Questions about Ferrari myths?

Howdy,

Am new to the world of Ferrari Chat and haven't spent very much time around Ferraris at all. Have driven a 308GTS about 20 miles on a west Texas interstate some thirty-odd years ago when I was in college.

Instant hook.

However, I heard some rumors/myths about Ferraris that have kind of spooked me over the years.

• The body/skin on a Ferrari is extremely fragile and thin and even dropping the a valve-stem cap will cause a dent.

(Always wondered how Magnum and Sonny Crockett could lean on their Ferraris and not completely cause the bodies to cave in.)

• You are not allowed to do anything more than open the engine hatch on a Ferrari or the F-techs (mechanics) will void a warranty or greatly "up" the price they charge to do work.

• Spark plugs run over $50 each, and you need twelve.

• Engines are extremely complicated to work on.

(You still have a cylinder, piston, valve, rod, etc. Basic combustion engine.)

Other myths that I have some serious doubt over, so I'm wondering about some of the above (or any others) from folks who own or have owned Ferraris.

I've always like the look of the red 308GTS and am getting an itch. Lot of homework to do for a long time out, though.

 

Are you a trouble maker???

Depending on the model, the bodies are steel or aluminum.
They are easily bent, so those strippers you see leave slime at the mininum, damage is possible.

Spark plugs are the same as your lawnmower, NGK BP5ES.
Some only need 8....

I like to take them apart, my mechanic DOES charge extra if I lose any of the special pieces. I can never put them back together...

They are really, really fun.

They are really really expensive to break.

The 308, 328 GTB/GTS is about the cheapest way into the game, or a 308GT4.

 

First, WELCOME to FChat!!!

Second, just about everything you said there is false.

I lean on my 308 GTS QV all the time - no dents - yet. I would not suggest sitting on it with all your weight as some of the bodywork is aluminum though.

I dont know about newer Ferraris and what voids those warranties, but with my 308 if I knew more I could rebuild the engine and who cares - its my car.

The number of sparkplugs is exactly what it is with any other car. A V8 (such as a 308/328/348/355...) takes 8 spark plugs, while the V12s (512BB/Testarossa/456/etc...) take 12 as far as I know.

The engines are a bit different. They are very high strung typically and like to rev...a lot. Some of them require regular cam belt and tensioner replacement which can be kind of pricey, however, there are many people who do their own service in their garage at their house.


Hope this helps a little bit. Go visit the 308 section (below the general discussion section) and you will learn a whole lot by reading what we have to offer there. I just say this since you mentioned the 308 a few times in your post.



PDG

 

My trunk hood sproings with the lightest of finger pressure. (frunk hood not quite so sproingy.)

If I put my PBR on it it would cave.

 

Welcome to "other than Off Topic" - 11 posts and finally one that counts!



Jedi

 

That is probably true for some of the thin aluminum panels of a Lamborghini Countach, but probably not an issue with any Ferrari I've seen.

 

I just changed all my 8 spark plugs and it cost ... $20. I even kept the old ones and will re-use them after they are cleaned up. People will try to sell you the Iridium plugs at $35 each. Well, you don't need them.

 

Appreciate the feedback.

I had serious doubts to some of the myths, in particular the spark plugs--but I was curious as to the fragile nature of the bodies.

Always wondered how Magnum and Crockett could drive their F-cars into the dirt every week without so much as a dent. . .

Will probably be doing a lot of looking and reading in the 308 forum. Been checking out the Buyer's Guide links, but a purchase will be no time soon this year.

 

I wasn't joshing re: trunk lid.

 

JF308 has a recently Dave Helms serviced NON CAT 1977 steel bodied 308GTB on the market now....Black/red.

Other than a rare fibreglass 1976 or a dry sump Euro engine car that's about as good as it gets...

The Shop has a reputation for fine work...

 

Heh heh. Only thing I understood in that description was "1977" "308GT" the colors and "for sale now."

I have some reading and learning to do.

 

False. Unless you're talking about MY car, in which case it might be damaged by breathing on it. . . so don't touch!

True. If you go to a Ferrari dealer, they will find every excuse they can think of to gouge you for extra dough. So who cares? There are some great independent Ferrari mechanics - like Dave Helms, mentioned above - who will do a better job than any dealer, tell you the truth, and fix your car for a lot less money. As for warranties, they don't matter if you take your car to the right people for service.

And it IS possible to work on your own Ferrari successfully. Most of the people here on F-chat do it, and are happy to answer questions about how.

True. And the windshield fluid reservoir can only be filled with Roman spring water that's been blessed by the Pope, the turn signal lights carry 200 hand cut two-carat diamonds each, and the tool kit comes in a $12000 hand stitched Gucci bag.

Actually, spark plugs aren't that much. And many of the most desirable Ferraris only need eight, anyway. Some parts are expensive, but many are interchangeable with other lesser makes. Some are even available at your local auto parts store.

False. I don't know where you heard that. Ferraris run on a rare exotic fuel distilled from the essence of Enzo's soul. The engines of Ferraris are a baffling combination of unrecognizable platinum and molybdenum parts - along with some Kryptonite - put together into an astonishingly high-tech machine that even confounds NASA engineers. Theologians are still trying to figure out what Higher Power could have designed the thing, and what it is, precisely, that makes it go.

(Actually, of course, you're right. Tolerances on Ferraris are tighter than on some cars, though, and you'll probably have less room to work.)

Well, of course they are - if you're not mechanically inclined. If you have trouble changing a light bulb or running the vacuum cleaner, they're extremely complicated. If you have past successful experience working on other cars - particularly fairly high performance cars - you shouldn't have too much trouble. They ARE a little more complex then your average Buick, and should be tuned precisely, but you already knew that.

Scratch the itch. But, be aware that you're mostly worrying about the wrong things. Keep reading Ferrarichat. We'll tell you the questions you should be asking.

And for crying out loud, quit listening to people disseminating MYTHS! Here on F-Chat, we'll just give you the FACTS. . .

Well, mostly.

 

Don't forget the "melts in rain" myth.

Dave

 

and the one that is made of wood is the fastest.

john

 

Ferrari...that's a car?

Gosh, I thought it was just a dude (maybe the dude was named after a car).



BTW, don't tell him about blinker fluid until after he purchases one and the brake rotors fail .

 

A good portion of my BB512i body is made of aluminum and is easily bent. The Moss-Magnuson Act applies to Ferrari warranties too. Classic and Vintage Ferrari engines are very simple and easy to work on. although parts can be expensive. I use $9 NGK plugs in my BB512i...

 

I has some misconceptions as well before they were dispelled by a kind chap in a 360 a few years ago. He told me about Fchat. I began in Ferrari ed 101. I graduated and am now an owner.

 

They don't melt in the rain . . . they RUST!


And while the spark plug may be normal . . . the distributor cap is a couple hundred dollars . . . and there are two of them!

 

Regarding the fragility of the bodies. This myth (fact IMO) surely would have started back in the 50's and early 60's.

Remember what American cars were built like back then and compare to a Ferrari. With an old Chevy you could walk all over them and not cause a dent, with a alloy bodied 166 Ferrari you work fnck it ... to put it blankly.

Thus an accurate story regarding Ferrari bodies started ... no myth at the time at all.

Since then American car bodies have got thinner (ie. less heavy) and Ferrari often now uses steel ... so they have sort of met in the middle. BTW: If somebody tried to stand on my 71' Alfa ... I would probably punch them.


Now lets move on to engines. Back in the late 50's and 60's most American and other engines were simple all cast iron pushroad if not sidevalve things. You did not really need a torque wrench. Can you imagine being a local Chevy mechanic and a Ferrari 166 turned up in your service department. Heck mechanics in the 70's and 80's had trouble with Alfa engine, let alone 3 times the number of cylinders, and this was not in the 50's!

So another factual story regarding Ferraris was created, again no myth at the time.
Pete

 

Did it ever occur to you that these television shows, just like the Dukes of Hazzard where the General Lee never ended up with a scratch or dent on it no matter how many times it jumped over the Grand Canyon or how many times it side swiped a car when cutting it off?

 

Parts and servicing is expensive. That's about the only significant difference. The cars attract a lot of attention and many are jealous. That's something if you own.

 

My father in law once sat his butt down on my aluminum trunk lid left a couple of dimples. Obviously didn't get the whole Ferrari thing as he asked while sitting there "What kind of mileage does it get?. This year he told me the car needs a new muffler "It's just too loud must have holes in it". What can ya do?

 

When I think of "The Myth" I think if Sergio Oliva. Ferrari is sort of like that. Art, power, fanesse, and so much more. Oh, I forgot legend.
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Sounds like the little old lady next door to my parents', who thinks her 1985 Ford Taurus is the pinnacle of automobiles.

When she saw my 308 for the first time, she inquired about the "motor" being "in the back." She asked if I put the groceries in the front, then. When I said that there's no room up front, where the spare tire and radiator are, she asked if I put the groceries in the back seat. (I said, "No back seat, either." By then, she was looking at me like I was one stupid "kid.")

Finally she said, "Well how does it do on snow?"