How long does it take you to warm up to the aesthetics new models?

I like the 80's and 90's the best. The 308, 288 and F355 especially. I think the newer cars lost the passion a bit. I think the 360/430/458 are nice but not for me (money not considered). The 550 is more appealing to me than the 599 if we're talking V12's and the F40 wins out over the Enzo in the supercar discussion. Just my opinion of course.

The newer regulations for safety etc. have played a big part in this.



Rob

 

You can usually tell if a design is good from the first time you see it. It either works for you, or it doesn't.

The 360 is a perfect example - it was "OK" in its beauty of form-follows-function way (but near the extent of the McLaren F1). The step to the anime-attacked 430 stepped over that boundary for me. It may have been "more functional" in some ways, but the 12-year-old anime fan who gave it a bit of Enzo for coolness, "let's put slanted, angular headlights on the curves", and big cartoonish scoops on the flanks (so, like, kewl!!, duuuude!!) succeeded mostly in making the 360 look better in comparison.

The new 458 is a nice return to flowing lines.

 

Depends on the car, IMHO.

The 360 was OK, and has matured to a nice design

The 430 will always be angular and look like Enzo bits tacked onto a 360. It doesn't help that the Enzo has always been an ugly car.

The California will never be a pretty car, but it's practical and should be really cheap in the future. It's the next starter Ferrari, standing beside the 360.

The 458 was drop dead gorgeous immediately. So was the 550.

 

The exact same thing happens with me. It took me a while to warm up to the looks of the 430, basically until the 458 was released. It will most likely take me a while to warm up to the Italia.

 

In the case of the 365 GTB--it was love at first listen
In the cae of the 365 BB--it was lvoe at first sight
In the case of the TR--never ever grew on me
In the case of the 308--it was love at first sight
In the case of the 328--it was love at first sight
In the case of the 348--it needed time to grow on me
In the case of the 355--I knew instantly I had to have one
In the case of the 360--I never really warmed up to it
In the case of the 430--its amazing how 100 HP can improve the image of the car I didn't really care for
In the case of the 458--I knew instantly I had to have one

In the cases of the big modern front engined V12s--none of them ever grew on me.

 

+1

 

In looks alone...

For the 360 it took the Challenge Stradale...

For the 430 it took the Scuderia...

For the 458 it was lust at first sight.

 

The 308 GTB is really the last series I was attracted to.

 

Can't have an absolute rule about something as subjective as design. The answer is it depends. The Lusso, 250GTO, Boxer, 308, were all cars I liked instantly...classic beauties that will remain timeless. Once aero entered the picture, beautiful design becomes much harder. The Enzo is an amazing design but it will never be beautiful. The 360, coming on the heels of the 355, was a car I did not like right away but now it's one of my favorite designs. The 430 has always looked a little lumpy and crosseyed to me (sorry). But Ferrari came roaring back with the 458, a design that I loved from the first time I saw it.

And I guarantee everyone else here will think a bit differently from me. That's what makes design so interesting.

 

Instant look.


I like it, yawn or hate it.




To date, I have never changed my first opinion.





I can and do warm up to people, but not to objects.

 

Sounds normal to me.

F40 was love at first sight. I used to really like the Testarossa, now not so much.

 

I liked the looks of the 355 when it came out, then the 458. Still think the 308 is timeless.

456 and the 612 were both good looking out of the box. Don't like the 599, 550 is bland.

Its perfectly okay not to like the latest Ferrari. The more time they spend in the wind tunnel or on the computer, the better the ones from the 50's and 60's look.

 

When I bought the first one, my appreciation for Ferrari styling ended with the Queen Mother 365 2+2, the 330 GTS, and the 275 GTB/4.

Reading a lot of Ferrari pubs and books, going to some events, and hanging out here has widened my horizons.

Excepting the Fed bumpers, I consider my '83 308 GTS to be absolutely stunning.

I'm a #3. The next one will be probably be a post-2000 model rather than a Vintage 12...that's where nearly 8 years of Ferrari ownership has put me.

 

I find that car (including Ferrari) designs grow on me. There are some car designs that I was not in love with, that I really like now. It usually takes me a year or two. It's good, its a nice surprise. Its easier to like the latest model if you have enough $ to buy one, though - isn't it? ;-), ha, ha.

I definitely have seen cars that I disliked immediately (and still do) and there are some cars that I loved immediately (and still do). Latter would be the 308, 348, 360, Jaguar xj (x308/x350 series), Gallardo and there are many others.

Design, style, taste ... and much like life - they morph, move, flow, change and so do we.

 

I always seem to like 2 generations before the current mid-engine v8

When the 430 was out I liked the 355,

when the 458 came out I started liking the 360, especially the CS.

430 still looks a little funky, aside from the Scud

 

My "instant hit" ratio has been a lot better with Ferrari than Lamborghini since the creation of the Countach.

Diablo, Gallardo, Murci... never did it for me. The Countach though... still gives me shivers.

 

I didn't care for the 360 initially bc I really liked the 355. I grew to like it a lot. Same for 430. My wife and I prefered the 360 but it grew on me and now I drive one.

This didn't occur with the 458. Loved it right away.

 

Usually I don't change my mind from my first impression. Sounds like I'm in the pack here - the 360 and 430 just never did anything for me, but the 458 was a homerun right from the start. It is the first Ferrari I've liked (styling considered) since the 355. I hope the Italia is the first in a long line of new great looking cars!