I think I'm done with Ferrari

Mayor,
How about something that is devoid of all driver aids and is completely visceral and encapsulating?

 

I think cops love to catch vette drivers. Be careful out there.

 

This is interesting to me. Someone that can actually afford 6 Ferrari’s is upset with the build quality of the air conditioner and the seats and the lifestyle that comes with owning one? I’d think that by the time I’d have gone through 6 Ferrari’s, stuff like that would be absolutely trivial to me.

Your quote: “And, I'm bored to death. The cars today are for doctors and lawyers to drive them to the office. There's so little emotion today. They are too perfect when I want something less perfect and more fun to drive. I want to feel like a race driver, not a doctor. I want to live a fantasy, not reality. Reality BLOWS. I'm an overweight, out of shape 50 something. I want to think I'm Steve McQueen and not Videl Sassoon.”

I’d say “Why not own a Challenge Car?”, but you clearly want something that you can drive on the road … but you don’t want attention… so you want something that doesn’t attract attention, but will still give you a huge thrill for city driving…

You’re just about at the top of the food chain as far as cars go, unless you want something that’s totally boutique, like koenigsegg or Pagani, or whatever else, but you’re still stuck with the same problems…

Get a Singer Porsche. It will take a few years to build, but you could build an awesome sleeper.

Otherwise, it sounds like you need a new hobby.

 

I thought the Alfa 4C was Bobs next car?

The Huayra would be a good ride

 

Bob's just telling it like it is. Honestly and with experience.

 

Rather than a Singer I would get a real Porsch made to my specs. Warranty, roadside assistance, faster, and not conspicuous. And it is less expensive and less wait. Win win.

 

Yeah, honestly, it'd save you 200k and about a year and a half in time (I imagine ordering a Porsche all to your specs would still take about 6 months to get?).

Porsche is about as subtle as you're going to get while still having a ton of fun in the car. Or... a Nissan GT-R but those things are all beast.

 

No not at all if you like the potential breakdown of the F1 gearbox which 95% of 575's are or the nose of it which is a styling difference. If one wants engaging to me that means engaging your own gears...6spd manual box. The 550 is a more disposable ferrari. It is cheaper with 99% of the 575's bang. There is not enough of a horsepower/torque difference to get me excited. The 550 has less stuff that is stupid expensive on them to maintain. I think it meets a lot of the complaints the mayor has issues with. It is so cheap that you can leave it with the keys in it like a BMW. In fact a new M3/M5 will cost you more.

 

You have been defending them for so long. Good to see you come around. Ferrari certainly builds wonderful machines but neither the machines or the company are as good as everyone wants them to be. As others have said, many of the advances that make moden cars so quick and fast take the enjoyment out of the man and machine symbiosis that used to provide so much joy.

 

You need a classic. With the old cars, you will not require any cafe before a fun run. With the geriatric cars, you have no electronics to bail you out, thin as a dime steering wheel, skinny tires, and less power. It takes a lot of work, to keep up with modern exotics on a fun run. It is fun to drive a slow car fast. Of course, most of the old classic exotics are drop dead gorgeous.

In addition, you will not have to keep up with the Jones' after the new boy-racer 4xx is released. You won't see the classic exotic in a trendy shopping district every weekend. You may even make a few dollars, if you buy the classic at the correct time. Webers sound good. What is not to like ?

 

Bingo!!!

 

Agree with my friend Ralph on all. Yes, it is indeed fun to drive a slow car fast!!

 

TheMayor,
I've enjoyed your funny, witty, & insightful comments/posts.
Hopefully, you'll never leave the F-Chat forums for good.
Best wishes on all your future endeavors.
Cheers!!!

 

Going old has the distinct disadvantage of an unwanted hobby. It becomes a hobby when parts are required, and it can be months of downtime or years in rare cases...

Low volume production X years of age = treasure hunt hobby while your beloved sits in a/the garage.

 

+1

I really enjoyed meeting Bob in Vegas when we grabbed breakfast at the Peppermill. It was cool when he picked me up in the 458 Spyder... but he was still a down-to-earth, genuinely good guy.

 

Bob, do you remember the serial number to your Spider?

 

I think I have to agree. After owning 6 Ferraris over the last two decades, I sold my last one early last week; a BB512i. While it has been a fun ride, the expense to maintain and repair has not been worth it IMHO. It just doesn't make sense to own a car that runs fine, yet still cost almost $10k for a service every 3-5 years. I can have a total rebuild of the engine in most cars for that amount! I have owned 3 Porsches over that same period of time which have been much better built cars, have been driven much harder for many more miles for a fraction of the cost. Plus, my lap time at various track events over those 20+ years have always been faster in my Porsche than any of the Ferraris I have owned. Ferrari has been excellent in it's marketing strategy convincing me that owning a Ferrari is something special. Now at the age of 56, I disagree. While I will never say never, I do see myself owning another Ferrari, unless the Italians figure out how to build a high quality, fast, reliable car, with German build quality, that can be driven like a Porsche, without having the dealer and tow service on speed dial on my cell phone.

 

+1

You're being too kind You guys should try paying double or triple the price you pay over there...now that's worth complaining about

 

As a sidebar, how different really is the 575 from the 550 really aside from some styling? Definitely not chopped liver, and when someone is mentioning the 550 I pretty much assume the comments go for the 575 as well. Probably some notable differences I'm not aware of, but I sorta see 575 as a new model "just because". Because car companies need a new model every so many years.

 

Awesome thread. Of course of all us have opinions but if there is a consistent theme it's that modern cars are not engaging/visceral and the outrageous performance they provide is not usable on the street, and they are wickedly expensive to own and maintain. Watched an old top gear episode Monday night and they were questioning why a rear windshield wiper was an option on the panamera given it's huge cost....in any event last night I watched motor week and their test of the c7 coupe and it's scary how good it is REGARDLESS of cost. Bob you made the right call on your c7. That and the Alfa c4 are what interest me in terms of new cars. As for the older stuff, pre 90 911s, Alfa gtvs and Ferrari 308s/gt4 should be on your short list should you choose to go that route as they are class rides.

 

I don't know him personnally but at 18 post a day he will not quit F-chat, this is part of his life. Here are the people not the cars and we are not Ferrari.

 

Good for Mini, i wonder if that is the exception to the rule. It's good to know that someone does that for their customers. I have to admit, I've never spec'ed and ordered a new Ferrari, but have done so with a Lotus and Ford Super Duty. In both instances, once the order was submitted by the dealers, it appeared that all info disappeared into a black hole until the vehicles arrived at the dealerships. However, considering the price point of a Ferrari and their targeted market, you would think they would be more forthcoming on info.

 

Brother, get an early 308GTB and have a 3.4L upgrade done. Cheap, visceral, and you will feel more connected then you have for years. That or an early 911 with a hot rod engine. I hate modern sports cars, not that I could afford anything beyond a 360 anyway, but they just don't do it for me. Older stuff only with power? Serious fun

Just my .02

 

This is too much irony, as your past comments had a big part in me bailing. And I am not looking back.