Ferrari FF

It is good to have differences of opinion on what is good and what is bad in design. Otherwise we would all be driving white Toyotas. It is bad to think anybody who does not share your opinion is an idiot. Especially if done in a shrill or indignant manner. I hate indignant people.

We were chuckling in the California forum that it was nice to have the FF because all the whiners are pretty much concentrated over here and leaving that forum alone.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

I'm hoping this is a sarcastic comment. If not then there is no point in attempting a civil dialogue with you.

 

This is just an automotive version of the kind of argument couples have all the time. My wife wanted a traditional house, I wanted modern and we ended up choosing a place with a cedar hunting lodge look. Fortunately, none of us have to marry each other.

 

The problem is there are several kinds of "purists"

1) The 50's and early 60's Purists
2) The pre-Fiat Purists
2) The pre-Enzo passing Purists
3) The 308 "Magnum" and Testarossa "Miami Vice" Purists
4) The 355 "the most wonderful car ever made ever" purists
5) The purists who never owned one and will never own one but tell everyone else what they should and should not own.


So, it's difficult to fight "purism" because there are so many ways they can attack.

 

So instead of Purist it should be doctrinaire?

 

The Nembo and NART spyders are the prettiest Ferraris and that is that. (doctrinaire enough?)

 

No that's just fact Jack.

 

2000 456m, thanks for the words....you will definitly have my thoughts and an opinion on the car....If I get any literature or pics I will post them.

Everyone has their own style and car design preferences....This car is supposed to be a 2+2 super GT car....with typical performance you get from any car comming out of the Maranello stabel. Lets see how Ferrari present it.

Am so excited....cant wait.

MJ

 

It's tough choice for Ferrari or any other top marque whether to go on making what they have or depart from it. There is money to be had, and lots of it, by "extending" the brand through making different types of cars with top notch performance. As pointed out above, Porsche may be selling more Cayennes and Panameras than Caymans.

But there is a danger to that. As GM knows all too well, there is thin line between "extending" a marque and "diluting" it. The management of Fiat/Ferrari are taking a huge chance with the FF. While I'm guessing they will be able to sell the FF, and it may sell well given how most of us here do not drive our Ferraris on a daily basis because of practicality concerns, over time this could change the public's view of Ferrari. There are many threads here about how people are concerned with all the excessive (and possibly negative) attention one gets from driving their car to work, yet people don't give a second thought about seeing a new Porsche turbo in the company parking lot; a car that is faster and could well be worth more than a 360 parked next to it. Probably there wouldn't be such concerns with the FF immediately due to the 2+2 packaging (if not the styling) and I'll bet over time if Ferraris become as commonly sighted as Porsches, pretty soon the Ferrari marque would not have quite the cachet it does today.

In light of the dilution risk, a reasonable strategy for Fiat could be to keep Ferrari devoted exclusively to the mission of producing exotic and near-exotics with exceptional performance, such as the 458, 599, etc. and not go down the practicality route.

Already there are many sedans and coupes out there today by other manufacturers that on paper, if not in other aspects, at least start to approach (or better) the performance of Ferraris (certainly my car; a V-10 M5 would be quite competitive with a 360). This could well be the golden age of performance automobiles (before we're all forced to drive electric cars) as many makers have the technology to make tons of horsepower. So in this environment where you can have 565 BHP Cadillacs and sub-4.0 0-60 Corvettes or Shelby Mustangs, not to mention scarey fast Cayennes and M versions of the BMW X5 and X6, it could well be a mistake (in the long term) for Fiat/Ferrari to converge the Ferrari product lineup with other makers' similarly performing vehicles.

As for the FF's styling, it is obviously polarizing this group here. It seems you either love it or hate it. Maybe it will grow on its detractors over time. It may look better in person than in pictures. Taste is quite subjective and changes over time. Or maybe it will go down as a styling "mistake" in the way of the Bangle-era e60 five series BMWs, yet be a sales success, as that Bangle-era e60 outsold its predecessor. Despite my misgivings about it, I'm looking forward to seeing one for real and hoping it is successful and non-dilutive.

 

Right now the car is in Baqueira (Spain) for the spot recording, so we will probably soon have new unofficial photos.

Not mine.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Another interesting view on the FF, I love this car more and more everyday.
http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2011/02/axis-gets-look-at-ferrari-ff.html

It seems that the bulge at the rear of the car is for aero purposes. Axis also had a good explanation of the 4wd system. I can't wait to see this car perform

 

That looks incredible

 

Good and interesting points, and well said.

Speaking for myself, a "pure" Ferrari is a car built by an independent company owned and fully controlled by a genius called Enzo Ferrari. After that, it's all downhill for me...

But I am sure that if I were thirty years younger (I wish...) I would hold a different opinion.

By the way, my favorite Ferrari is my Dino, and it can hardly be considered "pure", by my own criteria. I also like the BB, the 308, the 355, and the 458 (I love that one), so I am open to compromise!

 

As a former Dino owner, I can understand that!

I was always mad about the 512 BB. Someday I may break down and own one.

 

Yes! Same here! But of course I would go for the early 365 BB...

 

With carburators... MMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm!

 

I couldn't have said it better! In my opinion Ferrari should try to make the best car possible. All the big words about traditions (only RWD, manual gear,...) is for me just misplaced sentiment. If we hold that strong on principals, we wouldn't have got any progress anymore...

If making the best possible GT means implementing an AWD, then Ferrari should be doing that! (And I can imaging that for a GT with the extra weight, it will be necessary) If making the best possible sportcars means leaving out the manual gears, so be it! Ferrari should always stay on top of the game. For me, Ferrari should be the most innovating sportscar manufacturer and therefor it should not have to make compromises just for old time's sake.

 

i'm shocked if even mad it this far in it's development. not the direction i would have expected Ferrari to go with the development of their cars. have to wait an see it in person. until then... shocked!

 

Shocked seems like the right reaction to any new Ferrari.

 

I disagree. There are a lot of new models which are a logic continuation. FF is not, it is an aberration.

 

"I'm shocked, shocked I tell you to find out gambling is going on here!"

"Your winnings, sir"

"Oh, thank you very much!"

 

"A fooolish consistancy is the hob-goblin of little minds"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

No offense intended

 

No offense taken. I feel secure enough in my viewpoint. Unlike some folks who can't stand the fact that there is criticism. They are in for a rude awakening once the press starts dissecting these bulbous lines

 

There's room for everyone's opinions and with esthetics there's no right or wrong in my book.
I just think that every new Ferrari should be true to its heritage but still shock. Literally be stunning.

Besides it was a chance quote a good old New England transcendentalist

 

On that note:

De gustibus non est disputandum.