Ferrari F80

Gents, arguing over something so subjective as appearance is nonsensical. Each of us likes what we like. Therein lies the problem when we are debating about utterly subjective matters. Now, let us debate about performance, which is measurable and objective.

 

I don't disagree.

But would you not also agree that, at least with respect to F cars, there are certain ones that generally everyone will agree are aesthetically pleasing? 250GTO, Dino, 599, LaF, SP3, etc..

 

We will agree to disagree. I don't know what it means to "understand" beauty. I like something, or I don't.

(Incidentally, other than the black blade, I like the F80 design.)

 

Well, from the 5 cars you mentioned, I only consider the LaFerrari as looking truly beautiful. See? Personal opinions... The 250 and the Dino look to me as old bangers, the 599 (and I have had extensive experience with the Fiorano, lovely car to drive) looks a bit unwieldy to my eyes (but overall a good looking car, if not striking) and the SP3 looks to me like a moving radiator heater with all these strakes.

 

Reminder how good ..

 

The last thing we need is to be lectured on why we are not smart enough to like a design. FChat members are not always like social media sites. Folks on here actually own these cars and their opinions are derived from a close relationship with the brand and not some yahoo like schmee and his kiss butt videos.

 

If the criteria for evaluating a Ferrari or any other sports car was simply its measurable performance and the technology it uses, I have no doubt that the F80 would be the best road legal Ferrari ever. However, the F80 is much more than its measurable performance and technology therefore when is evaluated using also more subjective criteria such, aesthetics and the driving experience and sonority, it is no longer for many of us the best road legal Ferrari ever.
That's why what makes a Ferrari the best has more to do with the person deciding than with the actual car.

 

The problem is When the LaFerrari came out there was similar criticism of the design and with time our eyes have dialled into its beauty. I remember on this very forum many people underwhelmed with the SP3’s looks on launch. Same with the F12 Berlinetta remember the ‘Bikini rear’ all these cars are predominantly now seen as good looking designs.

Both perspectives can co-exist you can simply dislike a design and never like it, while also recognising the scientific side of art knowing that the more you see it the more your eye may dial into the vision of the designers.

 

Agree 100%. When the LaF came out I remember being a very harsh critic of its design. Today I think it is an all-time classic Ferrari and love it. At least on the SP3 I called in beautiful from the time the cover came off…
I have to say the F80 does indeed look much better live. Photos do not do it justice as they also don’t do justice to the SP3. If the driving tests turn out to be like Chris Harris’ reviews of the 12C and they put a half-sensible exhaust on it, we may see a shift of opinions…

 

Who are the many of you? Was there a vote amongst the Tifosi? Also, how did you lot judge the driving experience of a car that hasn't been released? Interesting...

 

Tradition informs Inovation - Inovation shocks Tradition

 

The many of us are among those who here on FChat and in the thread “By age, do you like how the F80 Looks ?” voted yes or no. The result is in the picture below and in a sample of 76 participants from two age groups, a total of 58% don’t like the looks of the F80.

As the F80 driving experience will be a privilege for very few, only when road tests are published will we have an idea of how this important factor compares with that of previous models. Until that happens what we have to evaluate the F80 is the measurable performance and technology and its design and sound.





Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I personally hated the La Ferrari and Enzo design when they came out, both I feel now are masterpieces

the difference with them and the F80 is that I felt the La/Enzo were too wild/whacky but I feel the F80 is too bland and generic

 

We have to consider that now Manzoni has split the higher range into two parts: supercars and iconas. The F80 is the maximum expression of technology. For the hyper stylish car we will have to wait the Icona

 

Pretty sure the owner of the Spyder in the video mentioned that he has had no issues with reliability. Maybe by the time they started producing the Spyder they ironed out the kinks?

Think Newey has fully admitted to his mistakes by designing the RB17 without a fully stressed engine and offset seats instead of tilting passengers inwards. He wanted to switch out the straight cut gears for helical in the gearbox but by that time AM had run out of money and Stroll was in charge. Definitely not a finished piece given the cost cutting (and breakup with RB) when Stroll took over.

 

Wow never noticed it before but you can see the design evolution between the P80/C to F80, especially at the front with the brake ducts routed thru the crash bars. I guess they chose to go with the flatter nose to echo the F40? The names are telling P = echoing the sensuous shapes of P series endurance racers, while 80 = 40 *2 which makes sense given the rear design and V8 turbo similarity. And F80 is just F40*2.

I wonder if they are saving the more sensuous design for the Icona built on the F80 platform.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login
I guess the black blade serves the function of hiding the cutout for the upper profile of the S duct? But kind of begs the question of why they chose to have the rest of the bumper in the wrong place to start....

 

From the official website: "The headlamps of the F80 are concealed in a visor element serving both aerodynamic and lighting functions that gives the car a particularly original appearance."

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Just had a revelation, if you make the wheels all black and remove the silver insert the whole car design becomes more successful. I love the silver idea, but it is to busy for the design of this car. Look at the difference.


Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I want to hear from people who have seen it in real life and tell me they don't like it, run that pole because that's most relevant only than I will accept as an unbiased honest and true opinion, it would still not influence my own opinion until I personally get to see it but instant reactions to photos I will not accept as relevant opinion in order to make up my own mind on how accepted the design truly is.

The design is unexpected, shocking (not in a bad way IMO) and ahead of it's time, the reactions are fully expected. Based on all of the ingredients put together aside of the design which is subjective I think the car will be epic and I personally can not wait to see it in action.

 

Well just a matter of tastes.
To be honest I really like the silver insert with the wheels on this car..

 

Below I've placed the F80 and the 296 GT3 side by side and highlighted the main features of the F80 design that I have not yet been able to assimilate.

The design of the F80 is above all what Flavio Manzoni wanted it to be – “A radical change in the visual language of the marque forging a link between the past and future of Ferrari design”. Although the 296 GT3 is a race car, its bodywork design, also by Flavio Manzoni, is “Highly sculptural and elegant …….the result of a perfect blend between performance and aesthetics….”

Two cars penned by the same man but with very different aesthetic results.


Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Slightly better. Black wheels will never look good anyway.

 

It also sounds condescending. "You're not versed enough in the subject to really understand it". I think of it as seeing a model that follows all the fashion trends, not finding her attractive, and someone telling you you don't understand human beauty and trends. People can like different things, get over yourselves.

Same with the other condescending comments in the likes of "don't care if you don't like it cause you're not rich enough or special enough to buy one"...