Ferrari fire on PIP in Orangeburg?

It doesn't take up much room so make sure you get it mounted. I've had my 308 for 19 years and a fire extinguisher in the car since day one. I hope I never have to use it (on my car).

 

yeah, i had it bolted in my S, but then took it out when I sold it. Now just have to drill it into my A pillar. Probably this weekend or next since I have a couple of track days and a major rally in mid november.

 

I hope it's not the original extinguisher, it may not work.

 

Yeah I change mine out every 3 or so years.

 

Thats one way to get rid of a car.

 

fire extinguishers are not great ideas, unless your in a race car or a car that is not replaceable. You dont want to fix a fire damamged car

 

They are also good on the track is someone else's car is on fire. You might be able to save a life by putting out a small fire and buying enough time to get them out of their car and then peel out in your car while their car explodes in the background.

 

Ditto... Have had an extinguisher right in front of the passenger seat in my 308 since I bought it (earlier this year)... Also hope I never have to use it.

Robi makes a good point, which has been made to me before (actually, by Dan at Ricambi when he sold me the extinguisher! ) I guess there's some truth to this, particularly when you're in a new car or a car that is well insured. What are people's thoughts on this for something like a 308 though? My view is that since there's really no telling what an insurance co would give if god forbid I had a total loss fire, on balance if I can stop it *really* quickly, it may be better. Besides, obviously the safety issue (being able to help yourself or another car on fire is important)....

Be curious what you other 308/328/348/355 owners think...

J.

 

Put away the economics for a minute.

These cars are exotic:

Main Entry: 1ex·ot·ic
Pronunciation: ig-'zä-tik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin exoticus, from Greek exOtikos, from exO
1 : introduced from another country : not native to the place where found <exotic plants>
2 archaic : FOREIGN, ALIEN
3 : strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual <exotic flavors>
4 : of or relating to striptease <exotic dancing>
(thank you MW dictionary).

Even though #4 referes specifically to our Dearly Departed Bambi, It is simply criminal to let one of these cars burn. They are so rare, it is worth saving each and every one. We aren't talking about Hondas which number thousands per state. We are talking about thousands World-wide! You may contend that 360's are cheap, but that's today. In twenty years precious few will be left to be enjoyed.

No, these cars should not be left to burn. Hug your Ferrari today. Do it.

 

Give Rob a Cohiba! He's right (race car or not replaceable). I have a fire extinguisher, but if you think about it, if there is a fire, the first thing I'm doing is getting the "Fck" out of the car and moving far away. If the accident is really bad, and I can't get out of the car, I probably won't be reaching for the extinguisher! Yea, we all love our cars, but who wants one that was in a fire and restored? Well, maybe if they kept all the receipts/records! Depending on what type of insurance you have, the insurance companies will total the car before they pay to restore it. Lets assume no one is in the car, so by standing there and using the extinguisher and having a car with a little fire damage and having it repaired would not be the wise thing to do. I say wait for the Fire trucks to come, and start looking for a new one. I hope it never happens to anyone. They may not be as common as a Honda, but they are common and replaceable. When was the last time you saw a Honda catch on fire? The cheap common cars never catch on fire (excluding Fords). Its only the expensive, exotics. WTF! Maybe because they are built like crap!

 

You are a true tifosi, Clyde. I hugged my Ferrari last night -- took her out for a little stroll before the rains come.

 

Absolutely true. the priority is life over property.

With the question of how many fires on cars:
====================================
During 2004, U.S. public fire departments responded to an estimated 266,500 highway-type vehicle fires. These fires claimed 520 lives and caused $969 million in direct property damage. Highway vehicles include cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles commonly driven on roads or highways.

Facts and Figures
One (17%) of every six reported fires involves a highway-type vehicle and 13% of all civilian fire deaths.
On average, more than 30 highway vehicle fires were reported per hour.
In 2004, more people died from highway vehicle fires than from apartment fires. Three times as many vehicle fires were reported as apartment fires.
Cars and other passenger vehicles account for the vast majority of highway vehicle fires and associated losses. In 1999-2002, only 13% of highway vehicle fire actually occurred on highways; 37% occurred on streets, roads or driveways, and 15% were in parking lots.
More than two-thirds of highway vehicle fires resulted from mechanical or electrical failures or malfunctions. Collisions or rollovers caused only 3% of these fires but 57% of the associated deaths.
Motor vehicles contain multiple gallons of highly flammable gasoline and other combustible liquids, including motor oil, power steering fluid, transmission fluid and brake fluid. Leakage of these fluids is the leading item first ignited in highway vehicle fires (1999-2002).
Source: National estimates based on NFIRS and NFPA survey

 

Clyde,

Also whats not replaceable is the 308 Barbie car that you have. I don't think that you ever posted a picture of that car on your roof at ROE?

 

Pulled into Mt Ivy Exxon last Eve on rte. 202......There it was or whats left.
DAMMN! did that thing burn...the coil over shocks were drooping...I mean the piston rod bent from heat....Nothing left was salavageable Except the scuderia shields and the XM antenna mounted on the front Hood...
You could smell this thing from 1/4 mile away.

 

I think Noah might disagree. As he said Tubi is the best exhaust in the world. From the pictures, it looked like that thing was indestructible.

 

exnay on the barbiekay, otay?

 

No problema.

 

WTF is going on with cars catching on fire today...
I was in CT all day today and 1st I saw a Chrysler Sebring burnt down in Wesport, then a Toyota Camry also burnt down and half into the woods on Merrit Pky with steam still coming off the car...
Then when I get to Brooklyn, there's a Dodge Caravan STILL burning with firefighters all over it RIGHT IN FRONT of my building... WTF!! 3 cars in 1 day.

 

I was in brooklyn yesterday and saw a 5-series on the side of the road all charred. The whole front was burnt to a crisp, this was over by exit 6 on the Belt.

 

Terrorism

 

Read my early post. There are LOTS of car files all the time. We are just becoming hyper-sensitive

During 2004, U.S. public fire departments responded to an estimated 266,500 highway-type vehicle fires

 

to address the concern about the 308 / 328 / older ferraris and to what the insurance will pay out. Obviously there is no warranty on those cars, any sort of engine fire will cost $10k-new engine (what ever $20k it might be), plus all future electrical issues, and diminishing value of a fire car.

SO what is better losing $5k through an insurance settlement and getting another car? or spending $40k to rebuild a salvageable $30k car.

 

Oh noes. A new one or older one? Hope its not a problem with the car. Thats all i need when i'm moving to college tomorrow

 

If we're talking 308/328/348 and even 355, a fire like the one you just went thru is going to total the vehicle as would a flood dash height or higher. Theyre not going to shell out the dollars to repair it. If they did, it wouldnt have a salvage title.

If there is a design flaw and a common problem of fires on a newer model, the manufacturer is going to eat the loss. Insurance companies will battle them to pay. Like Rob said, on an older model, its all on the insurance company. But based on the all the critera of the car/demographics/insured, thats how the rates come about. If 348's had a history of spontaneous engine fires, you can rest assured I wouldnt own one as the insurance premiums would be thru the roof.

My car is insured for a specific value. If i lower the value of the car on the policy, im sure my rates would go down. But if the car is totalled, they're going to pay out as little as they have to. Now, i cant insure my 348 for $120,000. They wont let me. Car is not worth anywhere near that. You guys/girls get where Im coming from.