Drive a slow Ferrari fast, or a fast Ferrari slow???

I generally agree with this. I'm pretty much always worried when I drive that I'm going to get a ticket, and modern 500 bhp cars are useless on the street anyway.

The drawback is that a 200 bhp Ferrari is probably a Mondial 8, 308 GTBi/GTSi or similar, which aren't up to much in the 0-60 category. If Ferrari made something like the Lotus Elise, that might solve everything...

 

This is how I feel generally as well, but do not view the 0-60 time as much of an issue on the street, but I certainly agree on weight.

To me, the over-riding appeal is the challenge of using the power you have in concert with the gearbox and chassis to manage one's energy and momentum. Many would tell you a lot of more powerful cars were beaten on the track by and are WAY less fun on a daily basis than Porsche 356s and Alfa GTs, which have poopy 0-60 times. I think this is what makes all Ferraris, regardless of power, such a kick to drive - using everything together in harmony and balance to keep the energy up. Pilots will recognize the concept of energy management, and it is what makes flying challenging and rewarding, either in a Piper Cub or P-51.

 

Sort of like driving an MG top down on a winding road on a 40 degree day freezing your arse off.
That hot buttered rum at the end of the ride sure tastes good while waiting for your nose to change from blue to normal.

 

To me this is a no-brainer. The average flow of traffic on any given road is usually 10mph or more above the posted limit. It would be unbelievably frustrating to have to toodle along in an F40 or a 360CS while Prius's were passing me by...

- Eric

 

There is a new interest in micro cars like the old Fiat 500.
Which can be driven near 100% much of the time.
Seinfeld, Schummacher, etc picking them up.

 

Hadn't thought of the Dino 246 -- I'd guess they're fairly light cars and would be a lot of fun to toss around.

With that example, yes, I'd much rather have a 246 GTS a life without tickets than an F430 where the fun is over by the time you shift to third.

 

So far there's 36 drivers on ferrarichat and 10 posers who like through stroll by the local high schools and starbucks at 10mph trying to pick chicks up in their new Ferrari.

Seriously WHAT the hell can you do with a Ferrari that is limited to 60mph? Can someone please try to justify this?

Edit - Unless I could take said new Ferrari to the track where there are no posted speed limits??? In that case I'd switch my option to 2.

Please elaborate on the rules Pap

 

+1

Good one.

I love to go fast but always with responsibility to other roadusers.

 

First rule of Ferrarichat.........DO NOT TALK ABOUT FERRARICHAT!

Second rule of Ferrarichat....DO NOT TALK ABOUT FERRARICHAT!

 

This is an absolute no brainer. My Dino 246 GT has 195 HP (well, that's what the factory says) and drives like a dream. Low weight, delicious sound, perfect brakes, and the best handling of ANY car I have driven. Just thinking of the fun I could have with no speed limits makes my head spin.

I would sell my PF coupe (240HP), my 330 GTC (300HP), and my 212 Inter (170HP) in a flash to keep a Dino with no speed limitation.

 

Would I be able to use option 2 with a road posted, Whatever is safe and resonable????

 

Just how did F40 and 360CS get to have less than 200bhp?

 

He's choosing #2, to have a Ferrari with over 200hp but have a speed limiter. I think you misunderstood the original post.

 

By Jove I think you are correct sir ... I did read his response incorrectly. But then it appears you did too. He wants the Ferrari UNDER 200hp because it would be too painful to be passed by a Prius in an F40.

 

A Ferrari and no tickets or speed limits, is there really any other option?

166MM

or

246GTS

 

Yes, you nearly nailed it! Make that 166MM or Dino 246GT, not GTS.

 

#2 ... for now

 

I was coming home from church last weekend at around 9 o'clock and hit some lane closures just outside of Nashville that lasted for about 5 miles. Cruised through them at 55-60mph, the usual. Traffic was extremely low at this point.

For some unknown reason, when the interstate opened back up there was absolutely NO ONE in front of me or behind me. This included a series of 2-3 mile straights connected by turns that could have easily been taken at 120+mph without a problem. I didn't see another car for 10 miles at least.

I only dug into what my car (200SX SE-R) could do one time--I don't have a radar detector and I was too scared that a cop would be sitting on the side of the interstate, etc. Of course, I didn't see a cop the entire hour long drive back to Murfreesboro. My luck. What I could have done still bothers me, because I would have gotten away with what would be, had I been pulled over, the end of my school term. And it would have been a blast.

Here's my point: I was absolutely, bloody-freaking tantalized and teased out the arse by the devil on my shoulder that night, and I was in a 150 hp car that has a ridiculous 113 mph speed governor on it. I thought about having a faster, more powerful car maybe once during that whole drive. I didn't want anything faster--I was just excited that there was, in hypothetical hindsight for me that night, no speed limit.

It doesn't matter how fast your car can go--it matters if you can actually do it or not.

If I had the choice between a Ferrari with a speed limit and my car with no speed limit, I'd keep my car forever.

But then again, that's only a hypothetical situation.