Abuse/Damage

Not a fraction of the trouble you get with BMW/Merc/Porsche etc.

Mostly admiration, but if you park it near a pub at closing time, or in a disabled zone, you're asking for it of course.

 

Good question, the parking/driving issues. I drove my 308 GTB daily for three years from 1997 when I worked in Melbourne. I had the use of a private car park in Little Lonsdale street which was handy so no worries there. I was studying at night school at the time and on Tuesday nights I'd leave work and park the car outside the Hyatt and just leave it for three hours. Use to tip the valet of course. They liked to have the car out the front so it was never driven but the windows were always covered in fingerprints. Of course, the reason I bothered to do this was I studied with this crazy Singaporean chap and we'd head back to the hotel afterwards to meet up with the SQ hostesses for an empty out. Those were the days! (Scott would understand this

On the street, occasionally you'd get a leb in a Commodore asking you how much it cost at the lights but never had any trouble in traffic.

The biggest problem I have in driving the car in town was with the cops. I would get pulled up regularly for a licence check. I recall once they went right through the car looking for drugs. Of course, I just happened to be wearing a T shirt from Nimbin that had stencils of weed leaves on it as well as some torn army pants. When I opened the boot, I had my camera tripod in the back inside a sling bag I used to use for a 12 gauge shotgun. The cops were very disappointed to find a tripod in the bag. I still have that T shirt, must wear it to the next FCA event.

But I digress (You brought back some great memories!). I'd never park the car on the street at night for example, especially in town. You have to understand, it's not just Ferrari's but any European car is a target for either keying or being hit by some fool mother in a SUV.

Having said that, something like a 400, 550 or 456 in a subtle colour I'd be happier parking in the street compared to any red Berlinetta.

Regards,

Carl.

 

Hmmmm, as I recall it was a carpark to a seedy brothel wasn't it Bigboy?

 

or was that the Steamworks valet parking

 

No oddly enough, it was in a basement of a 5 story building that had two floors of criminal Laywers that specialised in the really seedy side of life Below them was a travel agency that specilaised in "tours" of Cambodia and the Philippines if you know what I mean. The ground floor was a topless hairdressing salon that lasted a short time as the local traders (NOT me) complained to the council about it. Never did work out what was on the first floor, possibly a gay gym, but never saw Scotty or Peter there!

Carl.

 

Gee, that's in La Trobe Street, you of all people would know that!

Carl.

 

I think you'd be fine with a 360 in terms of parking, no bettor or worse than anything else I would have thought. The front is high enough so that most drivers can see the bonnet and if not, certainly the roofline and not reverse into you when parking. There are enough broken 360's around now that you'll be able to pick up a front bar really cheap, Scotty's probably got a garage full of them!

Regards,

Carl.

 

Sounds like a damn fine community. Damn fine.