My father's first ride in my car

It was one of the last nice days of the year here yesterday and I wanted to get a top down day in. My father went for a ride for the first time in the car. He's mid 60s and pretty fit.

To get in required him to bend his knees to the point of severe pain. The seat belt wouldn't extend far enough to belt him in. The check engine light came on (damend hyperflow cats), And the lights for the dashboard turned on and off about four times after darkness fell, rendering the whole dsah unreadable.

At one point he asked me if the car was really supposed to sound like that.

Then he said sadly "son. I promise I won't tell your mother you're driving a death trap."

We had a good laugh about it, but it pays to remember that 99.9% of the world thinks we're nuts. Except of course for 11 year old boys.

Sun's out again. Guess I'll go for a drive.

Bill


PS> Does anyone know why the dashboard lights would randomly turn themselves off for minutes at a time and then just light back up again? Loose connection somewhere?

 

I think that's standard for Italian electronics.

 

Lol, and true

 

It's a shame your Dad didn't have the ultimate Ferrari experience.

Sounds like your beauty needs some TLC and proper diagnosis. Your cats aren't the cause of the CEL problem. Cats are a "dumb" component and only deal with what is thrown at them.

You might want to search this sub forum for 2 threads I started in the past couple months. One was entitled something like "slow down 1-4 and CEL 1-4" and the other was "F355 University".

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Great story.

 

yes really nice

 

look at the 'bright' side, with dash lights off that's less power a failing alternator will have to supply

Passion trumps reliability

 

From part of the .1%, well done!

Check the fuse box to see if someone slid a self resetting circuit breaker in there. If so, lift the center console and wire tie the harness clear of the throttle cable that is cutting through the insulation.

 

My father always wanted a Ferrari and he could have afforded an Enzo if he wanted but he chose to invest in Real Estate. He became ill with a brain tumor 3 years ago and he passed away on April 26th of this year. Before he passed away, I forced him into my Ferrari 348. He always thought it looked nice. I bought in August of last year and he would admire passing it in the garage. As I shoe-horned him into the car, a smile came across his lips and I took him for a 15 minute ride flooring it at times causing him to tell me to slow down while still smiling all the way. After we brought her back to my house, I asked my father's approval by asking him "What did you think"? Keep in mind the previous owner installed a Tubi exhaust. Just to bust my chops, he said "It's nice but I think there is something wrong with the exhaust". I just smiled. That was his way of telling me he liked it. As long as I have known him, he always wanted a Ferrari especially since he was born and raised in Italy. I think he was able to enjoy this through me. Life is too short, that is why I bought it. You cannot buy that experience I shared with my father. Rest if Peace, Dad and look in on me from time to time.

Joseph Molino

 

My father always wanted a Ferrari and he could have afforded an Enzo if he wanted but he chose to invest in Real Estate. He became ill with a brain tumor 3 years ago and he passed away on April 26th of this year. Before he passed away, I forced him into my Ferrari 348. He always thought it looked nice. I bought in August of last year and he would admire passing it in the garage. As I shoe-horned him into the car, a smile came across his lips and I took him for a 15 minute ride flooring it at times causing him to tell me to slow down while still smiling all the way. After we brought her back to my house, I asked my father's approval by asking him "What did you think"? Keep in mind the previous owner installed a Tubi exhaust. Just to bust my chops, he said "It's nice but I think there is something wrong with the exhaust". I just smiled. That was his way of telling me he liked it. As long as I have known him, he always wanted a Ferrari especially since he was born and raised in Italy. I think he was able to enjoy this through me. Life is too short, that is why I bought it. You cannot buy that experience I shared with my father. Rest if Peace, Dad and look in on me from time to time.

Joseph Molino

 

You did the right thing and the nice memory is yours to keep.

 

Really nice, thanks for sharing !

 

I can't wait to get my dad in our Ferrari. He was here last Christmas but we had a nasty snow storm and it just wasn't possible. When I do get him in the car he will be driving and I will be hanging on for dear life.

dave

 

Haha @ death trap.

Hope he still enjoyed it

 

+1

priceless memory...you only live once!

 

I think electricity is magic still for most of Europe