Nearly taken out twice in 30 days.

Sorry to hear about your close calls. Just be thankful you aren't riding a motorcycle, because that kind of thing happens all the time and if you are hit it is going to hurt a lot more!

 

This is common, even in Los Angeles, get used to it. Defensive driving, 24 7

 

I used to live in LA, and all I can say is be careful! Not every driver is like you. Definitely defensive driving, especially with your F car!

 

defensive driving +1. I developed a sixth sense, seriously, I can always tell who might potentially make a lane change.

 

It's happening all around the world. People are so often taken up by other things than driving. Modern cars also make you feel much more safe so people tend to realise less that driving is still a dangerous thing to do. I am afraid this is a development that is here to stay...

 

It's a challenge maintaining space as there is inevitably someone up your ass. I just leave tons of space in front so I don't get rear ended by gawkers and always keep out of blind spots. Although the blind spot for teenage girls is roughly 270 degrees Glad you weren't broad-sided.

Gordon

 

see u are in CA, hate to say it but southern CA area has the worst, most aggressive, angry, type A, inconsiderite, inattentive drivers I have encountered anywhere on the planet. And this even in the rich Malibu area, where I stayed for a driving vacation with my 360 last winter.

I know things are bad there, but really, the drivers were, in general so rude, aggressive to the point of being violent (without provocation), and bad, that it made me NEVER want to return again, even though the Mal mountains have some of the most beautiful driving roads in the world.

Thank God you did not get hurt with those 2 incidents. Try if possible to drive AWAY from the crowded areas, if at all possible.

 

Try to drive here in Puerto Rico!

 

Had problems with people visualizing me in the 308 from up there in the SUV.

Same issues with the 360.

They ride your ass to get a good look or stay on the side of you to look at the cars profile.

The best really is to slow down.

I know that is counter productive to the Ferrari image and all that but it is safer than trying to avoid them by Zooming ahead.

They feel cool because they "beat out" a Ferrari but who cares.

Yours,

Tom

 

great advice Tom, that's exactly what I do when I get some idiot riding my ass or staying parallel to stare (while driving) or try and race.

Eventually they give up and take off, thinking they have accomplished something in life by going faster than the Ferrari.

But in this case it was more just a completely preoccupied and inattentive driver, in both instances was a woman. Reminds me, had almost completely forgotten, while in LA area last year had a woman driver, on cell phone, roll right thru a 4 -way stop at a good 25mph, about 10 yards in front of me. Had I been 15 seconds earlier, she would have sideswiped me.

 

when you see their left hand drop off the steering wheel - you can bet that a lane change is about to happen...

rgds,
Vincenzo

 

Yea, its great ain't it!!! Wait until you seem them driving next to you trying to take pictures!!!

I won't even bring up the people that want to race you!! Just be aware at all times and you will be fine.

Or drive only two lane roads!!

 

When in traffic, I always try to make sure I do not cruise next to another car or get in a blind spot. These are not guarantees of course since some think mirrors are only for applying makeup. When I get tail gated, I open up more space in front of me to make sure that in an emergency the idiot behind me will be able to stop without hitting me.

Dave

 

Driving in the CS is a bit of a challenge with gawkers who either tail gate or drive in the blind spot. But as bad as the CS is, try the same journey in an F40! Yikes!

It's just part of the package.

 

Nice tip; never thought of that one before. I usually watch for some combo of head turning or wheel turning before they get out of their lane.

 

Chris- Make sure you know where the horn button is because it can be a help as long as nobody shoots at you. Hidden in the rim like it is, the normal tendency to hit the steering wheel center is counterproductive, to say the least.

You say you have a red Ferrari and people notice it? Now, who would believe that?

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Had someone cut in front of me making a left turn today. It was if they deliberately did it. Locked up the brakes and they just drove away. It was in a classic car so they may have misjudged the speed I was going?

Driving an F-car in town is a little nerve racking. The red cars really are a challenge to other drivers and that's the kind of reaction you're seeing. You really have to be on your toes as the car is seen as a target.

 

These things happen all the time with or without the Ferrari.

 

Agreed, happens with or without an F-Car. Idiots exist in abundance. Anybody and everybody can get behind the wheel these days. Which is why insurance premiums keep going up even when law-abiding drivers practice the highest level of caution during daily driving. We, the good ones, pay coz some bastard is out there running the lights, crashing their rides and hurting innocent ones on our roads.

 

In the late 80s I rented a 328 GTS in So. Calif.

Once, when I drove down the freeway I was escorted by 4 Corvettes. One in front, one in back and one on each side.

People like to race you. Just ignore them and stay within the speed limit.

Yes, you must drive defensively. People in Calif are looking at your car and not on the road. Folks in Calif really like cars.

Enjoy. And my the horse be with you.

 

I've had the same exact experiences in my Ferrari, I sometime wonder if this thing is a disaster magnet? What puzzles me is how can anyone miss such bright red car?

On the flip side my daily driver a silver Porsche 911 is very stealthy that just blends in and I put in 10 times more miles on that car than the Ferrari but never an incident as close as my experiences in the Ferrari.

But I would have to say the most annoying would be cars behind me trying to get a closer look at the engine bay by creeping their car forward inches away from my rear bumper...