F40 questions

I think very little refinement if any was added over the years. Maybe slight improvements in paint quality but that's all I've seen. The f40 is not a very refined car.

 

there is a difference between market valuation and desirability of the different types.

joe sackey will chime in here with his wealth of knowledge .

but when i went to silverstone for the 25th anniversary, i saw all kinds, and here are my own views and results of discussions with other owners while there.

the plexi side windows are a pia. they pop out of their runners, they are difficult to deal with from the inside, the hot car just seems hotter, and you cant easily lock them, and they craze up over time.

the non cat cars in stock form probably run a little faster, and less hot.

the cat cars mostly dont have their cats anymore - almost everyone has a straight pipe in place of the cat. and in that case they run better and cooler than previous non cats because of the extra cooling efforts made to deal with the cat

the adjustable suspension cars are a pia too. the system does not work reliably and results in endless headaches, so unless you absolutely have to have that to get into or out of your own house, just pass.

the usa version has a couple advantages. the aluminum gas tanks being the best part. i also like the look of the front lip spoiler and it seems more durable than the little strip on the euro cars. i dont like the rear lights, or the other rubber stripping.

anybody who is not obsessed with a purely stock car, has either lowered their f40 and/or added a tubi exhaust. both improve the look and sound. other frequent mods are the brakes, and some suspension tweeks.

 

I like your summary. I always defer to what people who own, drive, maintain & live with these cars have to say. Nothing beats hands-on experience.

The plexi-windows are a track application and they are miserable for street use. I can see how some like them because they underscore the 'race-car' look, but they are paying dearly with the symptoms you mentioned, but also from a safety point of view on the street because it pays to see cars coming at you broadside! They are crazed & scratched up and offer poor visibility in traffic situations. Downright dangerous on the road.

Cats: what cats? Unless the car is one of those USA cherished examples which is more shown than driven, the cats are likely on the shelf.

As for the original suspension lift kits, they are basically inoperable and in most instances and they have caused nothing but endless grief for the owners of cars that have them. As Napolis has correctly pointed out several times, there are modern systems that work far better if you need them. But isn't part of the charm of driving an F40 the art of careful negotiation around dips & bumps?

 

To answer the OP's question: one variant is not better than another per se. They are just different, depending especially if your intended use is mostly road, rather than track.

Rather, a good clean example is better than one that has had a compromised life from a maintenance, reliability & livability standpoint. At least from my viewpoint.

Best,

 

I hate those lexi-windows. spent a day in one and a you can't see anything!!! Looks cool but definitely not practical. Like there is *anything* practical about about an F40? But when something is impractical on an F40, its REALLY IMPRACTICAL. Words like useless, worthless, PITA, all come to mind. Roll down the windows and enjoy the music!!!

 

Classiche could be a plus but I wouldn't put too much (if any) faith into it either. Stock F40's sounds embarrassingly timid so if you plan to actually drive the car I would expect a tubi mod in your future.

 

I don't know what the point of Classiche certification on a stock F40 these days. I guess that the time to get the cert is right when the car is about to be sold and then there is some sort of "rubber stamp" to it. But if you buy a CC car today, what would the significance be of that certification if you decide to sell the car in, say, 40 years or so? Do you recertify the car? Do they even do that (although when does Ferrari turn down money)?

The cars generally have a sweet spot of mods (Joe mentioned the cat removal, for example) and if the car is well maintained, it will not be a secret. The proper people in the F40 world will know what's what and with an F40, condition and maintenance history should be the primary guides.

As far as the versions go, Ross summed it up really well and if you put that together with Joe's substantial list of US vs Euro car differences you will get a clear idea as to the pros and cons of the versions.

 

I'll have to say the USA car is a pretty solid piece of equipment which hold together pretty well. We have seen some godawful crashes of USA cars (the ones at Seattle Raceway and on Mulholand Drive come to mind) and they have survived pretty much intact. The European cars, not so much. For example, if you lift the bonnet of a Eu car, it tends to flap around in the breeze. The USA cars are well-buttressed aft & fore. In fact there is a chassis extension in the front that gives substantially more safety protection. I know which version I'd rather be in if an accident should occur.

 

In an accident if you hit a deer with any F40 it doesn't work out too well either. Especially for the deer! As one owner found out.
CH

 

This is true. The F40 on the other hand can get a new front end.

 

In the current fical climate, most likely a total PITA !!

 

Austria might be a better choice, in both taxes and road quality. Plus you can still go to Italy and back easily

 

to add to this threads question, basically about which particular specs add to F40s value / desireablity...

i want to ask if the F40 (of any which still do) have the prototype bodywork, is there a significant increase in value? how much more $o?

also, not having reasearched this myself, any of the particular F40 that have racing experience, more valuable $ because of? ...or not in particular?

thanks