SSO's Garage - Ferrari, McLaren, & Porsche

[SSO]

Hi All,
I've gotten a few suggestions that I should start a thread on my garage.
I've been collecting sports, super, and hyper cars for almost 20 years now.
For a few years I did one of the Fast Fleet columns in EVO. I've continued these on our own site now.
Current garage includes: McLaren 720S Spider, 675LT Spider, 650S Spider, Senna, Ferrari F40, Maserati GranCabrio, & a Porsche 911 (997.2) GT3 RS
I've got a SCG 004S on order and a McLaren 765LT Spider will probably follow that.
A few others of potential interest that used to inhabit the garage include a Ferrari F50, 430 Scuderia, 599 GTB HGTE, 16M, 365GTB/4 Daytona, 308 GTB, 360 Modena, & a 365BB Porsche 911 (993) Turbo, 911 (993) C4, Koenigsegg CCR, Jaguar XJR-15, a Mosler MT900S, & a Maserati GranSport
Happy to answer any questions on the cars.

[SSO]

Pommy said:

Glad you started this thread, look forward to what you post.

So, favourite and least favourite of all current and past cars?

Best car I've ever owned or driver - Ferrari F50. Here's why from an article on it
:


In terms of what it is like to drive, open the fly weight door, drop down over the wide sill into the black leather driver’s seat, push the clutch in, turn the ignition key, wait for the OK light to illuminate on the dashboard, press the starter button, and the engine immediately explodes into life. Because the engine is bolted to the bulkhead, the whole car feels like it has now come alive. You sit quite forward in the chassis and visibility is excellent. This combination helps the car to shrink around you when on the move and place it exactly where you want it on the road. For the first several minutes, it revs to 2000 rpms until the cats heat up and then drops to just under a thousand. Wait for the water and oil temp gauges to light up by at least one bar, and then you can gently head towards the open road. Give it 10 miles to heat up properly and then the fun can start. Find a nice long empty patch of road, drop down to second gear, and start spinning that amazing engine up. The F50 will launch itself down the road with an aggression I have never experienced in any other car. Several times I have caught myself going quite a bit faster than expected. The F50 inspires more confidence at 120 mph than most cars do at 60 mph. The factory quoted 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds is easily believable. As the rpm gauge passes 5500, the exhaust note rises to a F1 type scream which simply intensifies as you close in on the 8500 rpm redline. The rigid carbon fiber tub, combined with the push rod suspension, provide outstanding road handling even when set up as a Barchetta. The mixed states of local road surfaces hardly bother the F50. The short throw 6 speed manual gear box is both quick and smooth, a real delight to use. Add in perfectly weighted steering which allows you to place the car exactly where you want it, and overall you have a truly great driver’s car.

and at the other end of the spectrum, the Ferrari 456 GT was definitely my least favorite. It never missed an opportunity to break down.

[SSO]

Jester86 said:

Come on SSO, stick to the rules.

Where are the pictures?

to start:

[SSO]

WCZ said:

what did you think of the CCR?

Not the most polished of things. Fun to own for a bit. Happy it didn't kill me.

On driving it:

Acceleration is fierce from the moment you pull away, however get aggressive on the gas and it just leaps viciously at the horizon. On top of being pressed back into the comfortable bucket seats, the sound of the supercharger spinning up (it is located right behind the driver’s head, an my youngest son calls it the “Hyperdrive”), is both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Brakes are great, thankfully given the aggressiveness of the acceleration, and overall balance of the car is quite good. The gearbox however is demonic and the first couple times you drive it, finding the gears is an adventure. The gear shift lever is a tall steal shaft that protrudes slightly forward of where you would expect to find it. The space between the gears is very tight, therefore slotting from one gear to the next is a craft to be learned. As the CCR is geared for 240 mph, the gearbox is not something that you need to be constantly working. The clutch is medium weighted with a high bite point. Getting the bite point right serves to add a bit of extra excitement when initially trying to master the gearbox. The noise the 4.7L V8 makes is more guttural than Italian style screaming.

Edited by SSO on Monday 18th January 14:38

[SSO]

Bright Halo said:

Great that you are posting on here. I used to enjoy your articles in EVO.
Question on the Mclaren’s. As a person who doesn’t own or even never been in one they all look very similar and appear to be just tweaks of the same base architecture. With the different models you own do you get a sense of individuality from each one?

Edited by Bright Halo on Monday 18th January 07:44

I find them to all be quite different. the 675LT Spider is just brilliant. The Senna is as hard core as they come. Its really a 21st century F40. 720S Spider incredibly quick yet civilized.

[SSO]

MDifficult said:

I remember the EVO updates - they were some of the bits of the mag I most looked forward to.

Fingers crossed this thread carries on where that left off!

Lots of pictures to match the words though please... lots and lots

I will try to post a few on here. There are a ton on IG - @supercarowner if that's of interest.

[SSO]

IAche said:

Would love to see some pictures of the fleet, preferably in totally unsuitable locations and conditions. Like maybe the F40 in a muddy, snow covered Welsh back road.

How's this:

[SSO]

Muzzer79 said:

The Mosler seems like a really left-field choice. You certainly don't see many about.

What were the motives behind getting it and what was is like as an ownership experience?

I bought it basically as a road legal track car. It was an easy car to own. Not to complicated mechanically and never had any reliability issues.

This is from a blog I did on the Mosler a while back:

The Mosler is a simple formula of bullet proof small block GM sourced V8, Getrag G50 6 speed gearbox, carbon composite chassis, and a brilliant adjustable suspension. The finish is more race than road car, but that really just adds to the overall experience and impact. As accomplished as it is on the road, where it really shines is out on the track. This is not surprising given its DNA is far more GT race than road car. A few months ago I was out on a track with a friend in his Enzo. In a straight line, the Enzo was able to pull away, slightly. The benefits of a couple of hundred extra bhp evident. As soon as the tarmac got squiggly, the advantage of lower weight and the huge downforce that the Mosler generates allowed us to close the gap smartly.

[SSO]

Krikkit said:

I imagine the Mosler "road" cars were all fully rose-jointed etc like the GT racers were too? Proper weapons. Any pics of the interior?

Thanks for sharing, all interesting stuff.

Yes, fully rose jointed. Road and race cars had very limited differences.

[SSO]

JackP1 said:

Excellent.

Was the Yellow CGT that used to be in the back of the mag yours? Talking back to around 2006 maybe....

No, never owned a CGT (long story....). I think that one used to belong to Paul Bailey.

[SSO]

Cheib said:

You’ve clearly got a hugely varied “back catalogue” but McLaren seem to be your current preferred manufacturer ? On the face of it there seems a fair amount of duplication with running three Spider’s ? Although in the 675 LT that’s clearly a very special car. What are the qualities you really like about McLaren’s and do you track the Senna ?

Edited by Cheib on Monday 18th January 22:18

I haven't tracked the Senna yet but that's not really the cars fault. We moved across the country shortly after I took delivery. It then went into storage for a few months while the move got sorted, then came winter followed by Covid. Hopefully things normalize in a few months and I can get it out on a track.

675LT Spider is a phenomenal car. Personally think it's the best car McLaren has built to date. 720S Spider is again very different. Hugely capable yet quite civilized. 650S Spider has been my DD for over 5 years, yes the 720S Spider does everything a bit better but I have a soft spot for the 650S as its been a really good car.

In terms of McLaren being my current preferred supplier. A lot of it has to do with my recent experiences with Ferrari (covered it in a blog) and the fact that I prefer cars built off of CF tubs.

[SSO]

IAche said:

Would love to see some pictures of the fleet, preferably in totally unsuitable locations and conditions. Like maybe the F40 in a muddy, snow covered Welsh back road.

Here’s the F40 being driven on wet muddy Welsh back roads: https://youtu.be/CacjLbV4Kig

[SSO]

IAche said:

SSO said:

Here’s the F40 being driven on wet muddy Welsh back roads: https://youtu.be/CacjLbV4Kig

Love it, shame the mirror got in the way of the road. Its great to see cars like this being used and not just being garage queens.

There is a reason I don't do videos anymore...........

Edited by SSO on Tuesday 19th January 15:27

[SSO]

Muzzer79 said:

Thank you for posting the excellent pics.

In car terms, specifically what's already on the market, what itch is left to scratch?

Also, what is "the one that got away"?

1. 1 on that list is the McLaren F1 -- had the opportunity to buy one for GBP 750k back in 2004 and thought it was a ridicules amount of money for a car.

1. 2 is a Ferrari 288GTO in 2006 for GBP 160k.

[SSO]

Ranger 6 said:

Porsches and Ferraris are ten a penny in Sunningdale, however I do remember walking down our road with my son (a few years ago now) and you came past in the F50......

It reminded me to take more notice of my surroundings - I think the same thing happened with the Mosler too. To my shame it took me some time to recognise the make

There used to be some great roads in that area for a Sunday drive.

On the Mosler, impressed that you were able to id it.

[SSO]

scottos said:

Wow what a fleet that is. Its interesting to read your current selection and then the future prospects, cant help but notice most of the prospects hark back to years gone by. Is that want from a driving perspective (i assume so with your background!) or is it value/ investment based?

It's very much from a driving perspective. Not necessarily interest in what the fastest but rather what's the most engaging and fun to drive.

[SSO]

scottos said:

SSO said:

It's very much from a driving perspective. Not necessarily interest in what the fastest but rather what's the most engaging and fun to drive.

Excellent, I hear you on that one, it's not about being the fastest. Hopefully manufacturers (and also more punters) will cotton onto that and we may get a last hurrah of more engaging cars!

I hope they do. Not that they would listen to me, but I have given them feedback on this.

[SSO]

Cheib said:

SSO said:

Cheib said:

You’ve clearly got a hugely varied “back catalogue” but McLaren seem to be your current preferred manufacturer ? On the face of it there seems a fair amount of duplication with running three Spider’s ? Although in the 675 LT that’s clearly a very special car. What are the qualities you really like about McLaren’s and do you track the Senna ?

Edited by Cheib on Monday 18th January 22:18

I haven't tracked the Senna yet but that's not really the cars fault. We moved across the country shortly after I took delivery. It then went into storage for a few months while the move got sorted, then came winter followed by Covid. Hopefully things normalize in a few months and I can get it out on a track.

675LT Spider is a phenomenal car. Personally think it's the best car McLaren has built to date. 720S Spider is again very different. Hugely capable yet quite civilized. 650S Spider has been my DD for over 5 years, yes the 720S Spider does everything a bit better but I have a soft spot for the 650S as its been a really good car.

In terms of McLaren being my current preferred supplier. A lot of it has to do with my recent experiences with Ferrari (covered it in a blog) and the fact that I prefer cars built off of CF tubs.

Interesting point about the CF tub...I remember when the 12c came out how that car was being raved about because of that. Makes a Spider compelling I would think.

For those that haven’t read SSO’s blog it’s here

https://karenable.com/super-cars/

Very good it is too !

IMHO, the CF tub does make a noticeable difference. On the McLaren's you lose nothing going from a coupe to a spider, where on the aluminum Ferraris there is a noticeable difference.

[SSO]

Sub5 said:

Amazing collection and the stuff of dreams for all Petrolheads. All beautiful cars.Thank you for sharing. I'm off to follow you to


Can I ask what your daily is

Daily driver is a McLaren 650S Spider. I've been using it as my daily for a bit over 5 1/2 years now.

[SSO]

Chunkychucky said:

Nothing to add other than to say fk me what a garage, awesome collection you have sir.

A couple of questions if I may:

- your list of cars seems predominantly of the modern super/hypercar variety, given you made mention of enjoying driver involvement do you have any interest/desire in any classic cars?

- you mention you’ve blogged about experiences of cars you’ve owned, could you possible share a link (or DM if against the rules) to where these blogs are hosted?

Thankyou for giving an insight in to what it must be like to fulfil a common childhood dream

I have owned a few classic cars including a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, Ferrari 365BB, Ferrari 512BB, Ferrari 308 GTB, Alfa Spider 1750. Another Daytona is tempting but not sure I have the patience anymore to deal with all the challenges of keeping a 40 year old car in good running condition.