Joined the brotherhood....new addition to the stable

I finally brought our newest addition home last weekend. I purchased a 1999 F355 F1 Serie Fiorano #14/100 with 8100 miles for my wife for Christmas. It took a while to take delivery as we had a lot of work done to the car. The drive home was a blast. I took a rambling route back home from Springfield through the foothills of the Ozark mountains - about 150 miles - with the top down. By the time I got home I was hooked. I really love my Diablo as the power and speed are mind boggling. However, the 355 is its alter ego - quick, tight, point and shoot type of car especially with the F1 transmission. I have always driven a stick in a sports car, but I have to say I like the F1 especially on really twisty roads where you can concentrate on the driving line more so than shifting. The ride is also pretty comfortable even in sport mode.

The car was purchased from Randy McCall at Motorcars Intl. I have purchased a number of cars from them and once again they came through with a winner. They did a full engine out service and I had them install a new clutch as the old one was down to 30%. Mark Beardsley again worked his detail majic and the car looks better than new. He did a full detail, redyed the seats and had a full clear bra installed.

There were some other folks from FChat who also contributed and all were great to work with:

Gcalo: nice pair of floor mats - black with the 7" cavalino. Good quality. I would highly recommend them especially given the price.

John at MACarbon: Got their new carbon fiber center council parts as well as the CF instrument cluster surround. Very good quality; however, I am told Mark did have to "some" filing to get everything to fit right. The pieces look great and tie in perfectly with the other CF parts that came with the SF package.

Kevin at MVPEurosports: Capristo level III (yes, level III) exhaust. I have to say that I absolutely love this sound. The exhaust is a bit louder than normal at idle and lower RPM, but not obtrusive. It has a nice low pich rumble to it also. Hit the throttle and get the revs up and you unleash a screamin' banshee. Yes, it is loud, but it is beautiful. Sounds as close to an F1 car as anything I have heard. Yes, Kevin, I really wanted a level III .

Oh, and by the way, my wife did approve!!!!
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hot car, enjoy it

rekon youll steal it from the wife frequently for a blast?

 

Congrats. What distinguishes the Fiorano edition from the earlier 355's?

 

Looks great Steve!!!! Already in the registry...You are the MAN!!!

No Doubt---The Serie Fiorano cars were all Spiders, most with F1, Factory Scuderia shields, different suspension, carbon fiber accents, alcantara wheel, nameplate on dash, etc....they were 104 cars built--- so some will tell you....the registry will tell a different story..when I find them all

 

We will "share" .

 

All were Spiders
Shields
Red painted calipers
Carbon fiber center coucil sides, center instrument pod, and door entry sills
Alcantara steering wheel
Upgraded brakes and suspension - challenge specs I believe
Remapped suspension ECU
etc.

I actually have a letter from Ferrari NA to the original owner outlining the package. The paperwork is at my office. I will scan it and add it to the thread when I get a chance.

 

Cool!

 

Just trying to do my part as a humble owner.

 

Congrats!! Your car looks fantastic.
Enjoy in good health mate.

 

Very nice..........

Top down is the only way.

 

Steve, congrats... looks gorgeous. Is the Diablo faster than the 355? If yes, is it by far?

Thanks,
Dean

 

Nothing is faster than a blk/blk 355 spider!!!

BTW very nice 355 Steve!!

 

Hate to break this to you, but the diablo might just be a tick faster. OK, maybe a bit more than a tick especially in a straight line. In the twisty bits I think the 355 can hold its own. But get on an old country road and pull up behind a car going 55mph down shift into third and step on it. The Diablo will scare the living sheeeeet outa ya. My SV with its mods and the 355 weight about the same (Diablo maybe a bit more), but the Diablo has a 140 hp advantage. I love them both for different reasons. I would have a hard time if I had to pick just one. The guys at Motorcars have told me about a few of their clients who have multiple cars and one is a 355. They all say the would trade/upgrade/lateral move with any of the cars, but they will never give up the 355. I am beginning to see the light.

And did I mention how good the Capristo III sounds....

Steve

 

Very nice looking Spider!!! I am looking at getting a lot of the same CF parts that you put in.... Is the level III a lot louder than the level II or I??? I am trying to decide before I go that route... So I guess with out CHAA telling me to do a search I thought I would shoot the question out...

Thanks....

 

The level III is a good bit louder. It is reasonable at low RPMs. You can easily carry on a conversation driving around town with the top down, but get the revs up and it does get loud - but in a good way!!! lol

 

Steve,

I was looking up some Diablo's online, I have not seen any that have the same hood you have on your car. You have that air intake opening that I did not see on any of the others. Yours looks much better with it. Is that something you added?

Dean

 

The Diablo is a 98 SV which has had the GT body conversion. Lots of fun. Here is a link to when I got it last year:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86736&highlight=sv%2Fgt

 

Steve,

This is one GORGEOUS car!!! Traffic probably comes to a complete stop when you roll by!! I can just imagine.

Are Dibalo's reliable... compared to Ferrari and then to Porsche?

 

I don't think anyone drives them enough to get a real reliability sample

 

OUCH!!!! That hurt. lol

The Diablo has been very reliable and it has been driven. Only issue is a leaking front shock which is common - getting rebuilt as we speak. I am interested in seeing how the two cars compare from a reliability standpoint.

 

I think they're long lost brothers!

 

Congratulations. Enjoy the car and put a Capristo on it!!

I told #14, she smiled.

 

Beautiful house, beautiful car!! Congrats on the 355.