I finally drove a CS! From the perspective of a non-Ferrari owner

As a non-Ferrari owner, I feel that I've been very fortunate to have so many experiences with these incredible automobiles. I've driven 7 completely different models of Ferraris but my Ferrari adventures were taken to a whole new level when my friend handed me the key to his Challenge Stradale last Saturday.

On April 23, 2005 I saw a Challenge Stradale for the very first time. I always loved Ferraris but until that time I had never heard of a Challenge Stradale and I certainly didn't fully understand what I was looking at when I first saw it. I was in total awe when I saw how much carbon fiber was inside. The Alcantara, the larger wheels, the stripe, the lower more aggressive stance... I was in love at first sight! I will never forget that day.

Fast forward almost 5 years and the CS is still my favorite naturally aspirated V8, even after the introduction of the F430, Scuderia & 16M.

Saturday, January 23, 2010... I see my friend pull up in his newly acquired Challenge Stradale and I notice that someone else is actually driving the car. I think to myself, "luck bastard!". Several minutes later when I'm done photographing most of the cars I approach him to say hello. He holds the key out and says, "alright, take it for a ride... rev through the gears and have fun. Just don't wreck it." I've driven some of his other cars and I know that he wants people to enjoy the experience, so that's exactly what I planned to do.

I grab the keys from him and don't look back. I get in the car, adjust the leg room, turn the big knob to adjust the seat back. Then I put the key in and turn it to the "On" position. I pull back both paddles to put it in neutral. I turn the key all the way and nothing happens. I push the button on the key fob just in case the alarm is still activated. I put the car in 1st, hear the F1 pump engage. I turn the key to the "off" position. Let's try this again... turn the key to "on", put in neutral, turn key all the way. Still nothing! Okay Michael, think... what are you doing wrong? I look down and see the GIANT red button that says START. D'oh!! I had the same problem with an F430 Spider. lol..

I press the button and the car roars to life. I disengage the parking brake, back out and take off through the parking lot. When I stop at the stop sign in the parking lot, I barely press the brake pedal but I'm almost jolted to a stop. Wow, these brakes really work! My other initial thought was that not only the car, but the actual seating position seemed quite a bit lower than most modern Ferraris. I take off north on a 4 lane divided road and revved through the gears. To be honest I didn't really pay much attention to how fast the gears were shifting but they didn't seem slow to me. It may have shifted slower in the lower RPM range but I wasn't there very much. Right before a know speed trap I take the turnaround. I start to downshift and it sounds good but not amazing. Then I believe it was from 4th to 3rd that the engine just screamed and at that point I felt like I was in a true race car. It was beyond amazing!! I'm sure each downshift would sound like that in the right RPM range. As I make the u-turn I'm careful to not give it too much gas before it completely straightens out and I just gradually put the power on and rev through the gears again.

As I slow down to go through an intersection a motorcycle cop pulls out in front of me. I just got done doing a pretty spirited run so I thought he either heard me or saw me. I switch lanes and start to downshift to do a u-turn at the next intersection. Again, when I shift from 4th to 3th the engine screamed and the motorcycle cop snapped his head around to see what the heck was going on. It looked like I scared the crap out of him. Lucky for me he was already through the light and I was stopped waiting for a turn signal. This time when I made the turn I gave it a little more gas and I could feel the rear start to slide. I let off a little and it straighten right back up. I pounded through the gears this time and then brought her back to her rightful owner.

I felt like the car was a little low on torque but it has plenty of power for the street. I've driven faster & more powerful cars but this was by far the most enjoyable. The car seemed very predictable and easy to handle.
I now declare that I will own a 1:1 scale Challenge Stradale one day. It might not be my first Ferrari but I will buy one and when I do, I won't ever sell it.

Life is good for this Ferrari enthusiast. Many thanks to the owner... you've helped me to set a goal that I must now accomplish.

 

Nice write-up! Keep the CS revs up and it will stay with just about any other supercar on the road or track. It's extremely light and responsive... just a great car.

 

Awesome write-up Mike! Sounds like that was quite the experience for you. What a generous owner too. I have yet to run across someone who does not like the Challenge Stradale. I wish you good luck on your future ownership of a CS! What color was the one you drove?

Chris

 

Nice write up Mike! CS is definitely among a favorite for many. You didn't try it with ASR OFF? Try it and then report back.

 

Sounds like you had a great drive. It's your turn to get one now..

Thanks for the report.

 

I'll try that on the track first.

 

Thank you. Rosso Scuderia with a factory stripe & red Alcantara with black inserts.

 

Yes, this is 136348... and I love it!!
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Congratulations!! It's good to set goals.

 

Thanks for sharing Mike!! Driving a CS is also on my 'must do in this lifetime' list... i love the way it looks, the way it sounds...and someday i hope to slam it through the gears just as you did

 

Great pictures! Thanks for posting.

 

Cool write up Mike - you'll have your own someday, keep working at it.

 

Great write up Mike! I too believe that the Challenge Stradale is a very special car.

 

some of the best threads are first-hand experiences from members describing how the drive was for them; thank you for this fun ride

 

Glad you had a chance to experience the "baby Enzo!" It's a great machine! It's not the best in any particular category but the package/experience as a whole ranks right up there!

 

Great write-up & pics...your said is exactly what I has thought as well as another lucky bustard...hehe

Hope your dream on acquring a CS coming true so soon!

 

+1

 

+1 They are beautiful machines

 

Great write up, Mike. I agree with everything you said

I haven't driven as many models as you have... 2 512 BB's, a 355, and 2 360 CS's (not far behind)... and by far the CS is the best driving car; and just the wildest. BillS has accurately described it as a Baby Enzo (or the Enzo as a CS on steroids lol)... I just love the way the car enriches the driver with so many stimuli... and makes the driver look better than they actually are

Do you think the optional radio fitting looks out of place (One of the 2 CS's I drove had the same radio... it looks funny, but I couldn't feel the difference!

 

Mike, that sounds like an awesome experience! Great write up, congratulations! Frefan took me for a ride in his CS a few years ago, and I agree, they're lower than most modern Ferraris - even other, 'regular' 360s.

When I was at Universal, I had to park an F430 and I had the same problem with the Start button. I sat there with the key turned in the ignition, staring blankly at everything in front of me. Finally Jack came over and said, "Push the start button, ya schmuck!" Pretty funny.

Mike, is this the one you drove? I only ask because I thought it was for sale at Scottsdale Ferrari as recently as 26 January 2010.

Do you keep a list in your wallet of the serial numbers of the Ferraris you've driven?

 

Great write up Mike! Thanks for sharing.

They are fantastic pics also!! Looks like a beautiful car!

I hope to drive/own a CS one day also. I should just hold out for one, but I am thinking of getting a 308 GTB next as I love them also.

Thanks again, glad to hear you enjoyed yourself.

 

Great write up and sounds like a fine car.

I think that same car is being much maligned on another thread as having a "story". It seems whatever damage was incurred has been well repaired so!

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/search.php?searchid=3675388

 

Yes, I drove it on 1/23/10 in Austin, TX. Scottsdale sold the car and then bought it back 3 months later. I drove it while it was here in town.

I don't keep the list in my wallet, it's here on FChat. I don't know the s/n of every Ferrari I drove but I know most of them.

 

Yes, it has been repaired very well and there are no signs of damage at all.

What it comes down to is that the car was originally misrepresented. My friend wanted a "no stories" car and was willing to pay extra for one. If I had the means, I would buy the car in a heartbeat and never regret it. I love everything about it, especially the rare yellow calipers. The stories wouldn't matter to me because I would never consider selling the car. My friend has a serious problem... he can't ever keep a car for longer than a year. 6 months seems to be the average time length for him.

 

Thats a problem