F40...a pig to drive?
Discussion
The closest I will ever come to owning an F40 is on Gran Turismo. However I saved my pennies and duly purchased one today. 450000cr!
Gran Turismo prides itself on being realistic, and I jumped into my F40 for a lap of Monza, and the thing was an utter pig to drive! Are they notoriously difficult to drive in real life?
Gran Turismo prides itself on being realistic, and I jumped into my F40 for a lap of Monza, and the thing was an utter pig to drive! Are they notoriously difficult to drive in real life?
Conian said:
I have no input but am waiting for the replies!
Why, because I will get flamed for comparing a game to real life? So be it. It's a genuine question. It's a car that I, and many others love, and will never sit in, let alone drive, and I wondered what they are like to drive.Edited by S10 GTA on Monday 29th November 17:57
No, pretty easy to drive, as long as you understand that you’re not behind the wheel of a Nissan Micra / Range Rover and it doesn’t have all the driver get out of jail free gadgets that make people in modern ones think they're the next coming of Gilles or Juan Manuel 
Pootle around on part throttle and it's just like driving a hard-core 308! . . . . .open the throttle all the way and you better be awake, go into a damp roundabout and it will under steer, you will lose your hearing for some time after a long journey etc etc etc
They are exactly what they are . . . . . . . . . a 25 year old car, without power steering, creature comforts or any electronics between you, the throttle and the rear wheels
Pootle around on part throttle and it's just like driving a hard-core 308! . . . . .open the throttle all the way and you better be awake, go into a damp roundabout and it will under steer, you will lose your hearing for some time after a long journey etc etc etc
They are exactly what they are . . . . . . . . . a 25 year old car, without power steering, creature comforts or any electronics between you, the throttle and the rear wheels
S10 GTA said:
Conian said:
I have no input but am waiting for the replies!
Why, because I will get flamed for comparing a game to real life? So be it. It's a genuine question. It's a car that I, and many others love, and will never sit in, let alone drive, and I wondered what they are like to drive.A friend of mine lists it as his favourite car yet didnt know that it was very stripped out and doesnt have the neatest of finishes in every conceivable area.
So I'm genuinely interested in what people will say.
But if you did get flamed I cant promise not to laugh
Conian said:
S10 GTA said:
Conian said:
I have no input but am waiting for the replies!
Why, because I will get flamed for comparing a game to real life? So be it. It's a genuine question. It's a car that I, and many others love, and will never sit in, let alone drive, and I wondered what they are like to drive.A friend of mine lists it as his favourite car yet didnt know that it was very stripped out and doesnt have the neatest of finishes in every conceivable area.
So I'm genuinely interested in what people will say.
But if you did get flamed I cant promise not to laugh
AndrewW-G said:
Pootle around on part throttle and it's just like driving a hard-core 308! . . . . .open the throttle all the way and you better be awake, go into a damp roundabout and it will under steer, you will lose your hearing for some time after a long journey etc etc etc
They are exactly what they are . . . . . . . . . a 25 year old car, without power steering, creature comforts or any electronics between you, the throttle and the rear wheels
I want one now!!They are exactly what they are . . . . . . . . . a 25 year old car, without power steering, creature comforts or any electronics between you, the throttle and the rear wheels
My friend has one and, from what I gather, it is a great driving experience but more a track car than a road car, especially compared to modern cars. I loved how stripped out it is but wasn't in it long enough to form an opinion on how it felt - tbh I was too excited about being in it!
The F40 isn't an easy car to drive quickly. The car is obviously quick anyway but to get the most out of it you need to be aware of it's character. It will bite hard if not handled with care.
I almost had a moment the other day under braking, oversteer into the corner wasn't what I was expecting.
I almost had a moment the other day under braking, oversteer into the corner wasn't what I was expecting.
They are absolutely fabulous to drive. The most exciting and exhilerating driving machine available bar none IMHO. However they do have to be respected, as mentioned before - up to about 3k rpm they're very sedate but open up the throttle and you better hope you have it straight.
So much fun for a 30min blast I liken it to riding a motorbike. Those seats and the bruttally rock hard suspension is less than fun on a long trip, and the brakes are not up to the job of stopping such a motor. But oh my god.... such fun...
So much fun for a 30min blast I liken it to riding a motorbike. Those seats and the bruttally rock hard suspension is less than fun on a long trip, and the brakes are not up to the job of stopping such a motor. But oh my god.... such fun...
A 20 year old example will be a little less direct than they did when they were built.
I think there are 2 issues.
When I had mine it was a simple case of replacing all of the rubber bushes with nylon ones. This tightened the whole car up beautifully.
The second was the rubber. A new set of Enkei alloys with 18" P Zeros helped dial out some of the understeer. The shock absorbers were also swapped for uprated items.
Overall it made a huge improvement.
That said, I took my F40 around Brands Hatch before all the upgrades and it was immense fun, good few years ago now! Trail braking into corners worked well to remove understeer and settle the front end.
Never played GT so I have no idea what its like, would be interesting to see if GT would respond to trail braking!
I think there are 2 issues.
When I had mine it was a simple case of replacing all of the rubber bushes with nylon ones. This tightened the whole car up beautifully.
The second was the rubber. A new set of Enkei alloys with 18" P Zeros helped dial out some of the understeer. The shock absorbers were also swapped for uprated items.
Overall it made a huge improvement.
That said, I took my F40 around Brands Hatch before all the upgrades and it was immense fun, good few years ago now! Trail braking into corners worked well to remove understeer and settle the front end.
Never played GT so I have no idea what its like, would be interesting to see if GT would respond to trail braking!
I think the F40 is one of the most stunning cars i have had the opportunity to drive, the only way to describe it is LEGEND. i honestly believe the newer generation Ferrari's have something missing that the F40 has, I think its part to do with the absolute rawness of the car that makes it feel like a formula 3 car in some respects. the power delivery is something not to reckon with, as if you are not awake or a capable driver it will bite you where it hurts!
Edited by ThatPhilBrettGuy on Tuesday 30th November 20:10
[quote=TopazDetailing]I think the F40 is one of the most stunning cars i have had the opportunity to drive, the only way to describe it is LEGEND. i honestly believe the newer generation Ferrari's have something missing that the F40 has, I think its part to do with the absolute rawness of the car that makes
it feel like a formula 3 car in some respects. the power delivery is something not to reckon with, as if you are not awake or a capable driver it will bite you where it hurts!
It's a bit worrying when a car valeter has admitted to opening up a customers car
it feel like a formula 3 car in some respects. the power delivery is something not to reckon with, as if you are not awake or a capable driver it will bite you where it hurts!
It's a bit worrying when a car valeter has admitted to opening up a customers car
Edited by ThatPhilBrettGuy on Tuesday 30th November 20:11
Drclarke said:
TopazDetailing said:
I think the F40 is one of the most stunning cars i have had the opportunity to drive, the only way to describe it is LEGEND. i honestly believe the newer generation Ferrari's have something missing that the F40 has, I think its part to do with the absolute rawness of the car that makes
it feel like a formula 3 car in some respects. the power delivery is something not to reckon with, as if you are not awake or a capable driver it will bite you where it hurts!
It's a bit worrying when a car valeter has admitted to opening up a customers carit feel like a formula 3 car in some respects. the power delivery is something not to reckon with, as if you are not awake or a capable driver it will bite you where it hurts!
Edited by ThatPhilBrettGuy on Tuesday 30th November 20:12
Drclarke said:
TopazDetailing said:
I think the F40 is one of the most stunning cars i have had the opportunity to drive, the only way to describe it is LEGEND. i honestly believe the newer generation Ferrari's have something missing that the F40 has, I think its part to do with the absolute rawness of the car that makes
it feel like a formula 3 car in some respects. the power delivery is something not to reckon with, as if you are not awake or a capable driver it will bite you where it hurts!
It's a bit worrying when a car valeter has admitted to opening up a customers carit feel like a formula 3 car in some respects. the power delivery is something not to reckon with, as if you are not awake or a capable driver it will bite you where it hurts!
Secondly, before coming to the conclusion that I am a car valeter I suggest having a read through our 'what is detailing' section on our website.
Edited by ThatPhilBrettGuy on Tuesday 30th November 20:11
AndrewW-G said:
TopazDetailing said:
Secondly, before coming to the conclusion that I am a car valeter I suggest having a read through our 'what is detailing' section on our website.
A car valeter cleans and polishes cars
A detailer polishes and cleans cars
HTH
AndrewW-G said:
TopazDetailing said:
Secondly, before coming to the conclusion that I am a car valeter I suggest having a read through our 'what is detailing' section on our website.
A car valeter cleans and polishes cars
A detailer polishes and cleans cars really, really well.
HTH
Front end bobs around like a 911 and feels very light. Steering is super feelsome. Poor traction, and compared to todays cars not especially grippy, unless you do what JPF40 did and the rest.... Brakes are shocking. Gearbox OLD school but kind of satisfying. No real handling finesse per se. Fun in a straight line - turbo boost etc etc. BUT IMO overrated and nothing like as nice as the F50 which is more visceral, more exciting and great to drive in everyway. Flame suit on.
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