Most Engaging/Visceral Ferrari Driven

F355 Spider

 

My 599 GTO. At full throttle nothing compares.

 

F40
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I'm pretty old but I have to say.......if you haven't experienced a 50's vintage Ferrari at full tilt...well STFU.

 

My new-to-me 308 is pretty tame, power wise, but it is a very engaging analog ride. Especially compared to my 456M, which is very civilized, though it does go like hell when you hustle it.

I've always wanted to drive a 275. It's my favorite vintage Ferrari, and I just think it would be a revelation.

Cheers,

George
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Sorted,only because it'll never happen to me,so I have to make do with a lowly '64 and '74 model.

 

This, if I had driven one.

328, in the meantime.

 

Easy, Scuderia. Other than the transmission, almost as visceral as your Diablo....and you get all the modern stuff. If I could have afforded a 16M, would probably done that instead of the Diablo.

Past that and a CS, you probably have to go back to the Boxer or Testerossa to get that feel (haven't driven either of these).

 

For me..it's the 246 Dino. Really really fun slow but feels like your going fast car. It does pretty much everything perfectly.

 

1959 Maserati 3500GT...pure visceral joy. You hear all the mechanical gnashings, the air being sucked into triple Webers, the whine of the tranny, the heat pouring off the firewall, the smell of gasoline, the raw exhaust note.
Nothing in between you and the machine, just cables, gears, metal, fuel.
Not as expensive as a vintage Ferrari, so can still go out and enjoy regularly.
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246 Dino ... tied for second is the TR with the 330GT 2+2... then 328 and 355 are tied for third.

 

I am fortunate to have the opportunity in my career to drive Ferraris of every era, and agree that the evolution is one of refinement in every single aspect of the drivers experience, tactile, vestibular, auditory, emotional...

IMHO, older is better, and for me there's a clear divide where I would place the F355 in together with the 456, 360, 550, F50 and newer, then place 512TR, 348, F40 with the older cars, as far as visceral driving experience is concerned.

The pinnacle for me is the F40!

Best,
Rob

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out of the 6 Ferrari branded cars I have owned, the 330GTC was the most visceral.

 

348

 

Agree, the 355 felt like a recent car.

 

Ditto

 

and Ferraris are generally treasured and well taken care of. So we should have several analog Fcars to choose from. many marques are not so well preserved.

Best

 

The first one, no matter which model, gives the biggest thrill.

 

I'd agree 100%. I've driven fast cars, muscle cars, British cars, quirky cars (see British cars...) and very fast motorcycles at outrageous speeds. The first time I drove a Ferrari, even though it was a sad and paltry V8 with DCT, it was such a hoot I couldn't stop smiling - almost laughing each time I shifted gears. The laughter came when I opened it up and really took off. I still smile a lot when I drive it just listening to the sound of the car at work. I'd love to drive other Ferrari, but the first one is like your first love - there's only one.

 

My vote goes with the 308 based on my OWN experience. I would definitely defer and imagine that the F40, 288GTO, and 328 might have more of that same visceral perception. I just haven't driven those at this point.



PDG

 

the f40. scary visceral and no aids - you are on your own to tame the beast.

and phil hill said, the 512tr is like 75% of an f40, and mine has no aids either so it feels very mechanical and pure.

the bbi is obviously more old school ferrari, and feels about as direct as the 512tr, with the difference that it does not feel as secure.

i have not had the pleasure to drive a 50's or 60's ferrari, but i can imagine that it would be like the bbi but less frenetic since it would not be as fast. someday.....

 

My experience:

1. 512 S - only drove it slowly around Mid Ohio -but still just the coolest thing & sound
2. 250 GT Lusso... great drive, great sound, gear box not so much... but was a great drive
3. F-40 - only car ever been in where my neck hurt after the drive - Robeling Road... amazing
4. 246 dino... just great fun
5. 599 ... a bit noisey in side - lots of carbon, but addictive speed.

 

For me, there is nothing like carburetors to give you an extra bit of oomph in your experience.

My 328 was, frankly, a bit boring, in that it would start every single time, and there was never that carb experience you get when the air/fuel mixture is imperfect, and you just give it an extra bit of throttle to try to get it over the hump.

I get carb-thrills all the time now with my Alfa and even my Vespas, but never had that experience of "wow! It fired up, and it's actually running relatively well!" with the 328.

So, as far as Ferraris are concerned, I've experienced driving or riding in three 308s, three 328s, a Mondial QV and a 360. Of them all, the most visceral was the carbed 308 I rode in for a test-drive when I was on my search.

And having driven other cars which include examples from Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche, etc., the SINGLE most visceral car I have ever experienced was a Petty Racing School NASCAR stock car. Sure, it had 650 horsepower (restricted from 775) and a suspension dialed in to the oval ring, but most importantly....it was carbureted!