When we bought the Ferrari everyone wanted to drive it. But I knew the car would soon weed out the staff members that find old car, even old Ferraris, to be old. And not old in a good way. Just old...
Well, the weeding out has begun. Which means more Ferrari for me.
In fact, leaving the office Tuesday night I realized the Ferrari wasn't signed out. We were off on Wednesday for the July 4th holiday, so the car was going to sit in our office parking lot until Thursday. This didn't sit well with me, but I needed to drive the 2008 Mercedes C350 for another writing assignment, so I wasn't going to take it either.
So I drive the Benz home, and it's nice and all, but I can't stop thinking about the Ferrari sitting domant in our parking garage.
July 4th morning I take my family to an Independence Day Parade, and there while celebrating my country's 231st birthday, I can't stop thinking about the Ferrari sitting dormant in our parking garage. Later that day, while barbecuing ribs for family and friends, I can't stop...well, you get the idea.
So I packed up my four year old and drove the Benz back to the office and drove the Ferrari home. We went for a ride with the top our just as the sun dipped below the Pacific and I enjoyed looking at it in my driveway.
Guess what I'm driving home this weekend?
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor-in-Chief @ 48,107 miles
desmolicious says:
06:35 PM, 07/ 6/07
Bless you Scott!
Please don't tell me that your 4 year old took that photo... if so, I hope he/she was bungeed down well.
SubyTrojan says:
07:07 PM, 07/ 6/07
Great story, Scott! Your son has/will have the coolest dad compared to all his fellow classmates' dads in preschool!
7driver says:
09:32 PM, 07/ 6/07
What's the law regarding 4 year olds in 2 seaters? Is it OK so long as he has a belt positioning booster seat and meets the weight requirements for that seat? What about an infant? What if it were a Solstice? I'm told airbags and infant seats don't mix. Would that preclude an infant riding shotgun? What if the infant seat were rear facing?
patrickinny says:
08:12 AM, 07/ 7/07
7: Please, for the love of God and humanity, stop being such a lawyer.
IL Staffers: If the 308 has to stay dormant over any appreciable length of time, please let me know. I'll be glad to help.
By the way, nice picture.
sabiebaby says:
10:28 AM, 07/ 7/07
Very Good article. Glenn carbytes.com
mercedesfan says:
02:01 PM, 07/ 7/07
Scott, you are right on the money with this article. It really is a crime to let such a beautiful car sit idle for extended periods of time. I have one correction to make, though, the new C350 is not fine it is fabulous. But either way I completely agree with your choice, I take my 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet out anytime I can. I love the gadgetry of my S550 but at the end of the day nothing can replace that purity that characterizes classic cars.
dderosa says:
05:49 PM, 07/ 8/07
Hey, I'm not done yet. I'm just warming up. You know how I have to ease into things.
I've been thinking about the Ferrari all weekend. I must have said at least 10 times, "Why didn't I ask if I could take the Ferrari?"
So don't worry, I'll share driving duties with you.
--Donna
bimmerjay says:
07:19 PM, 07/ 8/07
7driver, newer 2 seaters usually have pax airbag off switches - so that infant/child seats can be installed. A child booster or infant seat (whether front or rear facing) should not be installed in the front seat of a car without the airbag disabled.
Today's advanced airbag systems are supposed to automatically detect the presence of a child seat or child/small passenger in front and de-power or disable the airbag accordingly.
wasaabi92 says:
08:17 PM, 07/ 8/07
This is more or less a random comment, but you said you couldn't bare the thought of the 308 sitting in the garage for a couple of days, but I haven't heard a keystroke mentioning the 550 Maranello long termer. Did it just disappear? I've been a fan of Edmunds, and their long term fleet choices, and I was in awe of the original Ferrari long term tester. The last post was back in '04 I believe, so how long has that beauty been sitting?
greenpony says:
10:03 AM, 07/ 9/07
Heading from Cinci to Chi-town this weekend I happened across one of these -- on a trailer. Same color, just not a convertible. What a gorgeous car. It looks great in the pictures, but even better in person. The only thing that would have made it better: if someone was driving it, not towing it.
ahightower says:
12:57 PM, 07/ 9/07
I'm pretty sure there are no airbags in that Ferrari. Magnum didn't even use the seat belt.
desmolicious says:
02:38 PM, 07/ 9/07
Yeah but he had that massive moustache to protect his face from frontal impacts.
actualsize says:
06:10 PM, 07/ 9/07
Now I know why I'm getting sent to all of these far-reaching locales: you're gaming the system so that the competition for the precious 308 keys is conveniently away on a business trip. Like it or not, I swear I'll drive that damn thing someday. ;-)
ktmrider says:
06:11 PM, 07/ 9/07
I am enjoying reading your experiences with the 308 . I have a 328 and had a Mondial QV with the same engine as in your car . The 308 is better looking than either to me .I agree the 308/328 are race cars with just enough extra insulation and edge removed to accomodate the street and average driving skills . Have you jacked it up yet ? Hint: chock both wheels on the other side of the car . Or tried a quick 5000 rpm up shift from 2nd to 3rd or 3rd to 4th to feel the transmission pull the lever into the next gear ? And the sound - not just the exhaust but the motor has its own intense harmony . Like no other car . I'm hooked .
SubyTrojan says:
10:02 AM, 07/10/07
You're hilarious, Dan!
desmolicious says:
02:46 PM, 07/10/07
ktmrider - Adventure? Superduke?
reidbarker says:
08:04 AM, 07/18/07
I also bought a 308GTSI last summer as a 3rd car. It is amazing fun and get sall the attention you want. It was more relaible than my 03 Subaru GT which broker down every 20 minutes last summer and I ended up using my 308 for communting on several days. Great car. My 5 year old son and I have put 6K miles in 1 year. Groceries, beach, lake, sunset drives-You can beat it. I paid 25K and will not loose a dime.