F8 Tributo launch references the 308

I think it looks a mess. A bit of corvette, a bit of new NSX, a lot of 458 still, but now covered in what could be a body kit. There seems little cohesiveness to the design from the front to the side to the back. I thought the same of the 488 though. I have a huge amount of respect for Flavio Manzoni but I think Ferrari really misses Pininfarina's input on the regular production cars IMO. The MM and SP38 were much better designs built on the same platform.

 

Mandatory speed limiters are coming to new cars in Europe apparently. Within 3 years according to European Transport Safety Council.

 

Yes, Pinifarina and Ferrari... RIP.

 

It's a proposal coming from the EU. They discuss it since 2010. First it was a proposal for light commercial vehicles, which didn't even come till today. And with the strong german carmaker lobby I doubt, that it will ever come.
The European Union didn't even manage to force Germany into a general Autobahn speed limit up till today. Recent new discussions were choked off once again.

Best from Germany
Martin

 

Well, the actual fact is that I feel nothing about these new cars: really nothing: Zero, zilch, nada, nitchevo. I remember the times when a new Ferrari appeared and there was that burn inside me saying "this is so unfair to me: I deserve this car more than anyone else, but I can't afford it". Nowadays they don't look nice to me (the last new car having a shape I liked was the original Aston Martin DB9 in 2004 or so) and so irrelevant: I mean, speed limiter or not, what use could I have for a car that can sprint up to 330 kp/h, but is legally limited (speed limiter or not) to 80 kp/h. None; these are useless. I never believed I could say that one day, but they leave me totally cold, I couldn't care less.

Rgds

 

Valid question...answer is truly "I don't know"; but I have to admit that the next generation after me, in my family, my nephews and nièces, today between 20 and 30, couldn't care less about cars, and even less than that about sportscars. To them, these are useless pieces coming from a dinosaur age trying to stay relevant, but failing to do so.
To me, having a toy that you could not at least from time to time exercise "somewhat" makes no sense at all; I have zero interest to drive such a car at the 50 kp/h city limit to show off.
I really would be happier with a "Nuovo Fiat 500", which, to my eye, is also prettier than this F8; I agree with "dflett" above that it looks much too much of a "kit car" with flippers, winglets, and what-have-you. And the wheels are really ugly. The rear is a mess. Last Ferrari I liked were the 355/.550. Then it stopped for me, it really did. Only the 458 was "not too bad".

Rgds

 

Hi Bruno,

exactly my thoughts. Here's mine, or our's, or my wife's. Don't know exactly
1,4 quattrovalvole 100hp, Sports suspension. I think perfect for Paris city traffic.

Best Regards
Martin

 

I am not sure your thought of younger generations are universal. Often get thus up from kids 4 years and up, on car shows they often want to sit behind the whee. My son is 16, taking license for light motorbike (KTN Duke 125) and says all too often: dad when you get old my sister can get the house and apartment ay Tenerife, i want the Ferrari. They are not all green vegan hipsters or what ever is in now.
///TRS

 

No matter, how I hate disagreeing with Bruno (nerofer), but you are absolutely right. I live in a fairly rural region of SW-Germany, but near the worst vegan left-green city with hipsters all around of the whole country. And anyway kids love cars and you see myriads of upgraded ricers or top end hatchbacks with 18s behind the wheel.
And when cruising around in the nearby, even more rural french region, the kids seem to be even much more excited when seeing a Ferrari. I love the 'Ferrari'-shouts with that french accent

Best from Germany
Martin

 

Paul,

I rebelled seriously in my teen years against my petrolhead father (he purchased his 308 when I was 16) But it did again improve later. And in retrospective it was a good relationship (R.I.P.)
I think a certain amount of rebellion against our parents in the teenager years was just normal.

My older brother is a different issue. He's a left-green vegan teacher driving an EV

Best from Germany
Martin

 

The uk has wanted this forever. I used to live near their motor research lab 25 years ago and they were testing vehicles electronically limited to the local road speed limit back then. They were testing transducers on the speed limit signs back then. I read this new proposal was agreed by motor manufacturers to incorporate the tech from 2022 onwards in Europe. On the first vehicles, one will be able to disable the feature.

How long will Germany retain its no-limit autobahns against the environmentalists?



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Nothing?

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Really?

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Sure?

I’m unimpressed with most modern supercars and their similar aero-styling but I’d sell a kidney for a Monza SP2!


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No, really. Besides, it's not road-legal here, as it has no windshield.

And...you would have to sell more than a kidney; something else must be added, some other "spare parts". A kidney would bring you "only" about 45.000 dollars in most developped countries (in which, usually, it is illegal to sell body parts...) except in Israel where it could fetch about three times more. About 25.000 in China; much less in Africa.
You wouldn't be able to buy that car with it. A liver would bring you about 40.000 dollars. A kidney + a liver = 85.000 dollars. That's still somewhat short. Now, I think of other spare parts, but...

Rgds

 

Some kids still do, but some others don't give a thought. And I think that the number of those who still do is much less than it was thirty years ago.
Don't trust the French, by the way. Those who cheer your car would not hesitate to take it away from you, given the chance.
Rgds

 

I never thought that my thought is an universal rule. But I'm pretty sure that, even if some kids of today still love cars, the number is much less than it was thirty years ago.

Rgds

 

Love it, but the truth is that the best for city traffic in Paris (if you are living and working inside the city itself) is, by far, the tube; it's faster, more reliable than any car and always on time. A car is useless in Paris, except between 23:00 and 6:00. And it is a liability, because it's so difficult to find parking space, so you get fined all the time.
Had one of my brother's cars (a VW "polo") for about two years in my building's garage, because he had no parking space for it during that time. He said "use it anytime you want, it's insured, etc..." the fact is, I never did, because I don't need to.
I even forgot about it completly, to the point that when I decided it was time to exercise it, the battery was flat.
Rgds

 

I agree with that and the topic deserves a thread on it. Who is going to look after Classics when we are not around anymore?
What can we do now about it?

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Interesting you'd say that. Last Saturday I met with a friend of mine who owns, among many others, a 250 GTO, and guess what new car he just purchased? An Abarth 595 Competizione. He said it was very fun to drive!

 

Till the Green Party will take over the government. But this will still take a good while. Like mentioned there was a new debate recently but was literally choked off by the conservatives.

But isn't the 'METRO' much more dangerous? At least during certain night hours?

I can imagine that very well

Best Regards
Martin

 

The last car show I entered my 308 in won the Kid’s Favorite Award. The rest of the awards went to classic American muscle cars. I’ll bet a lot of kids at that show got extra chores when they got home.

 

My point being that kids are not biased. They get that visceral feeling when looking at a real work of automotive art.

 

I have the feeling, that the poison works in France. Look, what their carmakers dare to offer.

Best Regards
Martin