Really now, How are Ferrari engineered to be driven?

You always hear.....how enzo designed them to be driven.......but is it really true? Looking at the maintenance schedule for my 308 and F40, i would tend to believe this. But i wonder what the factory typifies the average ferrari driver to be. I hear so much discussion as to the new ferraris are targeted to a different owner/driver mentality. Which model is the cross over? Cali?
I can pretty much drive my 308 all out, but the F40 is another story.

 

I believe that Enzo designed them to be driven for one race season. Then promptly discarded. For some reason later owners of these cars are required to drive the crap out of them or they don't deserve to own one.

 

I have been told by two top shelf mechanics that Ferraris engines need to be driven hard at least occasionally, by design, and that they develop all sorts of problems if you just loaf around in them.

Personally, I am still suspicious that you really NEED to drive these cards hard. Its not like my 3.2 is a hot racing engine that barely idles.

But, hey, what the hell do I know... I am more than happy to follow my mechanics advice, and it gives me political cover when I want to get into her with the wife in the car

 

The factory expects the typical Ferrari owner to be wealthy enough to service the car more often than a Toyota.

In the meantime, you're encouraged to rev the engine, shift assertively and generally not drive like someone in a Toyota.

 

Ferraris are made to be driven hard and if you don't then problems will arise in the engine, so stretch its legs at least once when your out driving, so go through all 3 and possibly 4 gears if you can, stretch the legs, it won't hurt!

 

Maybe the really old ones or something. But the ones that I've owned (80s 308 and mondial) seem mechanically like any other car. CIS injection like on millions of VW Rabbits, mild cam timing, electronic ignition and modern spark plugs like on millions of cars, a regular 5 speed manual transmission like other cars (except maybe weaker than most), smallish brakes that seem to be off a regular BMW. Mechanically, it all seems like pretty standard stuff.

The do differ in the chassis, though. They don't have a unibody chassis and MacPherson struts, like 99% of all other cars from the 80s through today.

 

I share your observations. However, the mechanics I spoke to, including one from Algar, where specifically talking about mu Mondial 3.2.

 

i've noticed my cars, generally load up if i drive gingerly and short shift below 3000. My cars are so loud, through town i drive to be quiet. Even after a long freeway cruise of steady lower rpm cruise, i have to throttle it up fast once. Never dies, justs snorts and pops once, then gone.

 

I don't know if the new fuel injected cars with electronic ignitions need to be "blown out" as much. I do think that these cars need to be driven regularly (just like any other car) or else bad things will happen. (seals dry out, rubber parts crack, moisture in the oil, fuel, brake fluid starts to do bad things. You should get them out and get all the systems up to temperature at least once a month. I would run the windows up and down, wipers, make sure you turn the wheels lock to lock, open and close everything to keep hinges latches and locks working. Run all the electrical switches through the full range of motion. That kind of stuff. It will help the car last.

 

They make THAT noise.

That's enough engineering for me.