Finally acquired an F40

Taking out the F40 feels like such an event everytime...clearly the favourite !

The Ruf is great everday because its somewhat under the radar in appearance, yet performs the fastest of all of them. Utterly reliable, ungodly performance over and over again with typical german precision and porsche reliability. It is perfect as a dinner date car downtown at 30 mph, as it is through the twisting horse farm roads at spirited speeds. Get on a clear highway on a Sunday am, and its 200 mph + with very little effort. Top speed is geared for 219 mph but I haven't been close to that (uh hum).

The Esprit is also good for spirited drives but has a similiar road presence to the F40 in that a lot of attention is garnered each time it is out. Very nice handling, love-it styling, and a real crowd pleaser.

The NSX is so efficient in what is does, that it gets boring. No mechanical problems or major service as yet and it is at 84,000km. It is great for quick errands, and I can't get myself to part with it (my wife loves it too).

The Cayenne Turbo is a beast of an SUV with great acceleration and very assuring handling in sport mode riding on 22" Techarts. Certainly a very survivable vehicle, that is really a hoot to drive. My wife drives it pretty much exclusively and that gives me peace of mind.

The Aston Martin Lagonda trips are basically education lessons for all those who have no idea what it is. Each trip results in many ID's at lights, stores, you name it. Back in its day, it was the fastest 4 door sedan in the world (175mph) and I really like the unque styling. My car is the prototype vehicle for the switch to the 3 CRT and I still find it exciting to watch the TV displays light up on startup. No trunk space, very little rear head room or leg space, but who cares. Once those 4 twin webers start pulling air, the sound is glorious.

The '79 Lotus Esprit has very humble performance numbers (normally aspirated 4 cylinder), but the original wedge design is so pure, and unadorned of the sills and scoops found on later models. For a pure driving experience, it has few equals because of the amount of work it takes to drive it well. I love it and cannot see myself parting with it.

That leaves the hoopty, my Audi A6 4.2....4 wheel drive, cruises at 2200 rpm at 82mph....will plow through any snow storm, and there is a loyalty factor here as well. Our familys first real nice car was when my dad showed up at our house in England back in 1975 one night and told me and my brothers to go look at our new car outside. We went outside, saw a shiny new blue Audi 100LS and thought "That can't be it, where is the decrepid Ford Zephyr that we expected ?" Well, it was the Audi, and let me tell you, that was the introduction to nice rides and we babied and waxed that thing endlessly ! It was a love affair with Audis from then on.

sorry for the babbling....

 

thanks so much Steve, and thanks for the pdf Manuals !

I remember your first post after taking delivery of your F40...you really hit it on the head !

 

Vasco, I'll get a hold of you in the Spring....hope to have some cars up there in June

 

Thanks for the advice Roland...I'm just loving the car ! I realized after the first few shifts that the gearbox likes to be warm and fortunately, I did'nt push it hard. Get some warmth it the engine and gearbox, and it shifts beautifully. Thanks again, and you are right, I do feel lucky and very fortunate.

 

Thanks Ghost, I appreciate the good wishes...

I'll post some more pics soon.

 

Have thought about that alot actually ! just wish there was a twisty track close to me and I would have one in a flash. I'm patiently waiting to see what the Esprit replacement will look like...

How are you liking your Elise ? Any pics ?

 

Love the elise ! Thanks for the pic...

 

My F40 luggage just arrived...mint condition as described by Patrick Persichini at Ferrari of Orange County. Thanks so much Patrick !

Here is a pic...
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