360CS: test drive & questions | FerrariChat

360CS: test drive & questions

Discussion in '360/430' started by maranello71, Jul 14, 2007.

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  1. maranello71

    maranello71 Formula 3

    Jan 23, 2004
    1,221
    Chicagoland
    Full Name:
    Andre
    Today I test drove my first 360CS. What a fantastic machine! It feels so light, so nimble in a way that I only experienced in the Lotus Exige. And the chassis is so well balanced, it provides tons of feedback without ever feeling nervous, even on bumpy roads. I dare say that it gives more feedback and feels more user-friendly even than Lotus's excellent Exige Cup. I have to look at the financial side, but I'm very close to buying a 360CS, it's been a long time since I drove a Ferrari that felt so light and so brutally fast through the corners, without the extremeness of a race car - I had the feeling I could drive the 360CS gently every day to work, if so I wished.

    I only have a couple of questions for the CS experts.

    1) What is the real power rating? German magazines rated it at 425PS, while in Switzerland it's rated at 415... is there a real difference? Can the 425 HP software be downloaded?

    2) Do hyperflow cats genuinely increase mid-range torque on this car?

    Thanks
    Andrea
     
  2. Baasha

    Baasha Formula 3

    Jun 20, 2004
    1,186
    NorCal
    when you're driving the CS, all those details you've asked about seem so superfluous. And no, I'm not trying to be coy, I'm serious. Just enjoy the sensational feeling that driving the CS in RACE mode gives you. That is all. I couldn't care less whether it had 425HP or 435HP or Hyperflows. Blipping that throttle and the backfires the car produces is just euphoric--nothing more, nothing less.

    Peep this for starters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkcfuCFv2TA

    The only thing, and I repeat, the ONLY thing that is perhaps a 'downside' to a CS is the lack of torque. Other than that, it is absolutely fantastic! Go for it and don't get caught up in the small details--enjoy the whole experience--in fact, that's what life is about! ;)
     
  3. PCH

    PCH F1 Rookie

    Apr 7, 2004
    3,007
    +1
     
  4. SANguru

    SANguru Formula 3

    Jul 15, 2005
    1,258
    Bay Area, CA
    Full Name:
    Josh
    Well said!

     
  5. maranello71

    maranello71 Formula 3

    Jan 23, 2004
    1,221
    Chicagoland
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    Andre
    I have to agree to that! However, if the hyperflow cats could ENHANCE the experience even further... :)
     
  6. 720

    720 F1 Rookie

    Jul 14, 2003
    2,623
    So. Cal and No. Utah
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    Rick
    i hate to put a damper on your enthusiasm for high flow cats, but there sure seems to me to be a definite loss of low end torque. i don't know what the dyno torque/HP graphs show, but my butt dyno definitely felt a lack of punch at the low end when driving a stradale with high flow cats. you may not notice the difference unless you do a back-to-back driving comparison...which i did. i definitely felt a significant difference in low end torque when i drove a friend's hyperflow equipped stradale.

    i am curious if anybody else has had the opportunity to do a back-to-back comparison of stradales with and without high flow cats?

    one more thing. the US stradale has pre-cats in the headers and the euro stradale does not. the US stradale is not nearly as loud as the euro stradale. but when you put high flow cats on the US stradale (even with the stock exhaust) i'd say the car is twice as loud...but it's still not as loud as a euro stradale. now if you put high flow cats on a euro stradale i can't even imagine how loud that car would be!

     
  7. MufflerMan

    MufflerMan Formula 3

    Jun 12, 2005
    1,564
    Sacramento Ca
    Full Name:
    Colby Sandman
    I can't speak for the CS, but my standard 360 has no cats and makes more power everywhere. I have to assume the CS would gain the same if not more.
     
  8. 720

    720 F1 Rookie

    Jul 14, 2003
    2,623
    So. Cal and No. Utah
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    Rick
    i think you are wrong about the CS.

     
  9. maranello71

    maranello71 Formula 3

    Jan 23, 2004
    1,221
    Chicagoland
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    Andre
    That's funny, because I recall seeing a dyno curve showing that the CS gained mostly mid-range torque with the hyperflow cats, while the peak power only increased very slightly. I don't know if the curve was "doctored" or if the car had other mods, but it seemed quite clear that there was a performance improvement all around.

    It would be interesting if anyone on Fchat had actually measured the car before and after on the dyno. Anyway, the CS I drove today was insanely loud, how did they make it legal I have no idea. Fantastic soundtrack, we raced down a country road at 120 mph in 4th gear, the local farmers looked at us as if we were aliens as we approached their sleepy village with this red monster... really great fun, I loved it. :)
     
  10. 360trev

    360trev F1 Rookie
    Project Master

    Oct 29, 2005
    4,330
    Gibraltar
    Full Name:
    360trev
    A CS could be down on power after Fitting hyperflow CAT's if the ECU's where not reset afterwards and a full relearn done. The reason is that the engine computer softwre needs to re-learn the ignition timing, etc. and if its using previously learned info the torque could suffer as a result.

    Solution is to try resetting the ECU (turn off the battery isolator switch for 30 seconds, - dont forget to have your becker radio code handy if you have one fitted!) and then drive for 20 miles. After this you should see at least 20hp gain with test pipes or 100CEL high flow race style cats.

    Regards,

    Trev
     
  11. 720

    720 F1 Rookie

    Jul 14, 2003
    2,623
    So. Cal and No. Utah
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    Rick
    the CS is definitely a blast to drive...especially in 4th gear at 120MPH downa country road :) nothing better!

    seriously though, i hope i'm wrong about the drop (noticeable drop) in low end torque. a before and after dyno would solve the mystery. i was leaning towards replacing my stock cats wityh high flow cats, but after i drove a stradale with high flow cats i decided against it. maybe it was a fluke. a one time "bad day". i'd like to find another stradale with high flow cats and do another test drive to make sure.

    are there any stradale owners out there with high flow cats who would like to give their impressions on this?

     
  12. watt

    watt Formula 3

    Jun 17, 2004
    2,257
    Northern Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Giuseppe T Hemingway
    Rick,

    just put the f.g things in one of your cars, and we can all quit wondering. otherwise, let's table this discussion.

    in the modern world, you can only go so fast, and a strad gets the job done whilst being the sexiest rig in the universe
     
  13. watt

    watt Formula 3

    Jun 17, 2004
    2,257
    Northern Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Giuseppe T Hemingway
    Rick,

    just put the f.g things in one of your cars, and we can all quit wondering. otherwise, let's table this discussion.

    in the modern world, you can only go so fast, and a strad gets the job done whilst being the sexiest rig in the universe
     
  14. 720

    720 F1 Rookie

    Jul 14, 2003
    2,623
    So. Cal and No. Utah
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    Rick
    You would be surprised at how LOUD the high flow cats make the stradale :) forget the performance ramifications for a minute. I don't think I could live with the sound 24x7 :) guess i'm getting old :)

     
  15. club0

    club0 Formula Junior

    Feb 22, 2004
    459
    Helsinki, Finland
    But hey, you have two Stradales... why not install the HyperFlows on the other car and keep the other one stock. Then you can do some good comparison runs... ;) and you don't have to live with the noise everytime you wanna take the CS for a ride since the other one is stock!
     
  16. PCH

    PCH F1 Rookie

    Apr 7, 2004
    3,007
    Rick, Didn't you mention that your friends CS, (in Vegas?) with the Fabspeed cats was not set up properly which may have resulted in your findings? Regardless, I personally have no confidence in Fabspeed's products or claims and believe they're not recognizedused by most Ferrari tuners.
     
  17. maranello71

    maranello71 Formula 3

    Jan 23, 2004
    1,221
    Chicagoland
    Full Name:
    Andre
    Thanks for all the replies, a big point is still open though - I have looked on US, Italian and German magazines and they all rated the CS at 425HP. However, in Switzerland it's rated at 415. I need to find out if there is a difference in engine software for the Swiss market, in which case I definitely want to have it re-programmed.
     
  18. nerd

    nerd F1 Rookie

    Oct 12, 2003
    2,535
    Coronado, CA
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    RSK
    I haven't seen anyone mention that different government agencies require the use different rating standards; SAE, DIN, ECE R24, 9768-EC, ISO14396, etc. It is all quite possible it is the same engine and ECU's, but different measurement techniques.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower
     
  19. martyb

    martyb Formula Junior

    Nov 8, 2003
    304
    South County
    Full Name:
    marty b
    Another CS thread. Now I have to take mine out today! KInd of a like a drinking game and it's time to do a shot!!

    I can see myself with another CS in the garage. Of course I have to get the F40 and 288GTO first.

    Wish I was 25 again!!!
     
  20. watt

    watt Formula 3

    Jun 17, 2004
    2,257
    Northern Rocky Mountains
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    Giuseppe T Hemingway

    agreed! it's loud enough as is, i like to be able to soft peddle and have it be quiet [relatively] most of the time.... it's loud enough for me stock also!!!

    Rick we hope to see you at the Coffee Bean in Malibu next Sundat at 9 am with one of your strads
     
  21. dan360

    dan360 F1 Rookie

    Feb 18, 2003
    2,669
    Boston
    To answer the question the user manual says 409 bhp. There was a thread ages ago about the discrepancy between this and the 425 (409 is consistent in both US and EU manuals). And someone got the answer from Ferrari that the extra HP came from ram-effect in "Dynamic" conditions. Which we took to mean that the air is going into the engine so fast at 170+ that you get a few extra bhp :)
     

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