The DVD The Italian Job is out in the stores, I've watched it already. Clarkson is positive regarding the GTO. The main concern is that there is so much power in the car that the car can't put all the power down then pressing the throttle. He demonstrates this with a small "chase" with the 458 Italia on Fiorano. I don't know wether he has the car in Race-mode or in CT-mode with regard to the TC-settings. Also, he confirms that whilst driving the car in the rain it was all over the tarmac but this changes dramatically when driving with hot and dry tarmac. Furthermore on the DVD he states that the 458 Italia is epic and what-not. He is also saying that "Maranello is Bethlehem" for which I can only say he's right .
I respect his obvious driving skill. I do not respect the glaring inconsistencies in his presentation. Perhaps his views of cars are something of a personal narrative, which would never be both complete and consistent. But at a more realistic level I find his hyperbole to be useless and after a few minutes, annoying, in such a spazzed-out "oversized kid" delivery. It does seem that there should be enough similarity of at least intent between the 599GTO and the 458, or even the F40 that Clarkson would find some redeemable traits they share rather than going to those extremes that come across as highly inconsistent. It seems more his emotions at the moment, with any car, moreso than the car, and his emotions seem to be most easily affected with Ferrari. I would never consider his opinion reliable, but nonetheless amusing to watch, and he has a very cool job. He thinks the F40 is THE supercar of all-time so he can't be all bad, but still annoying. All of the above and a nickel might get you a gumball in a machine.
It's on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z7oQsyUsIg I would like to see the following: Put JC in the 458 Italia with the TC off and the driver from the 458 Italia in the 599 GTO in race mode (or even TC off). It's obvious that he is not impressed with the GTO. That's the right he has but he is not being objective at all. Being the wonderful car the GTO is, it doesn't deserve this. So he tried it in the wet, now in the dry ... what's next ... he goes ice racing with it for his X-mas video? Cheers, M
Top Gear is aimed at the British and I wonder if the anti-Clarkson feelings being expressed on this forum are related in any way to the differences between British and American humour. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2007/feb/10/comedy.television is worth reading.
Watching the video it just seemed that instead of working with the electronics to get the most out of the GTO. He spent the entire time fighting the system ,worked much harder than he had to and ultimately failed to understand and enjoy the car for what it is.
He had the system off, he knew what he was doing to make his statement seem correct. In reality with a driver such as Jason Plato, Chris Harris, Steven Sutcliffe we all know the end result Though IMO I think Clarkson is a better driver than he lets on, if it gets ratings
reupload ..... Jeremy Clarkson: Ferrari 599 GTO http://czechferrari.autofun.cz/clanek/jeremy-clarkson-ferrari-599-gto/23237/
Completely agree. In the Enzo he left the systems on, in the Scud he left the systems on, why not in the GTO. All the reviewers have said that one has to be a racing driver to go flat out with the systems off and Clarkson definitely is not one. I was also surprised that he complained about the electronics when all the other reviewers had nothing but praises. It seemed like he was trying real hard to make the GTO look bad just so that he could put it below the Italia. I am a big Clarkson fan and have always liked his reviews but this one I just cannot agree with.
Which indicated bias even before he drove the car, having said that there are far worse examples of this to be found and its strange that most are UK based journalists...
Is it possible these presenters are taking a more theatrical approach to the actual analysis of a car like this? We must not forget that Jezza is making some money off this DVD, and the likelihood of this being an actual Ferrari backed, technical review of their car is ridiculous. If you put Boris Said in this car, I'm sure the footage would look allot more boring. Tail slides and a screaming Clarkson are to be expected for this type of "entertainment." First and foremost, I believe the electronics are one of the most amazing parts of this machine. Turning them all off, OBVIOUSLY a "normal" boy-racer has no ability to control it. A level headed, calculating race car driver would know exactly how it should be done. The fact is, that Ferrari are showing us their cars are becoming more and more focused. Actually turning into Race cars. The traction control systems are the only things making them road cars. _J
I don't understand why Clarkson claims that the GTO is such a dog when Ferrari has claimed that its the fastest ever road going Ferrari to lap Fiorano. Maybe it was driven by a professional Ferrari pilot, but doesn't the word "fastest" ultimately tell us something? Clarkson's test drive was entertaining, but too animated and he probably should have just kept the computers humming. I trust Chris Harris' opinion more than Clarkson's.
The GTO is basically a custom-made car, so there was no "unsold" inventory--all were spoken for before they were built.
The GTO in the showroom was the same car that FNA used to introduce the GTO to their potential clients for the GTO at their headquarters. I first saw it in Englewood Cliffs, NJ at FNA. At the opening party of the Park Avenue Ferrari boutique, I heard from some FNA people that the GTO had over 1000 worldwide purchase requests. I don't believe that they intend to build more than 599. At least I hope not.
Don't you just love how those that don't have one, or in most cases, haven't even been in one, seem somehow to be able to describe how it drives and why they're "available" in the marketplace just for the asking .... I mean, we all know that looking at or sitting in a model in the showroom is a fool proof way to "know" all about the performance parameters for any super car! Fact is, like you, I talked with senior guys at FNA during the order and delivery process for mine. They confirmed Ferrari had way, way more requests from buyers than cars available--and that there were many a ruffled feather from long time customers who felt "slighted" by not being allocated a car by FNA or Maranello.
We went through this with F430 Scuderias and 16Ms as well, and 599 GTBs when those were going for $500K. Everyone gets a car eventually.
I was unaware that a scud or 599 GTB were strictly limited editions. The only ones of which I know in the past 5 years are a 16m and GTO. I'd assume you were unsuccessful in getting a GTO allocation, but since the 16m was also limited, am I to understand you tried but were initally unsuccessful in getting on the list..but eventually were granted a place by FNA or the factory?
This is not at all like the Scuderia or 599GTB which were not limited. With the Scud in fact production at the time well exceeded demand which anihilated resale values.16M may have been limited but was really a soft-top Scuderia and the market was fairly soft by then (that said there aren't too many available for resale). But, when I was at the Atelier in October specing my GTO I had a good opportunity to talk to the various product people at Ferrari, and much as it might disappoint some - there is significantly higher demand than production. As it was told, every day another call comes through from a person who's a "friend of di Montezemelo or Domenicalli" asking for a car. Perhaps it just took some time for people to realise what this car actually was all about. The cynics on this forum gushed about how it wasn't worthy of the badge, but I guess after the press reviews came out interest really increased when people realise it was much more than a badged 599. My UK dealer has said there will defnititely be disappointments.
Indeed. And those are the first ones to say ... "Hey, I've seen the 1st GTO ever produced because it had a badge saying "Limited 1 of 599" on it I've given up on commenting. It is what it is ... a great, stunning, damned fast V12 with the GTO moniker granted by the factory. And for the record ... it's faster than the 458 Italia no matter what JC claims. And you know what ... even if it would be a touch slower ... I'd still like it as much as I do now. Indeed. My dealer has at least 5 long term customers which are very disappointed including one Enzo owner. Curious how so many are now all of a sudden interested in a 599 "Scuderia" that saw the day of light only to shift unsold 599 carcasses and on top of that ... that's being outrun by a 458 Italia.
All I know is that the GTO is an amazingly beautiful car, and I would love to simply ride in one and hear that beautiful engine and exhaust note at full song. I was stunned to find out that TWO of these were delivered to customers within a few miles of where I live within a couple of weeks of each other. I saw one of them while out at a Cars and Coffee meet, and then a few days later I saw the other one while running down the street to Starbucks for my wife. What are the odds? The owner who was in Starbucks with the second GTO I saw said that he is pretty sure those two are the only GTO owners in the state of Indiana.
I'd assume you say same with any late model ferrari--be that a 16 m--limited, stradale--limited, a scud, an italia...possibly even a Cali. From what I understand you only like 308/328's. No need to pester FNA or Maranello for one in today's market, there available for under $50k pretty much anywhere. Next time, speak to something you know about--and what it takes to get a limited Ferrari from the factory is definately not on that list.
