Well, its a bittersweet day. Today I sold the F430 to Gran Prix Imports and purchased an 08 Superleggera. The F430 shall be sorely missed. It's the only machine i've ever loved. But since I am not a collector, I can't see keeping two cars which perform the same mission. Now some well deserved Kudos: 1) Matt Crandall of GPI was a pleasure to deal with. This is my second exotic car purchase and *this time* the experience matched what I have grown accustomed to when buying exotic motorcycles. A wonderful, easy, and quickly consummated transaction. IOW: Quick and painless. TAM Matt & GPI!!! I am looking forward to seeing the good folks at GPI often. 2) Roy Cats of Catsexotics selflessly kept me informed and worked very hard to find me the car I wanted. Even though I made it clear that intended to buy one from GPI instead. I paid him nothing for his services. But I do intend to buy him a drink of three at the first opportunity. ;-) Roy Cats deserves all the goodwill he's reputed to have earned. TAM Roy & Catsexotics!!! See you all at the track this year (PIR & T-Hill). Peace, Richard.
I hoped to thank you and others who helped me with info and advice in person first. Do me a favor .... drive the ProDrive/PIR Miata so that I can stand a chance of passing you. In fact I have decreed it thus .... all better drivers (too many too list <lol>) shall from now on be provided with the ProDrive/PIR Miata for all of my sessions. First day should be 02/25 ORPCA Instructors & Lapping. Peace, Richard.
My pleasure glad we were able to locate the right car for you and get Matt and GPI to get you into it!!
<lol> Thx .... you almost had me until I noticed the smilie. Question for ya: Why is it that car enthusiasts are so brand loyal that they often flame each other? I am not really interested in the pros and cons of said marques. I'm interested in why one's specific car prefs would be cause for insult. TIA for your kind reply. Peace, Richard.
Actually, most of the time it is just ribbing and teasing. Nothing more. Of course there are those jerkoffs that are just jealous. Envy is such a nasty thing sometimes.
Richard, it just pisses me off that you will now be even faster around the track. I'll miss you in the 430, but I can't wait to see the Superleggera (and hear it as you pass me). I haven't looked back since I got rid of my 430--a great car, no doubt, but there are a lot of great cars to sample. Cheers--Scott
Understood. I do wish more folks would do as dino did and use emoticons and the like to set a tone Easy to misunderstand folks sometimes. Specially when one has a .... ahem .... unique sense of humor (guilty as charged <chuckle>). Peace, Richard.
Scotty!!! Good to hear from you. I'm sorry I missed you at the Grand Re-Opening. I'll bring some day hiking gear (as usual) when I come up. LMK if you want to go for a walkabout .... or whatever. You have my number, right? I dunno. I'll give it a try .... if I can figure out where the bleeding apex is in T11 now. <lol> I feel exactly the same as you. I dunno, first i'll have to catch you and you're fast enough in the M3. Now? Hmmm, it should be fun trying to catch you in *your* new car. Did you know that one of my favorite students last year, Gordon E., owned one? I loooved the way that car handled. And I think Gordon left that day with an even greater appreciation of what a wonderful car he'd bought. You betcha .... I love all fast machines! BTW; Dr. Trask of Medford helped me get better. I've been feeling great! I hope to do OK this coming year. Peace, Richard.
Good to hear. Please PM me your number. Thanks--Scotty P.S. More than just one new apex to learn, and that damn alligator curbing just bites (no pun intended). But the track is faster--I cracked a new rotor in the M3 last week. I need less weight or better brakes.
Congrats! My business partner was looking at buying the Black Superleggera they have, is it the same one? I drove one of GPI's Superleggeras last week and it is a great car now. Much better than the '04 I am used to. Envious here!!!
YEP! Well as for the brand loyalty question, that has probably been around forever. Not too different as to those who cheer for their favorite ball team, or the Collage they attended. Perhaps you could even expand to what Country their from. Though to you they may seem to be dramiticly dissimilar the basic principle involved is still the same. Really as simple as that. And as course as you have concluded I met no insult, just a friendly poke in the ribs. But any indifferance in reguards to "stepping down" or any similar comment(s) made by other parties in the future should only ever be considered a simple matter of opinion and not a direct insult to you personally. Unless you definately know to the contrary. Someone "flaming" you as you mentioned will be an obvious ill worded attack in which will leave you without any doubt they mean to verbaly harm you in some way. Thats the best I can do in explaining your questions, I hope I was helpful. Now back to the Super L, What? No Pics??? Lets see this beauty! I've seen the one at GPI a few time, is yours yellow too? Cheers!
PM sent. Agreed. Makes life interesting. <chuckle> Yes, way faster. In the F430 i'd touch 140 to my last brake marker (hail mary cause we're going to grind the front and unweight the rear) carrying about 8 tenths into T9. Assuming like conditions i'm looking at 160+? I hope the steel brakes in the SL hold up. <lol> Peace, Richard.
Thx Jason. It's an Arancio Borealis. I had called Monday morn to make a deal on the black one and it was sold. You probably drove the same one I did. The best matched chassis and suspension so far. I wasn't able to *really* drive the car. But I was very rough on the turn-ins, made numerous mid corner corrections, etc. And the grabby CC brakes made it even more evident that the SL is very well balanced. I drove an 04 last year and it was very nice. But you're absolutely correct that the newer Lambos are much better. You all should know that I judge cars based on my TC Kline M3's set-up. Outside of purpose built cars (ie; race, or thinly disguised race cars) the SL is the first car i've been in that felt like my M3. If only the SL were available in a nice Rosso. <sigh> What does everyone think about repainting the beast and redoing the upholstery to match? Peace, Richard.
Understood. Thx. Nothing like hijacking one's own thread. Sorry! It's an Arancio Borealis. Minimally equipped. My POV is why buy a Superlight anything then add more freakin weight in bling and unnecessary options? (btw, ancient history .... I bought my wife the first ducati superlight, <only?> in Oregon; *that* sl was a gorgeous ducati yellow). Well, the Superleggera has: 1) an alarm (useless and I hope it can be yanked). 2) Floor mats (also useless and will be replaced). 4) CF package (ok, but i would have done w/o the extra bling). 5) Track frame prep (definitely worth it). 6) E-Gear (of course). 7) Steel brakes (lambo screwed the pooch on the cc ones). 8) Rear wing (not sure about it, specs say it's a good addition). Pics when I get my hot, sweaty palms on it. (-; Peace, Richard.
Wow, yes, brakes are going to be potentially the big issue. I would have GPI see if they can get info on the pad compound and its MOT. Since it is a street pad, I would imagine that changing the pads will be the first order of the day (at least for the track). It would also be worth finding out what type of brake fluid is in the car, and what its wet boiling point is. Might well be worth a post in the Lambo section here. Are they Brembo calipers? If so, there should be a good number of aftermarket pad choices. Scott
OK, i'll try this again. Dunno where my reply went to the first time. <shrug> I plan to drive it w/OEM pads and fluid at first and see what happens. Supposedly Brembos. Similar to the Brembo BB kit in my M3. I know .... apples and oranges. <chuckle> But the M3 worked well @PIR and T-Hill with Ferodo D2500s and Motul RBF 600. Low dust. No noise to speak of. No scoring. No fade to speak of. I hate noise. I dislike dust. And I don't care for scoring. As for fade .... I *think* I can deal w/it by taking it easy for a lap or two then hauling for a lap or two, and so on. Pad choices? Dunno. Steel brake reviews and OEM specs claim that the only difference between the CCBs and the SBs is fade. Unsprung weight is the same. Stopping distances are the same. However, all SB reviewers wrote that the steel brakes afford much, much better feel! Which for my driving style is a good trade. E.g. Have you ever had the dubious pleasure of following me into T10 or T4 on the brakes, front end slamming on the F430 into the 3 bumps and big bump (respectively) while the rear end fishtails, threatening to build momentum and spin .... biiig time? Barely in control. Ugleee! So I had to learn to drive that one differently from the M3 which is very controllable w/the rear end out. No worries, i'm sure I can deal w/the steel SL brakes. Famous last words? <lol a la widmark> Peace, Richard.
