Newbie question of the day.....

On the right side there is a metal plate. That's polished like a mirror. So on pictures it looks like there are 3 pedals.

 

But while we are on this subject, does anyone know why exactly? It’s the same on the 612. Is it to (falsely) recreate the spirit of 3-pedal piloting???

 

You guys are joking - right? It is just to save ware on the carpet on the tunnel and looks better than a piece of black plastic.

 

Also keeps your foot from hanging up on the tunnel carpet, especially if you have big feet.

 

True. Its a great feature. I wonder why Ferrari stopped using on the later models.

 

My perception is that is a “Lux” option and not a “Sport” option so it didn’t have so much appeal to folks wanting a more sports look? I would guess if you are specing a new vehicle and you wanted that option you could get it. Money always talks.

 

Thanks Randy... I honestly put my hands up and say I didn’t know the real reason. Personally I would have put some Daytona patterned leather there rather than a shiny mirror! The other feature I absolutely love is the knee bolster on the central tunnel... so thoughtful!

 

I think the leather would scuff up to easily and get shabby with your shoe rubbing on it, you think?

 

Yup. 2 thumbs up!

 

They did it on the 993 911’s and it seemed to work extremely well. But at least our 612s have an extra mirror!

 

Yeah Porsche seems to use tougher leather than Ferrari. Ferrari’s leather is a finer grade. I like the feel of Ferrari’s leather better but Porsche’s tougher grade seems to resist ware better. IMO Just another reason you can really use a Pcar as a DD and not so much a Fcar.
Ferrari has a big problem with the dash leather pulling away from the windshield, I have never had that problem on any of several Porsches I have owned since my first one I bought in 1968.

 

Speaking of pulling dash leather, it is almost shameful and appalling that modern day F cars would have leather that shrink and pull after some years. And lets be honest, most F cars are so pampered in their little garages and do not even see a fraction of what most other cars go through... and those cars do not have leather that pull.

 

Agree 100% and what about the sticky situation? It’s shameful that a 30 year old Corolla has perfect switches and all the Italian mfg’s have issues to this day. Of course, there will be people who give out the same answer year after year, “you’ve got to pay to play” garbage. I’ve got a friend who’s dropping serious money on his Lambo for switches. I’ve had to do the same thing on my 456 for the leather dash. Luckily, we had a great leather repair service in the DFW area who made it look perfect.

When will it stop?

 

Wow, the whining with so little knowledge. ALL leather shrinks. The reason the dash doesn't shrink on a Porsche is because it isn't leather. As for the stickies, most high end cars have similar issues and ANYONE who uses the soft touch finish has the problem. Soft touch gives it the luxury feel but breaks down over time. Of course they could finish the switches in a hard surface and give up luxury for their clients just so some future 3rd hand client could feel better. Then again, why would they want to do that?

 

Not so, my 1977 Porsche 930 TC has a full leather dash! It has never shrunk and I have owned it since 1979. So get your facts straight before you make wild all inclusive statements. Certainly there some Pcars which don’t have a leather dash but several of my Pcars did have leather dashes and didn’t shrink.

 

For what it’s worth, the leather on my 612s’ dash is still perfect. Then again I do live in Scotland...

 

My 612 dash leather is also still perfect and I live in So Cal but I make every effort not to leave it in the sun. But when I have to be in the sun, I have a sun shade.

 

So to make sure I have it right: You have owned the Porsche since almost new and taken care of the dash. You did the same with your 612 and neither had an issue with shrinkage. So how does that prove that Porsche dashes don't shrink and Ferrari dashes are poorly made? It more likely proves that you take care of your cars but there are plenty of discussion with dash shrinkage on the few Porsche with leather dashes. As I reminded my nephew today, don't confuse correlation and causation. In this case I would add that correlation on a population of 2 proves absolutely nothing. So I will stick with my claim "ALL leather shrinks."

 

Yes, I have owned the 930 since almost new (1,750 miles on the clock at purchase now about 33,000 miles), I have done very little to take care of the dash but I have not used it as a DD. The dash did not shrink at all, additionally I live in So Cal where the heat is a factor! FYI most of the early US 930s had full leather interior, I don’t believe the EU cars did however

Apparently you didn’t read my post correctly ”…several of my Pcars did have leather dashes and didn’t shrink” at all. Most of the Pcars I purchased close to new and drove them for several years, 5-10 years none of the leather Pcars dashes have shrunk that I have owned. So I can account for about 6 Pcars with leather dashes which did not shrink. By no means, a significant sample size but certainly a significant time span especially living in So Cal. So all I can say is I have not experienced dash shrinkage on any of my cars but I have only had one Fcar but have seen the problem on many other Fcars that are regularly used and are not new.

I am not disagreeing that leather shrinks only that some leather shrinks far more than other leather. Pcars and Mercs (yes I have had a few of those also) don’t have the problem like Fcars do.

 

I like f Cars for what they are but the build Quality just does not match any German or Japanese Car. Then again the drama and Flair is unbeatable.

I think leather only shrinks on f dashes and old rich women..

 

I agree with Randy on this. I have had a number of high end Mercedes as well as Porsches. I had a Mercedes CL55 as my daily driver for 10 years. None of these cars ever had leather or sticky problems. Not so with my 612. Ferrari does have leather and sticky problems that the others do not have. Not complaining here because I love my 612. But lets be honest about it, facts are facts.

 

I am also (unfortunately) of the mind that Ferrari loses here, so taking the Randy and Ron line on this one. I have a few Prancing Horses so know these cars and one of my 993s is now 23 years old and had the factory hand stitched full leather dashboard off the line from Stuttgart. Not a single issue with it. My 612 has a sticky dash and all manner of brittle control parts such as the infamous wing mirror controls. As with all of us, I love my Ferrraris, failings and all but I didn’t buy them for build quality... and they often remind me of that fact! I currently have the 612 sitting in a garage on a trickle charger except that the battery is completely dead despite being plugged in, the drivers door key cylinder rotates in its housing but doesn’t cooperate with the lock to get the door open and with the passenger door against a wall,I have no way to access the car to pull the emergency boot/trunk release. Somebody will “break” into my car so that I can get it open and get a new battery in. As I said, quality is not what it should be! I am still in love nonetheless!