Challenge Stradale thread

[355fiorano]

Interesting. Who can do this analysis. Would main dealer be able to or do you know anyone else.

[johnnyreggae]

This line of questioning sounds like its getting close to a how-do-I-clock-my-car thread especially from a current owner

[355fiorano]

That's very presumptuous and quite offensive.

My assumption was that with the F1 gearbox, it was not possible to fiddle with the mileage but in recent weeks I have seen posts to the contrary, coupled with some v low mileage cars for sale. Having purchased recently form a main dealer i would not mind to have my car's mileage verified by them or whoever can do it.

[15HN]

355fiorano said:

That's very presumptuous and quite offensive.

My assumption was that with the F1 gearbox, it was not possible to fiddle with the mileage but in recent weeks I have seen posts to the contrary, coupled with some v low mileage cars for sale. Having purchased recently form a main dealer i would not mind to have my car's mileage verified by them or whoever can do it.

If you PM me I can have an expert verify your car for you. A dealer would not know where to start as they simply never check in the first place.

[Scooby P1]

Mine has a log book of service intervals and mileage which i'd say is pretty representative of how old the car is and the number of miles done each year looks realistic.

Surely that can't be faked?

[MDL111]

Scooby P1 said:

Mine has a log book of service intervals and mileage which i'd say is pretty representative of how old the car is and the number of miles done each year looks realistic.

Surely that can't be faked?

I guess if it is possible to adjust mileage on these newer cars (I don't know), then it would just be a matter of doing it prior to the next service back to a mileage that looks reasonable since the last one. So basically you just wipe off your recent 5k mile euro trip and voila it looks like you did a bi-weekly cars and coffee run but nothing else.

[355fiorano]

So does mine. In fact, it also came with all the original receipts, relating to the service book stamps, all from main dealers with all the work done each year, going back to 2004.

I have no reason to believe that my mileage is not genuine and it may be nice to have it checked and verified for the history file. When it comes time to sell, having such a history would set a car apart form others, although I plan to keep it for a long time and put lots of miles on it ... its just too addictive!

I do find it strange though how many cars seem to be coming on the market with super low mileages.

[AdvocatusD]

All of this only goes to plainly demonstrate how ridiculous the emphasis on mileage is. The old adage "buy on condition" is surely the only sensible way to proceed. Unfortunately, certain forces have turned Ferrari (values) into mileage sensitive monsters and this sort of sharp and dishonest practice is bound to be a side effect.

A very sad state of affairs. I've been using my CS regularly, but usage has dropped off as worries about mileage vs value has slowly but surely made their way into my subconscious. Must make an effort as soon as the sun comes out!

[Scooby P1]

Totally agree with you both, but particularly with 355Fiorano on two subjects

I also agree it is very strange all this RHD low mileage cars are coming onto the market. Seem to be so many under 10k miles.

Mine has every chance it will live in a carcoon over the winter, but needs to be drive in /out so the car can be kept working on crisp sunny days. However, i am finding it near impossible not to drive at the moment when it is sunny as it is simply the most addictive car I have ever laid eyes and ears on and certainly sat in and driven.

One thing it does highlight for me is how pointlessly fast modern cars must be. The CS is plenty quick enough on country roads and if you wind it up to super noisy levels you're already going too fast.

So how does one ever use a Speciale or TDF? Surely they are just far too fast to enjoy in this country. Another reason the CS is the sweet spot.

[355fiorano]

I also completely agree with the view that new cars are too fast, not really exploitable and rely on electronics to keep the drivers from killing themselves.
Even the CS is possibly too fast but the feel is what makes the car. In race mode, which is where I always have it, it is still super twitchy. The variable valve timing has so much more torque from low revs (compared to my 355) wheel spin is instantaneous and it takes some getting use to. First time I tried to do a "quick" 3 point it turned out to be a 1 point! Haven't tried ASR off yet ...

[MDL111]

355fiorano said:

I also completely agree with the view that new cars are too fast, not really exploitable and rely on electronics to keep the drivers from killing themselves.
Even the CS is possibly too fast but the feel is what makes the car. In race mode, which is where I always have it, it is still super twitchy. The variable valve timing has so much more torque from low revs (compared to my 355) wheel spin is instantaneous and it takes some getting use to. First time I tried to do a "quick" 3 point it turned out to be a 1 point! Haven't tried ASR off yet ...

I keep coming back to the idea of trying to take as much weight out of a 355 as possible and putting a proper suspension on it. I think that might just be my perfect - keep forever - weekend car.
Love the Challenge Stradale, but would have to do a manual conversion, which at current values is not a prudent thing to do ....

[GarethRR]

Anyone else off to Le Mans Classic?

[nigelonich]

I am very suspicious of so many low milers coming up in UK RHD for sale too. My car has done 16k and never been tracked or out of Scotland. The car is still on its original pads and discs and I would advise anyone that is considering a low mile CS to firstly look at pad wear as at 16k miles mine are all still original and relatively unworn all round.

[acr_nick]

Well even a low mile car can have high brake wear depending on how aggressive the driver is, or a high mile car can have low brake wear if they drive very smoothly and do long motor way drives without having to brake hard and often. The pads can be swapped and then the brake wear is back to new, so really only way to tell if a car is clocked is to take the car apart and check wear and tear of everything and conclude if it's been clocked. There are obvious signs of use on the cars paint and underside, even interior marks and traits of usage but this is what a ppi is for to give you a idea of the overall condition of the car.

But then again I assume that if someone was to clock a car they would probably take the effort to mask any signs of this so surely it will be incredibly hard to know for sure...

Anyone with experience able to shed some light? Or anyone got any interesting stories?

[AmoCS]

Rare CS.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

[355fiorano]

However much I have tried to like this, I really think that there is not much more Cornes could have done to make a good looking car any uglier!

[monkeyears]

Personally I think it looks fantastic, love the SCHMACHER signature!

[Scooby P1]

355fiorano said:

However much I have tried to like this, I really think that there is not much more Cornes could have done to make a good looking car any uglier!

I'm with you.
Who is this guy cornes and why has he spilt Tip-ex all over the rear grille, graffiti on the lovely carbon doors and swapped the cool, yellow Rev counter for some tacky white one?!

Glad it's limited!

[acr_nick]

I think the fact that these exist makes a standard one without the tat more valuable surely?

[AmoCS]

Rare interior colour.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...