How to enjoy Ferrrari ownership without speeding?

I agree with this. And, it's about priorities. I moved to Colorado this year for it's climate, driving roads (mountains), financial, friends, and political reasons pretty much in that order.

Here's my favorite, I need to go out and drive right now for a while, routes. If it's unclear, it's 100mi in about 3hr. And, there is a section of 5 (yes) tunnels in a 11mi stretch, 2 of them are so close together you have time only to drop gears for another pass with a 3rd just a mile or two ahead.

This is what the route looks like, with some really tight twisties, foliage, peaks, and altitudes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsuQhcYxnxU

I don't mean to purposefully plug the video, it sucks in my opinion, but it's what you need access to enjoy the car.
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Uh oh, let's hope smokey doesn't read fchat, or there's going to be some radar traps at regular intervals on your route now.....

Looks great, I have a similar route programmed into my mind that I use if I want to go and have a spirited drive, very quiet, yet very wide, country lanes where there are no homes (therefore pedestrians) and nowhere for the cops to stop and lay in wait

 

Of course you have to speed, but you end up speeding in almost any car. Like others have said, plenty of family saloons with 500hp+. Driving in the US is odd. Highway driving is very dull, combined with the fact that drivers don't usually move to the right if you want to pass. Makes speeding dangerous and tiring, usually involving weaving around cars, etc. There's also the issue with cops, which are all over the place, so either you go with a good radar detection system, where legal, or get caught and in trouble. Either way, I always found it a PITA.

The way to enjoy these cars doesn't require 150mph+ driving...IMO, that's rather boring and exhausting if you do it for extended periods of time (usually requires long straights and empty highways). These cars are much more fun when you actually drive them. By this I mean twisties, mountain roads, corners and the like. 2nd and third gear stuff, where going at 70%-80% of the car is still great fun, but you're usually in the 50-90mph range. Lot's of fun, car control, gentle slides and back roads bereft of cars, trial braking, proper downshifting...all states have these roads (some more, some less), just get out, drive off the highways and look for them.

 

The correct answer has already been posted - take it to the track. Anyone that asks how you can speed without getting caught has never been to a track day, I can guarantee it. First timers are often intimidated to take their high-end cars on a track day, the anxiety is that they will either ball it up, or get gobbled up by other drivers and blown off the track. Neither is true.

I've been an Instructor since 1996. When you come out for the first time we put you in the novice group ("C" group) where you will be out there with suburban wives in Porsche Cayennes, and BMW 5 series station wagons, maybe a Miata or two and others like yourself. "C" group is take-it-easy, and like street driving, except there are no stoplights, no cars pulling in front of you, no cops, and no speed limits. Your skill set will increase as you gain familiarity with the track. Your Instructor will keep you within your capabilities and advise you if other cars on the track need to be watched for mistakes, etc. In all my years of instructing, I've never seen a banged up novice group car and most people that do it come away with huge smiles and had a blast. Try it - you'll have ten times more fun than speeding on the street.

P.S. It's the A-Group guys that crash their cars <g>

 

It's because of ego and unjustified overconfidence in their own skills.

 

And also because you're taking the car to the limit, learning new skills and a mistake becomes harder to control. Even F1 drivers crash when they're driving at full tilt. It comes with learning your limits and the car's...

 

Nobody else is going to suggest disabling one ignition bank & driving on old/hardened/cold tires?

 

I went half-way past, then half-way back. Back in the 90s, I had a '94 Miata with one of Corky Bell's early Lysholm intercooled supercharger kits producing about 200hp (before he changed the pulleys to reduce boost), with the suspension, brakes, and wheels/tires to make the most of it. Fantastically fast, stable, fun car - truly an oversized go-cart. After a couple of years, I went back to the skinny, high-profile stock wheel/tire size because it was just so much more fun to be tossing it around rather than flat-out fast. Never put the fat sticky ones on again, and enjoyed it more places, in more ways, than before, at (slightly ) lower speeds.

 

The map view looks like heaven to me!

 

I don't know if it IS heaven, but I bet there are plenty of (unintentional) exits off those roads that lead to it!

 

As they say, it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

 

Yep. Never endanger the public. It's one thing to kill yourself, but not injure an innocent bystander.

Short bursts of acceleration, taking the exit ramp with spirit or top speed when the road is clear is ok in my book.

 

Yup.
One of the reasons so many of my clients have sold their modern cars and are going vintage. Far more fun.

 

Absolutely! Thee are some great country roads near me, little traffic, absolutely no pedestrians, and nowhere for the cops to hide with a camera or laser gun. Sweet

 

Many people here enjoy ferrari ownership without even driving the thing.....

 

Part of the reason I sold my 360 coupe and went to a 355 spider- 360 coupe wanted to be driven so fast to get the satisfaction- the 355 wants to be driven fast as well, but I can get the same satisfaction/feeling about 20 mph less which is still too fast, but with the open top and sounds the car makes it's just perfect (for me). A 360 spider would have worked too (I've realized I NEED an open top for my fun car)- but I also wanted a different experience after owing a 360 for 5+ years. The newer cars are amazing- I've never driven a 488 but did drive a 458- was an awesome drive, but too much speed for me to truly enjoy on public roads (even in the early weekend light traffic mornings)- I can't fathom a 488. My guess is the OP may need to go more vintage to get the satisfaction of driving a ferrari closer to its true element without actually having to use a track.

 

Correction- the profile of the original poster shows he already has vintage goods (including a '78 911- same car I started out with (I bought used in late 80's & sold after 6-7 years of trouble-free ownership)

 

This has definitely been my experience as well. It's great fun to give people something to smile about.

 

Oh, sorry, my eyes are not as good as they used to be. I thought the title said:" How to enjoy Ferrari ownership without SPENDING.

Never mind.

 

This is one of my favorite routes too, except I head down across 119. I'll have to add on the southern leg one of these days.

I've found that the biggest issue to contend with along this route (and elsewhere in the Colorado Front Range) is cyclists. They're entitled to the road as much as we are though, so even on the mountain roads great care is needed when rounding tight bends. Especially uphill, when the cyclists are working hard and sometimes drift out to the left.

 

That's what horns are for......and a clear bra on the front of the fcar helps protect against scratches hehehehe

 

Care indeed. The yellow lines are like barriers, do not cross and go faster than your brakes can bring you to a stop. In the time of day (7-10am) I beat most cyclists into the real twisty sections. Squaw Pass has the most chance for a cyclist whereas the 46, 72, and 119 are much straighter and faster by comparison where you can see ahead with ease.

 

+1. This is the way to go. You'll get a whole different level of appreciation of how special these cars are when you bring it to a track.

 

I disagree. The track has its place, however you have different rules and objectives in either scenario that don't make them comparable. Why bother testing them on the Nordschleife instead of just at Fioriano?

 

This is why I love my 355. 8500RPM I feel like I'm going Mach 6 but look down and it's not even 100km/h hahaha

It's not the fastest car around but the experience is amazing nonetheless.