"is that the new 911" and other random first-timer Ferrari ownership thoughts

Nice story! Sounds like you have the best of both automotive worlds (porsche/ferrari).

How about some pics?

 

Just focus on the road; who cares what anyone else thinks?!

 

That's a great list - much like my own from March of 2008! Congrats on the new car!

The "getting in / getting out" thing is indeed a hoot when you first try it! For the
first month I had my 328 there was simply no dignified elegant way for me to do it.
It was a controlled fall going in, and a clumsy climb back out. But you'll get the
hang of it and not feel so awkward when someone is watching you!



Jedi

 

I felt that way as well particularly when I first bought my 308. It's faded to a manageable level now.

It takes a while to figure out the best way. For the first couple weeks, I would step in with my right foot, then twist and drop into the seat. That started messing up my hip noticably so now I have two methods:
Top on - turn around facing away from the door and sit butt first on the seat, then rotate 90d to bring my legs in

Top off - Step in with my right foot, slide/drop down into the seat with hands on the top of the windshield and pulling my left foot in all at the same time. Sounds complicated, but that's the easier of the two for me.

Glad to hear it! I use mine as a near daily driver, somewhere about 500-600 miles a month including miles on a few longer drives. Enjoy!

 

Interesting post by the OP!

My first thoughts are to sell the Red 308 and buy a black one or a scuro one that doesn't stick out in traffic quite as much.

The problem with that is that to me a Ferrari is Rosso Corsa, but I guess they did make them in other colors, and I would drive a black one for sure.

As far as using them both of DD, I would be careful driving the 308 in the rain. I have an '83 and there was no rust prevention done until 84, so recommend driving the German speaking one on damp days!

Pictures please!

MB

 

On Oregon gas pumping law. I'm in S. Oregon and they all allow me to pump my own gas. They take the nozzle off the pump, turn it on then hand it to me. The one time I said what the heck to myself the guy sprayed gas all over the side of my car then grabbed coarse paper towels to wipe the gas off before I stopped him. Exotics, motorcycles and vintage usually get a pass. If you have a regular guy you trust or don't want to bother that's legitimate. On my Mondial it needs to get filled slowly or the gas backs up quickly and shuts off, or in this case sprays all over.

Enjoy the car, I too have had it suggested that I had a beautiful Porsche.

 

My favorite was the two old guys I met on my road trip home who were convinced my 308 the new Mustang. At first, I thought they were just insane, but then they pointed out the "mustang" emblems all over the car, and I realized their question at least had some logic to it.

 

I had something funny happen a while ago related to the Mustang horse. For taking a picture I asked a friend to see if the prancing horse on the wheel center was in the correct position while I put the 308 in position. When she said 'stop' I got out and looked at the Cavallino. It was in the Mustang running position!

 

My first hour or two of driving my GT4 was memorable. I first had to drive it through the congested streets of Astoria, Queens, from the mechanic's shop where the timing belts were done. Along the way I got way more attention than I would have ever expected. People were waving and dudes along the side of the road were shouting "wind her up, man!" I'm kind of a quiet type so I don't really like all this attention. I was relieved when I got onto the highway, but I was stuck in brutal rush hour traffic on the Deegan, so the car started to sputter and miss a lot and I had to constantly rev the motor to keep from stalling. Then the engine died and the honking began. I managed to get it restarted, and eventually pulled off in Spanish Harlem to let it cool off while I got some water myself. When I came back to the car, a guy told me he had prevented me from getting a ticket and seemed to want a tip. I thanked him and shook his outstretched hand and got the hell out of there. Once back on the highway, the car started missing badly and backfiring. Eventually on the Saw Mill I had to pull off, and this time it was terminal. Turned out the resistors mounted below the coils had fried so the ignition wasn't working. Now I had the pleasure of being *that guy* standing beside a very expensive-looking yet immovable car by the side of the road...who doesn't want to be that guy--object of everyone's schadenfreude, right??
After a flatbed ride to another mechanic, we got the car converted to electronic ignition and it has run like a top ever since! And now I have the car out of the city, and can enjoy it in relative privacy on the roads near Bear Mountain! Still, quite a memorable first day of Ferrari ownership!

 

If either of you find the burden of owning a red GTS QV to be to great, feel free to email me and I'll happily take it off your hands...

 

Left hand palm on door latch thing protruding out from the car, ease butt down after placing right leg in car. It's a little twist to plant the palm but is a much more graceful entrance and it keeps finger prints off the car.

 

+1

 

Thanks for the generous offers, guys, but I think I'll shoulder the burden for a bit longer

 

Sounds like a great first day. Even in states that don't let drivers pump their own gas, like here in Jersey, just do it. When I drive one of the old collector cars, they gas station attendants never give me a hard time. In fact, they are happy to let me do it so they don't have a problem damaging my car.

As for comments/questions about the car, get used to it. And don't be surprised if you get some of the "Hey Magnum" stuff, and even some people giving you the finger or calling you an ******. There are all sorts out there, and plenty of them are not kind to exotic cars, even classic ones, or their owners. Oh, and just ignore the kids in the souped up Hondas with the glass pack mufflers and the idiots in the SUVs that will tailgate you or try to race you just because you are driving a cool car. Unfortunately, there are loads of them out there, and driving a red Ferrari seems to bring out the worst in these idiots. I just give them a nice wave and laugh as they go roaring by. You've got nothing to prove to anyone. Just remember, you're driving a Ferrari, and they are not.

Enjoy it, and go out and drive it like you stole it!!!!!

 

wow, great story, glad the outcome was good

 

It took me a while to work through some of the same issues you're having............except the one about self-consciousness. That's why I chose black. I call them the Beauty and the Beast and let you decide which is which.

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i like what you did with the 308 wheels on the black 308 - did you paint them black? do youhave a side pic of the car with those wheels???

 

I can't tell you how many times people have pointed at my silver 308 and said "hey check out the Delorean". I would much rather be confused with a 911 then an anemic DMC12.

 

Yes, they were painted. This is the only photo I currently have available from the side.

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That's a gray market 911SC with turbo-look option by the Ferrari flag, right? I had an '81 in white; totally different than the QV I have now - almost an exact opposite - but wow I loved that car....

-frank

 

Exactly Frank.......a grey market '78.

Parked beside a turbo the only difference (w/o opening the engine cover) is the single exhaust instead of the double on the turbo and the badge. If you had one then you certainly should know which one is the Beauty and which one is the Beast! It's rude, non-apoligetic and has no fear.......a hoot to drive.

 

Great story!

I have a 93 Porsche 928 GTS and when I first acquired it I heard one of the neighborhood kids yell to his buddy, "hey check out that Ferrari!" Being fairly rare and older maybe it was the first time they had ever seen a 928. I too believe in the Ferrari/Porsche ownership concept. However I determined my Porsche should be more of a lux GT that offered a different experience than the 328.

Recently acquired the 328 and have been lurking. Will post proper intro and pics. Just had to respond to this thread

For 3 years now been using an M3 as DD for less conspicuous under cover transport. The current V8 version is the closest thing to a Ferrari V8 disguised in every day German bodywork
Mike
San Diego
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