Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
There's definitely no dissapointment in this car. The interior is wall to wall Schedoni leather. Couldn't get in the car but the seats looked luxuriously inviting. They appear to have the perfect combination of comfort and support.
The whole of the car is gorgeous and visually exciting. FNA had it on display in Azzurro blue over parchment. In the same tent was a new Quatroporte, another beautiful four seater. Obviously, the four door is much bigger but still retains a certain delicacy. I'd love to own either if them, but most especially the 612. My love affair with +2 Ferraris lingers on!
Tom
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
"Christened the F430, a name Ferrari trademarked for use across the world in March and April this year, the car will debut a radical new look penned by Pininfarina, under the watchful eye of Ferrari design chief Frank Stephenson. The newcomer is expected to make its public debut early next year at the Detroit Motor Show in January, before going on sale in the summer."
"Based on the same aluminum chassis as the acclaimed F360 Modena, the F430 will be powered by a new 4.3-litre, 500bhp V8 designed to see off competition from the Lamborghini Gallardo and new Porsche 911 Turbo.
"It sports a body that's far more dramatic than the current machine. Sacrificing flowing curves for aggressive lines and angles, the car is fitted with bigger 19-inch alloys, larger, functional air intakes and a new rear diffuser to aid downforce.
"Auto Express's sources have suggested there's even a possibility that the new F430 will get active aerodynamics, including a rear spoiler that lifts at speed - similar to the new 911 Carrera. At the rear, the car's looks are particularly dramatic, with circular rear lights, similar in style to those fitted to the Enzo and 612."
(Dan Strong - Wednesday 14th July 2004 - Auto Express)
Sounds positively scintillating......
M
Actually I like the last version of the Fiero, the 5-speed. It was an interesting car at least, although not a very good one.
I remember seeing one when they first came out and thinking "Wow, GM's built a mid-engined sports car".
Then I found out it was nothing special as far as performance, let's hope the do better by the Solstice.
Tom, let me guess, did they want you to paint your car red and put prancing horse stickers all over it? LOL!
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I think many of them had tongues planted firmly in their cheeks, but several owners really did assume it was a kit. As soon as I realized it was all Fieros, I expected that response and joined in the humor.
It's amazing (and disheartening) that "is it a kit?" is the first question from 80% of people who first see the car. I'm usually very polite and explanatory, saying "no, it's the real thing." I think I sometimes forget that most people rarely see them "in the flesh" and assume that it's much more likely to be a fake.
Anyway, i dropped by a cruise event today. Figured "what the heck" and put the car in for judging. As these things are generally all Hot Rods (which I love) and muscle cars, I'm always odd-man-out. Well, today the car won a trophy! I'm not exactly sure what for, probably for being the only foreign car, but I'll take it. Now I need a good story to tell my wife when she returns from Italy. It needs to involve tough competition and a Miss Something-Or-Other, who presented the award and hit on me. Naaahhhh. she would never believe that!
World Makes Championship:
<The Speed Merchants airs @ 8pm Wednesday, be there or be...well, not much of a tifosi.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I got to see Andretti and McLaren drive the GT-40/Mk.IV to victory my first trip to Sebring in '67.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
M
There are a number of good F1 sites on the web, but this is Bernie's official site.
I watched again, because I'm a true Tifosi. I had forgotten that Ferrari skipped Le Mans that year. But I was surprised to see what appeared to be a 312 in private hands at Le Sarthe. I had read that these cars were supposed to be factory only. Enzo didn't think the privateers could handle them. I guess I'll have to do a little more reading.
How quickly we forget just how dangerous motor racing used to be. Seeing Jo Bonnier and Ronnie Peterson reminded me of the last time I looked through Jesse Alexander's marvelous photo book "At Speed." A vast majority of the drivers pictured were lost in accidents.
And the circuits! We've grown used to run off and foam backed walls. tire barriers and catch fences. Sebring with dirt piled outside the corners to catch the cars was a grim reminder. Thank you Sir Jackie Stewart for making those changes.
Last question. Did Vic Elford retire that season? I seem to remember that he drove for at least one more? Andy. Shifty, anyone know?
Meanwhile Autoweek highlights new go-fast goodies for the 575 Maranello including Ceramic
Composite brakes. I wonder what new rotors go for <:^O !
http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_cod- e=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=04121385
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I thought their comments about fuel economy a bit silly. Do they really think that will make a difference to anyone who can afford on of these? I care quite a bit in my daily drivers, but when the F car goes out my last concern is mileage.
http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Stu/kpouliki/cl65_0001.wmv
Not much of a contest at the track.
M
As for the Bentley, that marque has been mediocre since the day Rolls Royce bought it some 70 odd years ago, and it seems that while new owners have improved it mightily, it is still not good enough vis a vis the competition. "The more things change, the more they etc. etc."
Once you lose your crown in the automotive world, it's very hard to get it back again it seems.
And what car did all three editors choose - hint: It was the most Ferrari-like one of the three.
On another note. I'm sad to say that my wife was unable to get spy photos of the new 360 replacement while in Maranello the past few weeks. Unfortunately she had to settle for watching Schumi and Badoer testing the F1 car on Fiorano. What a shame! I guess we'll just have to go back soon for another try.
It had a grille slot stretching across the lower front of the car instead of the oversize ducts on either side on the 360, IOTW it was an improvement aesthetically.
I hope the new Modena ends up looking like that.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
It's a frontal "shot" and shows a strong resemblance to the 612 with slighly more aggressive shapes and detailing.
I'm glad they're planning to replace the somewhat generic looking Maranello with something that looks classically Ferrari without being "retro".
If the sim isn't an accurate portrayal of the next Ferrari GT I'll be surprised, it looks very credible.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?n=178&sid=178&a- - rticle=7186
The Lehmann photo lacks the center hood scoop seen on the R&T virtual shot but there appears to be a bra or something covering the hood. You can clearly see the 612-like headlights and the agressive grille shape that distinguishes the 600 from the 612.
There's no Corvette like-cove along the side of the Imola in any shot that I've seen. It looks like they need something to break up that side.
I wish the R&T shot was online but so far it isn't.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
"The F430 hails the arrival of a new generation of Ferrari 8-cylinder engines. The new model takes Ferrari’s extraordinary achievements with aluminium construction technology, which started with the 360 Modena, to a whole new level and offers a series of extremely significant innovations directly derived from the Prancing Horse’s Formula 1 single-seaters.
Two of these innovations are world firsts for production cars: the electronic differential (E-DIFF) initially developed by Ferrari for its F1 single-seaters but now adapted to the needs of a high performance road car, and the steering wheel-mounted commutator switch (better known to the Scuderia’s drivers as the “manettino”) which the driver uses to select the integrated systems governing vehicle dynamics.
The other main characteristics of the new Ferrari F430 are its light, compact 4,300cc 90° V8 engine which punches out 490 hp to achieve a specific horse power of 114 bhp/litre, guaranteeing the new Ferrari berlinetta a weight-to-power ratio of 2.8 kg/hp (dry weight); a braking system with optional carbon-ceramic discs for optimal efficiency even after severe and prolonged braking; a Formula 1-derived gearbox that cuts gear shifting times to 150 milliseconds, allowing the driver to make the very most of a truly high performance car (0-100 km/h acceleration in four seconds flat, a top speed in excess of 315 km/h); and lastly, sophisticated aerodynamics that adopt the very latest racing developments, especially in terms of the flat underbody and big rear diffuser to increase downforce. "
http://autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=100673
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
A friend should be taking delivery of his CS this week. I wonder if he thinks he should have waited? Would you?
So in that sense I think the Modena replacement is needed. I also think that its power output is incredible. 114hp/L (or whatever it is) may not necessarily be the highest specific output in the land, but it's truly extraordinary when you consider that this is a big honkin' V8.
Looking at 2005 in my mind I clearly see the S2000 having the top 4-banger, the M3 with the top 6-banger, and the Carrera GT with the top V10. I haven't been sure about eight-cylinder engines but after reading the design on this new powerplant, I think Ferrari has a lock on the V8 with the new Modena.
As the season winds down, Luca Di M., is again making noises about the financial in equities in F1 and how Ferrari might pull out. Obviously, this is posturing, but, if they were to quit F1 altogether, where would you like to see them put their emphasis. What racing form or series would either benefit from Ferrari involvement or best be enlivened by direct factory involvement of the kind Ferrari has in F1?
I can't imagine Ferrari pulling out of F1. If my memory serves, they have NEVER missed an F1 season since the company began.
But their commitment to F1 has meant that they no longer have factory participation elsewhere. Frankly, I miss them in sportscars, I'd love to see them in ALMS prototypes, especially if Porsche would get off their butts and rejoin as well. Although it never went well for the Scuderia, I miss that rivalry and would love to see a rematch!
Aston-Martin is going for the GT class next year with their beautiful DBR-9. Prodrive will run 575 Maranello GTCs in a quasi-factory effort.
Hopefully they'll step up to LMP and tackle w Audi and Porsche.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Ferrari wasn't much interested because he preferred building Grand Prix racers but Chinetti convinced him to do it, Chinetti drove the little 2-liter V12 to victory, Ferrari's first major victory, and it occurred before the advent of Formula One in 1950.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I'll bet it's more interesting than the Chinese Grand Prix the promo aired in.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Tom, the October Classic and Sports Cars has a good article on one of our favorites, the 330 GTC illustrated by photos of a really nice bright metallic blue car.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
The new Forza has some interesting stuff in it this month including a gentleman in France who has been using his GTO as a daily driver for years. Funny there are issues of Forza which I take a glance at, perhaps read a couple of short articles, and then put away, and others that I read from cover to cover. The magazine seems to lack some consistency.
I'll have to pick up Classic and Sports Cars. I love the 330 GTC. Recently I was at Boston Sports Car, where I have my car serviced, and they had a 365 GTC in for an alignment. Rare as hen's teeth. It basically a 330 body with slight nose and hood mods (slightly larger grill opening, etc.) with a 365 engine/drivetrain. I think they built about a dozen of them towards the end of the 330 run.
Actually, it was a good day over there. Also in the shop was the '52 250 PA Prototype, a '56 (?) Benz 300 SL roadster (prettier than a gullwing) and the new Lambo Murcielago Barchetta press car. I have to admit, the Lambo was exciting, but I'd have jumped over it to get to either the Benz or the 250 (a prototype yet!).
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Dunno where they go after that except that there are new Maseratis coming out (Crossover & new Coupe/Spider)
It looks much like a 612 (an improvement IMO)
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I thought both vehicles complemented each other nicely. We only see F-cars two or three times yearly in Concord NH.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
The ride went well, right up until we hit the police roadblock. No tickets issued, but some stern finger shaking was done.
While at FoNE, I looked at a 512 Boxer on the showroom floor. Although the price was reasonable, there were several questions about the car. For one thing, the seat wear didn't match the indicated mileage on the odo. I'll take a pass on it. Besides, Boxers are notorious for service, constant and expensive.
For those of you in the NE area, Peter Wright, who wrote an excellent book on Ferrari F1, will be lecturing December 4th at the Lars Anderson Museum of transportation in Brookline, MA. As I get more details, I'll keep you posted.
T
Question for all of you: Is a 328 with 40K a few years away from being a parts car? I plan on using this as a weekend car only - figure 2-3K miles per year. I've talked to the service manager at the local Ferrari dealer, and I'm OK with the maintenance costs and schedule. However, I've read horror stories about Ferrari engines needing a rebuild before 50,000 miles.
Any input appreciated -- I'm a Mercedes and BMW guy, never owned an F-car before. Oh wait, a Fiat X1/9 in high school. Mid-engined F-car. Vroom vroom. ;-)