CONTENTS

4 BOXERS: ARE THEY GOOD LIFE QUARTERLY INVESTMENTS? William Taylor takes a look at the Boxer EDITOR as an investment. William Taylor [email protected]

6 F40 & F50: THE SUPER WRITERS/ Boxer does a full review of the differ- CONTRIBUTERS ence between the F40 and F50. Boxer Jimmy Chen Shiba Ian Gibbons Micheal Salomon 12 8,000 KM IN A Stuart “ENZ9_1” Travel to across Europe as JazzyO takes his 550 Maranello for a cross conti- nent journey to Italy. CONTACT 840 Harrison Street San Francisco, CA 94107 18 RUNNING REPORTS [email protected] Find out how others are enjoying their ownership experience including the good and the bad.

DECEMBER 2007 Issue 7

ON THE COVER: A 550 Maranello resting af- ter a cross continent journey.

www.FerrariLife.com | 3 Boxers: Are They Good Investments? By William Taylor

The post that caught my eye is “Are Boxers a to enter the Ferrari market, and that 1% of these people good investment.” This is very difficult to answer other are interested in Ferraris, you still have 225,000 new than to say that they are definitely a safer place to put potential buyers. Compare this to the original production your money these days than Mortgage Bonds. When numbers of: looking at the Boxer market over the last several years, a few basic conclusions can be reached. Boxers have 365 GT4 BB - 387 doubled in value, the 365 BB commands a premium to 512 BB - 929 the 512 BB/BBis, and further rises in the market seem 512BBi - 1007 likely. Boxer pricing seems to move in parallel to Day- tona pricing with the Boxer being valued at 50%-60% of and assume that about 80% have survived, you have a the 365 GTB/4. Given that Daytona’s are now $350,000 total supply 1850 Boxers globally. And this number will cars with no sign that gravity is yet having any impact on only decrease over time. Based on market observations the upward trajectory of values, a $200,000 365 BB can in both the US and Europe over the past year, you will not be far off. generally find 1-2 365 BB’s, 5-10 512BB’s and 7-10 Looking at the market from a more macro per- 512BBi’s for sale. At given points in time earlier this spective, we are now in an era of unprecedented growth. year, there was not a single 365 BB for sale publicly The emergence of enormous new wealth in China, East- anywhere. The risk of supply exceeding demand is very ern Europe, and Russia is bringing a whole new group small. of collectors into the Ferrari market. If you assume that Another factor in favor of further price apprecia- 0.01% of the population of these areas can now afford tion is that Boxers are quite nice cars to drive. As the

4 | Ferrari Life Quarterly majority of today’s buyers are true enthusiasts who buy have 7 more years of before the last ten year old hits their cars to drive, this is a major plus in the Boxers fa- forty. This will continue to put pressure on demand and vor. A Boxer is lighter and nimbler than a Testarossa and help drive prices. In addition all Boxers are well past the does not have the Daytona’s low speed truck like behav- point of being depreciating used cars. Given the choice ior. At the same time it pushes all the right Ferrari but- between the dream car of your youth or a new Ferrari at tons in terms of still blistering performance, soundtrack, similar cost which will loss half its value in 3-5 years, it and raw beauty. It is a car that a good driver can drive if far easier to justify spending the money on the Boxer quickly, and a great driver can drive very aggressively. and calling it an “investment”. As a final comment, Boxers have finally come of age. The ten year old boy who first saw and dreamed about a Boxer in the mid 70’s is now in his early 40’s with cash to spend. The dreams of the boy tend to have a habit of becoming the acquisitions of the successful adult. As one of the criteria of a supercar is that it has to make you feel like a grinning little boy sitting behind the wheel, the Boxer today is that little boy’s choice. Given that the production run lasted from 1973-1984, we still

www.FerrariLife.com | 5 F40 & F50: A Comparison of the Raw Ferraris By Boxer

Ask a seven year old to design his dream car and the engine bay. On the F50, they tend to stand respect- chances are the F40 would emerge from the pointy end fully a few feet away, pointing out details quietly to each of the crayon. It is angular, aggressive, has a huge rear other with subtle hand gestures. Despite being only 4 wing, enormous tires, and two neck snapping turbos. 1⁄2 inches longer and half an inch wider, the F50 appears The F40 has plenty of air scoops, angles, curves, and sits to be a larger, more imposing automobile. If the F40 just a few inches off the ground. All the elements every is every kids dream, the F50 is a serious car for adults. li�le boy dreams of in a car. Sit in one at age forty, and While F40’s are standard fare at every Ferrari Owners you are instantly seven again. The F40 is cool in a way Club Concours, the F50 is rarer than an Enzo and few that every car enthusiasts inherently understands. You are ever seen in public. This lack of exposure today, don’t need to drive it to know it is a very fast car. coupled with Ferrari’s indifference to the press at the F50 The F50 is the last raw Ferrari supercar. It is launch, has resulted in the F50 being a poorly under- completely devoid of electronic drivers aids and as such stood and frequently maligned Ferrari. Perhaps this represent the end of an era. Where the F40 instantly situation is best summed up by Jeremy Clarkson’s com- draws you towards it, the F50 is outright intimidating. ment that he preferred the F355 to the F50. Reason why, Go to a car show with both and people will be lining up Clarkson did not think he was a good enough driver for to get a chance to sit in the F40 and stick their heads in the F50. The F50’s burden is that no one ever remembers 6 | Ferrari Life Quarterly the rationale. begins to roll smoothly forward. Stay under 3500 rpms Dropping down into the driver’s seat of an F40 and the car is docile. With a li�le bit of speed the steer- is an exercise in agility. You need to navigate the wide ing lightens up considerably and the F40 seems to carve sill, low roof, refrain from leaning on the thin carbon down the road with precision. With minimal sound fiber door, while dropping your bu� smoothly into the proofing, it seems like the seat is mounted directly to narrow racing seats. Miscalculate and you can either the front of the engine. Every bump and pebble comes impale yourself on the handbrake or dent your cranium crashing through the carbon fiber tub. All five senses of the door frame. Once facing forward, you have a are busy processing the waves of information. Hit the smallish Momo wheel mounted almost vertically, and open road and plant your foot and the experiences small cluster of instruments right in front of your line changes dramatically. Pu�ering around town, the F40 is of sight. The dashboard is covered in cheap industrial tame and controllable. It feels like anyone with a strong locker room carpeting, the carbon fiber panels are held le� leg could handle it. together by what appears to be green toothpaste, and a Push the rpm needle past 4000 rpm and your tall black balled topped gearshi� rises majestically from outlook on life changes. A�er a moment of hesitation, the center tunnel. It is u�erly fantastic. There is not all hell seems to start breaking loose directly behind an ounce of luxury to be found anywhere in the cabin. you. For the F40 rookie, everything gets blurry, and The only compromise made to the purity of the design the future comes rushing towards you. The huge surge which added weight is air-conditioning. of power will push the massive rear tires to the edge Turn the ignition key, jab the starter bu�on and of breaking free and you can feel them fighting hard the 2.9 liter V8 instantly barks to life. Even as it warms for grip. Events in the rear are communicated directly up at idle, the engine conveys a sense of urgency. En- through your lower back and you seem to be able to gage the heavy clutch, give it a bit of gas, and the F40 feel every slight change of direction. Initially the front

www.FerrariLife.com | 7 8 | Ferrari Life Quarterly end will lighten slightly while you build on a track is hard. The margin for error speed. At speed the aerodynamics force is small. Slow in fast out is a rule not to the nose back down smartly. Li� off be trifled with. The brakes fade quickly briefly to change gears and another minor when pushed hard and never provide the explosion takes place in the engine bay assurance expected in a 200+ mph Fer- as the turbos release pressure. Slo�ing rari. Overall though, the F40 is an amaz- the next gear requires both a firm hand ing piece of focused raw uncompromised and conviction. The gear box is stiff engineering. and changes require practice to be done Standing next to both cars, you smoothly. Hi�ing the brakes will provide would expect the F50 to be the more re- the next surprise as retardation does not fined, civilized model. There are no signs occur at the same rate as acceleration. of green toothpaste holding the panels Mashing the accelerator when the front together, it has interior door handles, the wheels are not pointed straight ahead is seats are trimmed in leather, and it even only for the very brave. The huge surge has 3 small storage compartments. The of torque as the turbos kick in will break carbon fiber in the cockpit has even been the rear tires free suddenly and violently. polished to a glossy finish. Swing open Breakaway can be caught if you are good the small door, step over the wide high and quick enough. Otherwise the result sill, drop yourself into the drivers seat, will be spectacular and expensive. and the first thing you feel is that the seat Everything about driving an F40 actually even has padding. Si�ing behind is intense and leaves you feeling com- the wheel, you feel like you are in a very pletely alive. The warp speed accelera- high end luxury sports car. Perceptions tion when the turbos kick in is simply can be very misleading, the first hint of an experience no other car delivers. The which comes when you turn the key, wait pressure release on the turbos coupled for the OK sign on the digital dashboard, with the explosion when unburnt fuel and then punch the starter bu�on. The gets dumped into the exhaust is the stuff noise that erupts from behind your head of kid’s dreams. As fantastic as it is, it is unlike that produced by any other en- does have flaws. Driving it really fast gine fi�ed into a road car. As the engine

www.FerrariLife.com | 9 is mounted directly to the bulkhead, the whole car fills around a track or up a mountain, and the speed it can with vibration. take corners at is shocking at first. If the ride on the F40 A�er giving the F50 a good ten minutes to warm is hard, on the F50 it is a rock. Every minor imperfection up, slo�ing it into gear for the first time is remarkably in the road surface is transmi�ed directly to the driver. easy a�er the experience with the F40. The clutch is Where in the F40, the limitations of the brakes serve as much lighter while maintaining the same feeling of pre- a check for the prudent; the F50’s brakes inspire signifi- cision. Grip the carbonfiber ball on top of the gear shi� cantly more confidence and risk taking. Because the and it moves easily through the metal gate. The thro�le power delivery is linear, you can be consistently more is as sensitive as the F40’s but the F50 is more difficult to aggressive driving the F50. When the rear tires do start pilot at very slow speed as the huge engine pushes you to break free, it is more progressive and easier to catch. forward even at very low rpm. Set up as a Barche�a, the Ironically though, because of the engine vibrations, the F50 proves intense exposure to everything happening F50 is more fatiguing to drive over very long distances. around you. A�er spending a considerable amount of time Building speed, the noise coming form the F1 driving both the F40 and F50, they are both fantastic derived V12 builds dramatically. At 5000 rpm it is but very different cars. The F50 is a race car that Ferrari screaming, at 8,500 rpm it is near deafening. Push the somehow got homologated for the road. While it ap- accelerator and it leaps forward immediately, regardless pears to be more polished than the F40, under the skin of where the rev counter is si�ing on the tachometer. no compromises have been made to performance and Other than the engine noise, speed builds without any handling. The F40 is the opposite; it is a road car that drama. One minute you are trundling along sedately, comes as close to being a race car as is possible while the next second everything is fading into your past. It remaining road legal. The F40 has a few flaws which is turbo type acceleration without the turbos, lag, or in the end add to the experience of driving one with drama. In the F40, you have an idea of how fast you skill. Both are amazing machines, both infinitely desir- are going by the drama associated with it. In the F50, able, and both unlike anything else on the road. If I was you just don’t. The F50 is so stable, competent, and forced to choose one though, it would have to be the completely lacking in any sort of body roll or flexing F50. which provide the normal clues as to speed. Hustle it

10 | Ferrari Life Quarterly A Passenger’s Account We then switched to the F50, and that was a It was a beautiful Sunday morning, perfect weather, and more pleasant experience. Since the top was down, you there I was waiting for a to come pick me up. don’t feel claustrophobic at all, it is much easier to get Was I dreaming? It sure didn’t feel real! To my surprise, in and out of the car, the seats allow you to move, the a�er a few moments I saw the silhoue�e of the red car finishing is be�er. The digital dashboard is incredible, coming slowly in my direction. I got in the passenger but like in the F40 the passenger is not allowed to see the seat without any drama, but it wasn’t exactly easy - and it, so don’t ask me how fast we were going! then there’s the fear of scratching that perfect carbon The F50 seemed to me like the most special car fiber panel. I’ve ever seen, and it catches everybody’s a�ention on Cruising in the small streets around the neigh- the street, even more than the F40. You look at that borhood the F40 felt more docile than what I expected. sculpted carbon fiber body and you see that Ferrari re- Keeping the revs low is enough to avoid the power ally made an effort to make that car something different, explosion coming from the turbos, but there is nothing something remarkable. The V12 has a much bigger block you can do about the suspension: you just bounce on the than the F40’s V8, and that combined with the 60 valves seat every time the car passes a small bump on the road. means that the soundtrack is loud (much louder than in The seats are not uncomfortable, and you sit in a the F40) and beautiful: in high revs it really sounds like very good position. But you’re no allowed to move! The a Formula 1. The down side is that it is almost impos- interior, like the rest of the car, doesn’t have anything sible to talk, even at low speeds and revs. Pushing a else than the absolutely necessary to go fast. The engine li�le bit in the highway, the car felt very flat, the chassis is loud but you can still talk as long as the revs are low. is amazingly stiff and never rolls, not even a li�le bit! When we hit the highway, Boxer let the turbos kick in Comparing both cars, I think that the F50 gives and that was like riding a roller coaster: a lot of fun, the most pleasant ride, while the F40 gives the most pas- but you just have to trust your faith and believe you’ll sionate ride. Two very different cars that give you very survive the experience! It is an explosion of power, the different feelings. Which is the best? Depends on how soundtrack gets very loud and everything around looks you are going to use the car. For a blast of speed in a blurred, maybe because there is no blood in your eyes at super car, the F40 is the one. For a pleasant but very fast that time, it all went to the back of your head. ride on a sunny day, the F50 is the best.

www.FerrariLife.com | 11 Sogno Italiano (An Italian Dream) 21 Days & 8,000Km in a 550 Maranello by JazzyO

Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas. These began to orient myself. words were written by Virgil (Vergilius), in 29 BC - the The first thing I needed to do, was find out ex- days of Augustus Caesar. Freely translated, it means actly how expensive it was to maintain a Ferrari. It’s “Happy is he who understands the causes of things”. It’s all very well owning a Ferrari, but if you can’t afford to been the life motto of my brothers and I, and we take keep it in tip-top shape you’re committing a mortal sin. it to mean that not only does deep understanding bring Articles such as Michael Sheehan’s “$10.27/mile” (see happiness, but vice versa as well. Issue 5 of the FerrariLife Quarterly) are enough to scare This summer I’ve been in a position to do a lot of you senseless when you’re new to this world, and al- cross-pollination on happiness and understanding when it though he makes a good point my calculations fortunate- comes to the myth of Ferrari. How did this come about? ly came out a little more down-to-earth (total ownership Being a mining engineer, the prospect of owning cost around $2.5 per km, the difference in large part due a Ferrari is not one that comes naturally to mind, espe- to reduced depreciation). It was a particularly unnerving cially considering the bad state of the mining industry article as the car featured (the 550 Maranello) was the around the turn of the century – only a couple of years very model I was hankering after. But other sources, such ago. But a fortuitous move to a great gold mining com- as owners on the forum and the long-termer 550 that pany just when the tide was turning made me realize EVO magazine (UK) ran for 18 months in 2005, helped two years ago that maybe, just maybe, there might be me gain insight, slowly, into all aspects of ownership. a chance to own a Ferrari. At the end of 2006, I started OK, so now to decide on the model. As men- taking this dream seriously, and with the help of forums tioned, I’ve got a soft spot for the 550 Maranello. Ever like FerrariLife.Com (and its excellent buying guides), I since I saw my first one in the flesh in 1997 at a Ferrari 12 | Ferrari Life Quarterly meeting, I’ve been in love with that shape. The F355 from the jungle in Mali without having seen or driven was also high on my list (beautiful car!), and quite a bit it! Fortunately Alex Jansen has an impeccable reputa- cheaper, but I was particularly keen on taking it on trips tion and he told me all about all the cosmetic issues right around Europe and the 550 seemed better suited to that upfront, so I was not worried. In fact, the only pictures task. Besides, it would have been a shame not to get the he sent me were of scratches and other little issues! This car I really wanted. made for a nice change from the other dealers, some of When at last the good day came when the light whom sent me very poor quality photos, and some of switched to green, I started e-mailing dealerships and whom didn’t respond to me at all. specialists regarding cars for sale that were high on my A fellow forum member picked me up from list (compiled over many hours of internet searching). Schiphol airport in his own Rosso Corsa 550 a week or Importing into Holland from Germany seemed the best so later and so I arrived in style to admire the decision I way to go: cheaper cars (due to high taxation in Hol- had made. The car looked spectacular, some of my forum land), and more choice. However, it turned out that the friends had shown up to welcome me, and the test drive very day I started looking a dream-550 became available was fantastic. So, deal done. I took it on a great trip to in Holland. It was, by lucky chance, at ForzaService, the Goodwood Festival of Speed the week after. the very firm I wanted to store the car as I work in West Driving it for the first time was an impressive Africa and don’t have a garage at my house in Holland. experience on many levels. My most powerful car expe- I had been contemplating either Nero, Pozzi Blu rience until then was my older brother’s 328GTS, with or Tour de France Blu, and this one (a 2000 model, 23k 270bhp. So to jump to 475bhp with 60% more torque is kilometers) came with a very special colour which sits an intimidating experience! However, the 550 is so easy right in the middle of those hues. The first customer had to drive, that it doesn’t scare you at all. What I particu- it painted in Porsche Nightblue as a custom order. It is, as larly like is the throttle response. It doesn’t release much far as I know, the only one made in this colour. And it is fuel unless you really push down the throttle. Pottering right between blue and black - truly sensational looking. around town, therefore, is very easy, and I’ve only stalled The interior with the blue piping and blue carpets was the car once. Because of the torque available it is also lovely as well, and it had a Tubi sportsexhaust, so I had easy to drive on the way, shifting being rarely required my family check out the car and I made a downpayment (but always available of course!). The Tubi exhaust is

www.FerrariLife.com | 13 quieter between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm and this makes the bit of a damper on proceedings, as I had left at 4:00am car very comfortable when slotting in 6th on the high- to beat the traffic in Germany and get a chance to push way. It’s not exactly quiet, though. the car over 300km/h. But it was raining too hard, and The downside to this cosseting nature of the 550 when it was dry it was too busy on the road, so we had to is that the car sometimes pulls the wool over your eyes. forego that dream for now. When accelerating hard from This is a seriously quick car, with serious life-shortening 150km/h I had the car fishtailing for hundreds of me- potential. For a long time, I did not dare touch the ‘ASR- tres, providing some serious (if slightly nerve-wracking) off’ button, which would be giving my grey matter full entertainment. Nevertheless, the 550 was in its element. responsibility for all consequences. However, I quickly It just munches miles! At 11:00 I was at the Swiss border noticed that the ASR is not that effective. Its response is (about 900kms from my house), and that was including not quick enough on slippery surfaces and too quick on a power nap of over an hour I had taken. The whole of dry roads. Consequently, experiencing the car in the dry Switzerland seems a construction site at the moment, for first couple of days, the “ASR ACTIVE” messages and it was slow going to Geneva, where I would spend I was getting gave me the impression that this system the night at a friend’s house. I had not told him about the would prevent me from spinning. But on the first wet car, and he was suitably impressed when I showed up. morning and the first slow corner, the back end stepped A quick run up the mountain behind his house left me out ferociously on acceleration. My reflexes were twice inspired and him breathless! as fast as the ASR system, and I realized then that you After a game of golf the next day, and overnight can’t rely on the ASR system too much. Still, I was in Chamonix, it was time to tackle the Alps and drop hesitant to switch if off entirely, being all too aware that into Italy. I had been trawling the forums to find the best drifting a 160bhp Alfa GTV (my previous rear-wheel roads in the Alps and then picked the ones that were drive car) is not the same as grabbing a 550 by the horns. close to my route. The Passo Gran San Bernardino (Col One of the reasons to buy the car, was to experience Italy Grand St. Bernard) had good reviews, and so I mounted in it. I’ve spend more than a year in Italy when I was my video camera, switched off the traction control and young – our family used to spend the summer holidays went for it. Wow, what an experience! The endless accel- there. What better way to go and rediscover Italy, than eration up the gradients, the howl of the Tubi-amplified to drive the ultimate Italian icon there? The Autobahn V12 against the walls, the overtaking abilities, the late in Germany would give me a chance to try and enter the braking points, the enormously powerful engine-braking 300+ club, the Alps are magnificent driving territory and (which easily overcomes the rear grip if you are not care- would give me a chance to dabble with ASR off, and ful!!), it all just leaves you with an amazing sense that Italy... Well, it’s Italy, isn’t it? this is what the car was made for. I consider myself a re- So I started planning using Google Earth in my sponsible driver and the Alpine passes can be dangerous office in Mali and early September 2007, after a lovely (it’s a fair drop if you miss your braking point), not to trip to the Goodwood Revival (photos of which you can mention the other traffic ranging from busses to cyclists, find on the FerrariLife.com forum), it was time to head but even holding back the reigns I went over 140km/h on south. this twisty track repeatedly without any effort at all. Hav- The first morning started with rain. This was a ing reached the top of the pass and crossing the border, it

14 | Ferrari Life Quarterly was a shame that the Italian side was under construction had to remain parked out of my sight, and at the edge of and the road condition was really bad. No nice driving the public road, for two days. on the way down, unfortunately. Ah well, on to Florence This brings me to one aspect of ownership that is then. easy to underestimate or even overlook. A lot of respon- I decided to take the route through Genoa, and sibility comes with owning a car like this, and it is not was lucky enough to find the winding mountain road that advisable to just jump in the car and hope you will find skirts the Ligurian Sea. The drive there was phenomenal, a secure parking spot. I had pre-booked all my hotels, and the roads were winding enough to drive seriously and specifically asked for secure parking at each of them. fast without using ridiculous speeds (if you know what I This is especially important in the cities themselves, as mean). One moment to remember was the corner I decid- parking is a nightmare in Europe, but with a car that’s ed to test my drifting skills a bit, only to see a whole club almost 2m wide it is even worse. of bikers looking up from their lunches and applauding In the evening, my brother and I took the 550 on me as I howled past. a nice drive around the country side, looking for some The Villa Massa (not owned by Felipe...) is a typical Tuscany landscape to photograph the car in. The lovely old Italian mansion that is situated on the banks of sunset was almost as beautiful as the car. the Arno (the river that flows through Florence), although After a couple of lovely days at Pomarance, it it is not in Florence itself. I had picked it because of the was time to head to Cortona. A delightful town that I had reputation of its restaurant, and it did not disappoint. The not visited before, and it certainly lived up to its reputa- duck-ragout linguini was to die for, not to mention the tion (it’s the town featured in Under The Tuscan Sun). squid carpaccio! On the way there, I had two run-ins with the law inside Refreshed in the morning, I phoned my younger of only 10 minutes, but it turned out to be benign in both brother who had rented a villa in Pomarance, near Pisa. cases. They just wanted to check my papers, and take Unfortunately, the car could not descend to the villa as some shots with their camera phones! Also on the way the ox-wagon trail’s middle was too high and so the car there, I tried some filming and photographing using an

www.FerrariLife.com | 15 outboard tripod (suction-cup variety). This proved a little in action, even if it was in town. It was interesting to see trickier than expected, but some reasonable shots were that the red mule I saw had “LIGHT PISTA” written on obtained. the front bumper. As you may know, this was the name Cortona yielded some more nice photographs, that was bandied about on the forums, and in true Ferrari and then it was off to my baby’s birthplace. I was going tradition they changed the name when it was leaked. See- to drive through Sant’ Agatha to see the Lamborghini ing it written on the car, confirms for me that it was the museum, but having arrived there I couldn’t find it (even original name that Ferrari used internally at least. though you shouldn’t be able to miss it in that small The time had come for the trek home, via a night town). I found on my SatNav (the Ferrari Becker of in Innsbruck, Austria. I had planned to drive the Stelvio course!) that there are many Sant’ Agathas in Italy, but pass on the way there, but it turned out to be too far off I’m pretty sure I had the right one. Anyway, something the beaten path. So instead, I drove past Lake Garda and for next trip then. up into the mountains above Trento. By now, the ASR Too late I had discovered that the Ferrari Own- was permanently off as I was much more experienced ers’ website organized a factory tour 3 days after I was and confident in where the limits of this car really lay. I in Maranello. It is, however, my firm intention to do that finally saw a 599 on the road near Trento; what a beauti- tour before the end of next year. Still, without the fac- ful car. On the whole, the lack of Ferraris on the road tory tour it is worthwhile visiting Maranello, provided was disappointing. Apart from factory vehicles, I spotted you like Ferraris. The town is deader than a doornail, only 5 Ferraris the whole trip! Two F430s, a Mondial, a but for there is the Galleria Ferrari, the and this 599. At least they are exclusive. Arriving in Store, the Fiorano circuit, and the Cavallino restaurant. Innsbruck, it had been, again, an inspirational sunny day The best location, however, was the side-entrance to the with beautiful vistas and the 550’s exhaust was ticking factory where the new Scuderia mules were driven out happily in the underground car park late in the afternoon. in the morning. What a car that is! It was three days after One final day of driving lay ahead, and in the Schumacher’s official launch, and it was special to see it morning this car again demonstrated its abilities to me.

16 | Ferrari Life Quarterly In the passes from Innsbruck towards Ulm, Germany, it is simply impossible to overtake for normal cars when sitting behind a slow-going truck. However, the 550 needs only a small gap, and that alone must have saved me an hour’s driving time even on nearly empty roads. Into Germany, I tried to tick the 300+ box again, but alas, I did not get a big enough gap. I do not overtake people with more than 100 km/h speed differential and it just wasn’t to be. So, it’ll have to wait till next time but 260 km/h is not too bad. Just after lunch time, I was sitting at my house having done 1,000km in a little over 6 hours (unaware that I had collected a speeding fine of 9km/h over the limit only 2 kms from my house....) with a fresh cold one. I contemplated that since acquiring the car, I had done exactly 8,000kms in 21 days of driving. And I knew then, that old Virgil was right: I precisely understood now what this car was about. And I was happy.

www.FerrariLife.com | 17 FERRARI LIFE MEMBERS’ REPORTS In the last issue we introduce this new section. In the pages that follow we will check-in with some of Ferrari Life’s members to see how the ownership expericene is treating them. In these reports we learn about the F355 and check-in with the Safari Ferrari for a second update. If you would like to include your car for a report please sumbit text to [email protected] and I will be happy to include it in a future issue.

Sincerley, Andrew Naber F355 Report by Peter Espino “Monza”

18 | Ferrari Life Quarterly I decided that this year 2007 was the year I folder arranged in the order of choice based on price, purchase my F355. The timing was perfect; it was my mileage, price and distance from NJ. Bear in mind, I 40th birthday this year and had decided to get myself kept folder 2 close in hand as reference and compari- a nice gi� for all those years driving old beat up cars. son on market prices. The first questions I asked were Mentally I was set with the question that festered that if the car was still available. Unfortunately some behind me. Will I be able to afford the keep up and of the choices were too good and had been sold. The maintenance of a Ferrari. Financially I was not fully next questions I asked were the most important ones. ready to undergo this major expense, but what the I asked if any major service has been completed and if hell, who isn’t. So I decided and said to myself “let’s they had supporting paperwork to prove it. The ones do this, listen to what your heart wants” and thought which did not have any supporting paperwork were about a member of the Ferrari Life forum quote “re- eliminated. At this point I was down to about half a member that the decision to buy a Ferrari is not 100% dozen. I decided to pick up a copy of F355 buyer’s rational, but you MUST be rational when you choose guide by W. Taylor from Amazon.com as reference the Ferrari you’re taking home” and guide. I am about to undergo a journey where I may cherish I also called up the local Ferrari dealer lo- or regret for the rest of my life. Here is how it begins. cated in Edison, NJ and inquired about the particular model and the types of problems the F355 normally Week 1: My first plan of action was to search and cata- have. The results I got from the dealer were similar to log all the F355 within 300 miles of my location. For- problems that were posted in the internet and Fer- tunately there were over a dozen of F355’s listed that rari forums, mostly from the convertible tops of the were being sold within 300 miles from NJ. These list- spiders to the cracking of manifolds, and the constant ings were filed in a folder arranged in order of year, ECU connection problems. mileage and price. The next folder I made were of F355’s which were being sold past the 300 mile radius. Week 3: Now that I have about 6 possibilities, I From these folders I eliminated the ones which were opened a line of communication between the deal- above my established max range of budget which was ers and myself, constantly asking questions about $90K, I then eliminated the ones which were over 10 the vehicles condition and history. Other questions years old but had exceptions for some late models I had asked were, does it have a Tubi exhaust? Has which had a�ractive prices. As much as I would have the manifold been replaced? Does the top work? Was liked the 95 model which had 5 more horsepower and the clutch replaced? How is the interiors leather, is it louder than the later models, I felt more comfortable sticky? Does it have new tires? Does it have a clean with one which was less than 10 years old. And oh title? How many owners? All pertinent questions to yes, I was shopping specifically for a spider, prefer- a used car purchase were asked. My top choices were ably a yellow one with tan/black interior with manual the models which had been equipped with Tubi’s and transmission. the ones which had both manifolds replaced. I asked each dealer to send me a carfax report and to send me Week 2: A�er process of elimination I now called up a list of the closest Ferrari dealerships I can contact for each and every dealer and private seller from the first a PPI.

www.FerrariLife.com | 19 There were times where I had accidentally called the dealer twice asking the same questions I had asked a Week 5: A�er waiting all week to start my search, I day earlier, sometimes detecting a tone of annoyance finally arrive at a dealer located locally here in NJ on a from salesmen and even mistaking a dealer from an- Friday a�er work. This particular one was a beautiful other. yellow ’96 F355 spider (Decided on a ’96 because of loca- tion and price). The mileage was a bit high at 30K miles Week 4: A�er establishing intent with the dealers, I and asking price was at $72K. The dealer had mentioned asked to schedule a test drive. This may be unconven- that they had received a deposit a couple days earlier, tional, but I would like to see the car first and check for but still welcome to see it but not test drive it. I was a bit all maintenance paperwork before initiating a PPI. I annoyed that I had not been informed about this event decided to check the car out first before a PPI because earlier. At least I did not drive far. The car had aver- the dealers were close enough to drive and that a�er age interior but had major wear in the seats. It had the passing inspection would proceed with a PPI to inspect normal dings from rocks in the front and some minute what I cannot inspect. ( I have a fairly good knowledge scratches around the car. The engine was started and of mechanics, but my prior car was a BMW and that a noticed the idling was smooth, with great sound and no Ferrari is a totally different class thus rely on an inde- smoke a�er a couple minutes of idling. Overall it was pendent Ferrari mechanic). a great car for its age. I returned the sheet back into the

20 | Ferrari Life Quarterly folder and requested the salesman call me if the deal falls through. I did not get a call for a week and decided to call back. Car was sold and crossed off my list.

Week 6: This week I had scheduled to visit Maryland and Virginia. I le� around 5AM in order to make good time and be able to visit 3 cars that day. First stop was at a dealer in Virginia. They had a ’97 yellow spider with 27K miles on it and an asking price of $82K. It had beau- tiful 19” rims. Paperwork was present but some repairs were not documented and certain years records were missing. I was not too happy with the side scuderia shields which were of the sticker type (very tacky – why bother). The test drive turned out uneventful except for a few underside scrapes on the speed bumps around town. I asked about the original rims and was told that they were locked up somewhere. I did notice that one of the lower fog lamps was broken. All this took about an hour and half, and was off to the next dealer. It took me an hour to the next location further south for another ’97 yellow spider with an asking price of $69K with 34K miles. I thought that this price was too low, there must be something wrong with it. Upon arrival I notice the condition of the dealership. It was partially hidden, the cars parked in the lot were not too impressive, more to the side of lower model cars un- like the past 2 dealerships I had visited which contained a couple of Porsche’s, Cadillac Escalades, Mercedes, BMW to name a few higher end cars. Instantly I get this sound of warning bells in the back of my head. I step into the showroom only to find out that the salesman I had spoken to the week prior had stepped out. Luckily the mechanics were nice enough to hand me the keys to examine the car and start it. To make the story short, the car was horrible inside and outside, nice sounding tubi’s though (more details in one of my threads in Ferrari-life forums). No sense wasting my time here. I walked away without waiting for the salesman to come back in order to examine the maintenance paperwork. This took about 35 minutes. My last stop for the day was at a dealership in Washington DC. The car was a ’98 yellow spider with 17K miles with an asking price of $90K (top of my range). The car looked immaculate and looked like it had gone through a car spa in Beverly hills. The paintjob had a polish made it seem to have gone through several coats of clear coat and buffed up a hundred times over. The F355 was parked in between a 360 Modena and an Aston martin DB9. I was trying hard to concentrate on the F355 without looking at the 360 which looked as good as the F355 or be�er. I did not bother test drive

www.FerrariLife.com | 21 the car because I was already beat and tired from all the in Buffalo, NY which was about 300 miles away, just at driving and did not feel like waiting for them to take it the edge of my distance limit. out of the showroom. Instead I had asked them if they could start the car. The car sounded nice but no Tubi’s. Week 8: I decide to drive to Buffalo, NY with my wife. Everything in the car was stock and the interior had very Since it was close to Niagara Falls, I figure why not have li�le signs of wear. I requested to see all the maintenance a nice romantic time at Niagara Falls a�er we visit the papers which seemed to be complete and in order, so I dealer located in Buffalo and hit two birds with one decided to sit down and see what the bo�om line was stone. for the price. They did not budge much with the price Upon arrival at the dealership, I scan for the claiming all the work they had performed to the car and F355. It was nowhere in sight. We were greeted by a so� that the price had already been reduced for the internet spoken gentleman, unlike the other aggressive salesmen. special. I tried to negotiate for a lower price in order to I had spoken to the gentleman earlier and informed compensate for the New Jersey registration taxes (7%) him of my requirements upon inspection of the car. I but no deal. I told them I love the car, but will have to was impressed because he had already prepared all sleep on it. At this point I am exhausted and headed the maintenance papers to be reviewed by me. The car home to my wife and kid. was a ’97 red spider with 20K miles on it with an ask- ing price of $86K. The car was in the showroom next to Week 7: A�er last week’s search I am running out of op- an Alfa Romeo. The car had a nice shine to it, it looked tions and decide to search the listings in folder 2. There great, the interior was in average condition, there were were about half a dozen that fit my search. I was not too a bit scratches in the shi� knob, which was not a big keen on them being too far away, one being in Sea�le deal. I noticed some scrapping in the underside, but which is at the other end of the country, no thanks, too was in much be�er condition than the earlier cars I had far. I followed the same routine I did earlier making calls examined. The car started up easily, and the test drive and establishing intent with the dealerships. went without event. I noticed that the brakes squealed By midweek I focused on areas north of New a bit, but did not take heed because I had also noted Jersey. There was this dealer located in Boston that had a that on the others I drove previously. No big deal, I will nice 98 yellow F355 with 10K miles. I call up to schedule have those examined, it can be just brake dust making an appointment and to examine the vehicle. The car had that noise. I like this car I said, Ok, now for the negotia- sold the week prior. Damn it. That was the last yellow tions. I find out that this is to be a private sale. Great! I spider close to where I live. Now I am le� with one deal- can haggle with the seller. The seller happens to be the ership which was close and the only problem was it was owner of the dealer and would like it to be a private a red spider which was not my top choice of color. sale. They were willing to go below the asking price and I call the dealer that had the red spider and le� a able to cut me a break on taxes. message. I then decided to work on folder 2 now which Next I checked all the paperwork; they had contained the cars with dealerships located greater than records that extended from 1997 till the present. The 300 miles away. So I call some gentleman from folder timing belt has been replaced by an independent, both number 2 who happened to be a private seller and was manifolds replaced, Tubi’s installed and the clutch re- located somewhere in Florida. The car had great history placed, and other minor problems fixed like the top and and complete service records. This one was a ’97 yellow seat actuators. I put a deposit to hold the car. I schedule spider with about 20K miles on it. I scheduled for a visit a PPI to be performed by one of their suggested inde- sometime the following week or two. pendent garages in the area. I suggested that I make a Now I am being inundated from follow-up calls decision and offer based on the PPI. from dealers, but one struck me in particular. This one was the one I had not followed through because they Week 9: At this point I am filled with excitement, I am so had a red spider which I wasn’t too keen on. Since I had close. Yet, somewhat a bit nervous for the big decision I been looking at yellow ones I completely ignored this am about to make. I really had wanted a yellow Ferrari one. OK, I said, since you are much closer to me than the but fate called for a red one. I get the fax report on the one in Florida, I will visit you first before I fly to Florida. PPI and everything turned out OK, most importantly I was a bit hesitant because it was a red one and located the leak down test. I was satisfied with the report. I ar-

22 | Ferrari Life Quarterly range for a final test drive and decide to make a decision tor on the dash is still on. That was another problem and an offer. We haggled a bit on the price and se�led since I was not used to the procedure on how to release on a price which was $1K over my desired price. Not the parking brake. I had to spend another 10 minutes bad, since they were ge�ing me a discount on the deliv- reading the manual on how to correctly disengage and ery of the vehicle. I decided to have the car delivered in engage the parking brakes. It has been an hour since I fear of having an errant stone from a truck in the inter- got home and still have not go�en the top down. Now state, or the odds of having an accident during the 300+ the mood is changing from anger to fear that I had mile trip back to jersey given the inexperience driving bought a F355 with a faulty top already. At this point my my first Ferrari at those miles. Also, not to mention the son has come out of the house and is as excited to get fear of being pulled over by the police at every instance the top down. We call the original owner and ask him I go over the speed limit knowing well that I will be what we are doing wrong. The top can’t be already bro- tempted to push it and drive it hard on the interstate at ken from the trip. I had the car examined and also tested my exuberance and excitement. I decide to pull the trig- it the week before. The owner explains that the middle ger and sign the papers. I called up the gentleman I was bar has to be jiggled a bit in order for it to make way for going to visit in Florida and cancel the trip. Cool, I said, the complete cycle. A�er a couple nudges the top finally saves me another $1K. went into the down position. Viola! I started the engine, warmed it a bit and went for a spin with my son around Week 10: I finally get the car delivered at a major road the neighborhood. I had to show who the top dog was since the trucker refused to go into smaller roads due in the neighborhood right away. The feeling of finally to the size of the truck. We decide on a major road a driving my own Ferrari was one of the greatest feelings mile away from my residence. I first checked the bo�om in my entire life. The sense of accomplishment and ful- front spoilers knowing well that during the transport fillment made driving the Ferrari even be�er. The sweet they might scrape the spoiler due to the height. As I had sound of the engine at higher revolutions made the feared, yes they had slightly scraped the front spoiler. I neighborhood like a F1 circuit. The engines vibrations argue with the trucker, but gave up and decided to sign during hard downshi�s sent spine tingling sensations the papers and accept the car. I call the dealer and argue down to my feet engaging the accelerator, brakes, and about a partial refund of the delivery charges to com- clutch in rapid movements. The downshi�ing and up- pensate for the charges (to this day I still have not re- shi�ing caused seemed like an elegant dance coupled ceived the agreed value). Besides the scrapping from the with the symphony of the engine sounds, coupled with bo�om, the car looked to be in original condition from the air blowing past. The tightness and feel of the car when I had examined it at the dealer. It had a layer of during hard cornering felt like a tiger ready to pounce. dust on the paint job, and some smudges from the going The pure adrenaline that filled my veins as I acceler- in an out of the trucker in the door handles and interior ated off the corners and get pushed back against the seat leather, which was easily cleaned up later. from flooring the accelerator until almost hit redline. Now that I have the car, and as excited as a boy The next day of ownership was spent on clean- ge�ing his first toy in Christmas, I decide to put the top ing and detailing the car. I show my new car to the down while driving it back home. I unlatch the top and neighbor who owns an E63 AMG, CLK550 convertible, depress the convertible switch, and both seats started to Z06 corve�e, Honda Oddessey, and a GMC minivan. slide forward to an uncomfortable position (luckily for Some says his father is connected, if you know what I my 5’10 160lb frame). The top then slides up then stalls mean, “fahge�about it” as Tony Soprano may say. My in mid position. I swear profanities like a mad sailor neighbor volunteers to help me do the 3 stage polish. We missing out on the red bar district. I continue for about use a clay bar to remove the old layers, put in a certain 15 minutes until I gave up and decide to drive the car sealer, then a polish. We then worked on the interior and home with its top up. I get home finally and tried again tires of the car. The car looked like it had come out of the to get the top down. My mood now is changing from showroom. excitement to anger. I call up the dealer and ask about The next night I take the wife out for dinner the top. They inform me that the top will not engage if while it was still glistening from the polish job. We drive the parking brakes are not engaged. Ok so I pull and to an exclusive area in town only to be stuck in traffic for push down on the parking brakes, and the light indica- about an hour looking for a great parking spot. I insisted

www.FerrariLife.com | 23 on ge�ing a parking spot which was viewable from the it is my first Ferrari and would not like anyone scratch- restaurant we plan on dining in. A�er about an hour ing, dinging or even leaving touch smudges on my car. driving around we decide on a different area across I spied on a group of people that just stopped to look at from town. I lucked out this time and find a parking the car for a good 5-10 minutes which seemed like an spot located in front of the restaurant, viewable from the eternity to me, fearing that they may put their greasy outdoor seating which we of course took. As we walk hands all over my newly polished paintjob, or worse into the restaurant, the first question they asked of me someone’s wristwatch or ring accidentally scratching was “was that a Ferrari you were driving?” Nonchalant- the surface. Eventually they le� and dinner resumed. ly I say yes, and requested to be seated outside. Amaz- It was a nice night ge�ing a bit chilly. As we walked ingly, we did not have to wait. I wonder why, would it towards the car with my arm around my wife as the be that we were deemed important people a�er pulling night was ge�ing a bit cooler now, we were approached in with the Ferrari. My wife is the kind of person who by a gentleman who introduced himself as a prominent likes designer clothes and likes to be noticed. I can tell criminal lawyer from town. He was admiring the car that she was very excited ge�ing all the a�ention once from a distance and saw us. He started boasting about we were seated at the outdoor section. You can notice the new 911 Porsche he was ordering, while praising on the stares and whispers amongst the guests asking who how pristine my Ferrari looked. We thank him and went we were. I would guess not that important since we our way. were in casual clothes, me in my American eagle shorts On our way home my wife got suspicious about and a muscle T, while the wife had on jeans and nice a vehicle that had stopped and turned around as soon as summer top on. During dinner I was constantly looking we passed by. I tell my wife not to worry about it, maybe and checking up on the car. It was a bit annoying, but they are lost. But caution served the be�er of me and

24 | Ferrari Life Quarterly decided to let them go ahead. As soon as they passed difficulty of owning such a high profile car. This car us, they had immediately stopped at a corner and a�racts the every class of people at both ends of the proceeded to turn around. See I tell my wife, they are social range. lost and are turning around. I turn into our driveway That night a�er I had kissed my wife good- and my wife pointed out that the vehicle in question night a�er a quick romantic interlude, I tell my wife stopped at the neighborhood entrance and proceeded I am taking out the trash, but really had wanted to to encircle the street. I immediately turn the head- look at the new baby in my garage. I slide my hands lamps off, but it was too late. The vehicle had obvi- against the smooth cool paintjob from front to back, ously spo�ed us and drove by. I park in the garage all get into the car sliding my behind first then pulling worried now. To make things worse, the check engine my legs in since the steering wheel is low, I put my light had come on as I was entering the driveway. I hands on the steering wheel sit and wonder. I finally assure my wife that everything should be Ok as I tell did it, and I can’t believe that a normal guy like me her that I would report the incident to the authori- has a Ferrari parked in my garage. What is next I say? ties and get my USP HK40 for the readiness, just in A�er all the excitement the previous weeks it has case. We have a discussion before we get to bed on the come down to this. Life goes on.

www.FerrariLife.com | 25 Safari Ferrari #2 - Using a Ferrari as a daily driver in Africa Michael Salomon “Schumacher”

Safari Ferrari – Report #2 is true. The car is running be�er than it ever has. It feels quicker, revs much more freely and very surprisingly It’s amazing how different circumstances can has grown more and more frugal with average mileage alter one’s mindset. on a tank increasing steadily from just about 300km to When I made the decision to use the 308 as my over 350km. daily driver, I was very concerned that by covering sub- In my 10 months of ownership I have covered stantial mileage, I would cause the car to break down at more than 7,000km and apart from six litres of top up oil regular intervals and that month-by-month I would be- and petrol, the only repair has been that of refurbishing gin to systematically have to replace every moving part the water pump and water piping at a cost of ZAR5,700 on the car. Recently I have changed jobs and my daily (US$800). The upcoming service is a minor one as the commute has been reduced from 40km a day down to a belts were changed on delivery of the car. mere 15km a day. Now I am worried that I am not going enough mileage to get the car warm o�en enough and Exploitable handling as a result not open it up frequently enough. This could With every day that passes, I am ge�ing to know the cause the spark plugs to foul up and things to break at car be�er and be�er. Having driven and raced Porsche regular intervals. More worries that things are going to 911s since age 21, I had not known anything other than break. a rear-engined car until I purchased my first 308 three In the time since my last report, I have covered years ago. Whilst a mid-engined car is still trcky in the approximately 3,000km over a three month period. extreme, it is far more balanced than a rear-engined car Apart from a loose piece of heat shielding that causes and the 308 is proving very rewarding to drive hard. a vibration between 3,000 and 3,500 RPM (and will be Naturally, the racetrack is still the best environment to repaired when my minor service is due in two months’ fully appreciate the ability of these wonderful cars. time) I have not had even one niggle. In fact the opposite

26 | Ferrari Life Quarterly Planned maintenance & repairs Over the next two months, the car will not only be serviced but I will take the first steps to sorting out the imperfec- tions that were there when I purchased it a year ago. My philosophy then was that I would first establish the mechani- cal integrity of the car and then improve on the cosmetics. The first repairs are to be the fixing of a dent on the right rear corner of the car as well as the removal of the rust on the le� door. While the car is at the repair shop, I may just have the alloy wheels refurbished.

Summary Overall, the 308 has been an absolute pleasure to own and I am just as in love as when I first took delivery. The myth that the 308 is a fragile car is just that – a myth! On my experience, I really recommend that one should really con- sider a 308 – as a daily driver!

www.FerrariLife.com | 27 365 GT4 BB Report By Jimmy Chen Shiba

A�er owning a 246GT Dino for over a year, I had reminded that this is going to be an involving workout. the opportunity to acquire a 1973 365GT4 BB. Nearby Engine start and the first impression is surprisingly vintage dealer friend of mine had one available for sale civilized flat 12 boxer engine sound which is deep, low at the time. At first, I was a li�le hesitant because I did heartbeat. From this BB, Ferrari started using timing belt not think a F12 would suite the Japanese road reality. rather than chain. This gives a different character to the But then, these opportunities do not come by too o�en engine note. As you prip the engine, you realize the tach and I decided to go for it despite my lack of knowledge meter needle comes alive and shoots above 4,000rpm of what kind of car these BBs were. This BB was first without much effort. Now you are ready for take off and delivered to Italy, France, and to Japan. Probably I am the excperience is sheer pleasure. There is no mistake about the 4th or 5th owner. It was a li�le comforting to the ride is comfortable, but the experience is all involv- know that the previous owner was a Japanese profes- ing with no room anything else. This is definitely not sional bike racer who spent two years doing engine for people who wants superior comfort or expect to out service and repairs with over 700 pics showing the talk on your phone as you drive. A�er a spirited drive, works. you realize you had a real workout. This experience is Apparently, he was more of a tinkerer interested not a�ainable with other modern cars. In my opinion, in taking apart and pu�ing back together. I did have this involvement is not because you are going fast. You the choices at the time to choose among the three BBs of don’t even have to go very fast to enjoy the same experi- 365BB, 512BB, and 512BBi. My choice was the original ence. This involvement is the summation of involving all 365BB. I liked the fact that this model was the first to five senses. Visual, sound, feel, and everything else there usher in the new era of midship flat12. Produciton num- is. ber was the lowest. Visually, I preferred the unclu�ered Oh, did I forget to mention that the clutch is rath- profile lines and the rear triple lights and exhausts with er heavy? Yes, it is, but relative to what? Once you get the manifolds exposed and visible. Being the original used to it, it is not a negative factor. On the contrary, it model, design concepts were unclu�ered and pure. becomes a virtue indeed. The BB experience is one of a When you are standing in front of the BB, you realize kind.. You know this flat 12 engine is behind you and as how low the height is. Once you get inside, it feels even you step on the gas, you experience this push and rush more low. Interior is spartan which complements the from behind you. This experience is very different from intent of this car. a front V12. That is another story. As you prepare yourself to start the car, you are

28 | Ferrari Life Quarterly www.FerrariLife.com | 29