Picking up my Ferrari in one week - recommendations requested

It hasn't hit me yet, maybe b/c of the check I am staring at from the credit union, but I've been waiting for this moment since 1999 when I first saw the 360, and I remember it was 2006 when I first got to sit in one in Miami. I never thought back then that I'd be buying one.

 

Make sure it's a halotron.

 

hide it in a bunker, about 30 feet under ground, dont listen to Lightguy... or just forget it and ENJOY THE CAR!!!!!!!! btw Congrats!

 

congratulations on the car - and kudos for wanting to drive it back and make a bit of an adventure about it

here's what ran through my head

1) to Bob's point, the BEST thing to bring is a hot blonde

2) i'd bring along whatever you're likely to keep in the car anyway - a SureFire light, multitool, all the documents....on road trips I tend to bring some glass cleaner, quick detail and microfibers (i.e. in case i get a gift from a low-flying bird)

OK, so a bit more in the "Debbie Downer" mode

1) I presume the car has had a PPI? It would suck to pick it up and end up having a problem 20 miles down the road. Good idea on taking a long test drive. I once picked up a used Ford truck, thought it was perfect, I made it about 10 miles before I realized both batteries were crap, alternator had issues, et al. Cost me a day, some money and sort of deflated the fun

2) if you can get a copy of the owner's manual (or, find online), I'd read up

3) a lesson I learned from my 355, i kept extra fob batteries in the car with a small screwdriver

HAVE FUN!

 

You reserve the redheads for the Dino? !! ?

 

Lol

 

Silly question maybe, but did you get a PPI done? Did it reveal anything that should be addressed before hitting the road?

Keep some record of the sale with you, like a photocopy of your check to Seller, title, and maybe agreement to purchase (can be simple as two lines on the back of a napkin). I had a friend get pulled over on a drive home with a new used car for "No officer, I had NO idea how fast I was going," and couldn't prove ownership. That was interesting. If you stop overnight, needless to say don't leave the docs on the seat

Get a map or google the landmarks along the way, start a photo thread here, and fire away!

 

This. A camera because it will be a memorable occasion.

 

Well, I made it home in a marathon driving session with my childhood friend in the co-pilot seat. We made it to Akron by 9pm or so last night after leaving the middle of CT around noon. Got lasered by a cop sitting on a bridge but never was chased. Have one check engine light that needs to get the code pulled and a tensioner for the AC belt that needs changing. Otherwise the car ran like a top.

Kevin was a great seller to deal with. Had the car ready with a full tank of gas, every little extra part he could find and had ordered the belt and tensioner ordered and shipping to my house so i could address what he had just noticed and diagnosed but didn't have time to fix. Class act all the way.
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Car looks fantastic! I guess you had good weather for the ride back (its so clean).

Sounds like the dealer was a stand up guy.

Congrats and I wish you good luck with the car!

 

Gorgeous car. Congrats on your new Ferrari.
T

 

Lol the car is actually filthy! It was rained on when the seller drove it to where we met to finalize paper work and then we were rained on a couple times on the way back. Over the next week I'll address the detailing of it. Needs some zaino brother applied.

 

How was the experience relative to your expectations?

 

The experience of driving home was not the greatest, we had no time to really stop anywhere and do anything notable to remember it. We left at 4am Saturday morning, landed in CT around 10, Kevin picked us up and by noon we were on the road home. Didn't get to Akron until after 9pm and we were beat. Now with that said, the racing seats are very comfortable for long distances, but I hate this car doesn't have cruise control. Both my buddy and I noted that we didn't have sore backs which we've experienced in our daily driver cars over long distances. So thumbs up on the seats.

As for actually driving it, I need to get better at being smoother with the F1 tranny. Kevin was telling me to drive it like a regular manual where you lift off the throttle a bit when you shift, and it does help make it snappier when I do it right. Now I just need to get better at that. The exhaust has some droning at certain speeds when on the highway that will drive you batty when you're in the car for 8 plus hours... (This car has fabspeed cats and tubi exhaust). My neighbors I think will hate me if I don't keep it down when leaving the cul de sac as my nephew said he could hear us coming 1/4 mile away with all the windows closed in the house.

The suspension did a good job of soaking up the bumps in spite of having stiffer springs, better than my NSX which is sprung pretty tightly.

Now I have to deal with if I will keep my NSX and try to float ownership costs of both or dive in fully into Ferrari life. There's just some places where I live that the NSX is the preferred car to drive. Time will tell... I'm going to give it a bit, it doesn't owe me anything at this point after 14 years of ownership.

 

this.

i picked up my second ferrari, 512tr, from the dealer in rome, and drove it to london over 3 days with my father. we had it in rome for a day, got used to it, then hit the road. first night in monaco which was great fun, then second night in geneva (basically home), and then third night back in london. great experience, great fun, great bonding with the car and each other, great memories. car never missed a beat, and this is in the old days when you could vmax it in italy and parts of france without fearing for your life.

just drive it. deal with problems as they arise.

welcome to one of the coolest clubs in the world !

 

good !
see how much fun you can have in life !!

 

Little late now! I'm already home! If I had more time we may have done that though... I'm not much of a risk taker, but I had to roll the dice on this one...

 

This is a great story and an inspiration. Thank you for sharing and congratulations!

Time to update your profile

 

Almost forgot the most important part!

 

I know you have been dreaming of this day for several years - congrats and enjoy. Car looks awesome.

 

Thanks Dave, I know we had our history. Good to see you back here and active. Just let me be the mat guy.... . I think I may have to start it up again to afford this thing!

On a side note, my check engine light disappeared after I went to fill up with gas tonight and really tightened down the cap.

 

Nice and memorable.

Speaking of, it's been awhile since I've seen or heard the term VMAX in regards to "max velocity".

"... is prohibited in peace time. With the VMAX system armed, the throttle in MAX afterburner and airspeed above Mach 1.1, the engine control schedules a 22 Celsius increase in FTIT and a 2% increase in rpm. Main engine and afterburner fuel flow is increased by approx. 4% and thrust is increased by approx. 4% as well."

 

Unless you are buying a POS, just drive! It will be fine. I have flown in and driven home with lots of exotics and the biggest problem was talking to new friends. I have done this with:

Testarossa.... MI to AZ
Lotus Esprit... NJ to AZ
Mondial t.......NY to AZ
Porsche 928 S4....MO to AZ
F40.............LA to AZ


And those are the ones I remember. It's just a car. Enjoy it for the right reasons..... and most of all have fun!