UK car ownership in other countries | FerrariChat

UK car ownership in other countries

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by DesR, Jan 14, 2004.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. DesR

    DesR Rookie

    Jan 14, 2004
    6
    Hi

    Has anyone ever moved and used their Ferraris in another country which has fuel rated to a lower octane than the UK (i.e. sub-95)? What issues (if any) did you encounter and did you have any issues regarding the servicing of your car? Are Ferrari UK able to help you out with a different ECU map or will the current one cope?

    Im thinking about moving to South Africa (octane rating generally varies between around 89 and 92 unless you look for specialist petrol stations which are obviously not common).

    Any info is much appreciated.

    Thanks
     
  2. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2002
    5,307
    Mud Island, Europe
    Full Name:
    Markem
    You should not have a problem. Speak to Johan Lotter in Pretoria at: +27 (12) 3482389. He is one of SA's best Italian Car technicians. Tell him Mark Pautz sent you!

    See some of his vehicles at this thread!

    Cheers, MARK
     
  3. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2002
    5,307
    Mud Island, Europe
    Full Name:
    Markem
    In SA (if I remember correctly) you will get 95 octane down at the coast. However, up in Johannesburg or Pretoria (about 1800-2000 metres above sea level) lower octanes are the norm.

    Cheers, MARK....waiting for the red wine to wear off! ;)
     
  4. DesR

    DesR Rookie

    Jan 14, 2004
    6
    Hi

    Thanks for the info. In the UK ordinary unleaded is 95 octane, going up to 98 octane for super unleaded. If I remember correctly Sasol offer a 100 octane rating but Sasol was not on every street corner. What I dont want to do is import the car over there and find out there are issues due to incorrect fuel mapping... ho hum....

    Cheers
     
  5. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2002
    5,307
    Mud Island, Europe
    Full Name:
    Markem
    Watch out for Sasol - it is reputed to have a high alcohol content and to eat alloys. Cheers, MARK
     
  6. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2002
    5,307
    Mud Island, Europe
    Full Name:
    Markem
    Des,

    By the way, where are you going to be moving to? I get down south a couple of times a year....a chance to drive my old Alfa Spider :D

    Cheers, MARK
     
  7. DesR

    DesR Rookie

    Jan 14, 2004
    6
    Hi

    The plan is to move to the Johannesburg/Pretoria area. Nothing particularly firm yet but Im thinking along the lines of a house somewhere between Joburg and Pretoria. In fact Im supposed to be looking at houses during my holiday there (flying out tomorrow for three weeks), but things have a way of getting busy. Ive been browsing some of the SA real estate websites to see the types of properties available, but actually going to see them might difficult.

    I take it you are living outside SA? Any plans to return or enjoying travelling to much?
     
  8. wazza

    wazza Formula Junior

    Oct 9, 2003
    614
    I Lived in Hong Kong for years and every so often we would take the F.cars through China where the petrol quality at the time was very suspect indeed.

    We used to take an octane booster with us. I don't remember the name of the brand but I've seen similar products in Halfords over here in the UK.

    For every tank of petrol in the 355 I used to add one or two of these small bottles of the octane booster.
    My guess each bottle was no more than a half pint and as to how we came upon the amount of booster to put in I have no idea.

    I think we just took a look at the garage in a subjective manner.
    For example if it looked a real **** hole we would put a bit more in and if it was nice and clean with a pretty young girl on the till we needed a bit less..

    Go FIGURE !?!?!?!?!?!?!


    But that's the truth of it.

    Wazza
     
  9. Simon

    Simon Moderator
    Moderator Owner

    Aug 29, 2003
    6,750
    Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Simon
    Hi Des
    I love South Africa but I've never had the chanve to drive a ferrari through there. That would be awsome.

    Regarding the lower Octane... the worst that would happen is that the knock sensor (I'm assuming you've got a modern Fcar) would just retard the ignition a bit. The car would just produce a few HP less, it wouldn't actually damage the car and you can't remap the ignition for different Octanes it effectively does it itself. An octane booster would reclaim these lost HP for you.

    If you have an older Fcar without engine management then you'll need to reset the ignition timing...but thats a small job any mechanic can do for you.

    Have a great time with the Fcar if you go.
    I always fancied shipping my 308 there and doing a bit of touring.
    I'm back there in Feb...without an Fcar :(
    See ya
    Simon
     
  10. forzarich

    forzarich Karting

    Nov 11, 2003
    90
    Dorset, UK
    You'll find a lot of the Japanese rally boys (WRX,EVO etc) using the octane booster. Millers or NF seem to be the popular two in the world of Subarus in the UK. I used to use it in my old STi but never really noticed an improvement, I stopped using it in the end, just stuck it in for track days.
    The amount of extra RON it is supposed to give varies alot and seems to depend on who you bought it from, noone really seems to know. I always thought it upped SUL 97 to about 99. Japans fuel is (supposed to be) 100 RON and as a result the imports were risky to run on 95.
    Anyway, I used to add 1 bottle of millers per 50litres of super, it was about 2.50 a bottle.
     
  11. DesR

    DesR Rookie

    Jan 14, 2004
    6
    Hi

    Thanks for all the replys... sorry about the delayed response but Ive only just returned from my holiday. Love the scientific approach employed by Wazza, to decide the required amount of octane booster. Forzarich, the STI problem is exactly what Im dreading with a move to SA. UK unleaded is 95 while the coastal areas in SA use 91/92 and the highveldt uses 89. Think Ill run it by a dealer and see what they say.

    Cheers
     
  12. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2002
    5,307
    Mud Island, Europe
    Full Name:
    Markem
    Hi Des,

    Welcome back. My wife and I booked our tickets this week & will be flying out on March 4.

    We have been working in Eastern Europe as expats for almost a decade, but have decided to settle in the UK...we exchanged contracts on a home in St. Albans on Friday :D We still have a great house in Pretoria but will hang on to that as it more than pays for itself. We've had an excellent 9 years on the road and have no medium-term plans to go back.

    Let me know if I can be of any support with your move....I have contacts who may be able to help you wade through some of the bureaucracy.

    Cheers, MARK
     
  13. DesR

    DesR Rookie

    Jan 14, 2004
    6
    Hi Malfark

    Are you renting the property in Pretoria? No doubt Ill have some questions about the issues with importing the car into SA. Havent looked into all that yet but I have heard that importing the car provided it is of a certain age, does not arouse the interest of the taxman. I believe that the car has to be one year old, but Ill need to check.

    Speak to you soon.

    Cheers
     
  14. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2002
    5,307
    Mud Island, Europe
    Full Name:
    Markem
    Des,

    If you're looking for a place in Pretoria, mine could be available - PM me and we can speak.

    I am in New York at the moment, but when I'm back in the UK I'll send you the contact detail of someone I know who will able to give you good advice regarding the importation of cars etc.

    Just PM me and I will reply over the weekend.

    Cheers, MARK
     
  15. DesR

    DesR Rookie

    Jan 14, 2004
    6
    Hi Malfark

    Sorry about the delayed reply... work work work!!!

    Im actually building a house on my return, but thanks for the offer. No doubt Ill speak to you soon regarding the importation info... trying to speak to the SA embassy is like pulling your own teeth.

    Cheers
     
  16. Malfark

    Malfark F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2002
    5,307
    Mud Island, Europe
    Full Name:
    Markem
    Des,

    The sole role of the person I can put you in contact with is to expedite the process of immigration / relocation to SA. She should be able to cut through a lot of the red tape & cr@p - that's what she's paid to do!

    Let me know if you'd like her details.

    Cheers, MARK
     

Share This Page