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Great post. This is a perfect illustration of what I said earlier. Generally speaking, the contemporary cars from our most formative years are the ones we continue to love and desire. This gentleman speaks to his love for the 360, which is great. When I was a young teen in the 80’s I was obsessed with the Countach, 288, 328. I remain just as passionate about them today, if not more. In fact, I honestly don’t even recall knowing anything about 275’s or 250’s when I was a teen. I’ve grown to love them as an adult but they were totally insignificant to me when I was young. I’m going to guess that men who grew-up loving the Ferrari’s of the 50’s and 60’s weren’t terribly fond of the “modern” cars of the 80’s and 90’s. The simple truth is, young boys today dream about LaFerrari’s and SF90’s, and that’s totally normal.

 

I am just a hair younger than Texas Forever, grew up immersed in American Muscle cars. We had a cruise strip and over in the industrial part of town drag races on Friday night. The guy next door was a professional drag racer. I first discovered Ferrari reading over my brothers shoulder a road test of a 275 4Cam in Road and Track. Hardly knew about Ferrin cars before that. I am a Ferrari mechanic and have 2 in the garage. You can do it if you want. It doesn't need to be a new 812 and Maybe you cant have a 4500 foot house in an upscale suburb AND a ski house in the mountains And a ski boat And all the other toys. Choices need to be made.

 

I miss the Pininfarina designs so much. The 360/430 outline just personafied elegant performance for me. Rifledriver, I know what you mean. As I got older I realized that my dreams just became more affordable. Some can have it all, others have to choose. I don't mind. I chose my career based on what inspired me to be the best version of myself, and to serve others in my greatest capacity. It was very rewarding personally. I'm glad I never lost interest in these cars because I probably love them now even more than I did as a boy. I looked at them for so many years, and to see their listings now at prices that I can actually pay is almost too much for me to handle lol. It's taken this long, I don't see a point in rushing it. Need to buy my daughter her first car, and then after that I will pull the trigger. It will be nice if the 360/430 doesn't appreciate TOO much during that time, lol.

Anyway, didn't mean to hijack the thread! Carry on!
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Pininfarina designed plenty of unattractive cars....trust me. Good looking Ferraris didn't end with that contract.

I had a couple of available career paths that would have made me a lot more money but I do what I love and it sounds like you do too. There are more important things.
Sounds like you are doing everything right. Keep it up.

 

Yes, I’m referring to young teens who have a passion for cars. There were plenty of my peers when I was young that never have cars a second thought.

 

Interesting observation. I had always believed that a 288 would walk away from my Testarossa in a straight line. I recall Cavallino magazine in 1985 (now that dates me) which quoted Rene Arnoux(?) taking a 288 for a long, rainy night time drive from Modena to Paris and describing it as fearsomely, exhaustingly quick. I will go to the garage and tell my TR that it is fearsome, and as quick as a 288.

This gets away from the original question, but if Ferrari sold a new car which was as quick in a straight line as a Testarossa, would it be well received, or is that now too slow? While a new Golf Type R would run and hide from my TR (0-60 in 3.9 vs. 5.3), I am quite satisfied with that level of performance, probably because while avoiding prison, it is also engaging and dramatic to use.

 

Performance numbers in magazines sell these things and the TR it too slow. Just the way it is.

Real live straight line speed numbers between 288 and TR are about the same. The 288 obviously handles better.

 

Ferrari has never been proactive to changing market demands. They will do whats working until it stops working. FWIW people have been predicting that demise for a long time. Part of the reason is a Pied Piper effect. People follow because they have a need to be where the brand goes, not the other way around.

 

Umm, I would disagree. I had a 328 for over 20 years, and its indeed a great car, fun to drive and rewarding to own. its also very beautiful. but as a car not that much. compared to modern cars it is slow, but that is ok, where its difficult is that you just have issues in daily driving situations... its low, little hard to see, not very comfortable for long periods of time - 2+ hours... and the creature comforts are not there. I will agree that on a country road, with windows down its great fun... but in anything like traffic its not - its more frustrating and frightening as trucks wheels are at your eye level. I now have a 599 - with 3x the HP... and I agree its also a monster if you let it get that far, but its also great to drive - up in the mountains - it will entertain and SCARE the crap out of you if you let it. ideally I'd have the 328 and the 599... but wifey does not agree. the modern cars are just much more usable, and lets face it we all have to get from home to fun roads to enjoy any of our cars, and that is where the pain comes in. the 599 has its share of issues as well, just like any good sports car/ GT... its low, you scrape on anything, its huge - wide and tires fling up every stone and pebble around chipping the paint.

with the 328 you are always facing some form of Maintenance issue - belts, radiators or electrical issues. 599 is much the same - shocks, wheels, overfill with oil, etc.... and they will both cost $$$$ its just the name of the game. the one thing the 599 does that the 328 cant do anymore is impress from 5mph to 100 mph... you can do that in almost any space you can find. and be back at legal speeds like nothing happened. that is what is impressive ... the 328 beats the 599 ( and all modern Ferrari's ) as the car you can look at for hours on end. ....

 

We had one for 4 years, and I agree it is a beast... the old Porsche "whishen" skill is still needed, and the turbo while not as quick by today's standards, was well able to overpower the rest of the car. ours leaked oil a lot ... and got to the point where my dad got frustrated at cost of maintenance for so few miles..... wonder if the Dr. in Cleveland who bought it still has it?

 

Isn't leaking oil a German standard?

 

But they leak with German precision.

 

Young people feel indestructible. That is why they ride sport bikes without motorcycle licenses and drive poorly sorted out hotrodded cars. Both can kill you but at that young age they don’t feel it is possible. Frankly the most fun I have on the road is riding one of my bikes at 6-7/10s(albeit the sport bikes get shorter rides as my back, shoulders/wrists age). Over the last 10 years supercars have achieved near parity in acceleration and with similar fun if a convertible IMHO.
In other words same exhilaration with a better safety net.
Then over the last 2-3 years these cars now exceed most motorcycle acceleration numbers and have literally become too fast for their owners own good(hence all the driver aides baked into the cars). Who needs sub 10 sec quarter miles and 700+ horsepower-on the street and public roads- no one. I may want it as I’m sure many on this site do but unless you are on a closed course you are being a hooligan on 4 wheels if you are utilizing all that power and a poor ambassador to the Ferrari Brand.
A friend of mine, a retired Marine jet fighter pilot, drives like an old lady on the street. why?
He says after pulling multiple Gs and being slammed into his seat when he lights up the afterburners ( and saved from going unconscious with his G Suit) everything else is slow. This includes one’s own reaction time which is perilously close to the limit in these cars- especially on the public roads.
Will I lust after the 1000hp Ferrari - yeah- but if I do get it I’ll be lucky to drive it at 5/10ths- not challenging by any means and the older “analog” cars are more challenging/engaging-just don’t expect me to not want the latest/greatest/next Ferrari.


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Indeed. The oil spot in the driveway is always consistent within .002mm in either direction!

 

FWIW, one of the bike mags just tested 3 "adventure bikes".
BMW boxer twin, Ducati Multistrada + new HD "Pan American" or some such...

Harley won.

https://www.cycleworld.com/story/motorcycle-reviews/big-bore-adventure-shootout-comparison/?fbclid=IwAR1MbrHWeNsRQNdNVO5_-tb04DtoOqkmG7gvVn4dDkhuj-hcNGNP86e-ICk

 

Yeah, right? And fringed saddlebags.

 

Hi, I had a 328, but am thinking about a 599 at FOA. Have you enjoyed your 599, is it a keeper? Any other pro’s/cons is appreciated. Thanks

 

Or get really hurt.

But yes, vintage and small is a very visceral experience.


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Get another 328. 599 felt huge to me, and I suspect the repair and parts costs would be a worry. Plus the 328 will appreciate.

My two cents…


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Dale,

I had the 458 spider (same car as Steve’s) up at TOD last fall, and mixed it up, as it were, with numerous Miatas, Porsche’s, a few C8s and other high winged, wide tire cars. If you’re willing to push to 7-8 on your scale, the sheer hp of the 458 will do most of them in quite readily. In terms of fun factor (including the sound), I still think the F kills it.

Yes it oversteers and slides a bit (Michelin 4SPS), but is predictable if you’re careful with throttle modulation. Heat the tires and brakes up good (you can smell when the car is ready), and use CT off at your own peril, lol…….

William