Home > Blogs > The Supercar Blog > Permalink

A weekend with the Ferrari God

Blog: The Supercar Blog
Posted by: Jcs2000 Wednesday 25th April 2007, 10:19am
Last edited 25/04/2007 10:19am by Jcs2000

4 days in the Ferrari 360 Spider

So this last weekend we had 4 days with a Ferrari 360 F1 Spider from Ecurie25. By the time we got to pick the car up at 10.00am my partner was accusing me of behaving like an over excitable child – fair cop. Now, I’ve always thought the 360 Spider is one of the most beautiful cars ever made. The Ecurie version is in a silver blue and, my personal opinion, the best colour for it. I didn’t know whether to drive it or snog it. It is achingly beautiful.

Having been shown around the car we loaded the luggage – surprisingly large boot space and good space behind those wonderful seats – I fired her (or is it him?) up. Click click whirr whirr snort snort – I whole symphony of noise even at tickover. A taste of things to come.

Got into London traffic using the auto box – not going to play with the paddles until we get some open road.

You absolutely feel very special, very significant in this car. It attracts huge amounts of attention even when the trickling along in traffic. Camera’s phones clicking, pointed fingers, grins, smiles and the occasional hint of jealousy – this car creates emotion.

My partner took it all in her stride and did a fantastic impersonation of a footballers wife – rising to the occasion by painting her nails.

Actually the 360 is easy to drive in town – much to my surprise. The steering is perfectly town balanced and the auto box works OK. Big word of caution – this car is a lot wider than you may be expecting – I scuffed the front wheel rim first time I parked it.

With the roof off and the rear wind deflector up normal conversation is possible at 80.

On to the M4 on the way down to Devon. Blue sky, hot sun and the smell of hot oil…..so there I am trickling along at 85 at 4,000 in 6th. Road opens out traffic thins…hit the left paddle and drop two gears, foot on accelerator and, oh my God, the noise. That Ferrari V8 just howls – I’m getting goosebumps writing about it now. Partner starts to object as I slow and then accelerate for the next 10 miles just to get that noise again, irritating aren’t I :-)

But you realise how quickly the road runs out. This thing accelerates so hard I never managed the full rev range in more than two consecutive gear changes – you simply run out of space. I saw 130 – 140 on several occasions (Kilometres per hour)

Get into Devon – if I thought the Ferrari made an impact in London it was nothing – children gawping and waving, people coming up to me in petrol stations wanting to know about the car - it was slightly embarrassing (I got to live with the reflected glory though). We pulled up outside a busy pub garden for lunch and the place came to a standstill.

Couple of days in south Devon – not good for performance driving – too many cars. So up to the Cotswolds and the A40. The A40. A road built for a Ferrari, long curves, fast straights. Really really fast overtaking – accentuated by the paddle gear change. Going from 6th gear in 60 for an overtaking manoeuvre is much faster with paddles – simple three blips and your in 3rd. And the noise. I can still hear it.

And then I found the tunnel that goes under the Park Royal roundabout. Slow down to 20mph at the entrance, 2nd gear, full throttle….2 days later I’ve still got that maniacal grin on my face

This is not a car, it’s a living breathing animal.

That noise…….

My other blog can be found here

Spread the Word

Flag as inappropriate
If you believe the content of this blog post is inappropriate and should be reviewed.

More posts from this blog...