My turn to ask the should-I/shouldn't-I question
Discussion
So, after a decade of Porsches (now on my 12th, I think) I'm feeling the magnetic pull of Maranello (helped by the imminent prospect of a garage). Specifically considering an '02 or '03 360 F1 spider. The questions:
1. I drive to work. All of 6 miles, in rush hour, in London. We're talking 8mph average. As you'd expect, I have no problems doing this in my C2 cab all through the summer. How many days will the F1 clutch last, assuming I'm a good boy and select neutral at every possible oppo, and avoid crawling?
2. Self-evidently from the above, I also live in London, so using the car as a car as well as a toy (which is the plan) means lots of parallel parking. Same F1 clutch question again.
3. I take it from what I've read that OFCs (is that the jargon?) are actually the most sensible place to buy, unless Verdi will take a sensible offer on the rather tasty LHD blue car he's had on sale for ages...damn, now you all know -- if one of you buys it before me, you owe me a pint. Or is there something wrong with it. Don't care about LHD/RHD or mileage, do care about unexpected bills > 3k so would like a bombproof warranty. Don't fancy paying > 90k for a car still in factory warranty, though. Sorry, rambling slightly -- overexcited.
Help, comments, mockery all welcome.
Am posting same on fchat, so apologies if you have to wade through my blether twice.
1. I drive to work. All of 6 miles, in rush hour, in London. We're talking 8mph average. As you'd expect, I have no problems doing this in my C2 cab all through the summer. How many days will the F1 clutch last, assuming I'm a good boy and select neutral at every possible oppo, and avoid crawling?
2. Self-evidently from the above, I also live in London, so using the car as a car as well as a toy (which is the plan) means lots of parallel parking. Same F1 clutch question again.
3. I take it from what I've read that OFCs (is that the jargon?) are actually the most sensible place to buy, unless Verdi will take a sensible offer on the rather tasty LHD blue car he's had on sale for ages...damn, now you all know -- if one of you buys it before me, you owe me a pint. Or is there something wrong with it. Don't care about LHD/RHD or mileage, do care about unexpected bills > 3k so would like a bombproof warranty. Don't fancy paying > 90k for a car still in factory warranty, though. Sorry, rambling slightly -- overexcited.
Help, comments, mockery all welcome.
Am posting same on fchat, so apologies if you have to wade through my blether twice.
tezza said:
F1 in rush hour London = overheated clutch ! Trust me, I've been stuck on Friday evening trying to get out West & it isn't a nice experience
Never had an overheat in mine and I live just of the Strand so was regularly stuck in traffic round Piccadilly Circus on the way in & out of London.
Only thing I noticed was when it got really hot i.e. stuck in traffic for ages on very odd occasions it wouldn't select first but go straight into second. Thought my clutch was toast at first but had it checked by a dealer and all good. It was only a rare occurrence but worth noting.
964cup said:
So, after a decade of Porsches (now on my 12th, I think) I'm feeling the magnetic pull of Maranello (helped by the imminent prospect of a garage). Specifically considering an '02 or '03 360 F1 spider. The questions:
1. I drive to work. All of 6 miles, in rush hour, in London. We're talking 8mph average. As you'd expect, I have no problems doing this in my C2 cab all through the summer. How many days will the F1 clutch last, assuming I'm a good boy and select neutral at every possible oppo, and avoid crawling?
2. Self-evidently from the above, I also live in London, so using the car as a car as well as a toy (which is the plan) means lots of parallel parking. Same F1 clutch question again.
3. I take it from what I've read that OFCs (is that the jargon?) are actually the most sensible place to buy, unless Verdi will take a sensible offer on the rather tasty LHD blue car he's had on sale for ages...damn, now you all know -- if one of you buys it before me, you owe me a pint. Or is there something wrong with it. Don't care about LHD/RHD or mileage, do care about unexpected bills > 3k so would like a bombproof warranty. Don't fancy paying > 90k for a car still in factory warranty, though. Sorry, rambling slightly -- overexcited.
Help, comments, mockery all welcome.
Am posting same on fchat, so apologies if you have to wade through my blether twice.
1. I drive to work. All of 6 miles, in rush hour, in London. We're talking 8mph average. As you'd expect, I have no problems doing this in my C2 cab all through the summer. How many days will the F1 clutch last, assuming I'm a good boy and select neutral at every possible oppo, and avoid crawling?
2. Self-evidently from the above, I also live in London, so using the car as a car as well as a toy (which is the plan) means lots of parallel parking. Same F1 clutch question again.
3. I take it from what I've read that OFCs (is that the jargon?) are actually the most sensible place to buy, unless Verdi will take a sensible offer on the rather tasty LHD blue car he's had on sale for ages...damn, now you all know -- if one of you buys it before me, you owe me a pint. Or is there something wrong with it. Don't care about LHD/RHD or mileage, do care about unexpected bills > 3k so would like a bombproof warranty. Don't fancy paying > 90k for a car still in factory warranty, though. Sorry, rambling slightly -- overexcited.
Help, comments, mockery all welcome.
Am posting same on fchat, so apologies if you have to wade through my blether twice.
I have had an F1 360 for 5 years. live in Wandsworth and my commute was to Berkeley Square. No over heating at all stuck in traffic, like Kam said, occasionally the car wouldn't select 1st, but only a couple of times and only took a few secs to sort itself out. Mr car has done nearly 20k miles and im on my second F1 clutch. (Probably need another after my Euro trip in September, don't plan on holding back).
Great car, love the F1 and if you buy right, won't get too many problems. Dont be afraid to go for a more expensive car, it might save you a lot more £££ in servicing, maintenance than the cheaper one.
that LHD 360 f1 spider on Verdi site is advertised elsewhere too. Definitely same car as it has a 6 pipe exhaust (Koenig it says). This is fairly common however due to most of the independent garages operating on a commision based sale arrangement and probably the car is still with the owner. Worth talking to Karl at Verdi as hes a sound chap.
Re f1 box and traffic, i used to drive my 355 f1 around town - there are ways of helping prevent it overheat - dont creep in traffic, wait until there is a gap big enough in front to get a clean engagement, and coast into neutral when stopping. F1 box is not ideal in town. Hell a ferrari is not ideal in town, but if you want practical stick with a porsche. If you want the ferrari experience (and it is one) go for it. Ps. not sure about the resale value of that blue 360,due to it being lhd and relatively expensive, tho it does look lovely.
Re f1 box and traffic, i used to drive my 355 f1 around town - there are ways of helping prevent it overheat - dont creep in traffic, wait until there is a gap big enough in front to get a clean engagement, and coast into neutral when stopping. F1 box is not ideal in town. Hell a ferrari is not ideal in town, but if you want practical stick with a porsche. If you want the ferrari experience (and it is one) go for it. Ps. not sure about the resale value of that blue 360,due to it being lhd and relatively expensive, tho it does look lovely.
andy355 said:
that LHD 360 f1 spider on Verdi site is advertised elsewhere too. Definitely same car as it has a 6 pipe exhaust (Koenig it says). This is fairly common however due to most of the independent garages operating on a commision based sale arrangement and probably the car is still with the owner. Worth talking to Karl at Verdi as hes a sound chap.
Re f1 box and traffic, i used to drive my 355 f1 around town - there are ways of helping prevent it overheat - dont creep in traffic, wait until there is a gap big enough in front to get a clean engagement, and coast into neutral when stopping. F1 box is not ideal in town. Hell a ferrari is not ideal in town, but if you want practical stick with a porsche. If you want the ferrari experience (and it is one) go for it. Ps. not sure about the resale value of that blue 360,due to it being lhd and relatively expensive, tho it does look lovely.
Re f1 box and traffic, i used to drive my 355 f1 around town - there are ways of helping prevent it overheat - dont creep in traffic, wait until there is a gap big enough in front to get a clean engagement, and coast into neutral when stopping. F1 box is not ideal in town. Hell a ferrari is not ideal in town, but if you want practical stick with a porsche. If you want the ferrari experience (and it is one) go for it. Ps. not sure about the resale value of that blue 360,due to it being lhd and relatively expensive, tho it does look lovely.
Thanks, Andy. The whole experience vs practicality thing is the heart of the debate; I keep thinking I'll get a 360, then find myself running some errand in the 911 that I can't imagine doing in the Ferrari (usually because it involves parking in a tight space in a narrow road).
WRT the Verdi car, it's the right car & spec, but as you say way overpriced; I can get a RHD car for that money in similar condition. Depends how sensible the owner is feeling -- it's been for sale for some time now.
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