First day with a Stradale
Discussion
Well, I picked it up today, and a couple of hundred miles later I can say it was well worth the wait. What an amazing car. While it's still fresh, I wanted to put down my impressions, as much for myself as for others.
I love the way it looks. The bodywork tweaks may be subtle but they're on parts that catch your eye. Those wheels are just lovely, and the brakes & calipers are massive; apparently the biggest on any road car (same as Enzo). I can believe this.
The intention was to spec. the interior like an F40, and this was pretty successful. Even the floor flexes when you press on it! The sports seats adjust forward & back, and the backrest tilts; in conjunction with a steering wheel that adjusts both ways, you can soon make yourself at home. Those seats are really comfortable, and a LOT easier to live with than the standard seats.
You've got to love the start routine: turn the key, disable the immobiliser, press the brake and hit the starter button. Someone after my own heart has programmed in a nice fat rev spike on startup, and the idle is more gravelly than a 360 Modena. It's not as pleasant, but quite distinctive.
On the move, your first impressions are that this F1 box is good. Really, very good. Nice creamy upshifts and the downshifts are just marvellous with that little throttle blip that pops and bangs if you're pressing on. I'd been driving for 10 mins. before I remembered the ride was supposed to be hard. Well it's firm but not harsh by any means. You can do long distances no problem. If you want some fun though, hit 'race' for fast, banging shifts. This is my favourite setting already.
This engine just loves to rev- it seems a lot freer revving than the Modena unit; I'm supposed to keep it to <5000rpm for the first 600 miles, but honestly, blink at the wrong moment and you've got another 2000rpm. Officer. Press on a bit and those exhaust valves do their thang and HELLO! Christ does the volume go up. Driving along roads with high buildings was just epic, and a HUGE amount of fun. It really is quite loud; louder than my Tubi'd 360 for sure. I might have scared a few people because it comes out of nowhere.
Cornering is just perfectly flat, and you really get to appreciate this as you flick between the gears with the F1 box. It without doubt corners better than a 360 Modena. I know people often say certain cars handle like go-karts, but this one really does. It really inspires confidence too, and somehow you just know that a particular cornering speed is within the cars' capabilities. Even when you're not familiar with it, you get so much feedback from the car you can predict what it's going to do. The ASR is also much more forgiving, and you really have to take the piss before it cuts in.
One place where Ferrari have scored big time is the handling in extremis. It's FAR, FAR better than a standard 360. That twitchy character has gone. While I was out this evening the temperatures dropped and on the way back I caught a couple of patches of ice. This would have had a 360 fishtailing, but was quickly and easily collected up in the Stradale. My pulse rate didn't change. This is amazing. It just inspires confidence.
Second major score is the brakes. They're just incredible. Stand on these anchors and you're going to be peeling your face off the windscreen. The hard thing is to modulate them, especially as the best way of driving this car is to left foot brake. It's harder than usual because the brakes are so sensitive.
So after the first day with it, I think it's just amazing and a huge amount of fun. I'll now go and take some pictures of my dusty car, and edit in the link later.
Kevin
http://community.webshots.com/album/122328675RWQVYp
>>> Edited by 456mgt on Monday 1st March 21:22
I love the way it looks. The bodywork tweaks may be subtle but they're on parts that catch your eye. Those wheels are just lovely, and the brakes & calipers are massive; apparently the biggest on any road car (same as Enzo). I can believe this.
The intention was to spec. the interior like an F40, and this was pretty successful. Even the floor flexes when you press on it! The sports seats adjust forward & back, and the backrest tilts; in conjunction with a steering wheel that adjusts both ways, you can soon make yourself at home. Those seats are really comfortable, and a LOT easier to live with than the standard seats.
You've got to love the start routine: turn the key, disable the immobiliser, press the brake and hit the starter button. Someone after my own heart has programmed in a nice fat rev spike on startup, and the idle is more gravelly than a 360 Modena. It's not as pleasant, but quite distinctive.
On the move, your first impressions are that this F1 box is good. Really, very good. Nice creamy upshifts and the downshifts are just marvellous with that little throttle blip that pops and bangs if you're pressing on. I'd been driving for 10 mins. before I remembered the ride was supposed to be hard. Well it's firm but not harsh by any means. You can do long distances no problem. If you want some fun though, hit 'race' for fast, banging shifts. This is my favourite setting already.
This engine just loves to rev- it seems a lot freer revving than the Modena unit; I'm supposed to keep it to <5000rpm for the first 600 miles, but honestly, blink at the wrong moment and you've got another 2000rpm. Officer. Press on a bit and those exhaust valves do their thang and HELLO! Christ does the volume go up. Driving along roads with high buildings was just epic, and a HUGE amount of fun. It really is quite loud; louder than my Tubi'd 360 for sure. I might have scared a few people because it comes out of nowhere.
Cornering is just perfectly flat, and you really get to appreciate this as you flick between the gears with the F1 box. It without doubt corners better than a 360 Modena. I know people often say certain cars handle like go-karts, but this one really does. It really inspires confidence too, and somehow you just know that a particular cornering speed is within the cars' capabilities. Even when you're not familiar with it, you get so much feedback from the car you can predict what it's going to do. The ASR is also much more forgiving, and you really have to take the piss before it cuts in.
One place where Ferrari have scored big time is the handling in extremis. It's FAR, FAR better than a standard 360. That twitchy character has gone. While I was out this evening the temperatures dropped and on the way back I caught a couple of patches of ice. This would have had a 360 fishtailing, but was quickly and easily collected up in the Stradale. My pulse rate didn't change. This is amazing. It just inspires confidence.
Second major score is the brakes. They're just incredible. Stand on these anchors and you're going to be peeling your face off the windscreen. The hard thing is to modulate them, especially as the best way of driving this car is to left foot brake. It's harder than usual because the brakes are so sensitive.
So after the first day with it, I think it's just amazing and a huge amount of fun. I'll now go and take some pictures of my dusty car, and edit in the link later.
Kevin
http://community.webshots.com/album/122328675RWQVYp
>>> Edited by 456mgt on Monday 1st March 21:22
Very Very nice, well what our you doing on here, go drive the thing.
Excellent write up Kev and thanks for sharing with us on the first day of ownership. Your comments were pretty much what I would have expected. I know the F1 box on the CS is quicker but I have always thought that a lot of the negative comments from journo's are purely down to poor driving rather than the systems themselves.
Car looks simply awesome ( Ali's photos ). Sitting next to his spider makes the stripe look a must have and I'm sure once a few more are on UK roads there will be an aftermarket stripe which will be put on a lot of Modena's !
Roll on the 21st !!!!!
Frostie
Car looks simply awesome ( Ali's photos ). Sitting next to his spider makes the stripe look a must have and I'm sure once a few more are on UK roads there will be an aftermarket stripe which will be put on a lot of Modena's !
Roll on the 21st !!!!!
Frostie
Kev,
Some mates of mine work for a well known dealer and they reckon that upon start up in the workshop, it's almost a dead heat between the CS and the Enzo as to which car has the nicer exhaust note on tick-over.
They both reckon that the CS is 2 times the car for 15% more money. A good deal in anyone's eyes.
Go enjoy.
I look forward to the day when I can afford something as tasty! In the meantime, any chance of a lift??
Some mates of mine work for a well known dealer and they reckon that upon start up in the workshop, it's almost a dead heat between the CS and the Enzo as to which car has the nicer exhaust note on tick-over.
They both reckon that the CS is 2 times the car for 15% more money. A good deal in anyone's eyes.
Go enjoy.
I look forward to the day when I can afford something as tasty! In the meantime, any chance of a lift??
YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS 
. I'd have to change my username if I got rid of that.. These two come pretty close to my ideal combo. Kevin
The car looks and im sure sounds like automotive perfection. I've lusted after the Stradales since their release.
To have a CS and a 456 really is the ultimate pairing.
Only met you once (so far
) but you thoroughly deserve to have such icons of the Ferrari world. Enjoy in good health.
Rico
The car looks and im sure sounds like automotive perfection. I've lusted after the Stradales since their release.
To have a CS and a 456 really is the ultimate pairing.
Only met you once (so far
) but you thoroughly deserve to have such icons of the Ferrari world. Enjoy in good health. Rico
Brilliant write up and a truly wonderful car.
Without trying to turn this into a '456MGT fan club' thread, I would like to echo the sentiments above, add myself to the marriage/adoption queue (I can cook well and know how to handle a dyson!) and congratulate you on a thoroughly deserved plaything.
I really need to go to Brunters on the 21st!
Without trying to turn this into a '456MGT fan club' thread, I would like to echo the sentiments above, add myself to the marriage/adoption queue (I can cook well and know how to handle a dyson!) and congratulate you on a thoroughly deserved plaything.
I really need to go to Brunters on the 21st!
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