Welcome home F512M!

My F512M finally arrived on these shores last week. Quick check and MOT test by The Ferrari Centre in Kent, an hour outside London, and then we went to collect and drive it back to central London where it will live. Blessed with a sunny day...and what a car. I am fortunate to have driven almost every Ferrari model made since 2001 for days/weeks at a time for reviews for my magazines. But this is something else. Specifically, it has all the sensation missing from the recent models. Amazing steering. Fantastic sound. And it's fast! Didn't expect it to feel or be so fast, 20 year old car. It loved the sweeping curves and was surprisingly fine cruising on the open highway. Not sure it would love narrow country lanes.
In terms of TA (tourist attention) in central London: it ranks above every current Ferrari except the 458 Spider (haven't driven the LaFerrari). Around as much as a McLaren 650S Roadster or a Lambo Aventador. Selfies, videos, and several dudes stopping alongside me all asking a variation of the same question: "What year/model is that Ferrari? Awesome, man!".
Things I love the most: the steering (no power, all the feel that's missing from the entire Ferrari range today), the engine sound even at idle, the pure responsiveness to rev when you blip the throttle - something to do with those lightweight internals that differentiate it from the 512TR? - the carbon racing seats, as comfortable as anything in a contemporary supercar, and the sensations, everywhere. The brakes are pretty good for a 20 year old car, must have been amazing back then. Suspension pretty un-giving (another change from the TR I believe). You avoid potholes. The turning circle is worse than a truck. The boot/trunk is even smaller than the Testarossa (due to the faired-in lights impinging). But who cares!
Haven't driven it far or fast enough to comment further. That's a plan..
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thank you Romano, thank you Mel. Just the right time of year!

 

Thank you, everybody, very kind. This is a fantastic online community, just as it says on the tin. I will post further impressions as I drive the car properly (have to juggle it with various contemporary supercars loaned from manufacturers, sigh).
One question: it is being kept in a heated underground garage nearby where a friend keeps various classic cars. Should I attach a trickle charger? Start her up every week? If I start her, on a day I'm not doing a proper journey, is it a problem to switch off after a couple of minutes (thinking back to 1990s nickasil cylinder bore liner issues)? Go for a drive? (This is central London). What about in winter, is just starting up ok?
Questions...
Meanwhile another shot - front view, and for me this is the money shot. Love the lights and the nostril Naca ducts.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thank you. And thank you Romano for that advice.

 

Thank you..Dominic I am definitely looking forward to driving the Testarossa properly also. She will be ready in a couple of weeks (long waiting list at Joe Macaris). I am expecting an altogether more relaxing experience, if that is the right word for a 12 cylinder Ferrari..

 

Thank you. Interesting point re kill switch. Does it interfere with the immobiliser operation? Agree about the tunes, haven't switched radio on yet..