Rifledriver returns to fchat !

I was browsing through the TR section tonight and noticed a reply from Rifledriver! It has been a long time since Brian was active on fchat. His expertise and straightforward, no-nonsense replies have been sorely missed. I have learned a great deal from his posts and look forward to his continued 'pearls of wisdom'.

Welcome back Brian!

 

I also saw Brian posted in the 360/430 section.

Hopefully he will stick around.

 

Well, lets hope Brian sticks around a bit longer!

 

Yea!
A warm welcome back - he's been missed.

 

Welcome back Brian. I hope you stick around this time.

Sometimes I have gotten stuck while wrenching my car and your input would have been most appreciated (like I am stuck now w/the oil pan).

AND YES, I DO appreciate EVERYONE's input.

 

welcome back, i also have enjoyed and learned a great deal from your posts.

 

Have had email discussions in the past with him. A true gent.

Nice to seee you back Brian.

 

Thanks to his advise, I have a really great shifting 348 (used Redline MTL). Glad you are back!
BT

 

Welcome back to contributing, Brian. They know not what they do!

Thanks a great deal for sharing all of your collective wisdom and experience.

 

Even after Brian left F-chat ...I e-mailed him several times.

I am happy to see Brian is finally back....and hopefully stay to give us honest advise.

 

Ok, I realize I'm stepping on eggs with this one, and that I don't have the history that others have so somebody is bound to tell me "shut up newb!" but I don't really get what the big deal is.

Yes, RD is probably a great mechanic, but he's so freaking critical and sensitive of everything, especially ferrari. From the posts I've seen of him recently there is as much bashing of the company as anything. Not sure the history there but clearly he's unimpressed where ferrari is at these days. Yeah, we get it, now learn to deal with it or please don't post here as its a downer to the site.

 

"Shut up newb". Just kidding (got that out of the way so hopefully nobody else will use it). Brian does not take kindly to people who purport to be experts that have limited knowledge or exposure to the various pitfalls of their recommendations. He also does not like when people question costs that are $125 per hour or whatever it is that he charges. It is convenient to think a mechanic that charges $125 per hour is making $250k per year, but that is not the reality of business in the U.S. today. Brian has spent his life learning about the machines we love, and he gets frustrated with the attitude that the company seems to provide when it comes to parts. I for one can take criticism from someone that may have knowledge that helps me, so if he is too abrasive for your taste, just put him (or others) on "Ignore". That way those of us that want him to stay and offer advise will not lose the info, and those, like you, that don't want to read his posts will not see them. It is a great, although rarely used, feature of Fchat.

BT

 

Lost in all the commotion about Rifledriver...

You logged off for a couple of hours last night. Good to see you're back!

 

I love the cars but in the 30+ years I have been working on them have seen the company take some major steps backwards in its desire to build a quality product with quality customer care and support for the people working on them.

The attitude of just take it and like it on the part of the buyers and dealer network is exactly the how and why it has deteriorated to where it is now.

As I said, I love the cars and have helped many to enter the Ferrari world but feel strongly it should be with eyes wide open.

If you disagree I welcome you to push the ignore button.

 

Agree with BT. I think sometimes we all log on here demanding expertise blended with product worship. Truth is, having owned a Ferrari, I still get excited by the car, but anyone who thinks it's some kind of perfection is smoking something. From what I have seen, Brian serves up the unvarnished truth. Having dealt with the Ferrari parts situation, and seen the kinds of things that fail on these beautiful cars, it is what it is. Plenty of cheerleaders here to counterbalance that.

 

plus 1 or 2...whatever..

welcome back brian. you have been missed by so many of us...truly glad to see you out and about!

 

Personnally I think Brians posts are great. Maybe because he and I have similiar personalities, what ever the reason his knowledge of Ferraris is absolutly invaluable.

In addition he is to be commended for being willing to share his expertise with us FOR NO CHARGE! Not to many places in this world does get the benefit of expert knowledge for free. How many of you attorneys or MDs or Financial Types get sick of people coming up to you in social settings and asking for your advise? Well here is Brian doing it voluntarily. Heck, Rob should be paying him to post

As another poster said, if you don't like his style hit the ignore button, but if you care about your car and want to learn something shut up and listen to what the man has to say.

 

I have no intention of saying 'shut up newbie'. On the other hand ...WTF.
Since when do we want people to avoid calling things as they see them because it might be conceived as a 'downer'???!!!

Perhaps you should open your mind to contrary opinions. Don't agree with them? Fine. That's your right. But don't try to turn this site into a Pollyanna whitewash for Ferrari.

 

Welcome back Brian: quess this is the new 'spot' ?

--anyway: this site has sorely missed you .. and from the above: what he said.

rik

 

Brian,

Welcome back, you have been missed..!! I am all for calling a spade a spade (UK saying for the truth).

Best regards,
Phil.

 

Welcome back Brian

 

I know we haven't seen eye to eye in the past, but none the less, glad to see your out of the shadows.

Welcome back.

 

Welcome back Brian. More pearls of wisdom, please!
CH

 

Welcome back Brian! Thank you again for the PPI you did on my Stradale some time ago. Love the car and haven't had a problem with it.