car is gone.........

[thudmaster]

I sold my spf today........it now is in the hands of the newest BACC member.....

I'm looking into a replacement.........so don't give up my spot at the breakfast table yet.......

[Got the Bug]

Ed - Coupe or GT40 next??

[thudmaster]

Maybe the gt 40.........I really like it.


But I have my eyes on a Ferrari Testarossa.............depends.

[jperickson2001]

Ferrari? Lot's of Money for parts and upkeep, but you know that. GT40's are Steve McQueen Cool. Hope you choose the latter -John

[Bxx1]

Jeeez that was fast...you just got it! I missed seeing those fog lights at night.
Hope you keep in contact and let us know what the replacement car will be.

[PANAVIA]

AAANNNND Rossa's have to drop the engine every 7500mi for timing cogs.

So Ed -- why sell the SPF >?

[thudmaster]

It was my second one and it just didn't do it for me like my last one.....I didn't know about the cog thing ouch.....what about a simple 348?

[Rick Parker]

Anything in the Ferrari family with timing belts is nuts. I have a friend with a 91 Testarossa, $400 oil changes.......gimme a break. You think some of us ar anal? They have 1 supplier for the correct gold dycromate nylock nuts with the Yellow plastic inserts (don't forget you gotta have the correct "Shade" of Yellow) for suspension parts and this business has the gal to charge between $4.00 & $12.00 per nut. Sure buy a Ferrari. The Marque is King at seperating you from your cash, no thanks. Oh the OEM battery.........$800.00. The sad thing is ...there are those that would actually pay it.

[RodKnock]

Ferrari's didn't become "simple" until they released the 360. I believe that was the first Ferrari where you don't have to drop the engine to do a major service.

[Igofastr]

Ed,

Sorry to hear about the sale, hopefully we'll still see you at the gatherings. A GT40 would be nice. Everyone is right about the Ferrari, but if that is what lights your fire...go for it!!

Before I bought the cobra, I too looked into the TR, a few years ago they were a screaming deal. In the last couple of years, prices have risen rapidly. Could be a decent investment, as long as you make sure that the 30K service has been done before you buy it. The 360s are a bit more expensive than anything in the 308/328/348 line, but are perhaps one of the best cars Ferrari has ever made. What turned me away from Ferrari was that you cant modify them at all (except for adding a Tubi exhaust), without taking a big hit at resale.

Whatever you buy, bring it to the gatherings, we'd all love to see you.

Ron

[RodKnock]

Ferrari's are just about the prettiest car on the road, if not the prettiest. If you want one, and I can't blame you, then do your homework on each model. The one thing about the Ferrari's is that you want to keep them low mileage, for resale, but you need to drive them regularly in order to keep everything lubricated.

The GT40 is awesome too. I also was thinking of getting one in the future. However, they're very expensive as well if you want a well-done car in the end. Read the GT40s website. Some of the stories there make you think twice about getting one.

Good luck Ed.

[Got the Bug]

A lot of people don't like them, but I still think the Ford GT is awesome.

Rodney - What are the top 3 to 5 negatives regarding the GT 40? Since I got my SPF, I dream about having a GT40, but it's not in the cards right now.

[RodKnock]

Doug, here's the link to one person's story. The guy loves his GT40, but I think he gives people his honest impression of the car after spending $130,000 with Dennis Olthoff.

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/superform...-problems.html

Mod: I hope I don't get in trouble for linking to the GT40s website. I apologize if it's a no-no.

[Tony Ripepi]

Ed,

I read Kim's rendition of his opinion of the SPF GT40 and it is his opinion. I own and have P2181 in the garage with 1000+ miles on it and have a different opinion.

The GT40 is more comfortable and easier to drive than the Cobra. The A/C works great and I have not had the teething problems that were in Kim's article. I have bought and installed some bits and pieces from Olthoff that I feel should have been provided by SPF (rear clip struts & window kit) that make it easier to live with. The fit of the rear clip from SPF was horrible and required cutting of the exhaust pipes to not have the fiberglass resting on one of the pipes, installing metal supports on both sides of the rear clip to allow for some stiffening for clearances when raising and lowering but, it is a component vehicle.

No luggage room.....it is a race car modified for the street and I can see how the Jackies --- Ickx,Olliver, Dan Guerney and the others were able to drive these cars at speed for many hours at LeMans and win. Except for Guerney they were small people, I am not 5'9" 250+ and take a bit of twisting and turning to get in and out but, once in I am very comfortable.

I am careful when parking to make sure that I can open the drivers door all the way or I can not get out easily or at all.

I love the car, driving it and seeing it beside the cobra in the garage....lots of pics in my gallery.....side by side with my Shelby always brings a smile to my face. I have an old school engine with Webers and the sound from directly behind my head when I wind it up to 6K is pure pleasure. I have an RBT ZF but, it is the model used in the BMW M1 with a 3:77 Ring Gear.

Best Regards,

Tony R

[Got the Bug]

Great to see/read the observations of two owners. Kim is in good hands with Olthoff, so I'm sure they'll be able to fine tune the AC for him. I wasn't too surprised by the other observations and I'm certaint the small issues can be fixed. Like Tony said, the GT40 is a full blooded race car adaptated to the street.

If I was going to shell out $130K, I would have to spend a decent amount of seat time (either driving or as a passenger) in the car to be 100% I knew what I was getting in to. Pretty much the same approach that I took when buying my SPF...drive, ride in, and look at as many as possible before pulling the trigger.

[Tony Ripepi]

Doug,

I drove a friends CAV that was fully sorted out about four years ago......my comment was " I gotta get one of these" When SPF announced their GT40 clone I stepped into line to buy one very early, the time I waited was getting the transaxle exactly the way I wanted it. I drive at 75 MPH in fifth at 2300 RPM.....a comfortable cruise all day long.

TR

[RodKnock]

Ed,

I think once you get to the $100,000 +/- category, then you can get a 360 Coupe (not a Spyder). The $50,000-$80,000 category is where you would be for a 348/355 or a Testarossa. Just ballpark ranges. A really nice GT40 will set you back about $100,000 +/- depending upon whether you perform the work or not and what your choice would be for the engine/transaxle.

Regarding the Testarossa, as all Ferrari's do, they have their own inherent issues. You should read some articles written by Michael Sheehan. He writes for Keith Martin's Sports Car Market magazine. He's written about the Testarossa as well as virtually every Ferrari.

http://www.ferraris-online.com/pages...=SCM_200607_SS

Great choices all around. I like all of them.

[thudmaster]

Tony, I appreciate your insight. I met you at the Sonoma function. I am reading all I can on the Ferrari and I have to admit it appears it is going to be worse than keeping two mistresses and a wife. I am not sold on the redhead yet nor the Gt 40. I am looking and trying. Thank you guys for all the input. I will continue to read all the post on Clubcobra as always. Who knows I may just buy another spf mkIII.

[katanasai]

Thudmaster,
I hope to see you driving a Ford again. The Ferrari is nice, but extremely expensive!!
I'd go for the Coupe personally..........but it's up to you.
Sean

[maurice19]

I`ll see you at breakfast, Thud, you are the man

Maurice