Cali T No Slouch at the track | FerrariChat
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Cali T No Slouch at the track

Discussion in 'California(Portofino)/Roma(Amalfi)' started by wrs, Mar 11, 2018.

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  1. wrs

    wrs F1 World Champ
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    #1 wrs, Mar 11, 2018
    I did the Owner Lapping at COTA today after the Ferrari Challenge was done. The car hit 156 on the back stretch and handled really well with the HS package. A friend who was watching said the car sounded great going by on the grandstand stretch.

    There were a lot of 488s out there and on the back stretch when we accelerated out of the corner and I was behind one of several, they didn't pull away until over 120. My car hit 156 on the back stretch and I still braked at the 300 marker. If I was trying to push it, I would brake at 225-250. My 991 TTS modded with 725hp only hit 162 on the back. The horsepower the car has on the top end is where I think the difference is.

    Anyway, now I have enjoyed my Ferrari at the track. I can tell it's not as fast as the Porsche other than at the top end, but I think it does hang tight in the curves better. I was carrying more speed into all of the technical turns than I did with the Porsche. The hairpin curves were about the same.

    Let no one tell you the Cali T is slow or not a track car, it does just fine. I also found the LEDs on the wheel to be very helpful when shifting but even so, I still managed to hit the rev limiter a couple times.

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  2. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #2 tomc, Mar 11, 2018
    ^ Very nice. Great choice of music, by the way!
    T
     
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  3. Autolove

    Autolove Karting

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    #3 Autolove, Mar 11, 2018
    I was today with you on a black 488 spider that you let me pass on the back straight thanks! Your cali-T is a very nice looking car!
    And I hit 167 on the back it was FUN!!!
     
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  4. wrs

    wrs F1 World Champ
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    #4 wrs, Mar 12, 2018
    Hey there and thanks! I was hoping we could go around one more time so I could follow you another lap. I passed a couple of 488s that were not so sure about the track and were driving slower. That was a great event and so much fun.
     
  5. good2go

    good2go Formula Junior

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    #5 good2go, Mar 12, 2018
    Sounds like a great day. How many sessions did you get? I have taken my California T to the track a couple times. Hit 166 on the straight. Speed and braking are incredible.

    Did you drive manual or automatic? I did both. I floor how aggressive the automatic is. My lap times were better with automatic.

    I drive with beginners. The only cars that came close was high end corvette.

    Bottom line the California T is a blast on the track. Drive it, you won’t be disappointed.
     
  6. G. Pepper

    G. Pepper Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 G. Pepper, Mar 12, 2018
    Anybody who thinks the Cali isn't a competent car on a track hasn't driven one or looked at the official Fiorano lap time.

    I took my sedate 456M GTA to COTA for a track day a couple of years ago. It was way too much fun.

    You should have hired a photographer to get some hero pics.
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  7. good2go

    good2go Formula Junior

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    #7 good2go, Mar 12, 2018
    Any 458 on the track you could compare it to?
     
  8. wrs

    wrs F1 World Champ
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    #8 wrs, Mar 12, 2018
    I drove strictly with the paddle shifters. I did two solo sessions where the track was wide open and one where I had a passenger who was experiencing the track for the first time and we followed a lead car.

    Yes, I did get passed by one but he waited until I was blocked by another car after turn 10 to pass that one and then I was stuck behind that one so I couldn't compare on the straight. I was already well behind him by the time I got past the slower car on the back stretch.
     
  9. Bandit23

    Bandit23 Formula Junior
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    #9 Bandit23, Mar 12, 2018
    that's pretty cool indeed to hit 156mph ..really opened up the car; how was the car behaving after the track running?

    Nice Cali-T btw
     
  10. wrs

    wrs F1 World Champ
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    #10 wrs, Mar 12, 2018
    Thanks, it ran great at the track and drove home afterwards. No problems.
     
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  11. Shadowfax

    Shadowfax F1 Rookie
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    #11 Shadowfax, Mar 16, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2018
    An interesting review from TG offering some perspective about the cars. The Cali has a lot to offer but seems the Turbo is a bit of a dark horse - the strong suit being the chassis.
    https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercar/ferrari-california-t-vs-porsche-911-turbo
     
  12. good2go

    good2go Formula Junior

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    #12 good2go, Mar 17, 2018
    I have driven California T and 911 Turbo S. Of course they are both great cars.

    I get a much bigger smile from the Ferrari. Porsche is just too smooth.

    All these numbers mean nothing if you don’t take it on the race track and most people never take their car on a race track.

    Which is faster around the track? The one with the better driver.

    Go drive both at the race track. Spend a weekend driving both 200 miles. Now which do you like and why?

    Both are beautiful cars.
     
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  13. HardTen

    HardTen Formula 3
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    #13 HardTen, Mar 18, 2018
    I was at COTA last week driving my 458 Spider during the owner laps, but I only ran the first Touring group session. It was my first time on the track so it was some cautious driving just to learn the track layout. Definitely some spirited laps, but nothing too crazy. Drove four hours home to North FW afterward without any issues.
     
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