Owning a Ferrari in the Mountains

For as many exotics as I see in Breck, I don't think you have much to worry about. Besides, Summit County is getting so built out with so many full time residents, that, while I don't think you'll be "lost" in a sea of people, it isn't exactly an "everyone knows everyone" kind of place any more.

 

I spend a lot of time in Breck in the winter. In summer it can be kind of a ghost town. I guess the answer to your question has to do with how anal you would be about your car and road conditions? Even in spring and sometimes early fall there are short snow storms, which are fairly predictable, but you'll still only have your car out for half a year which I guess is more common on the upper east coast.

I don't think anyone would care much if you have a Ferrari or not. Breck is pretty upscale except for the row of trailers down on Airport rd and a few other trailer spots nearby. Nothing to get really concerned about to me.

I owned a Ferrari cab in Evergreen for about 4 years and my only complaint was that I didn't get to drive it often enough. I don't think a 911 cab would be any better or worse. Get what you really want to drive.

 

As far as I know, I have the only two Ferraris in Chaffee county. I know Summit county has far more. People are happy to see them! I feel sorry for people who have Ferraris and DON'T have mountains to drive in. You should be mentally prepared for the fact that you will have a lot less power than you are used to due to the altitude. However, I can report firsthand that 430s still have ample power. If you don't already know, Colorado is the epicenter for rock chips and pitted and broken windshields and I'm talking about summer! It's just the price for living here.

Colorado is a special place. Welcome.

Dave

 

Make sure your brakes are in great condition. My recollection is that the highway out to Breck has crazy long declines.

Have fun!

 

I remember your thread about building your home up there. One of your neighbors is one of my best friends. He has several ultra high end cars and takes them up there regularly in the summer. I took my Carrera GT there one summer, parked it all over town and no one cared. One drive across Loveland Pass or Swan Mountain Road and you'll be glad you have it there. Power loss at that elevation is very noticeable - especially if you're at sea level now (Potomac, MD???). Just protect the paint and expect eventual windshield chips.

 

Yep, still have it but may not for much longer as Dallas is getting hammered with tornados right NOW.

Friend's cars "live" in Castle Rock (Denver) but he drives them to his house in the Highlands in Breck all the time. He's just one street over from you.

Don't know what our summer plans are yet, but will knock on your door if we're there! Thanks.

 

I drive my F355 Spider to my condo in Winter Park in the summer and its just amazing driving in the mountains. Being able to drive up canyon roads was one of the reasons I bought the car. I don't really care about the power loss, it still handles the same and still makes all the right noises. I've gone plenty fast enough up Berthoud Pass even with the high altitude power adjustment. I also have a Porsche 930 turbo and it too looses some power up at 11,000 ft, but not as bad. For me owning a Ferrari in the mountains is great and something to look forward to when the skiing ends for the season.

 

I think the only real downside is not being able to drive for more than six-seven months out of the year. During the other months the roads are just too snow packed or recently snow packed to drive.

Yes the horsepower will be down but just about any Ferrari is plenty fast for the mountain roads. The past weekend was really nice so I took a drive down 285 to Fairplay and across to Breakenridge. Totally, completely epic.

I agree with Dave, most people in CO seem to like seeing a Ferrari roll through town.

-F

 

Me too. Shame I don't have an exotic currently. I think it surprises many that CR is loaded with nice cars.

You didn't catch on fire going through Conifer?

 

must be nice to be able to stay with the speed limit! when it says minimum speed 55... i can only do 45 in my 90 hp 1.4 civic! love seeing fcars on the mountain roads, none the less through town

 

It's early April and today would be a great day to drive a 430 in Breck. I don't think your car would be unusable as much as you might think. I'm in Keystone today and the weather is glorious!

 

Vail local with a Stradale. I've had no issues.

You've pinpointed the fact that the car's in the garage for an extended period, though. And, actually, as you probably also know, gravel and MgCl is used on the roads in the Winter, which means that you'll want to wait until the gravel clears. This may be even later than May, depending. We don't have a clear shield on the car, and a re-paint will be necessary at some point.

While Vail is perhaps more posh than Breck, I don't think people would judge you based on that. You might get a few of the more grittier locals complaining, but there will be someone envious wherever you are with a Ferrari.

CW

 

This morning it was 20 degrees in Vail. Last week it was in the mid 60's. Spring in the mountains...

CW

 

Rosso Scuderia. No stripe.

CW

 

I'm shipping out my black 360 Spider to our home in the Vail valley in the next few weeks. Would love to meet up.

SS....I too remember your house building thread; it was epic.

 

Not going anywhere for a while, so that's a possibility.

And, the good news is that the road work in the area is finally winding down (if not totally done yet). The car guys were doing an informal C&C in Edwards, but the round-about construction was enough to repel anyone!

CW

 

That's too bad. I'm sipping coffee in Edwards right now!

 

I live in Vail Village, and had my coffee this morning early. It's like a bomb goes off each night in town. Our south-of-the-border guests leave me speechless. Sleepless, too!

CW