Not Driving A Lot?

I never take the Ferrari for those 3-mile trips - always take the daily driver.

It's bad for the mechanicals as you mention. Secondly, I'm not sure how your grocery and corner store parking lots are, but between kids and stray shopping carts, I don't need the aggravation. Finally, going from stoplight-to-stoplight at 20-30 mph in a Ferrari is somehow just wrong and not all that fun.

FWIW, I change the Ferrari's fluids annually. My mechanic said there's no reason to do it more often more a street-driven, weekends-only type car.

 

thankfully 3 miles won't get me out of my neighborhood since I live in the foothills, upside is though lots of canyon carving to go to the store or run errands. as such I drive the Ferrari every time since it's my daily driver. Yep you all read it right, it's my daily driver and I've racked up 20k miles in just over a yr.

last month I went down to OC for a month and drove it across the desert for 450miles one way, then down to San Diego! a side trip to see Jon and his work of art on the Dino was also a blast.

I love to drive and I drive ALOT, so why spend my time in something I don't like driving? of course I own a shop working on these cars so that does help or is that cheating

 

It's a freakin car. I'll drive it 100 miles or 1/2 mile.

 

It seems this summer has been even more busy for me, and I've only had the red head out a few times. Breakfast on Sundays, some short trips (20-30 mi). I too am adverse to grocery strore lots, so I just try & drive hi ways, or open roads. This gives me a good reason to take her out tonite!!

 

Me? I drive my about 2-3 times a month
but first I warmed it up for 3-5 min.
then drive it for 30- 45 min. in both city and highway
All fluids and filters are change as specified schedule.

 

That is awesome. Shows the reliability of your work as well. Good idea to stop & see Jon's work. That is my all time favorite F-Chat thread.

I drive my Elise for every trip as it is my only vehicle (not including the wife's).

 

+1

+1

+1

Total: +3

 

I never take the F-car on a three mile trip. That makes no sense. This is nothing new for me. I've been doing this since gas was a dollar a gallon. Waste is stupid, regardless. 575 gets a 45 mile ride every two weeks at least on purpose.
Necessary trips are done in a circle, going to the farthest point, doing the shopping and ending up back home. Our Tracker does this work. This work has to be done.

 

This whole own a Ferrari, never drive it actually drove me away from the brand a long time, seeing most Ferraris longer in garages then on the road.

When I was looking for my Ferrari (308/328) I was looking for a car over 60k (miles) but didn't find any and finally got the opposit, a car driven less then 700 miles a year. Well to that I catch up even this year while the car is only allowed with special permission since it didn't pass swiss authority by now (hopefully this will change the next two month). But once all the unhonrable failures of standing still will be sorted out I plan on having a drivers car. But theres one thing, I bought myself a 308GTB of the early kind without rustproofing and you can never avoid a shower for the car over here. So it won't be my daily beater.

But the habbit of not driving goes on for owners of cars with perfect rust proofing (even avoiding rain). I ask why? All mechanical parts can easily be exchanged and that counts as maintainance ;-)
It may save you 10k bucks when resaling the car after 10 years, but a few stocks might have that job easiley done better?

 

Minor point. 3-5 minute warming is not good. Start and drive is better. Ask your tech. Otherwise, I agree.

 

For a long time now, I have driven my collector car once every couple of weeks to work and back - 17.5 miles each way over mostly open freeway with little traffic. Counting weeks missed because of vacation or bad weather, it comes to about 1200 miles per year. Now that I have two, I am driving each of them alternatively but still trying for about the same mileage. I don't generally "idle to warm up" much past letting the engine smooth out or drive really short trips.

There is also an occasional trip out of town - last time Colorado tour in the ZR1, and next fall probably the Ozarks in the TR.

I am like Bullfighter - change oil once a year and the coolant system on the ZR1 maybe once in three years. Will probably do about the same with the Ferrari. The daily driver gets oil changed twice a year and I put about 5000 miles per year on it - (993 Porsche).

I am pretty sure that these three can see me through retirement easily enough - but I will have to think up a new driving cycle to make up for the office trips!

 

+1. FWIW, I've put 7,000 miles on my CS in 11 months without ever driving it on short trips or to work. 7,000 fun miles, the way the car was designed to be driven (at least IMHO).

 

+1
Napolis is one of my favorite owners cause he drives his vintage Ferraris often, too (at least he is telling that). The cars are made for roads, not for cages!

 

+1
you have the right idea...

 

Just met a fellow from Bakersfield CA. who drove his 550 Maranello all the way to New York and back to CA. Now I say thats is something, way to go Bob!

 

I retired in March and have driven my car every day it has not rained. Usually the 1st trip of the day is to the gym which is about 10 miles away . Then maybe to pick stuff up at home depot or a super market. I drive it as much as I can now so enjoy the ride. It's not how fast you drive it the fun is keeping it in the lower gears as long as possible. Love the noise.

 

I agree, and it's well known. Let it run for 30 seconds to get the lubricants circulating, then drive it easy.
Sitting there idling doesn't put load on, and the various parts of the engine and trans will not warm up evenly.

 

I drive the car when I want. I own the car. The car does not own me. Don't get me wrong. I do maintain the car. If something needs attention, it gets looked after. I bought the car to drive and I love driving it.