I've decided that the Ferrari likes to be wooed. If you whisper sweet nothings to it and take it out to play, it will behave just fine. If you are in a hurry and trying to get somewhere, it doesn't want to cooperate.
I just spent four days with the beauty as my only car...
Scott warned me that sometimes refueling the Ferrari can be a bit tricky as the pump keeps clicking off. So I kept an eye on the number of gallons going in, but I had no problems filling the tank.
Afterwards though, the car didn't want to fire back up. I had to baby it to get it going, and then sitting there for a minute while I put my seat belt back on, it stalled. I got it going again and got it moving. At the first couple of red lights, I was afraid it was going to cut out again, but I wouldn't let it. Then as soon as some guy pulled up next to me at a stop light and started chatting me up, it started purring like a kitten, well, more like roaring like a lion. The Ferrari is LOUD. It was fine the rest of my 20 mile commute to the office. I think it just likes attention.
We'll have the car checked out again, of course. We can't risk getting stranded every time we refuel.
The car has its many quirks. The ignition key is a little difficult to turn on and off. But you get a feel for it. I used to have trouble getting into reverse, but again, I got the hang of the way it wanted to be handled. The hand brake doesn't really work, even though Scott swears that it does and Ed says it gives the car character. So you have to be quick with your feet when starting off on a hill.
I don't mind its little eccentricities as long as they remain harmless. The car is a thrill to drive every time you get in it. And it's a kick to see an Italian beauty when you open your garage.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor @ 49,556 miles
By the way, did you see the Ferrari vs. Minivan comparison test and video?
carlisimo says:
07:34 PM, 09/19/07
Sounds like my Miata (I didn't get one of the better-built ones, I think). Can be beautifully smooth... but some days it's impossible to shift it smoothly or get comfortable in the small cabin. The fuel pump shuts off before the tank's full. If I haven't washed it recently, it acts up.
It's on a much lower level, but yeah, there's something about sports cars...
benson2175 says:
10:59 PM, 09/19/07
Carlisimo
I'm with you; my Miata's the same way. If it's in traffic for too long it'll get grouchy and overheat, the seats will get uncomfortable, and the shifter gets knotchy. The only solution is to take the top down and find the nearest windy road - all problems solved.
I love the Ferrari's hidden fuel up door and that nifty bib. That's some cool design.
daveflores says:
07:00 AM, 09/20/07
I used to have a Miata with the exact same warm start problem. Never figured out what was causing it. Eventually it basically fixed itself. It was unnerving, though, to shut the engine off to refuel and never know how tough it was going to be to get it re-started.
2003expo says:
08:13 AM, 09/20/07
Am I the only person who cringes everytime I see a blog about this darned Ferrari...I dont think anyone cares except for the editors who had this dim (i wont even give it the satisfaction of calling it a bright one) idea!!! ITS AN OLD CAR!!! So things will be wrong with it, stop complaining about it then showing nothing but love and admiration its getting quite old....Just had to get my frustrations out!!!!
serpico says:
08:34 AM, 09/20/07
If you think this review is ridiculous then stop reading it.
benson2175 says:
09:30 AM, 09/20/07
2003expo I'm sure there's a nice exciting Toyota Corolla blog somewhere out there for you. Personally I love reading this blog, it's what inspired me to get my Miata. I guess you must think I'm pretty dim then.
toyota_f1 says:
09:59 AM, 09/20/07
Character goes a long way. It's amazing what you'll put up with from a car you love. I love reading the Ferrari posts by the way.
crowb says:
10:22 AM, 09/20/07
I hate the idea of this car or of buying this car or simulating this experience with a similar car (old used 911 for example)...but, I do love reading this blog : )
Ferraris are just cool. Though I'm turned off by this car's lack of modernity, its still a Ferrari. I see that glimpse of red in the picture under the headline, and I find myself reading. I guess its that same draw that would make a guy buy a car like this. Apparently there is enough of that type of thing going on for the Edmund's people to consider it a worthwhile project for the long term fleet. It makes for good reading either way.
I never consider the blogs as complaining about the problems encountered so much as just relating the ownership experience. Good (the thing purs, its a FERARRI!!!) and Bad (the fuel pump she dona worka so good, and it dona lika to start!)
ateixeira says:
10:56 AM, 09/20/07
I think it's hilarious.
Some car mags have clocked a Sienna with the new 3.5l V6 at less than 7 seconds to 60mph, so it might have actually outran that Ferrari.
dderosa says:
10:58 AM, 09/20/07
The opposite side of the Ferrari also has the hidden door that opens with the key but nothing behind it. I guess just to be symmetrical? I'll take a photo of it next time. --Donna
daytona_500 says:
11:00 AM, 09/20/07
I just finished watching the Ferrari vs. Minivan video. I was glad that I finally got to hear the Ferrari, but it appears that you guys screwed up your data. The Sedona was claimed to have the fastest slalom speed in the 2006 minivan test and it didnt, the Odyssey did. The Odyssey was 61.0 to the Sedona's 57.8. Might want to look into that.
You know what would have been more appropriate? Instead of a $28,000 Kia minivan, get a similarly priced Mustang GT and put that against the Ferrari. See which one is more fun there. It would also provide an interesting comparison of old school fun vs. new car fun, which is better than supercar vs. minivan.
stephen987 says:
11:17 AM, 09/20/07
I used to work for a British car restoration shop, ca. 20 years ago. The boss once said that "a Jaguar is like a mistress--it will whisper gently into your ear, and it will reward you for responding in kind, but if you fail to listen to its needs, it will run off and have an expensive affair with your mechanic." It sounds like the Ferrari is cut from similar cloth.
2003expo says:
12:08 PM, 09/20/07
Benson 2175, it was very ironic that you say that, because I bought my son about 2 years ago a Toyota Corolla XRS and that car has a bit of excitement to it, and good ol Toyota reliablitly...So yes, I much rather hear my son tell me about a Kia Sedona that tried to give him the business at a red light the other day while he tells me the car also runs just fine than to hear about some old Ferrari...and i know i know, I dont have to read them.....but its all in fun and games...right guys??? lol
toyota_f1 says:
12:54 PM, 09/20/07
That Corolla XRS is fun if you keep it above 6500 RPM. VVTL-i was great, wish it would have made it onto more than 3 US spec vehicles using the same engine that decreased in HP rating every year it was out. Well, the anemic torque curve was nothing to write home about either....
estreka says:
04:23 PM, 09/20/07
I don't need a comparison to tell me a new GT is going to whoop an '80's Ferrari. Way back in the day, I ran a '76 Corvette in my '97 Accord coupe (4cyl). It wasn't even close. It's amazing how far technology has come. Cars like these are about the drive. The thrill. The experience. I know if I bought an '86 Alfa Romeo Veloce Spider it would never compare to the roadster I have now, but the enjoyment I would get from driving an old favorite would be unmeasurable.
hondacura4 says:
06:07 PM, 09/20/07
I love Ferarris new and old but this thing is a pure pain! But some cars just make you love them so much that its hard to hate it. My mother had a 1986 Audi 5000CS Turbo when I was in high school (early 90's). That car gave her so much trouble but she kept it because the car itself just felt right. It was fast (inline 5 turbo) and very surefooted in the winter (Quattro), and of course it looked good. She still talks about it today and she got rid of it more than 11 years ago!
Estreka, good point as I feel the same. I like the older cars too because they just have that special feel thats just not there in some of this new stuff. Although some of the newer cars are quite fun (S2000).
Toyota Corolla XRS's are pure sleepers as you wouldnt expect any Corolla to haul ass like that. To bad the chassis isnt up to the same level as the drivetrain. But again this is a Ferarri blog and I would rather hear about a unreliable pesky Ferarri than a stinkin Corolla!
daveflores says:
11:17 AM, 09/21/07
If you're comparing performance figures of recent vintage Mustangs to a 1984 Ferrari then you're completely missing the point. Go buy yourself a Mustang and go fast. But realize that you'll never go fast in your ' Stang with half as much style as the Ferrari owner goes slow in his car.
phalpern says:
12:28 PM, 09/24/07
Passion. Fun. FEAR. These are all of the emotions which run through a few of us crazy enough to daily drive an older Ferrari. I am one of those nut cases. In 1997 I bought an '85 308 GTBiQV - ZFFUA12A9F0053753. I *LOVED* this car. It was my only car and daily driver from 1997-2000. It had 50k miles on it at purchase and I added another 55k miles at least.
I am very familiar with the car you purchased. Yes, they can be a PITA every once in a while, but do not let it detract from the fun of owning a classic car. I averaged one major service and 3-4 oil changes a year. On top of that add the necessary preventative maintenance for an older car (rebuild the steering rack, new exhaust, etc). Call it $3-5k annually. Some would call that expensive, it isn't. The purchase price is "the cost of admission", maintenance "is the cost of enjoyment".
Every day I would leave a consulting gig burned out (info technology in the late 90s). When I hit the parking lot and turn the key & hit the gas, the 'Ferrari grin" was back and al seemed right with the world again.
Will you get pulled over by State Troopers? Yup and most never wrote me a ticket, they just wanted to talk 'car shop stuff'. Treat them life human being and don't be mean and you'll make friends with them. I did on the NJ Turnpike (25 miles each way everyday in a Ferrari, you end up knowing garrisons of cops). Also, it helps if you stop to help someone stranded and call on your cell phone to help them out. (not everyone had a cell phone back then)
Also, go out with the car and meet up with other Ferrari people and get to know the marque, its history, and the people. Yeah, you'll meet some people that have the personality of road kill, but that isn't the norm. Most of these people are truly car guys and gals and enjoy the marque. It isn't a prestige thing. It's about fun.
Enjoy the car, I miss mine every day. (I hope she's OK.)
Best regards,
Peter "Tifosi" Halpern
SubyTrojan says:
04:15 PM, 09/25/07
Every time I see Donna's title to this blog entry, I get that "Secret Lover" song from that T-mobile commercial where one guy has his best friend's girlfriend's phone number in his "Fave 5" stuck in my head. D'oh! It's in my head again!
dderosa says:
12:44 PM, 09/26/07
When I'm not driving the Ferrari, I think about it. --Donna
billymay says:
05:46 PM, 10/ 1/07
I'd agree with the above comments about it being an old car. My '87 328 is also an old car, but the ignition works easily, reverse engages like 'buttah', and she burbles like a (loud and angry) kitten at stop lights.
You guys bought a cheap, cheap used 308. Your tech can get it working right - maybe the Bosch fuel accumulator is bad (one reason for a warm start problem)? Realistically, a well-sorted 308 QV is a $40K car in today's market, and IIRC you paid $27K. It's time to spend some of that 'saved' money to put the car in order. It's the same old K-Jetronic fuel injection and simple components (other than the engine itself) used on every other '80s import. Simple and very fixable.
I've had mine a couple of years, no real issues. Parts are stupidly expensive (just dropped $100 on four plastic wheel center caps), but that's part of the deal with Ferraris. I have a modern (2008) Audi as my other car, and while I like all the new electronics and conveniences I can tell you I'll have the Ferrari long after the Audi is gone.