Comfort Mode

I was sitting at an intersection about two miles from my house when I heard the sirens and saw the sheriff’s car. Oh No! I have not gotten a ticket in 16 years. And that was because Barb did not put the front plate on her BMW. Unfortunately, my driver’s license had expired and was from another state to boot – but I did not have it with me anyway, we did not have proof of insurance, or registration in the car. The officer wrote me up for the license plate and very politely, considering the circumstances, asked me to get a license, find the insurance card and registration card and show up in court. He said if we put the plate on they would drop that charge as well.

But not where is a sheriff’s car behind me with lights and sirens in full force. I have to endure that sinking feeling in my stomach for about five seconds before I realize that I drove home mostly under the speed limit. He wants me to get out of his way so he can get through the intersection.

I have been driving the car in “COMFORT” mode recently. As I understand it comfort mode does not make the suspension softer but changes the damping rate of the shocks. It is more comfortable on bumpy roads and seems to be a better choice for driving through town or on the freeway. I wish the warning light was now quite so big.

If I can get my ducks in a row I am going to get a chance to drive in “SPORT” mode this weekend. The Alfa track day is on Sunday and a friend in the club has told me they have openings for track time. The Alfa club has a novice category. Novice being a euphemism for never driven on the track before, cover the car in bubble wrap, tell the corner marshals to take 20 steps back, ignore the smell of burnt clutch.

Sounds perfect. They limit the Novices to only 15 cars on the track. How much damage could I do? Besides, they are Alfas, they are small.

I need to get a helmet and some fireproof gloves. I had planned on taking the kids skiing on Saturday so I will have to get the gear sometime today. Let you know how that goes.

In which I meet my Instructor

I met my driving instructor yesterday. I arranged to take a driving class at PIR. High Performance Driving in your own car. Like I said, my dad taught me to drive when I was 12 in an old work truck and no one has given me any pointers since. I needed to drop off a check for the Enzo dinner, no I had not paid yet, with Steve at Ron Tonkin. Sitting in the customer parking at Ron Tonkin was a great looking 430. I mentioned to Steve that I was taking a class and he said that, well let’s call him Mr. T, (I have not told him about this bolg) taught classes there.

“Yes, I requested him.”

“Oh, did you meet him at the dinner?”

“No, didn’t have a chance.”

“Well let me introduce you”

Nice guy. We talked about cars, driving, and learning. I am trying to talk Barb into taking a class as well. She has taken the 911 over. I think she would have fun learning how to drive it more competently – Not that you are a bad driver hun!

Mr. T said one thing that I thought was great and spot on. He was happy to teach drivers in Ferraris, Vipers, Corvettes, minivans, Priuses, 4x4s. The only thing that worried him was a kid in a Subaru with a tach the size of his helmet. Scary fast cars with young kids. Bad combo.

Outsider or Peripherialist - Does not matter

There is a club. I can’t fully define it. Membership has nothing to do with being in the Ferrari Club of America. Within the club there are different roles. The Newcomer. The Technologist. The Wise Old Guy. The Outsider. The Supporter. The Butterfly. The Peripherialist. There are other roles that orbit outside the club but are not in the club. I am pretty sure this is true with most clubs or groups be they focused on Ferraris, model trains, obscure breeds of dogs, yoga, whatever. As I have said before, I am really not a group person. I would describe myself as an anti-group person. I suppose this makes me an “Outsider” or a “Peripherialist”.

There are some benefits to being in this club. First, you get to be around a lot of Ferraris. Why is that a benefit? Well, as a car guy, I really like to look at, hear, drive, and discuss cars. In this club you get to look at drive, hear, and discuss Ferraris. Second, you get to do this without feeling and sounding like a pompous arrogant jerk. Aside from a few friends and those of you reading this blog I don’t tell people I have a Ferrari. That came out wrong. I don’t want people to know I have a Ferrari. I don’t want to broadcast it. Sounds silly from someone writing a blog about the experience and planning to write a book but there we go.

With club members it is different. They have Ferraris too. Usually, nicer ones and more of them than I have. You can talk about Tubi exhaust notes compared to stock exhaust notes and which is car is livelier on back roads. You can discuss the differences in the F1 tranny and not sound or feel like you are saying “let them eat cake.” In these respects I like being in this club.

Our Second Ferrari

I removed the video of the cars starting I had posted on YouTube. Why remove such a historic, valuable, and insightful bit of film making you ask? Over 1000 people watched me start two cars. I decided the experiment was a success and I should not waste 1000 more people’s time. The film represented my first attempt at filming anything other than our kids crawling around when they were infants. It was boring, amateurish, totally devoid of any redeeming value, self absorbed – like just about everything else on YouTube so I removed it.

I have not changed my mind about doing other films from and about the car and the experience of owning it. There are two great roads that I want to film driving sequences on and I would like to film a track day. I build a camera mount for the car. It is not pretty but I think it will work. Amazing what you can do with stuff from Home Depot.

I bought the model pictured above to use in a film, probably to grand a word but what else fits, depicting the differences between my expected Ferrari reality and my experienced Ferrari reality. It would be more fun to fly to Italy and drive the car in the Italian country side but no one has offered me the chance so I will duplicate the Italian country side on the floor of my home office.

Why make films? Well, making them is rewarding on several levels. First, you get to spend a good amount of time nerding out with the car under the guise of film making. Second, it forces you to think about your relationship with the car and how you want to present and project the relationship. Third, it is stimulating in the same way writing about the car is.

$270 for an ashtray and I don't smoke

I received the ashtray module yesterday and wasted little time sneaking out to the garage to install it. You would expect that installing a new ashtray module would not take any time at all. It is held in with one screw, has an easy to disconnect wiring harness, and does not require the removal of anything major to install it. Your expectation would be correct if the original replacement part from Ferrari fit and if the installer did not decide that he liked the crossed flag pendant on the original ashtray better than the one on the new ashtray.

The picture is of the old module.


Once I removed the old ashtray and could compare them side by side I decided that I wanted to use the flag pendant from the old lid. The pendant is held on by two little nuts. They are easy to remove. They are not so easy, especially if you have big finger, to replace. About 20 minutes later and I had the pendants swapped.



I installed the cigar lighter, that’s what is it called in the parts catalogue, and put the ashtray module back in. The hole in the bottom did not line up with the hole in the frame tunnel. It was off by about ¼ of an inch. A bit of careful work with a Dremel tool to reposition the hole in the ashtray and it fit.


Here is a picture of the new moudule.

It was definitely worth it but now the nice ashtray highlights the less than perfect condition of the AC sticker and the mirror control. Luckily both of these are inexpensive to replace and will be my next project. I posted the old lid for sale on ebay to offset some of the cost of the new module.

Floor Mat Button

I found a package containing one of the buttons I was going to order to hold the floor mat down when cleaning the interior of the Ferrari. Anyone familiar with the car knows there are not a lot of nooks or crannies in which to store things. The bag was in the glove box. I remember seeing it but did not pay too much attention the first time I found it.

One problem. The button is riveted to the floor of the car. I had assumed it was held in with screws not rivets. Glad I did not buy one. When I take the car in for a fluid change I will have Gran Prix replace the broken button with this new one.

Housekeeping Update

I have signed up for a driving class at PIR. The class is focused on performance driving in your own car. It is all day, starts with classroom instruction and moves to on track driving. I am looking forward to it. I want to learn to drive the Ferrari gracefully, fast is fine but mostly I would like to be more graceful piloting the car.

A few posts ago I wrote about ordering the new ashtray, AC control sticker, and floor mat button. About a week ago I realized that I had not received an order confirmation from the place I ordered them. I logged in and saw that I had never completed the purchase process. The parts were sitting in my shopping cart. On a lark I looked on ebay and someone was selling a new ashtray for $149 with a buy it now price of $300. Worse case I save $75. I decided to risk it. The auction closed on Friday morning at 6:05. I get up early so 6:05 is no problem. I waited until about 6:03 an put in a bid for $301. Got the ashtray for$ 270 something, saving about $100.

Wine Country Trip

We had a choice yesterday. Go to PIR with the Ferrari Club and do paced laps, three for $10, or head out to the wine country with another new Ferrari owner and goof off. No contest, wine country goof off trip. Why, well the track was going to be open to anyone so I expected it to be crowded. I will have a chance to make hundreds to trips around PIR on my bike, there are two bicycle races there a week in the summer. Also, I don’t really like big groups. And finally, I understood the paced laps were going to be pretty slow, no helmet required and passengers allowed. So I could go out to PIR, stand around and talk about cars, do a few laps on the track, and drive home. Or, I could drive to a coffee shop, talk about cars, and then drive on some of the best twisty roads around to a friend’s winery.

Barb and I met Kevin and Jon at a Starbucks in Tigard. Kevin took delivery of a red 360 about one month ago. Great looking car. I think a 360 will be my next Ferrari. I am trying to convince Jon to work for our company.

This was my first drive with another Ferrari owner. I know that sounds silly but I was more fun that going on a drive by myself. Why? Because I could look behind me and see the fantastically menacing front end of Kevin’s 360. That is a scary car to have behind you. My car, which is silver, but not the Argento Titanio I thought it was. It is Girgio Titanio. My car is stealthy, loud but stealthy. Kevin’s red car is hard to miss.

We drove out JKCarriere, a winery in the Yamhill valley. Jim, owner/winemaker/friend, was there bottling wine but was nice enough to take a break from his day and let us taste a few of his wines. If you like Pinots 2006 is going to be a great year. We barrel tasted two of his 2006s both were fantastic.

Since I had the pleasure of driving out Barb got to drive back. We let Kevin lead going home. Less scary being behind the 360. That car looks great from every angle. Nice choice Kevin. On the way home a teenager in a tiny Toyota decided it would be fun to see how annoyingly close he could tailgate our car. Why? Did he think we wanted to race? I was worried he would be unable to slow down a quickly as our car and we would have a Toyota stuck to the back of the Ferrari.

One note. The road we took to Jim’s winery is a bit bumpy. I switched the 355 to comfort mode. Even though the road was twisty we were not going fast enough to need sport mode. The car has an adjustable suspension that allows you to choose between two settings. Most of the time you cannot tell but on this road the difference was noticeable. I think the car probably performed better with the softer suspension setting as it was better able to absorb the bumps. Kevin had 19” front wheels and monster 20” rear wheels on his 360. I am surprise that he and Jon were not turned to jelly.

PIR and learning to drive

Portland International Raceway reopens this weekend. The Friend of PIR are hosting an open house and for $10 you can take three paced laps around the track. I considered going to the event and driving a few laps on the track. After some thought I decided not to attend. Three reasons. First, and most important, after my sliding the car around leaving Enzo’s birthday party I realize I need to learn how to drive the car and that I am not yet familiar enough with it nor a good enough driver to push it. Second, $10 does not present that great of a barrier to entry. Sorry but I don’t want someone in a pickup to get a bit ambitious in turn three and flatten the Ferrari. Third, I want to drive the car on the track and really see what it can do. These laps will be paced parade laps. I don’t see much fun in that.

What am I going to do? I am going to take a driving class. I am going to learn how to drive the Ferrari and drive well in general. There is a driving school at PIR with a one day course in which you use your own car. The course is comprised of classroom instruction and track time with an instructor. I think I need some instruction before getting out on the track.

In the past I would have resisted this but every time I have gone fly fishing with a guide I have learned a lot and benefited greatly from the instruction. Why should driving be any different? My dad taught me to drive when I was 12. He was living in Hawaii and had tiny pickup truck which someone had painted yellow with a brush. The hoses for the engine were literally hoses, garden hoses. Since then I have not had any driving instruction.

Surreal Ferrari Experience

Of all our experiences on the trip one stands out as unforgettable and completely surreal. It was our third day and we planned a driving trip south to Monfestino for no particular reason other than the roads looked nice. Just outside of Pazzano di Sotto we turned right onto a small, narrow road. We had not gone more than 300 meters when the road was lined with very attractive people, both male and female in underwear. They were standing about 10 feet apart, some were standing at attention, some were talking and joking with their neighbors. The underwear started off white, then as we slowly progressed, now slowly, down the road the underwear started to gain some color, first light blue, then greens, the yellow, then orange, the last was red. Needless to say we were both confused until we saw several cameras mounted on a motorized rolling platform. I stopped and asked and a British guy told me they were filming a laundry soap commercial. He said they had 312 models in their underwear. I asked why they did not close the road. "Why would we do that?" was his answer.

Picking up the Ferrari

When you think about it there really is not that much more expense associated with picking the Ferrari up in Italy. We get a nice trip and a chance to experience the car on its home turf. Why buy a car in LA, Dallas, or Miami when for a bit more you can get one in Italy? Having found, had inspected, and purchased the car, a Titanium Silver, sorry Argento Titano 355 we made arrangements to pick it up at the Ferrari factory and do a three day driving and eating tour.
Getting there is much like getting anywhere. Even in 1st class the seats become uncomfortable, the air stale, and good wine tastes flat. Airport club lounges look pretty much the same and customs is usually less of a hassle than you expected.

After a full day of flying I decide not to rush to see the car. I am not the best traveler. I want to take a shower, a nap, get a good meal and figure out what time it is. I remember when I went to England all I wanted to do when I got there was sleep. Unfortunately there was a wedding in the hotel and my room was next door to the ballroom. They partied until past midnight. In Italy we are luckier. We booked a room at the Giovanetto B&B in Castelfranco Emilia just outside of Modena. It’s quiet, the beds have thick comforters and big down pillows. Even if the room is yellow I am going to sleep well. The car can wait until tomorrow. I think I would rather be rested and fresh rather than tired and sour the first time I see it.

When I told other Ferrari owners I was picking the car up at the Factory and getting a tour they were doubtful. Why would I get a tour? I was buying a used car. The answer is simple. I bribed the local Ferrari dealer. It did not take as much as you would expect. They arranged the sale and I tossed in two cases of Barolo. Admittedly they were 2001s but I think it was well worth it. That was it, 24 bottles of wine and we are picking the car up at the Factory and getting a tour.
Barb and I arrive at the factory at 11:00 am. I am glad it was not earlier. I slept well for part of the night but not all of it. By 11:30 I had already taken a nap. Now I am ready to see the car, tour the factory and have lunch.

We are met by a very attractive tour guide, wearing red and led to a silver 355 parked beside the main entrance. The car looks great. I get to spend about 20 minutes looking it over while Barb has a broken Italian/English conversation with our tour guide. Barb learns we are going to have lunch before going on the tour. That’s fine, I am hungry.

We go across the street to Cavallino for a quick lunch then head back to the factory for the tour, which begins at 1:00. Unfortunately Ferrari does not allow cameras on the tour so I have no photos to share. I can tell you that the factory is amazing. I expected this, Ferraris are amazing cars. The most memorable part of the tour was the Ferrari Classiche department. Classiche will restore client’s older cars with original parts or build new “original” parts for the car. There were some beautiful older cars undergoing restoration. Just a few parts, a gearbox, set of headers, and dash cost more than my 355.

Lunch and tour over it is time to drive the car. One problem, we can’t leave the Fiat in the parking lot across the street from the factory. Barb and I flip a coin for it. She wins. Jealously, I follow her back to the B&B to drop the Fiat off and head out on a driving tour on some narrow country roads north of Castelfranco Emilia.

The weather is just about perfect. About 70 degrees big clouds, blue sky in between and beautiful Italian sun. This was the right place to pick up the car. Once we get off the main roads we can open the car up a bit. It is just like I imagined. The roads are barely wider than the Ferrari and twisting through farms and little villages. We got stuck in on village when the road became too narrow for the car. The old houses were built right up the road. An old woman poked her head out of her window and shook her head. If she could have I bet she would have slammed her shutters.

We have two more days of this. Great roads, great food, beautiful wine, and the Ferrari to enjoy in Italy. Reluctantly, we return the car to the factory, I get to drive this time, and take the Fiat to the airport for the trip home. The dealer has arranged for the factory to ship the car back to Portland for me. I only have to wait three weeks and it will be in my garage.

That, is how you should acquire a Ferrari.

Ferrari being a Ferrari - Finally

Finally, something has gone wrong with the car. Honestly, I would have been disappointed if nothing happened. The car has started buzzing. I think it is the seatbelt warning buzzer. It happens randomly, starting out faintly, unsure if it wants to buzz, gains strength then quits with a squeak. It would be endearing if it only happened once like a baby bird learning to chirp. I am looking forward to finding the cause and fixing it. My guess is a bad connection somewhere.

I looked on line and saw that many 355 owners had removed the buzzer in the car. Not a bad idea. The buzzer in a 355 has an exceptionally annoying tone and is about twice as loud as it needs to be. It comes on when you start the car or have the key in the ignition and the door open. I don’t need to be alerted the car is on, I can hear the motor. But I don’t want to remove the buzzer. I want to find and fix the problem. Once the problem is fixed I will contemplate removing the buzzer but doubt I will.

Different topic. I have been thinking about the process of writing the book and the creation and weaving together of different themes. Currently, I am planning on interweaving two themes.

1. I want to test the theory that it is possible to buy a Ferrari drive it for a while and sell it without spending a bunch of money.
2. I want to compare my expectation of Ferrari ownership with the reality of Ferrari ownership.

The approach for the “how much does it cost theme” seems pretty obvious. Analyze the process that led me to the 355, mostly dumb luck but I can act like I had a plan, keep track of what I spent and see where I end up. The second theme will be more fun. I have a pretty clear picture of how I expect things to be. I am going to write an entry describing what I expect then write an entry describing how it turned out.

Received the Ferrari driving shoes today. Perfect, over the top, hedonistic, and crazy. They almost glow. I came home after lunch to exchange the truck for the Ferrari and the shoes had arrived. I have to admit it was easier to drive the car in them than a pair of loafers.

Happy Birthday Enzo!

Still Friends

What a wonderful day. Sun was shining. Kids were happy. Alex, my oldest daughter asked if we could drive the Ferrari to the bakery and get pastries for breakfast. I wanted to drive the car again to make friends with it after it tried to bite me last night. Apparently it was in a good mood it was very nicely behaved even though there was a layer of frost on the road. I like taking Alex places in the Ferrari. She gets to sit beside me and she moves here feet when I shift mimicking pushing in the clutch and letting off the gas.

My plan was to take the car for a long drive out in the country and just enjoy the day. I called my move just before noon and asked if she wanted to go along. It was nice to get to spend about one hour talking with mom, driving through the country. We had a very nice 50 mile drive in the car. I was not too uncomfortable when I got home.

The Ferrari is unable to get up my mom’s driveway. Let me restate that, I think the Ferrari would be unable to get up my mom’s driveway and have not tried. I needed to run some errands and pick up some groceries. The Ferrari is just too wide to park at the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon so we took the Porsche.

What a difference. Today was my first back to back drive. In many ways the cars are alike. Both represent the last model with traditional styling but with a modern drive train and suspension. Both cars have a handmade feeling to me that I find very appealing. Both cars lack traction control.

The Ferrari make the Porsche seem old and unsophisticated. If the Ferrari is perfectly proportioned classical symphony played on a tube amp and electrostatic speakers the Porsche is an boot legged AC DC song played on a boom box. Both are wonderful in their own way. The Ferrari has a far more sophisticated suspension. It is clear why Ferrari wins so many F1 races. They know what they are doing. I have said it before, the car is so beautiful to drive it almost make me weep. The Porsche delivers fantastic feedback through the steering wheel but cannot match the suspension set up of the Ferrari. I love driving them both but am quickly coming to prefer the Ferrari.

So, how was it?

Enzo’s party, proven wrong again. Both my projection and my Ferrari fantasy world missed the mark. Enzo’s Birthday was attended by about 40 nice people who like Ferraris. Nothing wrong there. A bit awkward. More than a bit nerdy. Maybe that describes me but I don’t think so. I certainly don’t want it too. You know, it does describe me. I think a non-biased third party would be unable to find any substantive differences. There was a lot of discussion about cars; there were a lot of Ferrari shirts. I did not see any Ferrari shoes but I wasn’t really looking. There were no drunken 19 year old trophy wives. That was unfortunate.
So maybe I was not proven wrong. I am not sure.

Maybe I am seeking something in Ferrari ownership that does not exist or is not granted by ownership. That sounds immediately obvious when I write it. It is consistent with my thoughts about the world and the nature of what makes me who I am. It is what you make of it. It is also consistent with my earlier statements that I was not buying the car to change who I am but to get to experience a lifestyle that was different from the one I have had.

I am either going to immerse myself in the local Ferrari sub-culture or ignore it and do my own thing. I am not sure which. I have never been a good “join the club” sort of a person. But, there are several benefits to being part of the group in Portland. Events, track days, the opportunity to talk about the cars without sounding like a complete snob. Plus, and this is a big plus there is a group that gets together to watch F1 races. For years I have only watched one sporting event. The Tour de France. Last year I became interested in F1. As near as I could tell I was the only person in the Northwest who was interested in F1. Nope, there were a bunch of people there who were following F1 and looking forward to the season.

I did do my best Clarkson impression leaving the parking lot. I just did it about 50% more than I expected. Just a note. If you have a Ferrari without traction control, the ground is a bit slick, and your tires cold. Hold on. Gentle with that right foot. A valuable lesson cheaply learned.

Enzo's Birthday - The Prequel

Enzo’s birthday will be my first experience with a whole bunch of Ferrari folk. So far my expectation of Ferrari ownership and my experience have been very different. My experience has not been bad in any way just different than what I thought it would be. Barb has been joking that she should wear tight white pants and a leopard print top to the dinner. While that would be nice it also serves to shed light on her expectations of Ferrari ownership and owners – or more specifically owners wives. I told her it was the Ferrari club not the Camaro club. I asked her about this comment and what it said about Ferrari owners and their wives.

“They like fast cars and fast women” was the response.

“So… I own a Ferrari does that make you a fast woman?”

No response.

I think we are going to meet a bunch of people who are pretty similar to us. Most will have made more than a one year commitment to ownership but generally the owner will be like me – fascinated with cars and able to argue compellingly enough to talk their spouse into letting them spend a prodigious amount of time and energy on a car. The spouses will be like Barb. Amused with their other halves obsession and willing to accompany them to a birthday party for a dead Italian guy who built cars. I am scared of fast women.

In this case I hope that my expectation and reality are totally different. I have no desire to have dinner with a bunch of people who are just like me. With the exception of the occasional sarcastic remark it would be a dull evening, utterly lacking in color, glamour, and excitement. I am hoping for middle aged guys with slicked back hair, driving shoes, and Ferrari tattoos. I hope some bring their 19 year old third wife. I want passionate debate comparing a 360 Modena with the F1 transmission to a 360 Modena with the manual. All this while the 19 year old trophy wife dances, drunk on a table.

We will see. I am going to bring a magnum of Brunello, just in case.

Porsche Up and Running

Barb wants to drive the Porsche to a dinner with a friend tomorrow. I have had the battery charging for several days and expect it will start. I plan on taking it out for a short drive and run an errand. I want to try to make a camera mount for the 355. My plan it to use suction cups to affix a bracket to the rear window.

The Porsche started on the first try and settled into a nice Porschy, lumpy idle. I like the smell of older Porsches, a mixture of oil, gas, exhaust fumes, and leather. New cars smell like plastic and glue but old Porsches have a very distinctive smell.

Even though I have had it lowered the Porsche is much easier to get out of the driveway than the Ferrari. The morning is clear and cold and I think I will take the long way to Home Depot. The motor sounds great not the high pitch tune of the Ferrari but a big boomy sound. The past few times I have driven this car I am reminded how much I like it. This 911, with the modifications we have made, may be the most perfect sports car in the world. Why? Well it lacks all drivers aids other than power steering and ABS. It is a small fast convertible that has back seats. It sounds fantastic. It is small enough to hustle down curvy tight roads. But, most of all, at sane, even legal speeds it is very rewarding to drive.

On a different note I received an email from Joe at Gran Prix yesterday asking how I was and if I was interested in selling the 355. Who knows? Depends on the price. It would make for an interesting twist to my book to have two Ferraris in one year.

Tonight is the Ferrari Club’s celebration of Enzo’s birthday. Let you know how that goes.

Ferrari Driving Shoes

Ferrari driving shoes. No matter how I try to justify these there is no real good answer except I wanted them. Sure the pedals are close together – but I have four pairs of shoes I can drive the car in. Sure the heels are rolled – but I already have shoes with rolled heels. No good excuse. Luckily, Barb really likes shoes and will understand. They only had two left in my size! I had to get them.

And, yes. The color matches the car. I know...

Second Favorite Ferrari Experience

Today I had what I count as my second best Ferrari experience so far. I was leaving the New Seasons, a grocery store, parking lot. The car was full of French bread, champagne, rack of lamb, smelly cheese, and roses. As I was driving through the parking lot two children, a boy and girl, started waving at me. I stopped, they ran over.

“550 Maranello.” The boy asked?

“No 355 Berlinetta.” I replied.

“It’s beautiful, my dad has a 456M.”

“Great car, that’s one that I was looking for but couldn’t find.”

Those kids are being brought up right. Nice work.

New Parts for the car

I thought Barb and I would get a chance to take the car to dinner yesterday. I spent most of the day working in Government Camp, a small community about 60 miles east of Portland and on the slopes of Mt Hood. The day was beautiful, mostly clear skies, about 50 degrees, little wind. Mt Hood has been buried with snow this year. The attached photo is of my truck by a snow bank. The top of my truck is over eight feet off the ground. Crazy amount of snow. It was absolutely incredible and beautiful. I had hoped to get in some skiing but took too long working.
Well, at least we could take the car to dinner. Nope. Once I left the mountain the beautiful weather disappeared and it started to rain. As I came closer to Portland the weather became consistently worse. I must admit that I am beginning to tire of living here; I know I will change my mind during the summer; I am ready for this winter to end.
I can’t ski and I can’t get the car out for a spin so I am going to buy some things for the car. I decided to replace the AC control cover, the ashtray, and one of the buttons that hold the floor mats down.
The AC controls are housed in a white plastic box that is covered with a dark grey decal. Over time the decal pulls away from the plastic box and looks bumpy. Our 355 is in pretty good shape and the decal is barely lifting but it is lifting so I am going to replace it. You can also but the AC control module – the plastic box with the decal, knobs, and stop button but it costs $1500. Ouch. The decal is “only” $80 for a roughly 6” by 6” plastic sticker! The ash tray did not get any cheaper. Still $375 and the button to hold the floor mat down, $15. I have now roughly doubled my spend to date on the car.
On a different note. This Saturday I am attending a celebration of Enzo’s birthday put on by the Ferrari Club. Think about that for a moment. Monday is President’s Day. I have not been invited to any celebrations for President’s Day. Enzo is having his birthday celebrated in Portland, Oregon. Do people also celebrate Henry Ford’s birthday?

So Which is Better?

I have been wanting to write a piece comparing our 911 to our Ferrari but neither the weather nor the 911’s battery have cooperated. I did buy a charger last weekend and started the car so with luck I can drive both this coming weekend and get a chance to compare them with driving impressions fresh in my mind.
I did get to drive two vehicles back to back this weekend. The Ferrari and my Toyota Tundra so I will compare them. In many ways they are similar vehicles. Both are extremes. Both have V8s. Both get terrible gas mileage. They have leather interiors, big tires, and go ridiculously fast. Really, the Toyota is fast for a car and over the top for a giant truck. They both have doors, the Toyota has twice as many but the Ferrari has a bigger trunk.
I like the steering feeling of the Ferrari better. It is more direct and responsive. The Toyotas is nice but can get a bit vague. I like the seat position in the Toyota better. Much more comfortable, better head room too. For rearward visibility the Ferrari wins. I can’t see a thing behind the Tundra. There could be a town car parked behind it and I would never know. Often, when parallel parking it downtown I have to get out and look only to realize that I have backed over a mini or have twenty feet to go before hitting something. You just can’t tell. One nice thing, the tires are so big that you can hit the curbs and not scratch the rims. In the truck the curbs feel soft.
While rearward visibility its rearward visibility is better the Ferrari can’t hold a candle to the Toyota in forward visibility. You can see everything. The windshield is huge. It takes forever to wash.
The Ferrari has no cupholders. I don’t know how many the Toyota has I can count five in the front row of seats from memory. Two of those five will hold a 32 oz Gatorade bottle.
The Toyota’s motor has a pleasant diesel sound when cold. Unfortunately that changes to one of the most unpleasant exhaust notes on the planet when warmed up and pushed. Very metallic. I avoid pushing the motor so I don’t have to hear it. The Ferrari on the other hand sings. I have been lucky enough to twice see/hear Pavarotti in concert. A lot like the Ferrari, fantastic.
The Toyota has Bluetooth, a CD player, and a jack for an ipod. I think the Ferrari has a radio but I’m not sure. Who would use it anyway?
Right now there is a pair of skis, poles, umbrella, old moving blanket, drill with 2” hole cutting bit, bike mount, chains, two car seats, a blanket, a took box, and a winter kit in the Toyota. The Ferrari contains a very nice leather tool kit, car cover, proof of insurance, and garage door opener.
Which is better? Hard to tell. If push came to shove and I had to pick one my brain would keep the Toyota but my heart would keep the Ferrari.

What does a Ferrari really cost?

I realize I have been remiss in fulfilling one of my early promises associated with this blog and my book. I set out to test the thesis that a Ferrari can be bought, driven, and sold without losing too much money, maybe even breaking even – operating costs aside. I am not so good a paperwork so I am going to round some of the smaller figures to the nearest $10.

I spent $180 at ATD on my pre-purchase inspection. (Thanks Dick and Laurie)

So far I have spent just over $800 in payments on the car. Well, I have not actually spent anything as I financed more than the amount of the car to cover the payments for the first several months. Why? Money is really cheap right now and I can make a better return by keeping my money and using Summits money to pay for the car.

I have spent about $60 on gas.

I spent $41 on valve cap covers.

I spent $135 to join the Ferrari Club.

I have spent about $140 on insurance. I think.

I think that is about it. I did buy an cover for my iphone that matches the leather in the car but you can’t really count that. So what is my total?

Out of pocket $556.

Not bad. $556 and I have a Ferrari.

I know that at the end of my year I will owe the bank $75,000 and will have made about 2000 worth of payments to service the debt, but the car is worth most of that, if not more so that seems like a wash to me.

Ferrari 1Porsche 0

I had hoped to drive both cars back to back today. It was mostly dry, over 50 degrees, and broken clouds. Since I have owned the Ferrari I have not had a chance to drive it and the Porsche in the same day. I know there is a big difference between the cars. I know the Porsche is a generation, or two, earlier and it is unfair to compare a convertible to a coupe. Or is it? Back to what makes driving fun. It’s not all about going fast. When I consider the bucket of things that make driving fun for me the Porsche stacks up pretty well. It sounds great. It handles fantastically well, especially on low and medium speed roads. I call the Porsche the world’s greatest go cart. It is convertible. Yes, purists everywhere are cringing but it is hard to beat a topless car, with a great exhaust note, on a winding road in early summer. Especially if there are tunnels. With slightly harder tires and a suspension tuned to oversteer the Porsche is a blast to gently drift through tight turns. Sure the Ferrari is faster and handles better but that is only part of the equation.
I spend the best part of the morning in the office and it was about 1:00 before I had a chance to drive the car. I took three kids with me so not enough room in the Ferrari or Porsche. The whole time I was in the office I was tortured every time I looked outside. It was beautiful. I was sure it would be raining by the time I got home.
It wasn’t raining. I decided to drive the Ferrari first. I usually park my truck in the driveway behind the Ferrari’s space in the garage so I parked it on the street. The Porsche was blocked in by Barb’s minivan.
The car started right up. Not a cough, not a bauble. It just started. I let it warm up for about 10 minutes. It is not a car you can jump in and go. Well, you can but it does not shift too smoothly and the engine is rough. Let it warm up a bit and it shifts beautifully and the engine smoothes out.
I decided to take the car out into the country for a nice drive. No passengers, no destination just a nice drive. My goal was to spend about 2/3s of the drive on twisty back roads then idle home on the freeway. I live in Portland’s southwest hills. There are fantastic roads 300 feet from my house. Unfortunately there are driveways, joggers, cyclists, dogs, minivans, etc. So I drive slowly and as quietly as possible. I make my way to Skyline. As its name implies Skyline runs along a crest of hills. It’s a great road. Not great for speeding, again too much traffic and too many cyclists. Please note, I am not complaining about cyclists, I am a cyclist. I love riding on Skyline. I was not looking for a deserted stretch of road where I could open the car up. I was looking for a nice stretch of road where I could continue to get to know it. Sitting at the DEQ and short trips around town don’t do much to familiarize oneself with how a car handles.
Again I am struck with the incredible grace of the Ferrari. Every movement, every change of direction is graceful. The whole package works together to produce the automotive version of a ballerina. As long as my inputs are approximately right the Ferrari rewards me with beautiful, smooth transitions. I had a few chances to open the car up in second gear, just brief runs up to about 7500 RPMs the shift to third and let off the throttle. The rush of acceleration combined by the howl of the motor is intoxicating.
Just as I was about to get on the freeway one of the two motorcyclists I had been following for the past 20 minutes decided that a friendly drag race from about 20 mph was in order. The Ferrari was quicker. Not bad, however I had to brake hard to make the 25mph sweeper to get on the freeway. It is remarkable how much like a racecar, or what I think a race car would be like the Ferrari is. It took the 25mph onramp at over 50 with no leaning, slipping or squealing. Just smooth, flat, and graceful.
The only thing I have found that I don’t like about the Ferrari is the ergonomics. I am about 6’5”. The car would be perfect for someone 5’9”. The rear view mirror is directly in my line of sight for right hand turns and I don’t have anywhere to put my left foot when it is not engaging the clutch. Oh well.
It was still nice when I arrived home. I needed to make a run to the grocery store so I grabbed the keys for the Porsche. Nothing. The battery was absolutely dead. How often does that happen? The Ferrari starts fine but the Porsche won’t even turn over. That must be a first.I drove my truck to the grocery store and then picked up a battery charger for the Porsche. Ferrari 1, Porsche 0.

Why is Driving Fun?

What makes driving fun? Driving is not always fun. Sometimes it is drudgery, nearly unbearable. The difference in the situation that results in fun and the situation that results in drudgery is slight. You sit in the auto, you push the gas, the clutch, the brake, you steer. I bet that the driving I detest, going down the freeway at 67 appeals to the same people how detest roads I love – narrow twisty, hilly roads with speeds between 10 and 70.
There was a brief bet of sun this weekend. I took advantage of it. I took the car out for a brief drive. I had forgotten how fantastic it is to drive. I got home just before it started to snow.
I can think of many things that combine to make driving fun for me. I will work through them in future posts.

Ferrari Myth No. 2

Driving fast is an example of a component of Ferrari ownership where the Ferrari fantasy and the Ferrari reality are inconsistent. I speak only for myself. My Ferrari fantasy included faster than light travel. Speeds that bent reality like a fish eye lense. I would be Ascari, Hill, and Schumacher all rolled into. The car would slide gracefully, efficiently through corners. Not tire squealing Top Gear drifting but fast, smooth transitions from turn to turn never missing an apex, never placing a tire poorly. I would do all this while tearing down Humphrey at four times the speed limit. Hmmm. Something amiss there. What will the neighbors think?
Last summer, when returning from a bike ride, I rode by a Carrera GT being washed about 6 blocks from my house. I had seen the car a few times but did not know here it lived. I turned around to chat with the owner. He was a long time Porsche enthusiast. In addition to the CGT he had a 997 GT3 in the garage. He mentioned that both cars were so fast and so competent that the only place you could safely push them was on the track. Humphrey was not an appropriate place to stretch the legs of either car. In the public road environment his older Porsches were more entertaining. Bet you did not like to hear that.
For me and I guess for many people the thrill of driving has little to do with absolute speed. The thrill comes from pushing your car or your talent up to its edge. I am not yet able to extract the performance my 911 has to offer. The Ferrari yawns when I drive it. This is a perfect scenario. My perception of risk keeps me from exceeding my abilities and my cars potential is greater than I can unlock these factors combine to keep me relatively safe.
The result. I seldom go any faster in the Ferrari or Porsche than I do in my truck. Often, I will be quite happy driving on a twisty country back road, feeling I am going as fast as I should while being tail gated by a minivan. For me Ferrari ownership did not wrap up and immediately bestow a new ability to drive fast. But, it does not matter. Like I said earlier the thrill comes from pushing the boundaries of either your skill or the cars ability. So I can still have a great amount of fun in the Ferrari and not exceed the speed limit by an amount that will land me in jail or the hospital. Further, driving the Ferrari, at any speed, on almost any road, with no one around is fun. Why? I don’t know exactly but I think it is a mix of the sound, the steering feel, the view out over the dash and hood, the feeling coming through the seat, years of expectation and anticipation, and a bunch of subconscious other stuff.

Maybe it was for the Best

In hindsight maybe it is better that dad did not get the Ferrari. If he had I would undoubtedly have crashed it. As a teenager I was physically unable to drive a car cautiously. Couple that trait with a paucity of skill and very poorly develop sense of risk and you have a wrecked Ferrari. I did enough dumb things growing up. I am glad that I do not have to add wrecking dad’s Ferrari to the list.
If I had not wrecked the car I might have applied my considerable mechanical skill to improve it. I distinctly remember deciding that the reason that my 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass was not running had something to do with all the belts snaking through the engine bay. The solution. Cut the belts. One by one I cut belts and tried to start the car after each belt was cut. No luck. Mom sold the car for $300.
While my mechanical skills have improved I will admit that I am better at removing or disassembling things than I am at replacing or repairing things. I was able to remove the heat shield from my 911 and install the bypass for the secondary exhaust. A job that includes significantly more disassembly than assembly.
I like to think that my driving skills have improved as well. Certainly my perception of the risks associated with driving are different than they were 20 some odd years ago. It may be that I still lack driving skills I just never put myself in a position to get beyond my limits. This is just a guess but a driver whose perception of risk trumps perception of skill is probably a good owner for an exotic car.
Why? Well you can get in over your head in an exotic quite a bit more quickly than you can in a Honda. Not saying that you can’t hurt yourself in a Honda but the ability to go from in control to out of control at triple digit speeds in seconds is not there.