What was your first drive like?

first time was right after my 308 was delivered. i drove it from the bottom of the driveway into the garage. i don't remember my first real drive.

 

I'm struck buy the number of owner's who bought without driving first.
An expression of faith that few, if any, other marques can engender.

 

My first drive was a test drive of a 328 I was looking to buy(but ended up passing on). The first thing I noticed was it took a minute to figure out where everything was. Looked out the rearview mirror and saw not a whole lot there.

I hadn't driven a stick in a while and was hoping that I wouldn't embarass myself. For me, it was like riding a bike - no problem. Then I tried to push in the clutch, I realized that it is truly in a not so comfortable / natural position. It doesn't help that I'm 6'2".

After I got past that and got moving it went pretty well, but was not able to really get her up past 50 mph since we were not on the highway. The first time I ever really opened up the engine on a Ferrari was when I drove my car home from buying it. That was a great feeling / sound!

 

My experience was a bit different.

While in Europe, I found a dealership that sold used Ferraris about a mile or two from the front gate of my workplace. I went there on a semi-regular basis and got to know the people there. When I showed up they would just say "The doors are open, enjoy yourself" so I would find myself in a position to sit in and open any car they had in there. I would spend hours in there just marveling at they cars. I had told him that I planned to buy a Ferrari once I got back to the US. It made no sense for me to do it and then try to bring it back. The cost would just be not worth the difference.

Well, at one point he had a 89 308GTB, 90 TR, 90 and 91 348, 95-96 355, and maybe one or two other Ferraris. I showed up to wonder at the collection in the place and he asked which one I wanted to drive. I told him the 308 as that was always my dream car. So, he got the keys and took it out of the showroom. He got it warmed up, took my camera, and made a video of my first drive. I didnt stress it too much, I dont think I took it above 4k rpm, but I had the excitement of a school girl. I only went out on about a ten minute drive, but wow what fun it was. The car was 308GTB Red/Black #27009.

They also arranged for my first ride, a few weeks prior to that in one of the first 430 Scuderias off the line. The owner got to go through a driving course with M. Schumacher - I got the in-car video of that too!!

Once I got back to the states I started looking for a 308 and Randy McCall was kind enough to let me test drive my current car before I bought it. I pushed it a bit harder than I did the 79 GTB, but the top was off of (now) my 85 308 GTS QV and it was MUCH more fun. Since then I have gotten quite a bit more comfortable with the car (nearing the 2000 mile mark) and have definitely pushed the envelope with the tach quite a bit more than I had before.


PDG

 

I was 19 years old and parking cars to pay my way through school. It was a 308 and I could not believe the guy was letting me park it. I will never forget that day. Earlier this year(I am 43 yrs old) I purchased a 2000 456M.
It only took 24 years between drives.

 

1987 at age 17 my friend's dad had a 1963 Ferrari 330 America, the single head light saloon. It was born Silver but later repainted Fiorano. Under dad's supervision we went around the block. Lots of play in the steering wheel, shifted like a U-Hal truck and to big plumes of white smoke followed us. At that time valuse where on the way up and I was quite nervous. Last I heard of that car it may have went to Santo Pietro or Sheehan IIRC.

My first real drive was 30 miles in a tired 308 for whom I was house sitting. Both very memorable experiences.

 

What was My first drive like?

Tarmac and not that good either. After a few months it started to crumble away due to poor ground work (bloody pikeys and their cheap tarmac!).
Replaced it with a decent block paving job and now all is well!

 

I had ridden in plenty but driving mine for the first time was over the top. I was so excited I thought I would puke. The sitting behind the wheel, the starting of the engine, the exhaust note at idle, the navigating the gated shift, the blowing by truckers at way over the interstate speed limit just to hear her sing. I thought if I get caught at over 140mph it is worth it.

 

What a day for you Roberto!

 

So despite your father's warnings, you went out and drove like a bat out of hell anyway. Boy, I wonder why he was lecturing you before hand?

 

I was 16 at the time.

I was visiting a distant relative in California who has a lot of money. Somehow my love for Ferrari came up and lo and behold, this guy had a 612 (along with an S amg and a Bentley GT).

He took me for a drive through Newport Beach and then pulled into the entrance of his neighborhood. He stopped the car on the side of the road and asked me if I wanted to drive it. I almost said 'Oh no, I couldn't, I wouldn't be able to pay for anything I something went wrong." but that is the last problem in the world for this man. I couldn't hold my smile back and said, "I'd love to, but are you sure?", He said "Yeah, enjoy it!"

I drove it back to his place which was probably 1/4 of a mile away and didn't even go more than 40mph. I will NEVER forget that.

The 612 never was my favorite, but now it's been defaulted into the top 5.

 

Picture of the actual car shortly after the drive.
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Nice

 

My "First" drive was my friend's stepfather's 308 in 1984.

My first "real" drive (with intent and ability to act on it) was in 1998. I did about 10 miles in and around Century City in a 550 and, after a looooooong and sleepless night, had one in my garage the next day!

 

I took my father with me to Florida to pick up the F355. I was nervous not being familiar with all the controls. Then my father bumps into my back-end with the rental car. I just remember starring at him in disbelief in the rear view mirror. It poured sheets of water all the way to the Georgia border. Some guy in a van started to hydroplane into me and got control of his vehicle and went off the road. I remember my father taking the wheel in Atlanta. The traffic was packed at 3am! Some guy on a Harley gave my dad the thumbs up while he was driving 80mph. In all we drove 11 hours straight from Florida to Missouri. We laugh about him bumping into the Ferrari only after 10min of me driving it & we count our lucky stars of surviving the non-stop terrential rain in Florida. Combining my first ever Ferrari drive/purchase with a father/son road trip makes priceless memories.

 

First ride was in a 308 4valvole, I still believe that I only had the permit to drive with an adult and not a drivers license by then. I went to Ultimate Motors in Longwood and Gene (they already knew me there) and I took it out for a spin. I remember him telling me to push it by the "Big Tree" park road, it was a lot of fun and since then I knew that I needed to have one as soon as possible.

 

My first ride was in my Dino after a 2 year restoration from its non-running condition when I bought it. I'm not sure but that Dino may have been the first Ferrari I ever saw in Phoenix. They were pretty rare in those days.

All I remember is being nervous as hell that it would break or I would crash it. I will always remember that unique sound that a Dino motor makes inside the cabin. You would swear you could hear the actual valves opening and closing. It's very mechanical sounding.

I also remember saying the tires I got for it (some bias-ply Goodyears) where terrible and I needed a new set of Michelin's ASAP. That was my first lesson that it doesn't pay to be penny-wise and pound foolish when dealing with a Ferrari.

Little did I know then that in the next 15 years of ownership, it rarely broke (it never stranded me) and I never crashed it. And, the Michelins were worth the money...

 

My first drive in Ferrari was in a 2004 360 Spider F1. My parents were nice enough to rent me the car as a holiday present two years ago. For weeks I was looking forward to driving the car, but as soon as it was being pulled out of the transport trailer I became extremely nervous realizing what an expensive car it was. For the first few miles I drove like an old lady, as I was still very nervous. After about 5 miles I got more comfortable and really started to enjoy the experience. One thing that I will always remember about the first drive other than the scream of the V8 behind me, is how much attention the car brought, and how much of a celebrity it made me feel like. In a 24 hour period I managed to put about 150 miles on the car. It is an experience that I will never forget and is easily my favorite driving experience, even after driving several other, more expensive exotics. I feel that the only driving experience that will top this will be the first drive when I buy my first Ferrari sometime in the future.
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Outlined my first experience(s) here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=266326&highlight=honeymoon+maranello

Still get chills thinking about it.

 

1st drive was test driving an f355 B with Gary Bobileff He was very knowledgable about the car and gave me instruction on such nuances including the way 2nd gear would be rough before the car warmed up and efficiently using the gated manual. The experience was memorable to this day. I remember feeling that I've finally done it. I'd finally driven one of Maranello's monsters, which practically had been a lifelong dream/goal for me. The sound of the stock engine and exhaust was amazing. I remember being very nervous after he first handed me the keys, after he had driven for a few minutes, instructing me. I was nervous because I had to back the car up and wasn't too sure about the reverse mechanism on the gated shifter. When I finally got going, I was able to get the car going pretty well on some beautiful California roads. I was in love with the car and really wanted it. I made an offer to the seller that Bobileff was consigning for but ended up we were never able to reach an agreement on price. Test drove several different variations of the 355, including a Serie Fiorano, but ultimately was able to pick up my current 97 F355 B. Back in late 2008, it was still a buyers' market. To the OP, your life will not be complete until you are able to drive an F-car. As an owner, your life will get even better.

 

My first drive--I had burnt the rings in an x1/9 so was car shopping while doing the parts hunt and finding round tuit to get the engine work done--still need to finish that project honed and rings but now needs bearings that are sitting on trunk with car on jackstands. Looked at a number of new cars local, Lotus Elise, Toyota MR2, new Dodge Charger Daytona etc and had rejected all as not practical enough or did not drive right or more than wanted to pay or multiples thereof. So had searched Ebay looking for an Italian sedan coup or wagon spec wanted to seat 4 and drive right. Found a Mondial within 300 miles of home and 1/2 price of the Dodge. Was about to click back even though had wanted a Ferrari forever--that cant be practical right?--and wife came in asking what I was looking at--showed her the Mondial and she asked if i would Drive it. I said "of course" and she said go for it. So next day made phone calls hooked trailer to truck for road trip to dealer 2 states away and took it for a 30 minute test drive-----
WOW this "DRIVES RIGHT" the car was an extension of me giving full feedback on the road and made X1/9 handling look sloppy lol. It also had room for 2 kids in back and for bowling ball briefcase and lunch in the trunk.
Little chat with dealer and credit union--loaded on trailer and long ride back home. 2-1/2 years and 11,000 miles late still driving it.

Here is middle child daughter getting ready to take a friend and the accessory boys to prom last year for her first solo drive--she says she kept it under 90--of course that was before i removed the 87 mph speedo peg.
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My first drive was the 328 GTS that I bought. I was scared of someone hitting me on the way home. When I got home, I was able to relax and enjoy the car.

 

never even sat in one till i bought my 348. Just like most others i was scared of it and was shifting at about 2k rpm. didnt take long tho and on the way home from the sellers home i blasted it down the tollroad. It was probably the best day of my life so far (24). I didnt sleep that night till about 4 in the morning and kept waking up to go drool over it in the garage.

 

Around 12 years ago, there was a company in San Diego called Exotic Auto Rental. Long story short...I rented an 85 308 QV for 24 hours for only $225(!) and that is still one of the top ten experiences of my life ;-) BTW...I hammered the snot out of it and it loved it!