lots of trim pieces broke on mine in 10 years of ownership not to mention bad clutch, so so brakes, pathetic headlight motor assembly... This car is a low rent Ferrari for sure! | ||
| Ken Thomas (Future328driver)
Member Username: Future328driver Post Number: 438 Registered: 12-2001 |
This is really not that bad. If somebody wanted a cheap, easy to maintain convertible that has an exotic look, this could be a deal. | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 453 Registered: 9-2002 |
The car doesn't look bad at all. In fact I think it's one of the best I've seen. The front and rear lids open correctly, the car looks proportioned very well. Sombody put alot of time and thought into this car!! You guys should just look at the car for what it is, not what it isn't. Who cares if it ain't a real Ferrari, most people would not know the differance if it passed them on the highway anyways!! And just think about this...He gets all the attention a real F-car would get, but he pays pennies for parts. | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1138 Registered: 5-2001 |
It always amuses me that these replica ads always emphasize how everyone will "look at your" rather than any particular driving enjoyment you will have with it. Also, they claim how great and beautiful the car is, then mention all the sh*t they will fix after the auction closes (hey, why not fix it before the auction?). In this case, they say the car will get a "full overhaul", yet the car is in "overall A++ condition", for a call that needs a full overhaul??? So what condition is this car in? This is a bad car at any price, and the owner knows it. BTW that is another great sales ploy, "I'm selling it for someone else..." yeah, right... Okay, I'm done here... :-) | ||
| Gene Agatep (Gagatep)
Member Username: Gagatep Post Number: 338 Registered: 8-2002 |
what's that saying.... imitations are the best form of flattery | ||
| Gene Agatep (Gagatep)
Member Username: Gagatep Post Number: 337 Registered: 8-2002 |
what's that saying.... imitations are the best for of flattery | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Intermediate Member Username: Peters Post Number: 1051 Registered: 1-2003 |
The picture looks pretty good and this may not be a bad car for the price. It would be interesting to see what the car sits on. Though I am not a fan of replicars, I do appreciate enthusiast' that put their time into these 'tribute' cars. | ||
| "The Don" (The_don)
Senior Member Username: The_don Post Number: 5732 Registered: 8-2002 |
I hate replica's | ||
| Andrew H (Stokpro)
New member Username: Stokpro Post Number: 28 Registered: 6-2003 |
Seller claims it is an "F1" 355 but I certainly don't see any "paddles". http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6419&item=2421996885 |