Posted on 04/10/2016 2:36:04 PM PDT by MtnClimber
In 2014, my son, James, and I drove up to Watkins Glen International, a storied racetrack, to watch a Ferrari race. We did not, however, make the drive in a Ferrari. Last year, Ferrari kindly lent us a California T, the company's "entry-level" car its base price is $198,000 to make a sort of return visit.
The Cali T is now an important vehicle for the prancing stallion now that it's a public company and need to grow beyond its current 7,000-cars-per-year in sales. At the New York Stock Exchange in 2015, when Ferrari ticker symbol RACE began trading, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO and Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne said that many of the 9,000 cars the Italian sports car maker will sell in 2019 will be Cali Ts.
Ferrari shares have endured a slide since the IPO, down 30% since last October. But of course there is Ferrari the stock and Ferrari the cars. So what is the California T like to drive?
When James and I went to the Glen in 2014, we watched a Ferrari Challenge race in which the contestants run in Ferrari 458s. In 2015, we attended the Six Hours of the Glen, an endurance race featuring teams from a variety of automakers Porches, BMW, Aston Martin, Mazda, Corvette alongside Ferrari. It was an interesting weekend with a long drive in a cool car and a race that was heavily affected by the weather.
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No doubt; ironically, those same subsidized folks would be among the first to come after him.
But where can you drive such cars at speed anymore? You have to find a track. As long as the acceleration is helpful, useable, on the actual road, for passing and the like, then I’m interested. Otherwise, everything sucks compared to racing track cars.
Mercedes all look like modified bank vaults to me - heavy, thick. Works for the biggest cars, but as they get smaller, the thickness becomes more noticeable.
For ridiculously fast, you could get the R8.
IMHO, the GT4 is the ultimate car for under $125k........my dealer just had one come in that was ordered and it was stunning - Agate Grey, close to my Meteor Grey.......of course I didn’t drive it.......
I’m so happy with my S I just can’t justify a new GT4......
I saw a GT4 pulled off to the side of the mountain road near my house not long ago. It was white and looked really great. I live off Colorado Hwy 72 about 10 miles into the mountains west of the Denver/Golden area. This road seems to be famous with car clubs. I have seen large groups of cars such as Porsche 911, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ford GT40, Lotus, Corvette and many-many Mazda Miatas.
Still look good chasing chicks....
I used to have a 1986 911 Turbo. That was an insane car to control especially in rain or, heaven forbid a dusting of snow.
Looks a lot like an early 1970s Ferrari GTC. I always thought the GTC was one of the most attractive Ferrari ever - very classic lines without over-the-top extremes.
The DB is one GEORGOUS automobile. You’re right that the assend is way too short.Corvette same problem. DB wins in the looks department walking away.
No worries, the Bugatti has all-wheel-drive with umpteen traction and stability control gadgets on board to keep you between the ditches. A new set of tires would probably rival the cost of that Focus, though.
GOOD ONE TALISKER!
Many of the new headlights on higher-end cars are very complex. On my 2013 Audi S6 I got the LED headlight option. It has a daytime white running light s.et of lights, an amber set of turn signal lights in the same shape as the daytime running lights. The hedlamps are a set of (I think) 13 LEDs per side, each with its own lens and pointing. The headlamps are amazing, not two circles, but a rectangular pattern. And if you are turning at low speed a light will point to the side so you can see the curve
2 regrets with Honda - never got a S2000 and traded in my Ridgeline
favorite one
They do know how to build them.
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