Michigan Spotters Thread

Jeff is correct when he says I didn't like the dual clutch tranny, at least not in a real sports car. Way too smooth - it may as well be an automatic. I can see why he likes it for what he uses the M3 for - a daily driver.

But in a true sports car? The 599 shifts as fast as I would care to shift. I like the feel of the shift.

I should get to drive a Scuderia very soon............I will report on how a 60ms shift feels compared to a 100ms shift of a 599.

 

I have driven a couple of DSG equipped cars(GTI, TT and Diesel Smart) and I really did enjoy the transmission but I feel I would get bored with it over time. Now maybe if I drove an M3 with the Dual clutch transmission I would think differently The only F1 Transmission car I have been in was a 599 GTB. Even though I did not drive it I was blown away by the car and more specifically the transmission. The shifts were incredibly quick and almost punishing in a good way. When you shift a true manual you almost always feel it in the drivers seat. In a DSG equipped car you do not really feel the shift. Sure it may shift faster but you lose some of the fun of shifting the gears yourself.

I believe Ferrari is working on slowing down the shift times on the new California and by doing so they believe this will enable the driver to feel the transmission shift into another gear. I do think a Dual Clutch gearbox is the future. Longer clutch life and increased fuel mileage is definitely a positive. I anticipate manufacturers will figure out how to make a dual clutch gearbox more involving and entertaining in the future. It will be interesting to see if Porsche has done so with its PDK gearbox.

 

was this you on novi road yesterday?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Yes, unless someone else with an R8 has crazy hair like mine hah

Don't recall seeing a 355 next to me. What were you in?

 

Audi R8 spotted along Auburn Rd. and Adams Rd., Rochester Hills....Sorry William! I guess it is not somebody with a crazy hair...too BAD for such a nice car to have to go through such ugly roads in michigan...
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Yeah, you can spot mine by my hair or the lack of teh 'R8.' I have just the rings.

Eh, I've driven mine down dirt roads. Just a car

 

I saw a Rosso Corsa Testarossa heading south bound on Schoenherr turning East on 22 mile today at around 5:30 p.m. had a vanity plate that I believe was the name of a local construction company. Nice looking car and a nice day to have it out and about.

 

So I was headed south on Telegraph this afternoon and decided to pull in to the BASF building to have a closer look at this gullwing.

It is a bucket list car for me, but the wheels I'm not liking too much.

Thoughts?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

All black Ford GT at US 23 and M 14

 

I think that was a Chip Foose done car.

http://www.gtspirit.com/2011/11/03/sema-2011-basf-mercedes-benz-300-sl-by-foose-design/

 

Must be Ferrari Friday. Saw this at work today.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Going through some old files, and found this gem from my friends at Cauley Ferrari. This was the 599 featured in the One Lap America challenge.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

This is at Cauley right now.

Chris
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Hard to tell in that light….is it viola or blue?

Did not know we had a Daytona in that color in West Bloomfield or in MI for that matter..

 

I will have to go visit Jeff this week. What a beauty. I have not seen that car on the road ever in the area. Is it for sale? I can only imagine what that beast sounds like WOT!

 

It's blue. I think it's a customer's car, sometimes they do that - bring in a highly significant Ferrari in their showroom to get peoples' attention. It had a Michigan license plate on it.

Chris

 

Royal Oak (Main St) taken back in July. Mine is the TR. I'm sure the 360 belongs to someone here. Apologies for the grainy pic.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I know that strip of R.O. pretty well!!

Nice TR.

 

Thanks Steve, I can't wait to rip through it again this Spring

 

is that a Scud? nice TR btw! I hope to see it this year.

 

Thanks James. Amazing how low the TR looks compared to the 360. I think the camera angle may have a little to do with that.

 

It is not for sale. It was in our shop to undergo Ferrari's "Classiche" program.....

 

When I was there in late December (Christmas time) I saw…

Alfa Romeo test cars @ the Chrysler HQ
Audi R8 / RS7 / RS5 / RS5 Vert' at the Audi HQ
Rolls Royce Silver Seraph in Birmingham
Bentley Continental in Birmingham
Fisker Karma @ Somerset Collection
Audi RS7 in Birmingham!

Can't wait to go back in summer!

 

I live in SE Michigan and post regularly on my car blog with sightings- the URL is motorcitycars.tumblr.com

I saw three Tesla Model Ss in Northville last week, all parked together.

 

I saw an Alfa 4C today, sorry for the bad photo but it took me by surprise. I had the windows opened only a crack and was sitting in traffic when it came by. I couldn't believe it at first! Sounded like a proper car, too.

Image Unavailable, Please Login