Driving 'her" in the rain vs garage queen

I drive my WRX in the rain and it doesn't melt either...

Unfortunately I don't yet own a Ferrari, so I have to make do with having friends that do...

That said I have riden in a 430 spider in the rain... of course we had to stop and put the top up, but other than that it was great.

 

I drive the R8 in the rain. It's black and gets really dirty. That reminds me, I need to go wash it now.

 

Protect the top with some rain repellent stuff. BMW sells a good product for soft tops. Then drive on!

 

I've driven 49000 miles in my 360Spider and then 430 Spider. What are you talking about? They are just cars.

 

Lou, who are you trying to kid?!?!?! I drove my old 308 in the rain once and had to replace the top and repaint the hood!!! It was like the Wicked Witch of the West! (And her you would think with that coating of "thrown" oil, it would have been pretty water proof, too.)

So I upgraded to a 348 and a big tarp.

 

Saying a Ferraris are "just cars" is like saying Tiger Woods is "just a golfer" or Michael Jordon was "just a basketball player". Having said that however, I too believe these cars are meant to be driven rain or shine (69000 miles on mine) .

 

Vic, dont listen to Teats Rob!! He is a poopie head and will ruin his car!!!

The rain will melt it, I tell you!!! Melt!!!!!

 

No rain driving. Of course I live in San Diego so it rarely rains anyway.

I put a lot of effort/money into keeping the Ferrari clean, and it seems pointless to splash everything up when I have a daily driver in the other side of the garage.

 

Its just a car to me and I have driven it in the rain many times.

 

Rain?

Now you make me feel like an ass for driving my Ferrari in the snow. Sometimes when it snows I go out late at night and sit in the empty Sam's Club parking lot doing donuts.

This is pretty much how I would be if I had 1000x the money I have now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M69ZXAew0kw

 

Modern Ferraris aren't so delicate like the old ones -- Those didn't have the rustproofing, sealing, or other modern advancements that all new cars (Ferraris included) now enjoy. I wouldn't drive it in Michigan but they're certainly don't melt.

Go ahead and detail the underside periodically (giving you a reason to inspect the fabulous aero works under there) and you'll enjoy it year-round.

 

"Teats Rob"?! You MUST have met my wife !

(and since you called me a poopie head you must have talked to her as well) :

 

I've driven my 365 in the snow before. Just have to be a little lighter on the throttle than usual.

The 308 was caught in a couple of rain bands from a tropical storm a few weeks ago. Other than the wipers sucking, its no different than any other car...

 

Well, you live in Seattle where a good driving day amounts to bright, cloudy skys and a constant faint drizzle that leaves cars with a light coat of lime green on them. That's mold that forms on the paint from constant wet conditions with no((I mean no) sunshine for days on end. Spent a lot of time there on business and was AMAZED at the number of convertibles driving around in said conditions. At first I was surprised by the number of top down cars I saw. After repeated trips back, realized that that was the best these poor bastards were going to get.

 

In a sense yes, they're just cars and won't melt. I've driven mine in the rain and snow before too. BUT...there is potential for trouble with the openly vented rear engine cover. All that rain splashing around can sneak into places it shouldn't, like frying the cat ECU's on the 355. Bottom line if caught in the rain, oh well those things happen (like the DOWNPOUR leaving Tutto Italiano in Boston this year!) But no need to take her out purposely if it's raining...

 

Car: '89 Mondial t Cab

One has to determine their interests.

I get the most joy from driving such beautiful and well-enginered vehicles.

Others get the most joy from collecting a perfect condition car.

Collectors enable people like me to buy low milage Ferraris.

My Ferrari was bought to be a fun daily driver.
It was used that way until stolen.

Now it is used as an occasional fun driver.

They do run better if driven.

The car was stolen in a February so it had winter salt on it.
It sat for a period of time with the salt on it.

There is some rust on places like the bottom center steel panel, but I am working on it.

Car has the Pilot Sport A/S tires - really great tires.

The new car covers from Ricambi are excellent.
For really high winds, also recommend bungee cords.

I have driven between Salt Lake City and Denver on snow and ice at speeds up to 120. No issues.

I have driven in Oregon under conditions requiring chains or snow tires. No issues.

I have driven in extremely heavy rains. No issues.

Many times rain, snow, sleet, etc. gets into the openly vented engine compartment. No issues.

Once it was outside without a cover when unforcast snow storms hit. Dumped about a foot and a half of snow on the car. Brushed most of it off. Started on second attempt. Engine heat melted the rest of the snow off the engine compartment cover. No issues.

Earlier this year, the car with Ricambi cover sat for three days outside a hotel in Kentucky under heavy rains. Under the cover, the car was bone dry.

Also earlier this year, the car survived unharmed a tornado in Kentucky. The tornado took the roof off the hotel where the car was parked. I was in the hotel at the time.

I have noticed that the car rides out high winds very well.

Using it will require more maintenance (normal for any vehicle), but will increase the fun if one enjoys driving.

[email protected]

PS: I also have a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon for really bad weather.

 

Seems to me the wipers on my Dino 246GT would only work if it was raining, or at least if the windshield was wet, so how would you know if they were operational unless you drove it in the rain? Remember the XWXs working really well in the snow, too, in New Mexico. They may not be "just cars", but they should be all weather. (Unless you have a 550 Barchetta, I guess.) Never lived any place where they salted the roads, but Ferrari's salt proofing technology developed in the early 80s was licensed to major manufacturers, so post-1983 cars should not melt in the rain or snow.

The earlier cars were not too good on rust, however, and I remember a Ferrari technician in Suffolk, England, putting his finger through the door panel on my 1978 308 GTS when I asked why the paint was bubbling. Nearly gave me a heart attack, but generated some business for his body shop.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

I drove my 360 in the rain and it DID melt ... no more Ferraris in the rain ... I'll drive the junker from now on

G

 

cig1's 360.....after the storm:
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Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
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Yes, no doubt they did rain testing on new cars and they all passed. But reality is, they don't have the resources to simulate 10-20 yrs of aging and then exposing to rain directly on the engine. They couldn't predict that one particular electrical connection wasn't right, etc. I had seriously rusty spark plugs from rain / washing apparently, also had a failed emissions air pump who's filter looked to have been soaked repeatedly in water. Then there is the corrosion concern, nobody wants their Ferrari to get rusty! So yeah, no intended rain driving or washing for me.

 

Sun = good
Rain = bad
Snow = really bad
Too much sun = really, really bad
Hail = pretty bad
Hurricane = pray
Tornado = repent sins