Forgetting Performance numbers: which is the "best" Supercar to actually drive!

The whole numbers thread was interesting but numbers are just that numbers and I come from the school of thought that says numbers cannot desrcribe an experience.

Sadly I havent had the opportunity to have a spin in any of the Ferrari Supercars(they are more than rare down this part of the world) but I would be interested in hearing the driving impressions of people here that have driven them. I say "best" because lets not fool ourselves none of these cars could possibly be boring to drive or bad to drive.

Of course I could go and read articles like the EVO one published a few years ago but its my experience the impressions of people that have actually lived with cars for a while and driven them more than a few times tend to be more accurate than those that have simply driven a car for a few days.

Yes, this thread will be subjective but I still think it would be great to hear all the different opinions and experiences relating to driving these supercars.

 

You are right that numbers cannot always describe an experience, but they do describe the G-forces you feel!

Owning a car for some time is much different than testing or renting it for a few hours.

My friends and family consider myself and my wife "car guys". At 6 years old, my Mom would turn on the old Speed Racer cartoon, sit me in front of the TV, and go run errands for an hour or so. When she got back, I was still in the same place within an inch or so. Since then I have owned many different cars, driven hundreds of thousands of miles in some very fast cars (mostly street), and have designed, simulated, built, tested and taught many different systems used on fast ground and air vehicles.

We bought an Enzo in February of this year and have driven it about 3,000 miles since then (it only had 1,200 miles on it when we bought it!). We bought it so I didn't have to wait until the rare car show to see one in person, and then hang around it the entire time taking pictures! Now my wife really enjoys going to car shows to see ALL the cars.

So, here are some things WE and I like about the Enzo, in no particular order:

1. WE STILL like it as much or more as on the day we bought it.
2. WE love taking friends, family, and I even strangers for rides. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most and they will talk about it for the rest of their life (I still talk about my first ride in a Porsche 930 Turbo when I was 17. I still remember the feeling).
3. WE love taking it to shows and meeting other car guys and gals. Enzos don't show up much at shows, and people love to see them there.
4. WE love going to Italy and the factory and getting very special treatment from the Ferrari employees when they learn we own an Enzo. Very surprising for a 7-year old car.
5. I love revving the engine for people. The sound is deafening near redline. Some people step back a few feet, some move closer!
6. WE love the intense acceleration and the look of horror on most passengers as they grab the nearest thing they can find.
7. WE love when the Enzo converts regular guys and gals into LIFETIME car guys and gals. It really happens!
8. WE love when someone that would normally ignore ANY car, takes a second glance or even goes out of their way to get a better look at the Enzo.

And a few less "WE" things (my wife is scared to drive the Enzo, but loves the CGT). Some of these are probably why!

1. Putting the car in RACE mode, turning off the ASR, and flooring it and hanging on. The car is pretty much all over the road and leaves rubber in 1st and 2nd gear while bouncing off the rev limiter.
2. The instant and powerful throttle response. Press the pedal quickly in even 3rd or 4th gear and the tires will break loose.
3. The intense feeling of acceleration, even at lower RPMs. It's childish, yet fun, to race most motocycles and see them get smaller in the rearview mirror.
4. The great forward visibility with the A-pillars that curve outward. It's like you are driving with no car.
5. The very light feeling. When I first drove it, it felt like it was made out of cardboard. The steering is very light and there is hardly any body roll. It is VERY stiff and you do not feel any chassis flexing. I suppose it's like driving a big go-cart, very light but very stiff.
6. The intense grip and neutral or mild oversteer at the limits, which you cannot exceed on the street unless you're crazy!
7. No play at all in the steering, brakes, and accelerator. It makes you feel very connected to the road.
8. The intense ILLEGAL sound when accelerating near redline. You can get yourself in trouble just with the sound! I never exceed 4,000 rpm in the neighborhood.
9. The beautiful exterior and interior detail never gets old (especially when you open the engine compartment). The fit and finish are extraordinary and there is not one squeak or rattle anywhere. It feels like it's made from a solid block of steel which is amazing given all the CF panels and it's 6 years old.
10. Even though the Enzo looks long and wide from the outside, it feels much smaller when you drive it.
11. Taking the car up to 200 mph on a runway is a real thrill, especially when most of the other superfast cars can't exceed 180 in the same distance!
12. It pretty much feels and drives like a race car. Kind of like a Stradale or Scuderia on steroids. It has everything those cars have, but to an excess. Yet, it is comfortable enough to use everyday if you wanted to, although the doors may get tiring!

What do I NOT like about the Enzo? There are a few things, and I'm not leaving anything out!

1. The paddle shifters are very fast, but not instant like the Nissan GT-R or Scuderia.
2. Sometimes you get engine braking when downshifting into a low-speed turn.
3. There is a low-frequency wind buffeting noise around 60 mph when both windows are fully open.
4. Rear visibility is not very good. I've accidentally cut people off a few times... that is very embarrasing!
5. The limited side and rear visibility make the car feel a little big when driving on very tight mountain roads where you need to see everything really well.

I think that's about it!

 

Looks as if there's someone in love with his car Great post!

 

I've driven them all and I like them all.

They are all different and it's more of are you in the mood for Steak or Lobster?

There is no question that each has it's quirks and all can be made better and more usable.

I also think that before you buy anyone of them you should definitely drive one.
There are those who don't like Steak and there are those who don't like Lobster and you don't want to buy one before you learn if a particular one is for you.

I also urge you to think about that Cheerleader you wanted to go out with. Sometimes the yearning is a lot better than the consummation.

It's also not surprising that over time they have become more refined and an Enzo is a lot different than a 288 GTO. They have also gotten bigger and there is something wonderful about smaller sports cars. It wouldn't surprise me if the Enzo was the last of the Monsters and if it's replacement will be smaller and more agile with a V8 TT.

Personally I like P 4/5 but I'm sure that won't surprise you.

 

Its also an evolution and point in time thing. A modern cruise ship is "better" than an Art Deco liner, the Acela is "better" than a steam train, but despite being "better" they're not necessarily preferable for everyone.

Arguments for why each of the 4 could be the "best":

288GTO - Its the only "stealth" car of the 4, people think its just the magnum car and largely ignore you. Lovely to drive, very roadable.
F40 - a real hairy chested icon about which much has been written.
F50 - the last analog f-supercar
Enzo - current and "best".

I've driven all of the 4 and owned 2 (GTO and F50 albeit v briefly for the F50). I sold my GTO (and my Miura) and bought my Mac F1. For me that's the ultimate analog supercar, its the last of its era, no tc, no abs, no power steering, no power brakes, weights 2400 lbs and has 630bhp. On track its brakes are marginal, but on road its for me still the ne-plus ultra.

 

Please tell us more about the "Mac F1"!

 

Fabulous car - owned it since earlier this year. Done about 1500 miles in it so far on top of the mere 2500 miles it had on it originally. I drove it at Bruntingthorpe at 200mph (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq5GfuJOIQE).

I drove it in NH on an FCA rally - see pic below (this is dixville notch in NH)

I also drove it on my supercars across america trip (http://www.automobilemag.com/features/great_drives/0911_supercars_1997_mclaren_f1_2008_ferrari_612_scaglietti_ferrari_scuderia_spider_16m_bertone_mantide/index.html)

Should be plenty there to read/watch
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^ Beyond awesome. You are all very blessed and real car guys. Enjoy them. Fantastic thread

 

Got a great chuckle from this due to its inherent truth!
Scott

 

Bill
Please enlarge on what you mean by this:

"2. Sometimes you get engine braking when downshifting into a low-speed turn."

I'd be surprised if you didn't, but haven't driven one of these things yet.

Thanks
Will

 

+1

For my money the best Ferrari Supercars are the 2 twin turbocharged cars (288 GTO and F40) because of the way they deliver their power.

Absolutely exhilarating, and it never gets old!

 

FANTASTIC write up! But there is ONE thing I DON'T like about your description...
























I now have an even BIGGER desire to ride in one.

Enjoy it in the best of health.

-G.B.

 

FANTASTIC STORY! My hat is off for using and enjoying such RARE cars AND letting others/friends enjoy as well.

NICE!

 

Excellent! Thanks so much for sharing such a wonderful and rare car with us!

 

Yes. The Enzo does downshift rev-matching. But sometimes it doesn't blip the throttle enough so the engine causes a sudden braking effect when the clutch engages with the lower engine revs. I only see this occur occasionally at low speeds with low revs. I suspect it's normal operation.

 

Great article Dan! Must of been quite a trip! I'm really glad to see these amazing machines out and about.

And Bill kudos for giving rides so people can experience the cars. I remember giving a marine that was about to be deployed the following day a ride in a F430 last year. The guys smile was priceless! I still hear it from my friends when you and Vida gave them rides in your cars.

 

When I was younger my dad had a few different cars I think if I asked him which was the best to own and drive he would probably say the best was the F50, he did try to get an enzo when it was new but failed due to flipping as it's called in the states so fell foul of cars and moved to the beach and caught the yacht bug. However as much as I loved this car the way the engine vibrated right through the seat and the sound it made after fitting a tubi simply incredible. However the most memorable experience I have ever had in a car was a xj220 which he had. That car was something else and I have never felt power like it since the moment I felt those turbos howl and peeled my head off the head restraint my first word was instantanious ! Yes the air con would condense and drip on your feet as a passenger and it had terrible brakes but boy did it have power.

I have been lucky enough to see a couple mac f1's but never been in one, I love everything about them especially the fact it's three seater and consider it El número uno ! Glad to see somebody using and enjoying one. Congratulations !

 

Haven't driven any, but from what I read, it seems the F40 is the most "fun". The way it delivers blasts of power and is so raw....

 

Really great replies here, really re-inforces me view that one gets more accurate view when people have actually spent time owning cars as apposed to just driving them briefly.

Really great summary Bill, your enthusiasm and love of the car really shines through, very much echoed a conversation I had with a fellow Ferraristi last weekend( he owns an F40 and his brother a F40LM) and the joy he gets from sharing the car with others.

Was fortunate enough to see an F40 and a F50 at seperate track days, the F40 having a few LM bits and really sounded great and the F50 well the sound of the V12 was really something, I left both days feeling very lucky to have been able to see, hear and admire the cars up close.

 

Good article by EVO and rating the 100 best Drivers cars of all time. The problem is it is always relative.
http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/240343/top_10_greatest_drivers_cars.html

 

Here some pics of my two F40s. The first stock no cats car, The second is a cat car with full 600+ hp upgrade.

I've owned also an F50 and three 288 GTO, and I've drived sometimes the Enzo, but I think a F40 (and tuned much more) is still the best intense experience (IMHO).

I've drived and owned some Lambos, like Diablo SV, GT and some Murcièlagos. Even an XJ220. All great cars, but Ferraris are Ferraris...The XJ is too big, and not as quick as the F40. The lambos are too heavy, the new are good car, but much more "Audi cars", the older are much more loveable. Especially the GT.
I think that for the Ferraris also... electronic components have taken the character in the moderns..
The moderns like Enzo, Koenigsegg, Carrera GT, Zondas and are much more forgettable experience for me.
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La prima l'ho vista...ma la seconda dove l'avevi nascosta???

 

ne ho avute un paio così.... un'altra ancora da 580 hp...

I think the moderns are fast cars, but they are fast for their complete components technology.... so, they are better in the downtimes...but they transmit less strong feelings.
The olders are only engine and slow gearboxes... so if we have an absolute fast car under itself, it transmits more strongly its exuberance.

I've drived some older 911 3.3 turbo with strong engine 500/600 hp upgrades. They are really impressive too. You drive now a new 997 GT2 and is fast, but not as fast as an older well tuned 911. Or surely less impressive.

 

+1!!!!

That video was sweet! Thanks for for driving that car and sharing the experience

 

For this reason alone I vote for the 288 GTO. It is such a great road car