My First Ferrari...and its a Scud!
Discussion
Apologies up front for sounding smug but I have had this ridiculous smile on my face this evening... A little background on me, I have been a Porsche nut forever and have been fortunate to have had many in my time (haven't yet updated my profile with them all but I will). I have flirted with Ferraris in the past but have not taken the plunge for some reason or another. This summer I started to look for a GT3 or GT3 RS but there have not been that many available here in Dubai where I live. Thoughts turned to a Gallardo, then an R8 briefly before turning my attention to an F430 or F599. Didn't quite float my boat as I am looking for a keeper and something which would be a good foil for the C63 which I am really fortunate to run as my daily driver. Then I saw a Scud for sale, went to look at it and was disappointed as it had been *very* well used. Gutted, went back to the drawing board. Thought I had found a GT3RS but turned out that had been living most of its life in Kuwait and had been in a prang. Then there it was last Thursday on the local website where anything of note is sold - a low mileage Scud in red with grey stripes and wheels.
I got in there quick and tied up the deal before the owner could entertain anyone else. Fast forward a few days where I verified the history, had the car inspected, almost pulled out of the deal and then decided the car was in essence a good'un and this evening it is in my garage. I am kind of taking it in - I own a Scuderia! It is not a concours candidate and I don't care. I will drive it on road, on the track wherever. Is something breaks I will fix it, if someone dents it I will repair it. I don't intend to sell it so I don't care how much mileage I put on it. i look forward to learning more about this special machine from the owners on this site and helping out others in the future. It will have a garage companion one day in the shape of a special 911 but that is for another day...
I got in there quick and tied up the deal before the owner could entertain anyone else. Fast forward a few days where I verified the history, had the car inspected, almost pulled out of the deal and then decided the car was in essence a good'un and this evening it is in my garage. I am kind of taking it in - I own a Scuderia! It is not a concours candidate and I don't care. I will drive it on road, on the track wherever. Is something breaks I will fix it, if someone dents it I will repair it. I don't intend to sell it so I don't care how much mileage I put on it. i look forward to learning more about this special machine from the owners on this site and helping out others in the future. It will have a garage companion one day in the shape of a special 911 but that is for another day...
Congrats, not a bad car to start your Ferrari experiences with.
Like any car they have their fans and critics but I've had mine for three years and I'm still loving it - fantastic car.
I've just finished an 800 mile road trip in mine after not getting the chance to enjoy it properly for a while and it was an absolute hoot, and it never missed a beat.
Get it out of the garage as much as you can!
Like any car they have their fans and critics but I've had mine for three years and I'm still loving it - fantastic car.
I've just finished an 800 mile road trip in mine after not getting the chance to enjoy it properly for a while and it was an absolute hoot, and it never missed a beat.
Get it out of the garage as much as you can!
If you're W's mate and it was the car recently on Dubizzle then I'm so envious my friend. I've recently left Dubai but was told about that car this week and if I'd still been there, would've bought it in a heartbeat (admittedly after a condition report...). If it was that car it was my perfect spec and the best example I've seen on the Dubai market for many a month.
Many congratulations - you've bought an absolute cracker - enjoy!
Many congratulations - you've bought an absolute cracker - enjoy!
Ok, for those interested, I have had the Scud for just over a couple of weeks and it is now in for a service and some other items that were picked up in the Pre-Purchase inspection. To be honest, although I will be without the car until the first week of Nov due to shipment times of certain parts (eg power steering pump) to my part of the world, I will finally be able to drive the car without worry once it is back with me.
My first two weeks' impressions are that this is an incredible car. It is docile and comfortable when I want it to be but the thrill it gives when you give it the beans make me laugh like a little kid. This last effect seems to be infectious judging by my mates who have been in the car. They were queuing up for rides when they came around to my place for dinner the other night. I keep getting dipsticks trying to race me though which is a little annoying. I must admit I have indulged a few of them..
I have read a few criticisms of the gearbox in some posts but for me, it suits the nature of the car perfectly. I have had cars with DSG/PDK and my daily driver C63 has a similar auto box to an SLS and they are undoubtedly smoother but I am not sure I want that. The F1 box to me still requires some mechanical sympathy to get smooth shifts as I have had some donkey kicks to the back of my head when I have been clumsy but I like this.
Cant wait to track the car but that will have to wait until November...it will be a long couple of weeks...
My first two weeks' impressions are that this is an incredible car. It is docile and comfortable when I want it to be but the thrill it gives when you give it the beans make me laugh like a little kid. This last effect seems to be infectious judging by my mates who have been in the car. They were queuing up for rides when they came around to my place for dinner the other night. I keep getting dipsticks trying to race me though which is a little annoying. I must admit I have indulged a few of them..
I have read a few criticisms of the gearbox in some posts but for me, it suits the nature of the car perfectly. I have had cars with DSG/PDK and my daily driver C63 has a similar auto box to an SLS and they are undoubtedly smoother but I am not sure I want that. The F1 box to me still requires some mechanical sympathy to get smooth shifts as I have had some donkey kicks to the back of my head when I have been clumsy but I like this.
Cant wait to track the car but that will have to wait until November...it will be a long couple of weeks...
Hey Hamid - glad to hear you are enjoying the ride. I've had mine 2 weeks now and can’t keep out of the thing! lol...
Little tip - I found the exhaust valves too restrictive on the noise so read up how to unplug them. Now has the Ferrari Scuderia scream right through the rev range and (surprisingly) it's not intrusive in the cabin.
Neighbours might not agree so much but for me it's payback for their noisy dog!
Little tip - I found the exhaust valves too restrictive on the noise so read up how to unplug them. Now has the Ferrari Scuderia scream right through the rev range and (surprisingly) it's not intrusive in the cabin.
Neighbours might not agree so much but for me it's payback for their noisy dog!
Congrats Hamid, I love reading accounts of someone who is gonna use the car for it's intended purpose, it's refreshing to hear.
I've just passed over the chance of a RHD car with 10k miles priced by the dealer at 175k, mainly because I don't want to be thinking about is my car an appreciating classic so better not drive it too much or how much value I may have well wiped off it because I've just put 4k miles on it enjoying myself driving around Europe. I want a car I can drive and enjoy.
I'm seriously looking at what Mark (Slickhillsy) has done and buying a good but not garage queen left hooker, mainly because most of my pleasure driving is done in Europe and I can use it as much as I like without the aforementioned BS that appears to go hand in hand with owning a Scud' at the moment.
Enjoy the car and keep the updates coming
Best
K
I've just passed over the chance of a RHD car with 10k miles priced by the dealer at 175k, mainly because I don't want to be thinking about is my car an appreciating classic so better not drive it too much or how much value I may have well wiped off it because I've just put 4k miles on it enjoying myself driving around Europe. I want a car I can drive and enjoy.
I'm seriously looking at what Mark (Slickhillsy) has done and buying a good but not garage queen left hooker, mainly because most of my pleasure driving is done in Europe and I can use it as much as I like without the aforementioned BS that appears to go hand in hand with owning a Scud' at the moment.
Enjoy the car and keep the updates coming
Best
K
Edited by kbooker on Thursday 16th October 15:43
K50 DEL said:
Hi Hamid and congratulations on your F car from another Dubai based Donkey owner (mine's only a 360 spider though)
Hopefully see you out and about in it at some point.
Yep, you will. I intend to join the club and track the car. Your car is not "only a 360 spider" my friend, its the best Ferrari in the world cos its yours, just like mine is to me.Hopefully see you out and about in it at some point.
Slickhillsy said:
Hey Hamid - glad to hear you are enjoying the ride. I've had mine 2 weeks now and can’t keep out of the thing! lol...
Little tip - I found the exhaust valves too restrictive on the noise so read up how to unplug them. Now has the Ferrari Scuderia scream right through the rev range and (surprisingly) it's not intrusive in the cabin.
Neighbours might not agree so much but for me it's payback for their noisy dog!
How do I do that???? Not worried about the neighbours too much...one side is my mate, the other side is an empty villa and across the road is a vast stretch of sand...so no worries Little tip - I found the exhaust valves too restrictive on the noise so read up how to unplug them. Now has the Ferrari Scuderia scream right through the rev range and (surprisingly) it's not intrusive in the cabin.
Neighbours might not agree so much but for me it's payback for their noisy dog!
kbooker said:
Congrats Hamid, I love reading accounts of someone who is gonna use the car for it's intended purpose, it's refreshing to hear.
I've just passed over the chance of a RHD car with 10k miles priced by the dealer at 175k, mainly because I don't want to be thinking about is my car an appreciating classic so better not drive it too much or how much value I may have well wiped off it because I've just put 4k miles on it enjoying myself driving around Europe. I want a car I can drive and enjoy.
I'm seriously looking at what Mark (Slickhillsy) has done and buying a good but not garage queen left hooker, mainly because most of my pleasure driving is done in Europe and I can use it as much as I like without the aforementioned BS that appears to go hand in hand with owning a Scud' at the moment.
Enjoy the car and keep the updates coming
Best
K
Yeah sure, will keep you updated.I've just passed over the chance of a RHD car with 10k miles priced by the dealer at 175k, mainly because I don't want to be thinking about is my car an appreciating classic so better not drive it too much or how much value I may have well wiped off it because I've just put 4k miles on it enjoying myself driving around Europe. I want a car I can drive and enjoy.
I'm seriously looking at what Mark (Slickhillsy) has done and buying a good but not garage queen left hooker, mainly because most of my pleasure driving is done in Europe and I can use it as much as I like without the aforementioned BS that appears to go hand in hand with owning a Scud' at the moment.
Enjoy the car and keep the updates coming
Best
K
Edited by kbooker on Thursday 16th October 15:43
HamidQ said:
How do I do that???? Not worried about the neighbours too much...one side is my mate, the other side is an empty villa and across the road is a vast stretch of sand...so no worries
Here you go...http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/245241-sc...
I'd ignor the headline 'more power' as I didnt notice anything but the noise - OMG!
Let me know what you think when done...
Quick update for those who might be interested. Before I purchased the car, I had an inspection carried out which highlighted some issues including a rattle from the exhaust. I was given an estimate for the work which was very reasonable. The workshop is very reputable and looks after many Porsches. Lambos and Ferraris and I trust them way more than the local Ferrari agent. The exhaust rattle in the end required the engine to be dropped and new studs installed. Although the bill is now a little higher, I should have a sorted car. I will try and upload some pics.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/ArOPjMJm.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/jkXXBRjG" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/jkXXBRjG.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/MpgiemCV" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/MpgiemCV.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/8OqgfoFq" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/8OqgfoFq.jpg)
Right, got the car back from the workshop where the following were performed:
Annual Service
Power Steering Pump Replacement
4 wheel alignment
Various gaskets replaced
Studs attaching exhaust manifolds to engine replaced as some were broken - this necessitated the removal of the engine and an increase in the bill by a large amount!
Full interior, exterior and engine detail
The car looks and drives great and will be used as extensively as possible.
The last remaining job is to get a spare key as the car only came with one thanks to the previous owner...
will upload some images
Annual Service
Power Steering Pump Replacement
4 wheel alignment
Various gaskets replaced
Studs attaching exhaust manifolds to engine replaced as some were broken - this necessitated the removal of the engine and an increase in the bill by a large amount!
Full interior, exterior and engine detail
The car looks and drives great and will be used as extensively as possible.
The last remaining job is to get a spare key as the car only came with one thanks to the previous owner...
will upload some images
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