Your biggest smile in the Fcar

Richard, that is awesome. How far did you get to drive and were you able to get your foot in it at all?

 

I am not exactly sure....I drove it a couple times over the course of the afternoon, probably put somewhere between 50-100 miles on the clock...it wasn't one of those "around the block" test drives I was able to "get my foot into it" a couple of times, but speaking very honestly the car is difficult to understand or get a feel for with all of the electronic dynamics going on...there is so much going on that it is hard to feel out the car. I found it very difficult to operate the car below 50 or 60MPH or in traffic (the brakes require some heating to really be effective), and it only started to become comfortable to operate at about twice that speed. Overall it is a hard car to drive properly as it requires so much user input to operate. As someone who has occaisonally driven race cars of the open-wheel variety I found some interesting parallels in regards to the chassis and suspension feel. I guess the catch is that it really is a race car, and you can't drive it "properly" unless you're in the proper environment.

A week later I was given the opportunity to drive an F50 for the same amount of time if not longer (sorry no pictures), and was overall much happier with the experience -- it is easier to drive and becomes comfortable much more quickly!

 

I read every single reply and loved them. That's so awesome that y'all take the time to share the experience. That's what I love so much bc I'm one of the "kids" that gets the experience. I've been in 3 348's, one a Challenge (crazyness!), F355's and an F40. I always have the biggest smile when I think back to riding in them and the 348 Challenge on mtn roads and riding the Tail of the Dragon in an F355 for a few runs through and then finally an F40 on slicks on a race track. That whole experience was just so amazing it's just a blur to me! That was by far the best car experience to date yet until I drive a Ferrari, one day.

 

For sure!!! Me Too!!!

 

Watching my Ferrari being delivered - along with a DustMiteMobile.

What a choice.... the Bug looked even cuter with its antennas on.
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Watching my wife enjoy driving and helping tinker with it and keep it clean and shiny.
Sharing the experience with friends and family (an advantage of having a 2+2).
Numerous conversations with folks at service stations, in parking lots, etc in such a way that they can have a little of the Ferrari experience in their lives -and watching them smile.
Too many smiles to count and not finished yet.
John

 

First time I saw my C4, in the corner of a large garage, filthy dirty, tires flat, having sat for 10 odd years without being driven...... and knowing I was gonna bring her back to life.
A close second would be the first time my wife drove the thing, and after hitting redline in first, second and third commented " I don't know about this car...... it kinda scares the sh*t out of me".

 

Pedal to the floor in the F40 exiting a toll .

 

Where do I start, there have been so many. But I will tell you one that happened last weekend. I went out county road hunting (meaning looking for fast, open, unpatrolled, rural roads for, well, doing the speed limit of course ). I go down one long straight road but there were several homes on it and the road became rough, so after a mile or so I turned around to go back to the main road when I noticed everyone had come out of the couple of homes I passed and they now stood beside the road looking at me. I should clarify I went by there at about 110 with the TUBIs screaming. So. What to do? I don't know if they are happy or mad about my driving and there is no other way out except back the way I came, so I went as fast as I could back by them. I never saw so many big grins. Not much happens out there and I am pretty sure I was the first and last F car many of them will ever see. This is a car that always results in a big reaction. On the same drive, I was waiting to turn left out of a county road that had proved particularly fast (150 or so) when a couple in a black Honda went by in the direction I was trying to turn. His (the driver's) head almost twisted off trying to look at me as he went by. After about 10 seconds I turned left (now far behind him). I caught him by 4th gear and passed him at about 120. Then slowed down back next to him. He and the girl with him were all grins with big thumbs up. They hung with me doing 80 or so until I turned off on the next smooth looking road (they left with a big wave). Just another day in the 550. God I love it.

 

gave my best friend from HS a ride the other day. He's a great driver and loves cars.

took him on a hillclimb, gave him the keys at the top. We drove around for an hour. I don't know which grin was bigger.

 

The most vivid memory was in the middle of Berlin and my family and I was walking on a sidewalk site seeing. When at a stoplight there was a brand new red 355 Spider with the top down next to a Porsche 993 with its top down siting there waiting for a greenlight. I pointed to it so my dad(big Porsche fan) could see it. Then they took off and the Ferrari pulled away and smoked the Porsche trying to keep up. My Dad never heard the end after that! Or I guess I had a equally big smile when I saw two Enzos at my local Ferrari dealership getting a oil change.

 

great story

 

"gave my best friend from HS a ride the other day. He's a great driver and loves cars."
Vincent, I am with you on that one. My friend is way into cars but had never driven a Ferrari. I got off so much on his pleasure and excitement it was great.

Richard, thanks for the very descriptive reply. I can understand what you mean and it was well put about the "proper environment". You are still very lucky, proper environemnt or not!!

A few days ago I took the car out for a short drive, it was sunny and beautiful and the ocean was flat and sparkling in the afternoon sun. At one point, I drove by a van of tourists standing on the cliffs and taking pictures of the gorgous view. I was moving along at a good clip and after accelerating through the turn nearest them, I looked back in the rear view mirror and one of the teenage girls was out in the road dancing and jumping up and down.
That pretty much said it all.

 

My first ever ride in a Ferrari was a red TR. It was by far my biggest smile. I've ridden in faster Ferraris and ones I've wanted more but that first ride was by far my happiest.

 

When I saw the same yellow Enzo as in the debut article in Road and Track when I was visiting colleges. Yeah...thats the best I can do.