Stratos v Dino

**abstamaria** · #1 04-28-2009, 12:04 AM

Dear all,

I drove the Dino and the Stratos one after the other last Sunday and described my impressions briefly in the "Other Italian" section of FerrariChat.

It is amazing how two cars that are so closely related can be so different. One is not better than the other - just different! If one must get a companion car for the Dino, I would recommend the Stratos highly.

Ciao.

Andres

ferraripete · #2 04-29-2009, 12:48 AM

equally jewel like as the dino!!!!!!! you have fantastic taste in cars!!

**JazzyO** · #3 04-29-2009, 01:27 AM

Lucky ......! Wonderful experience to drive those two on the same day. I love both of them.

Onno

**abstamaria** · #4 07-26-2009, 01:59 AM

I wanted to drive the Dino this morning to take advantage of a break in the rains. Not possible, the battery was flat. I'm disappointed in its Optima battery, which is just 3 months old and charged monthly (Iwon't buy one again). Got into the Dino, which started after a few tries on its tiny, 3-year old Varley racing battery. Went for a spin - the ferocity of the Stratos is startling - and noticed a red nose with a Cavalino shield siddle up to me - a friend's lovely Testarossa. That sounded good too!

I left the Stratos on the driveway to clean it up a bit and snapped this picture from the back of the Dino.

Andy

**UroTrash** · #5 07-26-2009, 09:43 PM

How bout some more pics please.

**abstamaria** · #6 07-29-2010, 03:18 AM

The Stratos broods. It was not intended for environments such as this.

Julio Batista · #7 07-29-2010, 11:57 AM

You lucky man.

I have often fantasized about having a garage with a Dino, a Stratos, and a Fiat Dino. One glorious engine, three very different driving experiences.

Cheers,

Julio

**racerboy9** · #8 07-29-2010, 02:15 PM

You should upgrade the suspension to GR 4 specs. It is amazing how much better the car grips the road over a stradale. Night and day difference!

**abstamaria** · #9 08-02-2010, 07:28 PM

Yes, Racerboy9, I was considering that. I still have the original suspension on, including the dampers. Did the ride harshen up with GR4 suspension?

**racerboy9** · #10 08-02-2010, 08:00 PM

There is always a little trade off with heim joint susupension but the ride is not bad at all. I think Compomotive reproduced the 15" rally rims in aluminum. You can modify the stock arms for the uniball joint or I think Roberto Cassetta in Italy has remade the comp arms. The Bilstein shocks front and rear are available though you might be OK with the stock shocks. The Gr 4 suspension set up really makes the car feel planted and not twitchy like the stradale.
I totally enjoy my stradale but the Gr 4 is a far better critter in the handling department.

**racerboy9** · #11 08-02-2010, 09:26 PM

Just noticed from your pics you already have the Campy rims. The re-introduced Michelin TB series tires are great and street legal.

**abstamaria** · #12 10-25-2010, 05:50 AM

Yes, I have the competition 15" Campagnolos. These are actually a second set, purchased from Sparwald. The first set Tecnomagnesio made for me in about 1990. I still have the 14" standard wheels, but magnesium corrosion has been a problem with them. I probably will never install them.

I have the Michelin TB5s, which as you know is the hot-weather version of the TB15. They look and feel great. I used to use P7s, one of which is still on the spare.

I included a picture of the engine compartment for the benefit of our 246 colleagues, so they can see the differences. Note the original Cavis hose.

**celestialcoop** · #13 10-25-2010, 12:39 PM

Hi Andres,
Thanks for the pics. I'm enjoying the up-close-and-personal shots of your Stradale. I don't recall if you've shared the story on that one. If not, tell us more about it. If so, point me in the right direction and/or I'll happily 'Search' for it.
Regards to you and la piccola artista bella,
Coop

stratos · #14 10-25-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abstamaria

Yes, I have the competition 15" Campagnolos. These are actually a second set, purchased from Sparwald. The first set Tecnomagnesio made for me in about 1990. I still have the 14" standard wheels, but magnesium corrosion has been a problem with them. I probably will never install them.

I have the Michelin TB5s, which as you know is the hot-weather version of the TB15. They look and feel great. I used to use P7s, one of which is still on the spare.

I included a picture of the engine compartment for the benefit of our 246 colleagues, so they can see the differences. Note the original Cavis hose.

Please tell me that is not a leather re-upholstered dash that I see...

**abstamaria** · #15 10-26-2010, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratos

Please tell me that is not a leather re-upholstered dash that I see...

No, Stratos, that's "mouse hair," a bit brown now. The car is unrestored. Repainted many years ago and with Omp seats installed in 96, it remains pretty much as original I believe.

**abstamaria** · #16 10-26-2010, 07:06 AM

Thanks, Coop. Let me check if I posted a note before on the Stratos. I thought pictures of the details of the car will be more interesting to the Dino owners on the forum. I am glad you found them interesting. Regards, Andres

ferraripete · #17 10-26-2010, 07:11 AM

when i bought my boxer almost 9 years ago, i was told to consider a stratos instead. the broker said the boxer was cool but a stratos was super cool! he was right. i love my boxer but i really feel connected to the stratos now as i came sooooo close to buying one instead.

i actually lust for the stratos!!

best

**abstamaria** · #18 10-26-2010, 09:28 PM

Here is photo of the interior, Stratos. The dash is clearer here, as well as the mouse fur on top of it. I believe this is original. The material is very similar to that on my 246, which I believe is also original, but has faded a bit more to brown, making it more mouse-fur-like, actually. It has spent a longer time in the tropics. The Dino and the Stratos have roughly the same mileage, with 11,000 miles on the Dino and 17,000 kilometers on the Stratos.

The red seats have been in the car since 1996, but I have been considering whether to reinstall the original buckets, which are very narrow and trimmed in that unusual light brown, suede-like material unique to the Stratos.

Dino and vintage Ferrari owners will be able to identify common vent switches, door handles, and other bits.

The Boxer and the Stratos are very similar, Ferraripete; the level of refinement in the Boxer is much higher, as is obvious in the cockpits.

Regards.

**racerboy9** · #19 10-26-2010, 10:53 PM

Have you found the plug-in socket under the dash for the portable lamp or shaver, etc. as described in the owners manual?

**abstamaria** · #20 10-28-2010, 10:22 AM

racerboy9, if you didn't mention it, I would never have known it about the plug-in socket. I checked the manual, which indeed confirms one should exist "for portable lamp and shaver ..."

However, I slid under the dash with a light and cannot locate it. It is possible the PO (Japanese) worked on the dash and removed it. Which side of the steering column is it on? Is it fixed or dangling from the loom? The parts manual has an illustration, but this is too small. If you have a photo, that would be very helpful.

As an aside, I suppose a shaver socket has been essential in a rallye car since the hero (Maurice Trintignant) used one in a Mustang in Claude Lelouch's "A Man and A Woman" for a rendezvous with the beautiful Anouk Aimee. And also headlamp flashers and air horns. I have attached photos in frustration, being unable to shoot one of the missing socket.