Taking a Break from the Maranello World

Hi all,

I thought I would share that I recently made the difficult decision to part with my 2004 nero/nero 575m and sold it to a local enthusiast/collector.

The Maranello has long been a dream car of mine and this one practically fell in my lap when I bought one on Bring a Trailer with my first bid on the platform in fall 2020. As the timer ticked down to zero, I fully expected to get a RNM notice, but to my surprise I won the auction. I transported it up from Houston to Vermont and immediately started the process of bringing it back to life mechanically - new belts, seals, pumps, shock towers, new Conti Extreme Contacts, etc. I was incredibly lucky - the car I bought was essentially as advertised - there were no major surprises lurking for me.

Over the last 18 mo, I put nearly 3000 mostly glorious miles on it. I love the V12 and came to enjoy the F1 transmission - I am now part of the small minority that actually thinks the F1 is under appreciated by enthusiasts. The car was very reliable - never left me stranded. It was a total blast to drive. The sound and power of the V12 are simply glorious.

The decision to sell was not an easy one, but it came down to a few factors. First, I live on a dirt road and driving black F-car the mile to pavement was both a bit unnerving with rocks/debris/potholes and also irritating as black shows every little bit of dirt or dust. Second, I also recently bought a couple of cars - a '72 Alfa Romeo 2000GTV and a '17 911 Carrera S Cab. The Alfa is the perfect Vermont backroads car- it feels like a shot of espresso every time I drive it. Meanwhile, 911s have become so luxurious that they are basically GT cars in a lot of ways - filling the same role as the Maranello for road trips with the wife.

One of the best parts of Maranello ownership has been getting to know this F-Chat community. This group of Maranello enthusiasts here is simply amazing- incredibly knowledgable and supportive. I have learned a tremendous amount from @tazandjan and have enjoyed connecting with folks like @Ferrari55whoa and @Laserguru. Thank you!

While I am taking a break from Maranello ownership, I doubt it will be a permanent departure and that I will own another one of these wonderful machines down the line. In the meantime, I will continue to be part of the F-Chat community and look forward to staying in touch with all of you.

Best,
Steve