Chris Harris Throws Around A 458 Spider!

His credibility is trashed because he spoke the truth? Its refreshing when a journalist tells it like it is, rather than pitch softball pieces to consumers so that they'll be quick in line for the next model review. Ferrari was childish in that exchange, not Chris Harris.

He's not worried about being banned "again" because he is still currently banned, something that is likely to never change. He is covering the cars like he always does, not kissing ass. He's one of the only auto journalists with any credibility left in my opinion.

If I want to watch a commercial, I'll watch a commercial. If I want an honest review I'll go to Chris Harris.

 

Awesome video from CH as always!

And I agree CH and Melcalfe are amazing car journalists.

 

There's the truth and then there's a rant. He had a point. He did it in a self destructive rant that did himself and no one else any good. Instead of advancing the argument that manufacturers cheat, he decided to throw one of them under a bus.

The child was the ranter. The adult is the one who says "enough". Harris' ego couldn't write the checks he was cashing and his friends at Jalopnik went down in flames with him.

Live by the pen, die by the pen. He could have done something great with his issue. Instead, he advanced nothing and instead seemed like a world class whiner only interested in getting himself headlines.

So, you want an honest review? Well, is he saying what he says today because he's been hurt by the boycott or is he just telling it like it is? Hard to tell, isn't it?

 

Its so silly for Chris or anyone else for that matter to keep going over the same ground. We get it, he was banned. Who cares? Every manufacturer cheats. Mclaren sent a heavily modified MP4 to TOP GEAR for their track time. Nissan cheated so blatantly at the ring another manufacturer went out of its way simply to prove the claim to be too amazing. Ferrari actually cheat "less" than some other manufacturers. If you want real numbers certain magazines here in the US test customer cars, those are real numbers. What's funniest to me is that anyone including Chris would be surprised by his ban. He bad mouthed Ferrari, in a very public way. Who would have thought that Ferrari would be vindictive, or politically motivated? Then again anyone paying attention knows exactly why he keeps bringing it up, to sell more of his product. There's nothing wrong with that, but the over sensationalizing of this whole affair is just plain silly.

 

I watch quite a lot of the ch videos and ive only heard him bring up the ban a few times and in quick passing. It would be odd if he didnt mention it for this test of 458s. His reviews in excellence are great too

 

Chris Harris is my favorite, best journalist, objective, not driven by marketing, and a true race car driver, who else can drive a Porsche at the Nurburgring 24 hours, the undisputed most challenging race on this planet, and speak and write with such knowledge. I have been reading him for more than 13 years, and he just keeps getting better.

His rant at Ferrari was an eye-opener for some people, and now days other magazines disclose this kind of behavior on a swift and short mention (read the R&T ZR1 vs. 458 vs. 12C, the printed version, you'll laugh). I did not like Ferrari denying everything, when I had the chance to personally confirm with an independent firm that tests cars for most U.S. magazines that this was a fact. Ironically, at one famous test at 2 racetracks plus the usual performance measures, a Porsche was not allowed to have any changes, while Dodge brought a full tech team to setup the Viper ACR for every test, the ACR dominated.

I missed the chance to meet him at Road Atlanta and Sebring last year, he came twice to U.S. to run at track days with a group of friends. He mastered Sebring as fast as any Pro racer would do, he even drove some of my friends cars.

The articles he writes in Excellence (best P-car mag imho) are awesome. I liked how he defined the 458 Italia vs. the GT3 RS 3.8, Digital vs. Analog (this is the reality).

Chris isn't a cars and coffee guy, he's a driver, a racer, a car enthusiast, and a walking encyclopedia on cars.

I was so glad when he bought the 599 GTB, the car I consider the best GT from this brand for the money (the 599GTB HGTE is), he owned a GT3 RS 4.0 my favorite recent 911, he owned a nice LWB old 911 with a built 3.4, BMW M-cars, the cars I like as well.

Here is a link to his Youtube channel, hours of good quality content videos and fun driving:

CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS - YouTube

 

I hold Chris in high regard, when he broke onto the scene he was fresh, his style is still fresh today which says something about keeping us engaged.

When he reviewed the 458 Italia you felt he was your long time buddy telling you how good the thing is.

He is almost revered over at MacLife for standing up to Maranello and the juiced up cars they purportedly kept sending.

Great Spider review/clip, I actually thought it was Cat Stevens behind the wheel

 

That's not 'his' channel, that's the Google Original Content Iniative-sponsered Drive-thing.

THIS is his private channel. To those of you complaining he's always ranting on about his 'ban', you haven't watch a lof of his films, because rarely actually talks about it on camera. I think your hating the young blood and outspoken guy, either proffering the completely bonkers TG or boring reviews by lets say C&D (IMO). It's amazing they managed to make a review of an F12 more boring than reading a novel by Jane Austen.

 

Very well said!

And as someone said it would be wierd not to mention the problem with Ferrari in his review because who follows him knows he couldn't drive Ferrari press cars.

 

I agree. He is the real deal and says what he thinks. Manufacturer's have been bringing cheaters to tests forever. I enjoy his tests.

And Rad, a 599 is a great car but IMHO a 458 is better. And yes I have owned both.

 

Awesome video. Harris is the best.

 

Absolutely, he can drive better than all of us, respect it !

 

I like Chris Harris's video reviews. He's knowledgeable and well spoken, more so than many other auto journalists. Of course, nobody's perfect and you can't please everybody, but Chris is good at what he does. I can't say I liked his attack on Ferrari, but I can understand his frustration. Unfortunately, the engineers, designers and laborers that build these great cars have no control over the executives in charge, and negative reviews/opinions affect the whole company's reputation.

 

Does anybody have any idea on how they got some of the angle shots in this video? They look so cool!

And thanks for sharing Chris Harris' personal channel. I love these unedited shots!

 

What do you mean by 'angle shots'? Are you referring to the shots where the camera is on the bodywork of the car etc.? Or the sliding shots where the car drifts past?

And to any other Monkey haters out there, how many journos got to drive the frikkkin Nissan Deltawing??!?!??!?!???

On a side note, check out this gem of him pounding an SLS round the Nordschleife.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9kxGx2ZF0I[/ame]

 

Chris is a boss!!!

 

I prefer Dan Neil from the Wall Street Journal. His writing style is on a whole different level compared to Chris Harris. I agree, Harris injects just a little bit too much of himself in his reviews. A little too much personal drama.

-F

 

i think this is "the rant" that made chris infamous:
How Ferrari spins

 

Oh, you don't say!