Karl Brauer: The De-Evolution of Ferrari | FerrariChat
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Karl Brauer: The De-Evolution of Ferrari

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Bullfighter, Mar 16, 2008.

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  1. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,596
    Gates Mills, Ohio
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    Jon
    #1 Bullfighter, Mar 16, 2008
    Hopefully not a repost:

    http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/746

    Some interesting stuff about why Karl isn't into Ferraris anymore. Of course, he's a muscle car guy and has the retro-knockoff Ford GT, so I suspect some bias...

    (And I didn't realize Bentley sold over 10,000 cars in 2007...)
     
  2. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2006
    4,866
    Atlantic Beach Fl
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    Stuart K. Hicks
    #2 climb, Mar 17, 2008
    He makes some good points.

    I think Ferrari's stategy should be to make more of a handmade car than a more mass produced one.
     
  3. Tony K

    Tony K Formula 3

    Jun 7, 2006
    1,778
    USA
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    Tony K.
    #3 Tony K, Mar 17, 2008
    Regarding mass production, this is the same complaint that people had about Dinos and 308s back in the day, why jacka$$es like Keith Martin say things like "no V8 Ferrari will ever be a collectible car." The truth is that Ferrari production numbers over the make's (oh, sorry, I mean "marque's") history have increased just like a stock index -- up some, down a little, up some more, down a little, but ultimately up. So the aging baby boomers who fawn over 250s and lament the "mass produced" 308s and 348s will be replaced by another generation lamenting the days of the hand-built, monocoque 308s and 348s which have been replaced by unibody 430s, etc., in greater quantities.

    As for the styling, well, that's what years of crying "WAAHHHH, it's hard to get in and out of," and "only fit for the lithe" will get you. But I do agree. An exotic car today doesn't look as exotic alongside more common machinery as exotics did in any previous decade.

    As for the performance, being only slightly better or getting its butt kicked by a mass-produced car is nothing new. Need we be reminded of 175-hp Dinos and 205-hp 308s?
     
  4. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
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    HUBBSTER
    #4 WILLIAM H, Mar 17, 2008
    F40 LOL
     
  5. Cyclenirvana

    Cyclenirvana Karting

    Feb 4, 2006
    201
    North Carolina
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    Ethan
    #5 Cyclenirvana, Mar 17, 2008
    I don't think this has anything to do with Ferraris per se but just that there are simply more choices out there than ever before. I mean think about all the new exotic sports cars that have come out in the last decade: Lambo gallardo, retro knock-off Ford GT (couldn't resist), Aston Martin Vantage, Audi R8, C6 ZO6, Lotus Exige S, GT3RS, not to mention new members of the old guard, Porsche turbo and GT2. Ok, some may not consider all of these exotic, but many potential buyers of a new Ferrari would look at this list and see many more affordable cars with noncompromising performance. As someone else mentioned, the Nissan GT-R will be out soon and will likely also be a very capable performer.
     

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