They're like crack dealers now....they just keep pushing me!

So, I am invited on a drive up to Vancouver, BC yesterday with Romeo and Albert to Weissach Motorsports. Yup, time for their first oil change, and Albert wants a Tubi installed. "Sure why not", is always my response, and off we go...up I-5 Friday morning, me in the middle of this yellow Lambo "sandwich". Glorious sunshine awaits us in Vancouver, definitely the Westcoast's most beautiful city. Drop off the cars, and we set about on Burrard St., visiting the various car dealers, Porsche, Bentley, Aston Martin, Lexus, Land Rover, etc. Later, two yellow Lambo Murcies show up (one a roadster) along with a yellow Enzo, all with Alberta plates, on their way back from the Scuderia Rampage in Las Vegas. They receive oil changes and a quick wash.

We catch the action along Robson St. in the afternoon, enjoying a nice beverage as we survey the view (great view btw). Are those two "bumps" forming in the tops of their heads? (remembering Cmac's comments of possible horns and pitchforks, but I think it is just my imagination, these are my friend's right?)

Back at the dealership, we watch as the cars are buttoned up, as casual comments are thrown my way..."gee Dave, they have a nice blue one over there...take a look". Yes, it's nice, but not for me....is my now canned response. Asgar (the owner) is now asking about my 355, "I would really like to buy your spider" No, no thanks.... Quickly I suggest we pack up and head for the border...we go. Woo, dodged that bullet.

Just south of the Massey Tunnel (under the Fraser river) we decide to stop at the Riverfront Restaurant (on Asgar's recommendation)for some dinner. Great place, and then it happens..."Dave, you really need to drive our cars" "It's no big deal, you just need to experience it". "It is really a different driving experience from a Ferrari". Starting to sound like crack dealers huh? What's next? "Gee Dave, you won't get hooked, everyone is doing it".....yeah, right!

Alright, back on the road, through the border, (no problems) and continue down I-5 to a rest stop. Then it happens...Romeo comes over, "Dave, take my car, we can switch again at the next rest stop"....uh oh. The peer pressure is too much, my will is breaking.....I CAVE IN! So I slip into the seats....very much like the CS seats, very deep bolsters, quite comfortable. You feel very low...probably because the door sills, dash and center console are rather high. It feels like being in a fighter jet. The red gauge layout and instruments reinforce the fighter jet feel. Surprisingly, outward vision is quite good. It was dark out, so I could not fully gauge the view back past the c-pillar, but it looked okay. I work the window switch...WOW they move up and down in a few seconds! No "preplanning" a couple minutes before I need to open the window, like Ferraris of the past.

So, I release the parking brake, and slip it into gear....clutch travel is longish, by comparison, and very light...like a 3 series BMW. I give it some gas, and a smooth rush of power....still loud exhaust noise, but no bark like a Ferrari. I move toward the on ramp, in the lead...the short nose of the car is a neat feeling (hey, I'm not supposed to like this!), and hit the throttle....BIG push in the back as the engine spools up....being a coupe it is much quieter than my spider. The engine is very turbine like in response. Third gear, then fourth gear, hey, I'm doing 125! And I lift on the throttle and drop into 5th....wow, cool rush of power....and that turbine sound while foreign, is pretty cool in it's own right. The ride is stiff, in fact it feels stiffer than my 355, yet it is very compliant...you don't feel every bump and joint in the road surface. In other words it is very comfortable. The interior is very tight, and free of squeeks and rattles. Like a Ferrari, everything is finished in leather. But foremost feature is while loafing in 5th gear, if I downshift to fourth, the car pulls with WAY more authority than my 355.

Power IS corrupting....and I now have been corrupted! My innocence is gone.....I have seen the "dark side"...and, well....I admit it...they have it pretty good over there! Those evil bastards! Fortunate for me, my will is strong. I will begin weekly visits to Ferrari of Seattle, as they give me the strength to fight this evil menace!

PS: From now on, I will wear Ferrari clothes in Albert and Romeo's presence, much like one would wear a cross in the presence of vampires. You have been warned.

 

Albert,
All joking aside, I agree completely. I too am an enthusiast of all cars, and with the Lamborghini, I feel they are more a "cousin" to the Ferrari line, rather than a competitor. So to me, you and Rome are still "family"...and you know how it is with Italians, if you are considered "family", well....you're in with me!

 

Kurt,
What color? The Miura is my all time favorite exotic. Probably not the best handling, driving, exotic around, but awesome to look at.

Dave

 

Thanks Kuzi, I'm trying...I visited FoS on Saturday (my now weekly visit to "confessional")... I absolved my sins to Roberto, he said I needed to run to redline in the first four gears of the spider....and I'm good!