Yes I am Insane: 400i Daily Driver | FerrariChat

Yes I am Insane: 400i Daily Driver

Discussion in '365 GT4 2+2/400/412' started by aleventhal, Nov 2, 2005.

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  1. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    654
    Millbrook, NY
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    #1 aleventhal, Nov 2, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Am I crazy? After owning Ferraris for a little more than ten years, I decided that life was too short to save them for nice days and park them for the winter. Still I was not willing to subject my Boxer (#18265) or Dino (#10704) to the salt of a northeast winter, and I wanted an automatic with cold ac and power steering for daily use (I work in NYC). So, a few months ago I sold my 04 Audi A8L (my previous daily) and purchased an 84 400i (#049773) - this car is my new daily driver.

    I have had the car for about a month or two so far, but I have refrained from posting about it as I had an issue with the selling dealer/broker (undisclosed defect) but as that has now been resolved, I am pleased to be able to discuss it. The car is Marronne / Tan, and pretty sound - i need to resolve one issue in the fusebox (bad trace) and an oil burning issue, but it has had a recent $9k major (even by my mechanic, bill pollard, the BEST), and EVERYTHING works, cold dual ac, etc.

    I have about 2k miles on it so far, including a 900 mile drive back from NC where I purchased it, and should cover about 15-20k per year, in all weather, occaisonally with my golden retriever in the car. I need to find regular (non-trx) wheels for snow tires (any ideas?), and i could really use for all of you to keep your fingers crossed for me. So often there is a thread, hey - can i use a 400 (or mondial) for a daily? Well we are about to find out.....I will be the guinea pig!

    Oh, and let me know what you think of the car and especially the plates....

    Alex
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  2. BigAl

    BigAl F1 Veteran

    Mar 17, 2002
    6,146
    TX
    Full Name:
    GSgt Hartman
    kewl man thnx for posting. Interesting color, not seen too many in it.

    OO-RAH on your balls out, daily driver approach...
     
  3. Fastviper

    Fastviper F1 Rookie

    Nov 20, 2003
    4,525
    Texas
    Full Name:
    Dash
    I like it. I like it a lot.

    Please keep us updated.
     
  4. parkerfe

    parkerfe F1 World Champ

    Sep 4, 2001
    12,887
    Cumming, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Franklin E. Parker
    There is an intresting article on the 365/400/412 series in this months Forza magazine.
     
  5. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2004
    7,667
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Bruce Bogart
    I'm willing to be you have very few problems driving it daily. Good for you!
    Garage queens s---.
     
  6. Simon

    Simon Moderator
    Moderator Owner

    Aug 29, 2003
    6,750
    Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Simon
    This could turn into a truly great thread. Brave man Alexander, I've also toyed with the idea of a 456 or 412 for a daily driver. Here in Switzerland snow tyres are also a consideration, so I'll be interested to hear you experiences.

    If this goes well it may persuade those of us less brave to jump in the deep end :) Good luck with everything and keep us posted with regular updates, wheather good or bad.

    Cheers
    Simon
     
  7. GCalo

    GCalo F1 Veteran

    Sep 15, 2004
    7,645
    Northern California
    Full Name:
    Greg Calo
    A Fix It Again Tony license plate does not inspire long-term confidence!

    Very nice car though.

    Suggestion for wheels for snow tires: move to California. You'll save the cost of wheels and tires, and never have to shovel snow!
     
  8. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    48,581
    @ the wheel
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    Andreas
    Interesting?

    I like the fact that they had an article about these cars, which I think are hugely underrated and I like them a lot. But that article was about as dumb as they come. The interviewer/reporter reported verbatim back what the user had to say without much editorial comments. Some more qualified statements from the reporter would have been welcome. A far cry from Winston Goodfellow's reports.
     
  9. 134282

    134282 Four Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Aug 3, 2002
    40,647
    California
    Full Name:
    Carbon McCoy
    i smell an FML article...!


    Alex, you should cut the top off...! :D Of course, that would be another article entirely... :)
     
  10. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,574
    The Brickyard
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    The Bad Guy
    Nice ride Alex.

    How about a month by month report on how the cars is doing. Since your car has a TH400 I seriously doubt you will ever have any problems with the trans.

    This should be interesting to see how many miles you put on the car.
     
  11. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
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    Andreas
  12. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,574
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    No way. Especially since he's gonna drive it in ALL weather conditions. Leave it as is.
     
  13. PassionIsFerrari

    PassionIsFerrari Formula 3

    Aug 15, 2004
    2,454
  14. tfazio

    tfazio Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 20, 2004
    1,968
    Michigan
    I love it. I think the 400i still looks fresh and not dated in my opinion. I am interested to hear what you think of the automatic transmission. I believe it has a gm 4 speed auto box right? How do you like it? Didn't Enzo drive a 400i too? he was as insane as you :)
     
  15. BigAl

    BigAl F1 Veteran

    Mar 17, 2002
    6,146
    TX
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    GSgt Hartman
    yeah, great looking 400.
     
  16. parkerfe

    parkerfe F1 World Champ

    Sep 4, 2001
    12,887
    Cumming, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Franklin E. Parker
    I once owned Al Garthwaite's(Algar) daily driver 400GT 5 speed. It was a great car. I traded it in on a TR back in the mid-90s
     
  17. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    654
    Millbrook, NY
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    #17 aleventhal, Nov 2, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Did you know i have already done that once...or just a good guess? Not to a Ferrari, but you will remember that the 77 320i never came as a convertible.....all it takes is beer and a sawzall.....

    Again, note the plate - anyone get the joke? Remember this is a CUT CAR!!!
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  18. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    654
    Millbrook, NY
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    Actually, it is a GM TH-400 3 speed. A four speed would be better, but this is ok. To answer your question, I do like the car alot - a lot more soul than my A8.

    Alex
     
  19. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    48,581
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    Andreas
    You had a breeze of fresh air.
     
  20. sjvalin

    sjvalin Formula Junior

    Aug 31, 2004
    724
    Nevada County, CA
    Full Name:
    Steve Valin
    Don't you mean a bris of fresh air? Ouch! :)

    -steve
     
  21. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    654
    Millbrook, NY
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    Nope - Bris means circumcision. It is the jewish ceremony where you "cut the top off". The car Had A Bris!

    Alex
     
  22. Anteriore

    Anteriore Formula Junior

    Jan 4, 2004
    863
    Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Ramon
    You can read in that very same article:

    Unveiled at Paris in 1976, the new car closely resembled its predecessor; the only visible changes were a small front spoiler, more traditional sets of dual—rather than triple—exhaust pipes and lug nuts instead of knock-offs on the 15-inch Cromodoro alloy wheels.

    Triple exhaust pipes on a 365 GT4 2+2?? Do some research! Never liked Forza for these kind of dumb mistakes, and it seems it gets worse...

    Anyway, Alex: a great car, a great idea and a great thread. Drive & enjoy it!
     
  23. Anteriore

    Anteriore Formula Junior

    Jan 4, 2004
    863
    Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Ramon
    By the way: I think your plates are funny...
     
  24. PassionIsFerrari

    PassionIsFerrari Formula 3

    Aug 15, 2004
    2,454
    I think its a breath of fresh air to see someone that love Ferrari's as much as you do and be willing to just 'go for it'.

    I too and very curious to hear about the month to month updates. While my Ferrari is not a daily driver, I would love to have another one that was...for me, it would probably be a 456. Financially, its not justifiable right now, but maybe in 20 years when the 456 becomes the new 412, I will. Anyway, look forward to hearing about how it goes.
     
  25. Ashman

    Ashman Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Sep 5, 2002
    31,629
    MA
    Full Name:
    John
    Nice find Alex. Good luck from another 400i owner and keep us posted on how things go.

    John
     

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