I'm Joining the ranks of the 16M -- here's why (long)

Hey everyone,

Long time no post.

About 4 years ago (I think - geez time flies), I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of the first 430 Spyders. It was Silverstone, I live in Southern California. Enough said... I was really impressed with how much of a leap forward I felt it was in terms of handling and responsiveness to the earlier Ferraris, including the 360 (IMHO).

Unfortunately, exactly 6 days later I drove my friend's Carrera GT. Yeah. That totally warped my perspective on the Spyder. And pretty soon once I had a CGT, the Spyder faded into memory and into someone else's hands.

Then the 16M came along.

Now, for those of you who REALLY put in decent track time -- I get it -- it is insane to put in the time and effort to fine tune a car for the track and then take the top off. Seriously, if you love the track you put performance first. Period. I think arguing against this is ludicrous. Moreover, the quicker the car (and the Scuderia is absurdly quick - especially for the price) the more insane it is to bastardize it by cutting its head off.

But I'm not buying a topless Scuderia in my mind. I'm buying a meaner Spyder.

See, if you are me, you love the idea of going to the track -- but you rarely do it. My pleasure driving is derived on weekend mornings (or weekday) when the sun is coming up, hundreds of miles of serpentine california roads are nearly empty, and I'm out there with the goal of just being lost in the drive. I'm not pretending to be Ayrton Senna (ok, maybe a little bit) -- I'm all about the senses. And so when Ferrari decides to offer an edgier version of what was (for my money) the most versatile sports car I knew (430 Spyder) I say: Yes, please!

Less sound-proofing? Hooray! Louder, crankier, more obnoxious? -- Um, check, check and check! Wanna see weird welds, metal plates, have some strange web-looking material not named Alcantra on your dash? Want two pipes coming out of the center "rear", bizzare darth-vaderesque wheels YET STILL be able to hold a weekend's worth of luggage and have a push-button top for driving al-fresco? YES, I DO!

Hell, I have NO IDEA what the heck kind of stereo comes in this thing... Is it an ipod and where does it go... ?

But what I do know is where I go. Behind the wheel. And while this car does not orbit in the same circle as the Carerra GT -- I can tell you driving the CGT to Palm Springs or Big Sur with my girlfriend is actually NOT POSSIBLE. I've tried it. But with the 16M it will be.

Look, maybe it is a factory gimmick. A push to move product in hard times... Whatever. If we spend insane money on cars like these it is because we love them in an insane way that seems perfectly reasonable to us. So that means, when a respected sports car manufacturer offers an "edgier than normal" convertible, I am going to take notice. And when it is Ferrari, and they are making an already great car more rough around the edges, I'm in.

Now I just have to wait for October to get here.

 

why cant u take cgt on weekend drive? is it just the luggage room?

 

No.
It's dealing with stop and go traffic and other vagaries of public roads.
Try once (especially with the significant other) and it will be the last time you do it.

 

First and foremost -- it actually IS the room that is most problematic in the CGT. If you take the top(s) off of the CGT and store them in the car, then you lose most of the tiny storage space up front (space that may hold a change of clothes). Now, the car does come with suitcases that are designed to sit around you in the tub of the car -- seems cool in theory -- but when you are actually IN the car and the bags are crammed underneath you and around you -- it doesn't really work too well. Not to mention, calling them suitcases is ludicrous. More like bags designed to store a stick of chewing gum.

I actually was okay with "normal traffic" and stop signs..etc. as anyone living around Brentwood would know given my love of driving the damn car -- even just to Starbucks. But the bottom line is, even if you were totally willing to try and make it work, the CGT can't do a trip for two people.

And that's fine. It shouldn't. That would be like attaching a plow to Secretariat. What I love about the 430 Spyder -- and the 16M even more -- is that you can do the weekend trip. I would argue it is perfect for that. Provided your mate doesn't need extra layers of leather..etc.

 

i see your points. i guess the f is more practical with storage, f1 trans, electric roof, alloy chassis vs cgt's carbon chassis. its just that the cgt is an all time supercar and the f is just a nice version of a std ferrari

 

Can't wait to hear your write up on the car - congrats!!

CGT is like a rollercoaster. 15 or 20 minutes every couple weeks is what it's best at, along with the odd lunch date and exotic cruise. She ain't no beast of burden.