Interesting read on F cars

[SteveR]

Something to consider for those of you drooling over the 458:

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/f...ri-cheats.html

Perhaps I have become an Audi fanboy, but my aspirations to own a Ferrari someday faded the day I set foot in a dealership. They make amazing machines, but this pretty much seals it for me.

[R8Spyderman]

Carroll Shelby makes no bones about how he hated Enzo Ferrari and held him personally responsible for many drivers' deaths; Enzo humiliated Ferruccio Lamborghini way back in the day; and Jay Leno, the car guy's car guy, seems to have a thing against the F-car in that he doesn't seem to own one. The company is famous for applying pressure to get rule changes in all races in which the factory teams participate which will benefit only their cars and be to the detriment of the competitions' cars, and have done so for over 50 years. They are ruthless competitors and have a huge image to protect even if it means gilding the lily whenever possible. Still, the 458 is an admirable car even if the company isn't and even if Enzo wasn't a nice guy.

[R8Spyderman]

As if Ferrari didn't have enough bad press already over the spontaneous combustion problem that dogged them all summer and into fall, someone reported a new fire just this week! Don't tell me they have new fire issues?!
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313860

[drgek]

I have owned 6 Ferraris, 4 bought new: a 355 Spider, 2 different 550s, a 360 Modena, 430 Spider, and a 599. The ownership and dealer experiences were first rate.

I truly love my R8 Spyder, but if I could have afforded the brand new 458 I was offered at MSRP in October, I would have bought it.

There IS, in my opinion, something special about Ferrari. Who really worries about whether or not they rig the testing reported in the automotive magazines? Shame on the press for publishing it if true. Whether that mystique is worth the price is a determination made individually.

[LAT]

Shame on the press for publishing it if true..

Withdrawn, I took it the wrong way on first read. Should not post just before going to bed.

I did own a couple of F cars years ago, a 365 GTC, and a 308 and they were both unreliable, never did measure performance.

[SteveR]

Why LAT? His point seemed fine to me.

[Rit2]

Wow, what a revelation !!!

Now I can appreciate why I managed to 'obliterate' that Ferrari 430 recently

Thanks for the information SteveR.

[ignomini]

What, an auto maker wants to rig their road test? Say it ain't so! Sorry, but that's not a story. Manufacturers having been rigging, or attempting to rig, test reports for years.

Two examples from the British side; MG wanted their J2 to hit 80 mph in its test, so they raised the compression ration above stock. The car made its speed, but the crankshaft broke shortly after the test. Then there was the infamous 150 mph E-Type Jag. It had plastic windows and God only knows what sort of mods to the engine.

Shelby talking about Ferrari is pretty funny too. Ask Peter Brock some time what he thinks of good ole Shel.

[LAT]

Did Peter Brock not pass away a couple of years ago, or are you referring to some other Peter Brock?

BTW, is it popcorn time yet..

[ADV.1 Matt]

I found the Chris Harris write up fascinating.