could I manage a F430

[Mr DG]

Last year I was knocked of my beloved Ducati by a blind Volvo driver. This resulted in a 4 month hospital stay with 2 broken arms, 2 broken legs, a collapsed lung and a paralysed right arm. As you may have guessed my biking days are over so I've decided that as soon as my insurance is settled I'm having a nice car to fill my garage and give me my kicks. Today I called into a Ferrari/Porsche dealer to do a bit of window shopping. The 2 cars that caught my eye was a new 911 Carrera S and a used f430 so now I have questions about both. First off can anyone think of a way that I could adapt the F1 paddle shift so I could use it with one hand. The Porsche is easier for me to use as it uses a rocking switch system on the wheel allowing me to go up and down the gear box from one side. The other question I have is do you think I could actually handle cars like these with only my left arm ?.

Looking forward to hear your replies. All the best
Dean

[Tuvra]

The question is could you handle these kind of cars with one arm? Wouldn't some super quick fully auto car be easier to drive quickly. Something like a GTR, CL65 or 997 Turbo?

[UH-Matt]

It is worth adding that worst case is you could use the cars in full auto, the paddles don't *have* to be used.

[shanes]

+1 on the fully auto option

and you have come from Ducati so must have class there for should stay with italian and a Ferrari 430 should suit you perfectly :-}}}

get it brought asap and enjoy yourself

[4leks]

Mr DG said:

Last year I was knocked of my beloved Ducati by a blind Volvo driver. This resulted in a 4 month hospital stay with 2 broken arms, 2 broken legs, a collapsed lung and a paralysed right arm. As you may have guessed my biking days are over so I've decided that as soon as my insurance is settled I'm having a nice car to fill my garage and give me my kicks. Today I called into a Ferrari/Porsche dealer to do a bit of window shopping. The 2 cars that caught my eye was a new 911 Carrera S and a used f430 so now I have questions about both. First off can anyone think of a way that I could adapt the F1 paddle shift so I could use it with one hand. The Porsche is easier for me to use as it uses a rocking switch system on the wheel allowing me to go up and down the gear box from one side. The other question I have is do you think I could actually handle cars like these with only my left arm ?.

Looking forward to hear your replies. All the best
Dean

I personally don't think you can adapt existing F1 Ferrari paddles to work with one arm. I think you'll be better off with smth similar to Porsche tiptronic box or Merc auto box.
Have you checked with your insurance co, would they cover you for F1 or similar box? Technically F1 is similar to an auto for insurance purposes, there is even a note from DVLA which says that anything without clutch pedal is an auto but I think there are some exemptions related to health issues...hope not.

I couldn't drive my 360 with one arm only (I tried whilst having cup of coffee in other hand, sorry...It was difficult) unless it could've been in auto mode which I never tried. That's why I think F1 box (unless Auto is ON) could be tricky to handle.

You shouldn't have any problems with Porsche tiptronic gearbox or similar. I personally don't need 2 arms driving my Cayenne Turbo even in manual mode!

With regards to the "handling issue"...I personally think that you can handle anything, it's all depends from your training. Ayrton Senna managed to handle Formula 1 beast with one hand (theoretically of course, he used his second arm to change the gears) back in 1989 if I'm not wrong, so why not...Good luck with you challenge!

[kbf1981]

I find you're usually faster sticking the 997 PDK in full auto mode - Sport Plus is epic. This means that all your concentration is on the steering and throttle control. It tends to changes gears just as well if not better than you can. Sport mode is how you tend to spend most of the day unless bumming around on long motorway trips.

No experience of a F430. The 997 I've had a couple of PDK's and you would have no problem. Use the full auto modes though, honestly you'll be just as fast in Sports Plus as doing the gears yourself. I only change gears for a laugh now or to blip past and hear the engine note.

[Midds]

Granturismo 4.7 S - fully auto with Ferrari engine?

[marky1]

911 about to be replaced. I would not buy the current one new - you will be slaughtered on depreciation.

[johnnyreggae]

Surely if you can work the wiper stalk (up/down etc) you can pull the F1 Up lever - conversely might a regular insurance company not be impressed if you cannot work the wipers (tho no doubt there are specialists)?

There used to be a firm that did simple modifications to cars to facilitate use in your circumstances - sometimes they put a knob on the steering wheel to help low speed steering - hand throttles moving controls etc etc - there must be an equivalent still around - these guys should know :
http://www.ddmc.org.uk/

Can you still reclaim vat on converted cars for disabilities ?

Edited by johnnyreggae on Wednesday 7th September 09:24

[matc]

johnnyreggae said:

Surely if you can work the wiper stalk (up/down etc) you can pull the F1 Up lever - conversely might a regular insurance company not be impressed if you cannot work the wipers (tho no doubt there are specialists)?

There used to be a firm that did simple modifications to cars to facilitate use in your circumstances - sometimes they put a knob on the steering wheel to help low speed steering - hand throttles moving controls etc etc - there must be an equivalent still around - these guys should know :
http://www.ddmc.org.uk/

Can you still reclaim vat on converted cars for disabilities ?

Edited by johnnyreggae on Wednesday 7th September 09:24

Some good points made above, there are plenty of companies around that would be able to replace the standard F1 shift paddles for something more usable for you, a rocker switch I guess would be ideal.

Also the VAT free element is definitely worth considering if you were to buy new, I would order a 991 PDK VAT free and change it every year, that way motoring would be a pretty cheap hobby!

[Mr DG]

johnnyreggae said:

Surely if you can work the wiper stalk (up/down etc) you can pull the F1 Up lever - conversely might a regular insurance company not be impressed if you cannot work the wipers (tho no doubt there are specialists)?

There used to be a firm that did simple modifications to cars to facilitate use in your circumstances - sometimes they put a knob on the steering wheel to help low speed steering - hand throttles moving controls etc etc - there must be an equivalent still around - these guys should know :
http://www.ddmc.org.uk/

Can you still reclaim vat on converted cars for disabilities ?

Edited by johnnyreggae on Wednesday 7th September 09:24

I have no use of my right arm at all. At the moment I drive an auto 530M Sport which has auto wipers and lights plus my insurance company is aware of my disability. The car has also been converted with a steering wheel ball which has a small keypad that allows me to work all the electrical controls with my left hand while my hand is any where on the wheel i.e. indicators, horn, lights, wipers and hazard lights. at the moment a Porsche with a PDK is at the top of my list. It will allow me to have full control of the box but as you say the car probably drives better in full auto but it would be nice to have control if I wanted to have a play,
As far as I'm aware you can claim the VAT back if the car is modified before the first owner of the new car takes delivery. so if I can get it that will be a nice discount. Plus as the new 911 is due next year I'll hold off until I've had a chance to have a good look at it.

Dean

[UH-Matt]

Surely your heart says Ferrari not Pork. While the 911 is such a capable car it just does not make your heart beat in the same way the experience of something Italian does...

[bad company]

I far prefer to 430 to the Porsche but in your situation I would go for the Porsche. Yes you can drive the 430 in full auto but you won't be getting the best from it.

[johnnyreggae]

Another aspect is that the additional controls can probably be more reliably integrated with Porsche systems plus there'll be better back-up and/or knowledge base

[Colossus]

I would second the suggestion to look at a Maser GT-S Auto. Much more charismatic than a 911 and whilst it will give a little to the 911 in the corners the Maser will have the edge on the straights with a sound track that is frankly one of the very best you can get at any money. The auto box on these is very very good and really worth having a look at. Don't get me wrong, 911 is a great car but I think if you were a Ducati type of guy you will appreciate the Maser's Italian flair and noise.

[MaxAndRuby]

bad company said:

I far prefer to 430 to the Porsche but in your situation I would go for the Porsche. Yes you can drive the 430 in full auto but you won't be getting the best from it.

Just what I was thinking, but ultimately it depends on how hard you're going to drive it, and how skillful you are with your right arm.

Sorry to hear about what sounds like a horrific accident.

What came to mind immediately is that when I'm flat in fourth at the rev limit I'm actually a little nervous about changing gear because it means taking one hand off the steering wheel. You're doing a fair pace at that point, and when the power comes back on again(manual 'box) I REALLY want both hands on the wheel ASAP. Avoid Race mode on bumpy roads!