I bought my first FERRARI and my wifes happy... Bonus

Urrgh! At least it's easy to clean off.

Go to SuperCheap and get yourself some Ali Brite and a spray bottle.

Put the Ali Brite into the spray bottle as is, no mixing required and spray onto the alloy. Leave for 5 mins and hose off with a garden hose.

It's that simple. The alloy looks like new afterwards.

It opens the 'pores' in the alloy and lets all the gunk come out of it making it look clean again. You can only do this a few times before it starts to "pit" the alloy I was told. But once it's done once, it will look clean again for another 20 years.

It's safe to spray on rubbers, belts and all the electrical stuff. Doesn't do anything to that stuff.

I used this on my Honda CR450. It had that brown dirt stain all over the alloy frame. A friend told me about this and brought some over. Sprayed it on, left for 5 mins and hosed off.

If I used a light paint brush on it, it would have gotten in all the nooks and crannies but I was not too fussed. I cleaned it up and sold it.

I have some before and after pics of the bike where you can see the difference, but I won't post in this thread to take it right off track.

I'll put em up in my thread if you want to take a look.

 

wow...great tip...thanks! you're useful for once.

 

Thanks mate, sounds like no hard work required, right up my alley

 

Like Kimi "he knows what he's doing"

 

Cheers...............I think.

 

You and me both!

 

Mines fine thanks. I think the last few posts are in the wrong thread.

 

Your thread had been on track for too long to be classified as an Aussie thread

sorry

 

Try Tempe Tyres

 

Tempe Tires have the fronts not rears the international tires have the rears but they are 4 years old, apparently

 

So, how did today go?

 

Hi Dave
Yes I took the car on first official club run with my local 25 member club to a
Bundeena cafe for breaky.

Serious copliments about the colour combinations.

Only a 35 minute run through "Nasso" and speed limited to 80Ks.
Sounds boring but its a twisty bumpy bumpy road, seriously impressive car. Turn in balance and ride far better than my previous 993 on that road and even in the rainy conditions.In fairness to the 993 it did have 30 series rear tires and 35 fount, but the 456 is far confidence inspiring.
I am now a V12 Ferrari convert,........ torque just, "expletive" WOW

Yes it rained! Tires fared far better than I expected however I can report the ASR system works just fine.

The TUBI mufflers make a great sound (bonus they came fitted) up to about 2000 RPM and add quite a bit to the sense of occasion, above that they are quiet so freeway speeds will be quite.

The night before the run I started the car to be presented with an orange suspension system light. Quick call to Tech Services to be told don't worry about that it goes away after a 10-15.

The morning of the run, start the car no light.. don't you just love Italian cars, I am not being mean there, they they have a way of both annoying and endearing at the same time.

I took a couple of pics nothing special and will post them... the background was interesting.
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FMS had a new reservoir on the shelf for $200 - I was expecting to pay more and wait a month to have it shipped from Italy. Well done Ferrari!

The guy who runs spare parts in Sydney, Matt, couldn't be more helpful.

 

Would have thought it highly unusual for a reservoir to break

 

the outlet tubes are pressed into stiff rubber bushes, which allow the whole thing to move from side to side. Easy to accidentally move it, e.g. if you're leaning over the engine for some reason. If moved too much, the outlet tubes crack where they meet the body of the reservoir.

 

Is "leaning over the engine" Ianspeak for a reacharound.....or similar?
NTTAWWT

 

hi Graeme,

I absolutely adore Khamsins (easily in my top 10 favourite cars)and think they drive very much like a modern, considering they are 70's "vintage". Thanks to Citroen hydraulics no doubt. I used to read the Khamsin thread religiously on F-chat.

Although its too early to really draw any substantial conclusions, do you have any regrets moving on from the Khamsin?

i guess I'm asking as I'm at a crossroads and considering selling my 308 (its in the same colour scheme as your 456) and moving on to something modern. I know the experience is different but the real question I want to ask, do you prefer the modern 456 over your Khamsin despite they are from different eras.

As PP would say....perhaps I just don't get vintage (anymore)....but I loved my 911 3.2 Carrera......My 308 should be at least as good (and I expected it to be better) but somehow, its not

 

sell the 308....buy a 3.2 Carrera....pocket the difference....be happy!!!

 

I don't go back, I go forwards......and more importantly perhaps I've changed. I don't know and I won't have the definitive answer until I get my car back.

It then begs the question do I transition to a modern?

Although I haven't looked at the 911 Carrera market here, I doubt I will get much change anyway.

Btw, how did the clutch change go? Did you use an AP clutch?

 

FYI....I'm on my 2nd 308GTB and I love this one more than the first. You might do the same with the 911.

I still have my original clutch...it hasn't been changed yet.

I'm getting the OEM one....I don't know if that's AP or something else.

 

Good Question.

I had lots of reasons for deciding to sell the Khamsin after 23 years and lots of fun at events and club runs to remember along with professional pictures.
I got smitten with the idea of going back to Porsche's and I lay the blame on Magnus Walker, I owned a 911 2.4S for about 3 years and they are as good as they are now valued.
and the 2.7RS rightly so. The 993 I bought was an auto, wifes suggestion....... Great car but a 2.4S is another level and almost as fast.

The Best description of the Khamsin is a 456 with its 20 years od development.

Khamsins are light to drive they are nothing like any of the exotic trucks of the same era.
Speed sensitive steering, powered clutch and massive brakes. The hydraulics are pure Citroen DS SM and easily maintained. I fact lots of other cars used the Citroen components but didnt advertise it RR for one. The engines are simple strong even though they are dry sumped, quad cam and 4 DCNFs with cam timing correct, which most classic Maserati V8s arr not are bright alive and fast. and make a wonderful noise.

Do I regret selling it ... yes.. I loved the styling and the exclusivity with 420 - 430 built and that is there collector advantage there usability disadvantage,and I do miss the Khamsin but they are now a commodity.

I am not able to keep a collection, life moves on I had always hankered after a 12 and I love the 456M and if It is the only Aussie delivered manual M in the country I really like that.
Sell a 308?. map out the decision and work out what you want and you may find sippler classics are the way to go.. Your choice.

 

Good response Graeme but I’m not sure if a simpler classic is the way to go considering a 308 is a relatively easy car to maintain and relatively cheap as exotics go. People bandy about terms like analogue vs digitial but in the end, it becomes about the experience you get and how you engage with the car.

I don’t believe I’m interested in outright performance…I’m just looking for a car that feels tactile and involving. I love the way my 308 looks in grigio and it sound terrific, esp on the overrun but the rest of it is average. I concede it’s a matter of finding that sweet spot in the set up-the steering, the right pads in the brakes, the right fluid in the gearbox, the right take up of the clutch…all issues easily fixable I hope.

Perhaps I starting to think whether you have a great vintage/classic car experience (or not) is VERY dependent on getting that sweet spot and that operating window is very narrow.
I had an opportunity to buy a Khamsin and I let it slip by as I mused about it…it was cheaper to buy then a 308 QV at the time too. Hasn’t that situation changed!!!! As you said, Khamsins are rare so it makes it worthwhile to export…..b/c like you said, they’ve become a commodity. I thought the Khamsin drove amazing well and when my procrastination lost me my chance, I thought what the hell, go for a 308. It’s a Ferrari. It must be better than an auto Khamsin. To my dismay, it hasn’t been the case……yet The Khamsin still felt modern….the 308 feels……well old.

Btw, I test drove a Khamsin, I didn’t test drive my 308 as it’s a UK car. Was that my problem?

 

Deciding what classic car to own is a personal thing not unlike everones tastic in music, only cars have other dimensions.

The difference is wheather you make your own music.. I did all my own restoration and maintenance and had the car on a system of maintenance and got to know the car intimately, which added to the whole experience.

People asked me who looks after it for you.. I do and where do you get the parts and the questions go on.

For me its not just the owning and driving its the looking after and the knowledge gained from doing it.

I was also looking for more modern performance and usability, Kamsins are a fantastic piece of "automotive artdeco" design the best looking wedge shape ever made, but totally impractical.

There are two ways cars are bought with your head or your heart. Masertis Ferraris and Lambos for the most part are heart bought cars. Passion exclusivity and and Make wonderfull music

Head cars for me are late Porsches to good in some respects.

The 456 is heart choice with a head component. Fast Practical and V12 music I dought I would go backwards. .... I must be getting old.

 

I've driven lots of cars, good and bad, and the 308 I'd one of the most enjoyable. Either your expectations are off course our your car is crap.

Either way, if you're not happy with it just piss it off and buy something better. Life's too short.

 

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