Steering Wheel Racing Stripe

It's "Extra Campionario" - it's apparently been "order-able" for quite some time.

I had seen some examples in the various Tailor-Made and personalization books in the past. When we went to the Atelier in Mugello, they must have had 6 different examples of these in a mix of leather, CF and one in the Alutex.

We actually spec'd one for our Speciale. Pricing is TBD, the FNA folks told us it would tentatively be $2400.

You can get pretty much any color combo you want, they can also do one on the center console.

What I heard in Italy is most dealers seem either unaware of how many options you really have to configure the car, or the process is too complex - or, as sometimes happens, something is lost in translation and it arrives "wrong".

If you like Ferraris and love cars, the Atelier experience is really special. You literally get to custom design your car, and have an incredible set of resources (actual parts, actual cars, actual product engineers) available. Of course the downside is each option costs $.

BTW all the options are what I'd call "vanity" options - aside from lighter wheels, Ferrari offer almost zero performance-related upgrades or options, even apparently with the SP cars.

 

OR you could save $2400 and just put a piece of tape on there.

other advantages:
you can change colors whenever the mood strikes. Maybe yellow or white.
you can remove it when not at the track

this is what we used to do in the "old days" LOL

 

Yes. I had a red stripe in my Honda Fit. I think that my 6 year old put it on there. Maybe I should tell him that he can make some side money by telling "his" steering wheel stripes on ebay as they're PhilNotHill approved.

 

I decided to give some tape a try. I like the result. My butt dyno indicates that the stripe has added at least 10 whp. Okay, maybe not, but the car seems more race car-like with the stipe. It also ties in well with the other yellow accents in the car.
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Cool............. Very NASCAR. I did you one better by putting big florescent arrows on each side of the body pointing to the jack points. I also ripped off my fender badges and replaced them with big Jegs decals.

 

Well, I guess you don't like it. I'm just devastated.

 

The stripe on the top of the wheel came from rallying, at least that's the first place I recall seeing it. It gave the driver a quick visual queue as to where top dead center of the wheel was. If you've ever seen in-car footage of rallying and how fast they saw at the wheel, you could see how this could be helpful. It is also a variation on ships wheels where the top dead center part of the wheel would usually have an ornately carved knob or handle, or some elaborate rope knotting so the helmsman could easily tell when the rudder was amidships.

 

Looks great. Really. The interior of your car is stunning. I love the gauges.

BTW because of NASCAR we have duct tape that comes in different colors besides silver. I have red and black but no yellow.


Best

Life is good.
Life is better driving a Ferrari.
May the horse be with you.

 

Love that tape! However I am reluctant to do this to mine as I am concerned about triggering a Check Engine Light (CEL) error... any advice?

 

LOL

I think it looks great.

 

Thanks guys. It is just a piece of vinyl tape and does look "factory" in person. Total investment was $2.60 and 10 minutes of my time. If/when I get tired of it, I can just take it off.

 

Best post ever.

 

Seen it in WRC and it has real use in ice racing (I've used it to good effect there) where you are winding in huge amounts of lock in each direction.. For those cases it makes sense..

Also makes sense for a car with a removable steering wheel to make sure you get it straight once you get in and put on the wheel...

But if your wheel isn't removable, and you need that on a road course you are doing something wrong....

And besides your eyes shouldn't be looking at anything in the car if you are paying attention to the track...

Just say'n....

 

It's not about "needing it" to drive. In fact, it's not even about function at all. It's just for fun.

 

Not a chance that the 2 drops of paint are 2400usd. Surely carbon fiber steering wheel + LEDS are included in that.

 

Carbon wheel + LEDs are standard on Speciale. In a regular 458, the "CF Driver Zone" (LEDs, CF wheel/paddles/tach surround) is about $7500 IIRC.

 

Knowing Ferrari, 2400 for a steering wheel stripe sounds very accurate...

 

Are you kidding? True, it sounds like a lot for just the stripe, but no way you're going to get an entire carbon fiber steering wheel plus LEDs for that price. Heck, a steering wheel with contrasting stitching for my old 360 costs over two grand and it only has a horn button.

Twenty Four Hundred bucks seems to be in line with what you might expect to pay for a cup holder or perhaps a set of floor mats with your girlfriend's name embroidered on them.

 

The tape is the way to go. Nice!

 

Plus you have to change it every year and I'll bet that takes a special Ferrari tool.