Enough with the Flappy-Paddles only

I don't know . I have always been a manual guy having rowed my way for the last 45 years. However in the recent Fcars. The transmission is hard to beat . I have a Scud with the super fast F1 which I really like it has that mechanical feel and I am certain I could not shift the 1st to second anywhere near as fast as the F1. Now on the older cars with less power like the 246 Dino gotta to have a manual to make it the most fun and the 550 well that has a manual and it is about perfect. but these new dual clutch systems like all the new Fcars combined with the high hp and fast revving I think you would be hard pressed to have as much fun with the manual..
I think now days even the 458 has more power and is faster then most any of the old Fcar ..with manuals, so I would be hard pressed to see how the manual would be better.
It would still be fun but at the end of the day in the age of 700+ hp ferraris I'll take the dual clutch any day...

 

I think LdM slammed the 348. The 308 was long gone when he took over.

 

Yup. There was a Bondurant road test in R&T back in the day -- I think he praised it as one of the best sports cars he had driven.

Although I will admit the ergonomics in the older Italian cars in general are either charming or ridiculous, depending on your build and state of mind...

 

I routinely run down and pass cars on the track that should be 6-10 seconds faster than the F335 M6 on street tires. Cars that have Flippy paddle trannies, R-compounds slicks and up to 100 more HP, many times better aerodynamics, too. Its not the car's fault, nor do the flippy paddles help the vastly slower <i.e. more aggressive unlearned average> drivers.

On the other hand, I have been having an animated conversation, at speed, with my driving instructor, with the tail hung out, and changing gears; all at the same time. It is about keeping your head far enough in front of the car that this stuff requires almost no thought giving you get plenty of time to plan various activities {Like: braking points, tire traction, passing manouvers, waving at the corner workers, showing a student the line while driving,...}

 

It was the 348 that he discredited. He called it "the worst Ferrari ever built"

 

Damn, your logic is compelling!

Manual transmission for promoting road safety, why not, a new perspective.

 

This is my understanding as well; although many have now been sorted to some degree.

The 308/328 were great cars; except for the initial injected 308s, which were dogs in terms of power / performance. I used to own a 328 and now regret selling it. The 308 QV and 328 were the best performers, and the plastic 308 was the best investment.

 

Look on the bright side - at least you can't TEXT much in a MT car. If I had kids, just learning to drive, I would require them to learn in a MT car for that reason alone.

 

Latest issue of automobile claims that; ferrari is considdering/developing a smaller lighter car below the 458. Slightly less expensive,twin turbo V6 500hp lighter and a bit smaller than a 458 more minimalist and possibley a return of the stick.

Maybe its just hot air, but sounds like the right spec if real. Maybe aferrari answer to the p13.

 

Awesome!

So, maybe Ferrari is monitoring this thread.

 

That is correct. Thanks to a bunch of DIY Stooges from California, and other members worldwide, the 348 has been improved in many areas.

 

Where do i leave a deposit. Please dont tease the manual faithful with rumors like this. I hope they are watching this thread though i fear its just wishful thinking.

 

A 6 cylinder would be a first for the Ferrari marque, except of course of the Dino 206 and 246, which weren't badged as Ferraris.

I've seen rumors here of a "new Dino," and even a few about a "Ferrari SUV." Can't say I really approve of either idea, but an entry-level smaller car with a stick would make me very, very happy. I'll believe it when I see it, though.

 

This is what I remember as well.

Cheers,

George

 

That's an excellent point.

 

Well, the recently made a station wagon, the FF. So anything might be possible.

 

Very small % just like at Corvette

 

Just hot air. What Ferrari really doesn't need is a further product line.

 

This thread went exactly as I predicted when it started.

Flappy paddle enthusiasts once again arguing why it is superior and completely missing the point.

 

Personally, I am a manual guy, but I completely get why Ferrari doesn't offer it. I think it wouldn't fit the car. Particularly the 458, the car is intended to be as much like a modern F1 car or at least a modern GT race car. Ferrari doesn't make nor is it interested in making cars like the Ford GT that are throw-backs, where a manual is a fitting transmission. I think a 458 with a manual would be missing the point. If you want to pretend you are in a MODERN race car when driving, you need paddles.

 

Excellent Post, J

Ferrari is all about F1 and F1 technology is paddles.

 

40% is smal!?

40 Percent Of Corvette Buyers Stick With Manual

 

No road going ferraris are race cars so f1 isnt necessary

 

But let's face it, none of it is NECESSARY. Please don't go down that horrible existential "why do this at all?" road, because it ends with a collection of tree-huggers in electric powered robot cars, city buses, pedestrian lanes, and recumbent bicycles.

 

I agree, a 458 as iut exists now with stick would be the wrong combo.
The ford GT was a htorwback in shape only, in every optehr way it was a modern roadgoing fun car. The Chassis was essentialy a lager elise.

Where is it carved in stone that for a car to be modern it cant have a stick, or it must be flappy only. These are street cars, not race cars, street cars that may occasionaly go tot he track. Ferrari could make a lighter more minimalist car without all the electric motors etc and a stick in a kodern non retro shape. That is modern too, juts not sort of fakey doo F1.