My Ferrari 599 GTB (2007)
Discussion
Hi All!
If any of you read my recent thread about my Ferrari 456 GT (the 1994 one with a garish interior!) or my Citroen DS19 (1965) post, you might remember that I have recently bought a 599.
Well, long story short - it has been here a while but I only picked it up today. Work has been extremely manic and I was also away catching some sun for 10 days.... Before, I had it detailed and also ordered some Pirelli Sottozero Winter tyres. These are actually quite hard to get hold of - ended up using Oponeo and it took about two weeks, but I plan on using this car all winter to see what it's like.
Pic of the tyres are below - Fronts are 245/35/20 and rears are 305/35/20....
And the car below... I think it has come up really nicely after having all the little niggles touched up.
Initial thoughts are - it's very very wide indeed. I live in the home counties and the roads are not what you would call wide - so pootling around local to me will be scary at first, having said that - that is one benefit of a LHD in the UK, you can clearly see where your edge is. Power delivery is way smoother than I thought and it's a nice car to be in. Even in traffic, the automated manual feels basically like an auto for stop start (although I was using the handbrake as it rolls a little) but is really smooth. Given the wet and cold weather I haven't given it much poke yet, but it certainly sounds and pulls lovely.
Also, this car was from Kuwait and after picking it up today I've realised the previous owner has bypassed the heater matrix - apparently a common thing - like my old Ferrari these also carry warm air through to the cabin regardless of fan setting, so many people bypassed it. Naturally that will have to be sorted as otherwise it'll be like sitting in a fridge.
Being relatively lucky with my job and flexibility with where and how I can work, I am planning an early new years road trip, most likely I will take it down to Germany and use Munich airport as a base - do a few small trips over the space of a few weeks with a few friends.
I'll get better pics (not in my warehouse carpark) in the coming days..
Thanks,
Alex
If any of you read my recent thread about my Ferrari 456 GT (the 1994 one with a garish interior!) or my Citroen DS19 (1965) post, you might remember that I have recently bought a 599.
Well, long story short - it has been here a while but I only picked it up today. Work has been extremely manic and I was also away catching some sun for 10 days.... Before, I had it detailed and also ordered some Pirelli Sottozero Winter tyres. These are actually quite hard to get hold of - ended up using Oponeo and it took about two weeks, but I plan on using this car all winter to see what it's like.
Pic of the tyres are below - Fronts are 245/35/20 and rears are 305/35/20....
And the car below... I think it has come up really nicely after having all the little niggles touched up.
Initial thoughts are - it's very very wide indeed. I live in the home counties and the roads are not what you would call wide - so pootling around local to me will be scary at first, having said that - that is one benefit of a LHD in the UK, you can clearly see where your edge is. Power delivery is way smoother than I thought and it's a nice car to be in. Even in traffic, the automated manual feels basically like an auto for stop start (although I was using the handbrake as it rolls a little) but is really smooth. Given the wet and cold weather I haven't given it much poke yet, but it certainly sounds and pulls lovely.
Also, this car was from Kuwait and after picking it up today I've realised the previous owner has bypassed the heater matrix - apparently a common thing - like my old Ferrari these also carry warm air through to the cabin regardless of fan setting, so many people bypassed it. Naturally that will have to be sorted as otherwise it'll be like sitting in a fridge.
Being relatively lucky with my job and flexibility with where and how I can work, I am planning an early new years road trip, most likely I will take it down to Germany and use Munich airport as a base - do a few small trips over the space of a few weeks with a few friends.
I'll get better pics (not in my warehouse carpark) in the coming days..
Thanks,
Alex
looks lovely
be careful in the Alps (or even just on Bavarian country roads), a lot more slippery than what you are probably used to in the UK during January. Can be a lot of fun though ...
Also wash the car often as you will have a lot of salt sticking to it. I have by now given up as stuff like the screws on the brake discs, mesh grills etc are all quite rusty after a few seasons winter use.
Have a safe trip and enjoy the car
be careful in the Alps (or even just on Bavarian country roads), a lot more slippery than what you are probably used to in the UK during January. Can be a lot of fun though ...
Also wash the car often as you will have a lot of salt sticking to it. I have by now given up as stuff like the screws on the brake discs, mesh grills etc are all quite rusty after a few seasons winter use.
Have a safe trip and enjoy the car
MDL111 said:
be careful in the Alps (or even just on Bavarian country roads), a lot more slippery than what you are probably used to in the UK during January. Can be a lot of fun though ...
Also wash the car often as you will have a lot of salt sticking to it. I have by now given up as stuff like the screws on the brake discs, mesh grills etc are all quite rusty after a few seasons winter use.
Thanks mate, i have quite a lot of driving experience down that part of the world (used to live down that way for a short time). I am not a reckless driver and always take caution. Definitely be washing off that salt..!Also wash the car often as you will have a lot of salt sticking to it. I have by now given up as stuff like the screws on the brake discs, mesh grills etc are all quite rusty after a few seasons winter use.
idealstandard said:
I plan on using this car all winter to see what it's like.
This jumped out at me, probably because I had the same idea many years ago when I had a 360 Modena. Decided that owners who lock them away over winter were pussies, and I was going to use my car in snow, ice, pestilence whatever. All good until it went for its next service and the mechanic asked me if I'd been using it as a f***ing boat anchor. Honestly, it was a mess and I had to replace quite a bit of the bottom third of the car. It's all the unusual materials eg titanium, aluminium that corrode like hell when you expose to (a lot of) salt. You can get rid of most of it by pressure washing the underside of the car, but, crucially, not all of it. I've locked my exotics away since then, they only come out to play after a lot of rain has washed away the road salt. harrykul said:
Congratulations, that looks fab. What is the situation with underseal on your car?
I've got access to a ramp and a mechanic mate - he's going to sort it all out before I take it off to Europe. It was supplied new in Kuwait so won't have had this treatment before, but also - it'll be totally sound under there.456mgt said:
This jumped out at me
Yes I hear you - and generally I understand that most people that own this type of car keep them locked away in carcoons (which I have also)... however for me, life is simply too short to lock my cars away, and I'll continue to use them whenever it seems right to, or I want to. For me there isn't much point in having an expensive car to leave it in a garage. You are right about all the expensive metals though - for sure. I have a Volvo XC70 D5 (at the moment, switching it to something that can tow 3 tonnes next year) - this will handle any really gnarly days.Alex.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff