pig4bill

[quote]Originally posted by LPEdave:
<strong>Fortunately my experience is different from Maxwell's (sorry to hear that one...). I have the F1, and it's a weekend driver for me. I suppose I could drive it to work, but the main reason I have it is for fun driving, and commuting isn't my idea of fun, regardless of the car. I've had it on the track, and it's wonderful, but I have a Camaro for the track, and will worry much less about an accident in that.

Pics at <a href="http://www.go-fast.org/ferrari" target="_blank">http://www.go-fast.org/ferrari</a>

Dave</strong><hr></blockquote>


That's an accomplishment, getting a Seattle dealer to order one for you. The dealers I spoke to refused to order for someone out of their sales area, even though my local dealers were not taking orders.

Dave M

As far as the seats, the racing seats are not going to be as good on a long drive. At first, they feel very comfortable, but they don't have a good lumbar support. So on a long drive you can get a sore back. I'd go for the Daytonas if you'd be using it as a street car.

The Seattle order was because I don't have a local dealer. The "rule" I was told was that if I did have a local dealer, then any new car purchase had to go through that one.

Dave

pig4bill

Interesting. I figured everyplace was in some dealer's territory.

maxwell

all of the issues with the 00 modena were transmission related. They finally admitted that the 99 modenas had some tranny problems but they were supposed to be fixed on the 00. Every now and again when the clutch got heated up the transmission light would come on and start beeping. The manual said to shut the car down immediately and call the dealer. It must have gone to the shop 5 or 6 different times until they finally admitted they didnt know what was wrong with it, but they just turned the light off. Scary. Ferraris are notorious for being in the shop all the time, and after this I've talked to tons of people who have very similar stories.

jim g

I don't know why some members have had so many problems with their 360. I had mine for two years and put 16000 miles on it virtually trouble free. When I did have a problem something with the idle it was taken care of at Algar Ferrari in less time then it took me to cross the street and eat a sandwich. I have a 996tt X50 and the car in NO way except in a straight line beats the 360 at anything. The Modena is by far the greatest handling most visceral car I've ever owned. I have a Spider coming in a couple months and I can't wait.

maxwell

a lot of ferraris will run trouble free, but in general Ferrari's are notorious for having problems. Even the guys at the ferrari shop will admit that a ferrari is a delicate car, and like a race car, they are not meant to be driven every day.

One other big complaint about the 360 (but don't get me wrong, I loved driving it) is that they spent so much time improving the aerodynamics from it's predecessor, but they barely touched the engine. It came out 3 years into development with 10 more horsepower than the 355. I would have loved to have seen it come stock with more in the 450 range.

mb97tts

Dave, very odd that I was lurking on this board today. But I have to tell you that prior to my 97 tts purchase I was lokking into a 360. And I actually came across your page in my travels on the internet. It is a small world!!!!

Dave M

Sure is

So what factors convinced you to buy the 996 over the 360?

Dave

1Carnut1

Jim:

I am a year behind you on Algars list for the spider, I also have 996tt (heavily modified), and I cant wait for my spider to come in. Plan to keep the turbo, but there is nothing like the connection to the road that you feel in a 360. I envy the fact you are a year ahead of me.

mb97tts

Dave,

I actually bought a 97 Turbo S. That has always been my dream car. So I thought I should get that one out of the way first.

The cost was a factor and I think I will probably be putting miles on this car. Maybe one day when I have a few cars one will be a Ferrari.

Are you looking into a Porsche?

Dave M

I guess I went the other way around. I always wanted a Ferrari, so that's what I got. But I'm trying to learn more about Porsches, that's why I'm over here reading stuff...

Dave

Tom Gripe

I got a red/tan '01 996TT at the same time that I got the Ferrari 360 '01 red/tan with tubi exhausts. The Ferrari has been perfect. The performance at least on paper is the same. But once you compare them side to side then they seem completely different.
The wide ratio 6 speed transmission of the 996 TT is a complete clunker compared with the close ratio gated 6 speed manual of the 360. I added Evo's short shifter and will probably go to Paul Guard gears this winter. All to fix something that was perfect out of the box on the 360.
Exhausts: I switched to the tubi's on the 360 and it has been incredible ever since. With the windows up at 80mph it is incredibly quiet. On the TT I have changed exhausts 6 times. Stock to Evo's to Fabspeed x 3 to Tubi's. About the only one I haven't tried is the Ruf. BTW, they are very friendly. Still the TT has terrible resonance. I need to wear a football mouth guard to prevent dental damage from the vibration.
I heard an old story about why Porsches are the way that they are and Ferraris the way they are. It all had to do with which side of the Alps you lived on. North is Germany and Porsche. South is Italy and Ferrari. It went something like this. If your car broke down at 10 pm on a mountain road..what do you do?
Well, in Germany you need a reliable car with a heater or you freeze to death. So there is no consideration for style only function. In the norther Alps of Italy all you do is walk down the road to the nearest farm house and make love to a beautiful Italian woman while her brother fixes your Ferrari. Translated..it's all about style. Who cares if the pistons are square.
Since Ford? bought a lot of Ferrari the quality has come up considerably but the basic flavor of the story still persists.

Viken

[quote]Originally posted by Tom Gripe:
<strong>Since Ford? bought a lot of Ferrari the quality has come up considerably but the basic flavor of the story still persists.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Ferrari is owned by both <a href="http://www.fiatgroup.com/" target="_blank">FIAT Group</a> (90%) and Piero Ferrari (10%). Ford has no part of it, at least not yet.

GhettoRacer

F1 is truly a marvel, but if you buy a 360 you should consider manual. There's not a feeling better than being fully involved when driving a Ferrari and you can only get that with a manual.

I love Porsche's but Ferrari really has the magic that'll leave you with a lasting smile. 360 is the best handling car (feel wise) I've got to experience. Hmm actually GT2 feels very close to 360, maybe even a little bit more communicative!

Carrera GT though, should be plain awesome!Hopefully I'll get to ride in one @ track next year.
I think it will be magical!

Tom Gripe

The '01 Ferrari 360 draws at least 10 times the comments that the '01 996TT draws. The 996TT comments are no less complimentary but there is no question which car is both recognized and idolized by the general public. In May an '03 Ferrari Maranello 575 will replace both these vehicles. Now that I no longer have any hair on top I feel it is time to move on to the Senior Touring Division.

all my best

tom gripe <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />