I was poking around the Ferrari Owner's Site and found a few interesting facts about the CS: 1. The CS weighs 242 lbs less than a 360. 2. The CS weighs 380 lbs less than a 430. 3. The CS kerb weight is 2,816 lbs. Its dry weight is 2,596 lbs. 4. The CS with 425 HP is rated at 0-1000 meters in 22.0 seconds. The 430 with 490 HP is rated only .4 seconds faster (F1). In my opinion, it will take a long time before Ferrari can make another road car as lightweight as the CS.
My CS manual says my car's kerb weight is 3000 lbs. The car was also weighed at the speed shop, and it was 1407 kg 3096lbs with full tank. I'm not sure where F is getting their numbers, but I believe they play "fast and loose" with the facts.
Car and Driver lists the Curb Weight of the CS at 3129 lbs for a US Version. Ferrari I believe is a bit optimistic with their weights.
To make matters worse, curb weight to EC standards includes driver, luggage and 80% tank of fuel. ie an 1800kg BMW or Merc significantly lighter than a 1700kg Ferrari.
5 gallons of gas weighs about 32 lbs. That means the CS's 24.7 gallon tank adds 158 lbs when full. My guess is that the kerb weight number provided in the US owners manual (1360 kg or 2992 lbs) is with a full tank of gas. Take off the 158 lbs for the gas, and you have 2834 lbs, which is close to the 2816 lbs published on the owner's site. So, maybe Ferrari kerb weight outside the US is with no gas?
Bill, Car & Driver tested a CS with a full tank of gas - with no driver - at 3150 lbs. Thomas B (CS owner) weighed his car at 3100 lbs. with a full tank of fuel and Ray, above (CS owner,) weighed his car at 3100 lbs. with a full tank. Ferrari listed weights are simply not believable - end of story. Having said that, the CS does have an unusually large gas tank, and with its low torque motor the weight difference between an empty and full tank is especially crucial to acceleration. My CS is noticably quicker with an empty fuel tank than with a full one. As for Stephens, who didn't believe that I beat an SL55 in a drag race, I also beat a CL55 recently. But alas, I myself got spanked by a 996TT X-50 which promptly put me in my place!
Too bad Ferrari can't spec the weight accurately. Maybe the European cars are lighter for some reason? I've seen some footnote in the 430 spec (and another CS spec) that mention the weight only applies to the European version. Regarding acceleration, I've found the CS to be about the same as a stock 2000 Viper RT/10, stock 993TT and stock 996TT. A GT2 or 996 TT X50 will be noticeably faster in a straight line. My Ruf Turbo R, which is about the same as a GT2, is 3 or 4 car lengths ahead by 120 MPH.
Isn't is true that the US DOT mandates additional reinforcements to pass their more stringent crash standards vs EU's? I've heard stories of the numerous changes that must be done to a UE car to be certified as US legal. ALl this must add weight, no?
bill, search and you'll find more discussion, a couple UK guys weighed their cars also. net, net US cars are 100-120# heavier than Europe at around 3000
Firstly, Ferrari can no longer be "foot loose and fancy free" with their numbers as they have to meet EC rules and regulations. Secondly, US cars are in general at least 200 lbs heavier than Eu cars Thirdly, the CS has 425 BHP BUT DIN in Eu and SAE in the US.... SAE is usually a good 7-8% less than DIN.... Fourthly, the weight published by Ferrari is for a CS with Lexan windows, no radio, no belts but harnesses, no roll bar and no extinguisher...... Lastly, straight line acceleration means little. The truth lies in a car's agility around a race track and the weight difference between a 430 and a CS is huge in that respect. However, the person who buys a 430 does so to use it on public roads -first and foremost. The person who buys a CS really only does so to use it as a track car. To drive a CS on public roads is completely without interest. Ergo: the 2 are not comparable! Final thought: there are 900 CSs worldwide, there will be at least 12000 F430s before its swasong.
So, which is which? ROW specs in the owner's manual call for 305 kW and the US specs are also 305 kW or 409 BHP (SAE). One kW equals 1.34 BHP (SAE), so 305 x 1.34 = 408.7 BHP. Then, we know that 1 HP DIN = 0.986 BHP (SAE). So, 409 : 0.986 = 415 HP DIN. Where does the 425 HP DIN come from?
Again, according to the owner's manual, ROW cars weigh 2844 lbs while US cars weigh 3000 lbs. This is assuming all standard equipment which means lexan windows for the ROW cars?
Hell, no! On a race trck the car is awesome (need to "adjust" the negative camber on the front) but to puddle along a hiway at a measily 90 mph (in France) is completely of no interest whatsoever. Where is the driving skill or pleasure in that? Country roads? Hell, no! You can never be sure of what is coming the other way, or a child running out in front of you etc, etc. And where on a public road ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD can you be doing 150 mph and leave your braking to 100 yds before the turn, in all safety and do it again and again?????? A CS is as close to a road legal racing car as you can get. Drive it to a track, thrash it around for 200 miles drive it home, wash it and buy a new set of tyres!! Its better than SEX!!!!!!
i drive my stradales on the public roads everyday. i rarely crank it up to 185MPH, but the stradale is a blast to drive at any speed. here in southern california there are plenty of opportunities (mountains, canyons, etc.) to have a good drive. your conclusion that you can't have fun driving a stradale on public roads is simply wrong. i still can't believe that anybody would make such a statement.
Well, I certainly wound up a couple of you guys out there!!!!! Look at the soles of your shoes 'cause you stepped right into it!!!!
