Poor neglected Ferrari's

Just finished reading the new Ferrari Market Letter, and it struck me that there are so many cars with so few miles. How sad to have a car such as these just sitting in the garage for fear that it might lose a few $k in resale value. Someone posted recently what a great antidepressant he feels his car is. I agree and find the driving experience a joyous occassion and rarely does it last less than at least 50 miles and usually 100. Just for the sake of argument, say my average drive is 75 miles. That means that for most of these garage queens, I get to take 20 drives per year IF I don't ever go on a trip God forbid!!
(For those of us who drove to the Rampage, well my friends, your time is up. Put her away and lock the keys till next year)
Now if I were to get really daring, I might take my 20 drives and add on a trip to San Francisco racking up, say, another 500 miles.
For me, I have two other cars, do not commute to work and rarely do I NEED to drive very far. Yet, even armed with the intention of driving another vehicle(one of which is not only topless, fast but very very fun too) I often inexplicably end up in the fcar. Many times I don't even know where I am going. All I know is I am most likely going there fast, with the most amazing sounding automotive orchestra wailing away just behind my back, and in one stunningly beautiful and sexy package. And I have to ask, how can it be left sitting in the garage???(All the multiple owners are excused, especially 3 or more cars, for the low mileage!)
Though I do joke, I do not mean to embarass or belittle, please do not get me wrong. I am serious in this question and await your replies.
Maybe we need a support group to help the garage queen owners venture out more....
Hi, my name is John. I drove my Ferrari 3 times this week, and I have been driving for 32 weeks now. One day at a time.

Anyway, I do hope you all enjoy your next drive and please think of me when it is time to turnaround for home and go a few extra miles, ok?
Dr. "I just can't keep the miles off" J

 

Like John says this car was meant to be enjoyed. I challege anyone on this board that parks their car to take a 1500 mi. trip. Like the Rampage trip. You will be changed and kick yourself for not having done it earlier. It's very cheap couch time. I came away with an entirely different perspective for what this car was meant for.

Hi, my name is Dave and I drove 200 mi this week.

 

As someone who always has a low mileage weekend sports car, I'm guilty. I get a rush out of seeing immaculate, time-capsule cars out on the road though, and limiting the mileage is one way of keeping the cars around for a long time. I drove an '86 560SL last year, with 18,000 miles on it - beautiful car, red/tan, nearly mint. Not a real white-knuckled kind of drive, but it gave me some real perspective on old versus new, what we've lost and gained, etc. And -- it was the only one on the road in La Jolla, where new SL's are common.

Would it be better if all the 355's were driven 20,000 miles a year and scrapped by 2010? (Rhetorical question, but I can see the case for driving the cars fewer miles and cherishing those.)

I would be disappointed to turn 60 years old and only be able to see a 308 or TR in a museum.

My .02. Nothing wrong with driving the cr@p out of your car, but I'm glad for those who don't.

 

Well theres a good and valid point and I must admit I love to see pristine "as new" cars as well, just don't have the self control when the keys are in my pocket!!. Too bad we aren't neighbors, we could hang out in your garage and enjoy the unused perfection and then go for a romping drive in my car!

 

Hi John:
My name is Lee, and I used to save my cars too. Sadly, I saved them for the poor bastard that bought'em from me. So, screw him, I drive the crap out of them now. Warm 'em up, then drive 'em like ya stole'em. My Shark is the best running car I own, gets used on short commute to office, but really thrives on the 300mile "drive the tank" loops out in the hill country.
The Z8 was Ok for that, but it really did not hold up as well as my M5 did, with far fewer miles. Pretty car, but M5 had 48K, ran better and more trouble free than Z8 with 9k, same drivetrain.
When I lived up north, we had to store cars Oct-April, kept miles low. I still would sneak stuff out in February after hard freeze, dry roads/no salt, and run crap out of them for a tankful or 2. Now, sunbelt obviates that need, no excuse NOT to drive. So I do.

 

I only put a few hundred miles on the 365 and Mongo last year. Probably will be the same next year. But that's what happens when you're 8000 miles away from them.

Plan to make up for it in a big way when I am based stateside next year.

 

My .02. Nothing wrong with driving the cr@p out of your car, but I'm glad for those who don't.[/QUOTE]

Driving regularly doesn't have to be driving the cr@p out of it - I try not to start my car unless it's going to be run for an hour at least. Drive it weekly whether I want to or not mostly loping along at 110k / 3250rpm with the occassional Italian tune-up section or track day to make sure the tacho needle sees the right side of the dial! Also do a long trip every now and then (3000k over 4 days without a problem apart from 2 fouled plugs due to dodgy fuel). End result - basically very happy trouble free running for nearly 3 years now in a 25 year old car that gets a basic service/look over every 6 months or so.

No one ever died wishing they had more money in the bank but I'll die happy having driven my dream car over some of the best roads and tracks in the country. My A$.015!

 

My 3 cars have to perform duty as semi-daily drivers. Sometimes I wake up and feel like driving the Countach or the 308 or some days it's just the Boxster. It's easier for me since my commutes and errands can be done inbetween rush hour or afterhours. Most of the time they get redlined either on a freeway onramp up to 3rd or even 4th gear and ALWAYS up a steep curve road behind my house-so long as no one is in front of me

When they're worn out, I'll rebuild & restore. There's a guy in the suburbs east of LA who has 5 older Ferraris and each one gets used as a part-time daily driver. For me it's a quality of life issue

 

I use the phrase…”exercise them”.

Of all people I should be the last to speak because often times I find one or more of my cars that remain in my facility for month after month ….sometimes longer ….however I am also one of the first to share that they truly like to be exercised; simply driven on a regular basis. Besides if I don’t drive them it take me forever just to remember which one has which feature and what light means what and how the flippen alarm works……oh well the price we pay for having more than one car.

The last Fcar that I used nearly every day was my TR. She was out all the time, down the street, across town, or for simply a long cruise. She was big, stable when traveling at a pretty fair clip, blew reasonably cold air, and she loved to have her legs stretched. Since that time whether Fcars, the Z8, or ???? they have become more like pieces of art; my friends regularly make me very aware of this …….. I find myself jumping in the frumpy ol hummer……she sits ready, never perfectly clean, and somehow I always convince myself that moving a car, having to wash one upon returning, or ?? is just too much work…besides heaven forbid I make get a rock chip..

So I continue to keep the battery tenders plugged in and promise them (the cars) that tomorrow will be the big day that everything changes.

I am not getting any younger and yes I love the way they look when everything is perfect however to a car when I see one with a little rash here or there…not abuse…..just simple signs of use I always smile and say “I wish I could do that to”. Having shared this I think it is time to unplug the battery tenders, warm the oil, and see if a bit of time on the highway will remove the flat spots in tires.

The only comment that caused me to cringe was the one that had to do with running the cr@p out of them…..hummmm….. I think if driven as designed it may feel that way but doing so is not necessary to have a fricken blast.

Instead I would simply say unplug her, fire and warm her up, and then mutually find the sweet spot that you and your gal feel comfortable with. Darn, they like to roll and this is what they were built to do.

Take care

Shadowman

 

FWIW: Just yesterday (yes, I did drive the 328 to work yesterday -- and will today too), I was remembering how annoyed I used to get, as a younger man, that all the Ferraris seemed to be driven by old fogies.

Now I are one.

And I was thinking -- I should'a bought one ten years earlier.

News flash: life doesn't last forever: Make the most of it.

 

My 328 has been my daily driver for most of the last year. As I am moving out of country next month, it will be stored and not used for possibly some years.
I am happy not to have spared it for tomorrow, as tomorrow it will not be driven...
Enjoy your toys today, tomorrow is always uncertain.
Ciao
Eugenio

 

Great feedback, you gotta love this board!!
Dave, I know you enjoy your car!!!
Lee, I envy you the great roads that fit the shark. My coastal conditions are just a bit tight for optimum shark patrolling. I do agree about ownership and miles, my 550 with less than 4k on it in over 5+ years was the most expensive car to maintain. And like you, after I was done, she had almost 10k on the clock was fully exorcised of mechanical demons and the next guy will score. The only way I would buy another low miles garage queen is if I know the owner and his habits first hand and am satisified with all the storage, maintainance practices, etc.

Judge4re, I hope you get stateside soon and get to make the next rampage!
Karen, not to be sexist, but I do love to see women behind the wheels of Ferraris and other exotics. My sweethearts daily driver is a beautiful 69 Karmann Ghia and I have always felt its too bad more women don't get to enjoy cool cars.
FA, nice, nice mix of cars. Something for each and every day!
Shadowman, great comments. I figure if you have enough cars that remembering how a specific one works is a problem, you might need help with the stable. I bet it would not be difficult to enlist some drivers from our eager board pool!!! go ahead, unplug one today for me, ok?
DGS, well I guess I are soon one too....
Eugenio, very good point, in my work(resort) I run into people all the time who worked and saved for the day they could relax and enjoy. Well guess what, when the day finally arrived they were too spent healthwise to enjoy it anymore. Sad. And to a person, they say the same thing, do it now!
So hey, enjoy it today.

 

JUST TURNED IN MY 360 YR. 2000-8000 MILES FOR THE F430.THE CAR WAS PRISTINE-THE PERSON WHO GETS IT IS GETTING A GREAT CAR.MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT I DID NOT DRIVE IT ENOUGHT.JUST GOT THE F430 TWO WEEKS AGO-525 MILES ON IT SO FAR-THE CAR IS MADE TO BE DRIVEN.I WILL STILL TAKE CARE OF IT AS I DID WITH MY 360-BUT THIS ONE I AM GOING TO DRIVE . VAN

 

I'm more curious as to why people seem to make it their business as to whether people drive their cars or not? Who gives a shlt. What you decide to do with your car is a personal choice and so be it. Personally I fall in a 3 - 5K per year category. Not too much and not too little and I'm OK with that. Do what you want with your car as long as you enjoy it.

 

Just like you, I am curious. Hell, maybe even nosy. After seeing the awesome collection at the rampage and seeing so many different cars with drivers from all walks of life its interesting to me to understand the whys and wherefors of exotic car ownership and use. Thats what chat forums are for-discussions.

 

This caught my eye. Do you mean cheap gas that didn't have additives? Do you mean it may have had moisture? Or maybe you bought premium but suspect it was regular?

Please expand on the relationship between fouled plugs and gas quality; I've been scratching my head with a fouling plug and I always get my gas from the same place. I wonder if another station may help.

Thanks,
Ken

 

I am guilty too.

 

Well Paul, lucky for you I belive in rehab rather than punishment!! How does a nice weekend drive sound or a trip up to NC to run the dragon?

 

100% agreement!!! What an owner does with his/her car is their business - nobody else's.

Back in the 80's, I was criticized for driving my old 330 GTC every day. I was told that I should protect my investment. They were told to mind their own damn business.

A car is meant to be driven - period. Why save it for the next owner? When I bought my 1967 ALFA, it was 24 years old and had 31,000 miles on it. I put almost that many on it in the first three years I owned it.

I don't care what brand it is. If I had an ALFA 8C2900 or a Bugatti, I would not hesitate to drive them. If a car breaks, fix it. If you can't afford to, then sell it to someone who can. BUT, you can say that you've gotten many pleasurable miles out of it. THAT, in my opinion, is what sport/GT cars are all about.

When I was very active in FCA, there was a guy who would bring his 308 to the track on a trailer. He would winch it off, let it sit all day and then winch it back on. I do not recall ever having heard it run! Lots of fun, isn't it?

Bob Z.

by the way, I still have the 330 and I'm still driving it. As I've mentioned in other posts, as soon as it hits 200,000 miles, I will rebuild it. It's getting close!

 

My name is Scott, and I only put 2900 miles on my 360 during its first year with me. But, that includes 4 track days )). Hopefully that counts for a little redemption.

 

I'm in the <2500mi group ... but then I have a 1969 car. And ... I want to enjoy her for another 20 yrs (at least) Parts, as we all know, are extremely difficult to find for the older cars ... so my whole approach to Ferrari ownership is a balancing act. I drive her enough to have fun, and keep her conditioned ... but save her enough so she'll last "forever".

She's definitely not neglected ... she's vintage, and handled (but with care)

 

Good reasoning all the way around. I was really referring to the modern cars when I started the thread.
Scotty, track days most certainly count at least triple from my experience, both in pleasure AND maintanance!
Bob Z, I nominate you for Ferrari driving hero status!! Any pics of the road warrior you could share?

 

I have to agree with you John on this, these cars are meant to be driven. I average about 2500 miles a year and have for 20 years. My current fcar is a 355C that I drive as often as I can. I have left the car in about the same set up as it was when it was raced, street tires, removing graphics and raised about an inch and a lot TLC are the only changes. No matter how old or worn out Ferraris get they will always be brought back to life by someone, we are just care takers of these pieces art work. Unless they are completely destoyed someone like me will rebuild them. Look how unloved the GTOs were and every one of them still exits today. So drive them some one will restore them for next generation to enjoy and ware out and rebuild and so on. Another part of my enjoyment of ferraris is maintaining them. Everyone that owns one should learn to do the maintanence themselves you will be amazed at the sense of accomplishment you get from doing it yourself (sorry Rifledriver). The excitement of driving is not the only way of being part of the machine. Climbing in and around these cars, you will be amazed by the Italian art work on the "inside" of the sheet metal.

 

Here are a few shots. If you look closely at the side view, you'll see a model airplane inside. There's another one in the trunk. I even use the car for model plane contests.
Bob Z.
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I think that this is a good way to describe it "a balancing act." Use of the car can be dictated by however an owner weighs this balance. Factors include fun, keeping the car exercised vs servicing, unexpected repair costs, exorbitant parts costs, time to drive, risk of vandalism and whatever else.