One of the last 458 Spiders
Discussion
jhowlett said:
looks fantastic, may i ask where you got the ferrari decal on the wall from? i think it would look well on my garage wall
Ebay is your friend 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FERRARI-Wall-sticker-lar...
F355GTS said:
In February 2015 I took the plunge and ordered one of the last 458 Spider's to be built, after much thought I settled on a spec of Triple strato yellow with racing seats and lot's of carbon. I'd been fortunate to secure a factory collection, definitely a rare thing given only around 100 are arranged per Year. My brother is accompanying me on the trip
Fast forward to July 2015, collection is confirmed for the 14th which the factory worked particularly hard to fit in with our travel plans so huge thanks to Chiara at the factory and also Alan Little at Ferrari Northern Europe. Everybody at Maranello Sales, Ferrari Northern Europe and the at the factory were utterly brilliant and we could not have hoped for more.
Monday
We take the flight from Heathrow to Bologna, it’s delayed a little because some ***** decided to chain themselves to something in protest at Heathrow getting an additional runway, which hasn’t been confirmed anyway!. Marcus Uzzel from Maranello Sales is on the same flight and on arrival drives us to the Maranello Palace hotel, interesting fitting 3 large-ish guys and luggage in a VW Up and apparently this was an upgrade! Marcus kindly took us to dinner at the Montana, clearly he's well know and we’re taken through to the ‘drivers room’, no special visitors today though.
Tuesday
The big day, a relaxed start at 10.30 with a factory and museum tour, the productions lines were off limits to visitors as they’re gearing up for 488 production and I think also the F12 ‘speciale’ but we did get to see all the other bits including engine construction and the new F1 facility with both Vettel and Raikonnen’s cars being worked on ready for Hungary. Lunch at the Cavillino was fantastic and then back through the hallowed gates and into one of the Atellier suites for the handover.
We were introduced to Chiara and her colleague plus a professional photographer who was there to record the event and will, in due course, send on a book of photographs of the occasion., a nice touch
The car sat covered in a Ferrari red silk sheet, it’s a magical moment to roll it back and reveal something I’ve been waiting for and dreaming of for a good few months!
Lot’s and lot’s of pics later, some instruction in the controls, number plate fitted and some paperwork then we’re invited to look around the Classique department, lot’s of lovely early Ferraris receiving some impressive care and an area at the back we’re not allowed to photograph as some customer specials are in progress including a beautiful lacquered carbon LaFerrari.
Back to the Atelier suite and it’s time to celebrate, we joke about swinging the bottle of champagne against he car ‘ship style’ but decide on a more cautious approach only to be thwarted by a bottle or more to the point, cork, ready to go, I got the bulk of it but the car inside and out received a fair shower, a bit of tidying and it’s declared a good omen and a lucky car.
Time to drive out into the inner roads of the Ferrari factory then out through the hallowed gates onto the roads for the first time and on to the shores of Lake Garda for our 1st nights stop. Overall the whole collection was a fantastic experience and one not to be missed if you ever get the chance!
Wednesday
We plan a route through the hills to the West, some great roads and the car is simply awesome, we stopped briefly at the top only to be mobbed by an enthusiastic group of teenagers.
Some more spirited driving and then it was time to drop my Brother off at Bergamo for a flight to Dublin for a business commitment and I travel onto friends near Varese.
Thursday
We venture into Switzerland to drive some passes, I follow Eugenio in his 348 Spider knowing despite my horsepower advantage I’ll be pushed to keep up! we cross back into Italy then back to Switzerland and then finally back again to Italy, unfortunately the Italian customs started asking lots of questions and seemed to think I had bought the car directly from the factory, they wanted to see an invoice showing I’d paid Italian VAT, with no V5, the temporary document I had seemed worthless and there was talk of impounding the car, fortunately DVLA had been super efficient and the V5 had arrived at home the day before, my Wife was able to scan and email a copy which together with Eugenio's negotiation and reasoning fortunately saw us and the car released!.
Friday
After yesterday we decided to stay in Italy and drive the St Marco pass, highly recommended!
Saturday
I head for Tuscany for a week, my Wife has flown out to Pisa and we join friends at our favourite Fattoria, stunning scenery, roads and weather and Sarah and the whole team treat us like royalty as usual!
A week later we start our leisurely return to the UK over 5 days including stops in Varese, lunch at Lake Orta, Chamonix and two nights in northern France
Safely home after 2,200 miles
Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:15
Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:18
Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:23
Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:25
Lovely 599 also, does she get out much?
Do you have a daily driver also? Lovely garage you have there and a nice mix of cars!
mattf93 said:
F355GTS said:
In February 2015 I took the plunge and ordered one of the last 458 Spider's to be built, after much thought I settled on a spec of Triple strato yellow with racing seats and lot's of carbon. I'd been fortunate to secure a factory collection, definitely a rare thing given only around 100 are arranged per Year. My brother is accompanying me on the trip
Fast forward to July 2015, collection is confirmed for the 14th which the factory worked particularly hard to fit in with our travel plans so huge thanks to Chiara at the factory and also Alan Little at Ferrari Northern Europe. Everybody at Maranello Sales, Ferrari Northern Europe and the at the factory were utterly brilliant and we could not have hoped for more.
Monday
We take the flight from Heathrow to Bologna, it’s delayed a little because some ***** decided to chain themselves to something in protest at Heathrow getting an additional runway, which hasn’t been confirmed anyway!. Marcus Uzzel from Maranello Sales is on the same flight and on arrival drives us to the Maranello Palace hotel, interesting fitting 3 large-ish guys and luggage in a VW Up and apparently this was an upgrade! Marcus kindly took us to dinner at the Montana, clearly he's well know and we’re taken through to the ‘drivers room’, no special visitors today though.
Tuesday
The big day, a relaxed start at 10.30 with a factory and museum tour, the productions lines were off limits to visitors as they’re gearing up for 488 production and I think also the F12 ‘speciale’ but we did get to see all the other bits including engine construction and the new F1 facility with both Vettel and Raikonnen’s cars being worked on ready for Hungary. Lunch at the Cavillino was fantastic and then back through the hallowed gates and into one of the Atellier suites for the handover.
We were introduced to Chiara and her colleague plus a professional photographer who was there to record the event and will, in due course, send on a book of photographs of the occasion., a nice touch
The car sat covered in a Ferrari red silk sheet, it’s a magical moment to roll it back and reveal something I’ve been waiting for and dreaming of for a good few months!
Lot’s and lot’s of pics later, some instruction in the controls, number plate fitted and some paperwork then we’re invited to look around the Classique department, lot’s of lovely early Ferraris receiving some impressive care and an area at the back we’re not allowed to photograph as some customer specials are in progress including a beautiful lacquered carbon LaFerrari.
Back to the Atelier suite and it’s time to celebrate, we joke about swinging the bottle of champagne against he car ‘ship style’ but decide on a more cautious approach only to be thwarted by a bottle or more to the point, cork, ready to go, I got the bulk of it but the car inside and out received a fair shower, a bit of tidying and it’s declared a good omen and a lucky car.
Time to drive out into the inner roads of the Ferrari factory then out through the hallowed gates onto the roads for the first time and on to the shores of Lake Garda for our 1st nights stop. Overall the whole collection was a fantastic experience and one not to be missed if you ever get the chance!
Wednesday
We plan a route through the hills to the West, some great roads and the car is simply awesome, we stopped briefly at the top only to be mobbed by an enthusiastic group of teenagers.
Some more spirited driving and then it was time to drop my Brother off at Bergamo for a flight to Dublin for a business commitment and I travel onto friends near Varese.
Thursday
We venture into Switzerland to drive some passes, I follow Eugenio in his 348 Spider knowing despite my horsepower advantage I’ll be pushed to keep up! we cross back into Italy then back to Switzerland and then finally back again to Italy, unfortunately the Italian customs started asking lots of questions and seemed to think I had bought the car directly from the factory, they wanted to see an invoice showing I’d paid Italian VAT, with no V5, the temporary document I had seemed worthless and there was talk of impounding the car, fortunately DVLA had been super efficient and the V5 had arrived at home the day before, my Wife was able to scan and email a copy which together with Eugenio's negotiation and reasoning fortunately saw us and the car released!.
Friday
After yesterday we decided to stay in Italy and drive the St Marco pass, highly recommended!
Saturday
I head for Tuscany for a week, my Wife has flown out to Pisa and we join friends at our favourite Fattoria, stunning scenery, roads and weather and Sarah and the whole team treat us like royalty as usual!
A week later we start our leisurely return to the UK over 5 days including stops in Varese, lunch at Lake Orta, Chamonix and two nights in northern France
Safely home after 2,200 miles
Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:15
Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:18
Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:23
Edited by F355GTS on Monday 3rd August 15:25
Lovely 599 also, does she get out much?
Do you have a daily driver also? Lovely garage you have there and a nice mix of cars!
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