Drove my first Ferrari yesterday
Drove my first Ferrari yesterday
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Discussion

Live It

Original Poster:

6,548 posts

246 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
Hi, drove my first Ferrari yesterday so thought I'd share my experience. So yesterday was my 18th birthday and my mum arranged for me to be picked up and taken for a ride in her friend's husband's Ferrari. I thought he had a 355 (for some reason), so imagine my surprise when he turned up in an F430 Spider! Absolutely stunning! He got out and told me all about the car and he actually knew what he was talking about which was awesome because having never met him before I thought he may just be a poser or something but he was telling me all about the aerodynamics etc.

He said we'd go out for a little drive, then told my parents he'd let me drive. To which they said no. So anyway after chatting for ten minutes we got in and it felt so right. He took me out on a few twisties and up and down some A roads. The seat felt a little uncomfortable after a while but that all evaporated when we were "making progress". At the quieter times we chatted about the options, the Scuderia, the 599 and other V12 Ferraris. At about the half hour point he asked me if I wanted to drive. "YES!"

So he took us off the road and we switched places and got comfortable. He talked me through how the F1 gearbox worked and how the Manetto (?) dial worked etc. Then I pulled away and I immediately knew I was experiencing something like never before. A slight prod of the pedal gave a surge of power unknown to an owner of a lowly FIAT Panda. As we pulled onto the sliproad I started to try to find a gap... There was a space in front of a four by four, and then a queue of traffic - I had to get in front of the Land Rover so I pushed a bit harder on the throttle and it catapulted us to the space in front of it. I was so nervous but we got near to a tunnel and he told me to drop a gear - I did and then he told me to "push it". The sound through that tiny archway sent a shiver up my spine - as the butterfly valves opened up and the full fury of the engine escaped. After about ten minutes we switched again and he took me home.

When I got out, I was physically shaking. It was sensory overload, and I HAVE to have one. One day.

I think it has butterfly valves because it's quiet then really loud, but correct me if I'm wrong

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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Nice!

Reading that makes me think that I might have to splash out on an experience day or similar soon!

jazzybee

3,056 posts

279 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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What a wonderful story. Considering you've never met the guy before, you are extremely lucky, and I think you owe him a nice thoughtful 'thank you'. What a very very nice man!

Live It

Original Poster:

6,548 posts

246 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
jazzybee said:
What a wonderful story. Considering you've never met the guy before, you are extremely lucky, and I think you owe him a nice thoughtful 'thank you'. What a very very nice man!
Ye I know! I thanked him about a million times haha, it was absolutely awesome.

Volante

19,609 posts

223 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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Haha you only drove it for 10 minutes



















frown

ichbintk

63 posts

228 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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I know the feeling mate. Had a track day about a month ago for my 19th where I drove a Gallardo, 360, 911 and V8 Vantage. Absolutely amazing day. If there's any reason to work hard and earn enough to afford a supercar then an experience like yours or mine is.

Made my car feel extremely slow though frown

shirazjiwa

274 posts

218 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
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Live It - You were showing signs of a future auto/motor journalist in that little write-up there. You ever considered a career in it?! Seriously. The next Richard Hammond maybe...

And no I'm not offering a job, used to do a bit of journo work that's all.

Edited by shirazjiwa on Wednesday 17th September 02:15

burriana

16,556 posts

284 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
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Very very lucky and either a well insured or a very understanding friend's husband yes

MazdaFast

107 posts

217 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
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You are so lucky! My dads got an F430 and he says theres no way am ever going to drive it!!

anonymous-user

84 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
quotequote all
ichbintk said:
I know the feeling mate. Had a track day about a month ago for my 19th where I drove a Gallardo, 360, 911 and V8 Vantage. Absolutely amazing day. If there's any reason to work hard and earn enough to afford a supercar then an experience like yours or mine is.

Made my car feel extremely slow though frown
Mind letting me know which package that was?? Thanks!

LittleBro

9,455 posts

264 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
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Live It said:
The sound through that tiny archway sent a shiver up my spine - as the butterfly valves opened up and the full fury of the engine escaped. After about ten minutes we switched again and he took me home.

When I got out, I was physically shaking. It was sensory overload, and I HAVE to have one. One day.
Quality. Sounds exactly like my first time too. Pleased to say, it happens the second time. And the third, and the fifth, and on....

The chap who let you drive is a top man. I think its admirable that somoene takes the opportunity to share his passion with someon with an equal passion, overlooking the downsides. I doubt you'll ever forget your 18th birthay! smile

Vesuvius 996

35,829 posts

301 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
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Your Dad's mate is quie a guy.

Buy him a bottle of malt, and think yourself to be a very lcuky fellow!!



Happy Birthday thumbup

jleroux

1,511 posts

290 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
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no offence or anything, but am I the only the person here who thinks this guy is probably sh4gging your mum? do you have to call him "uncle"?

Vesuvius 996

35,829 posts

301 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
quotequote all
jleroux said:
no offence or anything, but am I the only the person here who thinks this guy is probably sh4gging your mum? do you have to call him "uncle"?
rofl

I had him down as a chutney ferret. I once let a trainee here drive the Porsche because she's 18 and got great tits and a bum like an apricot.



Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Wednesday 17th September 13:17

Not Ideal

3,057 posts

218 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
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congratulations dude - never ever forget the first time i drove a ferrari. sensory overload!

I would have had trip you enjoyed over ANY other 18th birthday present

JKay

573 posts

231 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
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Awesome!! Sounds like you definately had fun.

Back in 2001 my dad had an equally kind friend, who let me drive his 328 (not quite an F430 tho I know) and that experience will stay with me forever, as I expect yours will.

HeavySoul

10,580 posts

249 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
quotequote all
Vesuvius 996 said:
jleroux said:
no offence or anything, but am I the only the person here who thinks this guy is probably sh4gging your mum? do you have to call him "uncle"?
rofl

I had him down as a chutney ferret. I once let a trainee here drive the Porsche because she's 18 and got great tits and a bum like an apricot.
roflrofl

Sounds like a top notch guy to me, I would of loved to drive something like that when I was 18. Indeed I would love to drive one now wink

pits

6,704 posts

220 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
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Is there nothin better than a caged engine being let loose in a tunnel with the roof down or thewindows down

g@ry

323 posts

249 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
quotequote all
Vesuvius 996 said:
Your Dad's mate is quie a guy.

Buy him a bottle of malt, and think yourself to be a very lcuky fellow!!



Happy Birthday thumbup
+1

and happy 18th,wish i was 18 again..........

360mrk

170 posts

220 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
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A good read, now work hard & buy your own thats what i did. If you want it enough its there to be had.

All the best.