They say you should never meet your hero – presumably, to avoid the potential for disappointment. Thanks to the folks at www.experiencemad.co.uk, I will soon have the opportunity to climb aboard and drive a Ferrari – my hero – for the first time.
As a child who gazed longingly at a poster of an F40 before going to sleep; this truly is the realisation of a dream. In the 80s, your car worshiping choices were relatively simple – you were a Ferrari, Lambo, or a Porsche guy. I have always respected the offerings from Stuttgart and Sant’Agata, but my heart belongs to Maranello, the home of Ferrari.
To say I am excited would be an understatement. However, as I swing open the Rosso red door and sit in a Ferrari for the first time, my expectations will remain resolutely on terra firma. The 360 Modena is now a third generation Ferrari, having been replaced by the F430 and the 458 Italia that followed it. With 400bhp, it should certainly be quick, but by no means the fastest car I will have driven. Outright speed and mind-bending handling are not what I expect of this experience. I understand that this particular hero is a little long in the tooth and comprehensively outgunned by its modern counterparts. Nevertheless, I expect the noise, the feel, the looks…the sense of occasion. I expect, ‘Ferrari’.
Hi Kenny,
Having driven the Challenge version of this car I can confirm that the Ferrari 360 does not disappoint. The sense of driving something very special indeed is clear from the moment you step in the cockpit. Whilst some Ferraris have left the Tifosi feeling a little cold, the 360 is not one of them. I’d hope one day to have one on my driveway!
What is your favorite among those supercars? To me, it has to be the 458 Italia! The outlandish design is definitely a head turner on the roads. I saw one in some car show recently, and man, I didn’t even know how to react when it was right in front of my face! LOL! I didn’t get the chance to drive one though. You’re so lucky to have experienced how it feels to be inside one of those! =)
Hi Erwin,
The Ferrari 458 is a monumentally good supercar in many ways. However, the car next at the top of my list to drive is the Lamborghini Aventador!
My favourite is the 458 Italia. One of the things I love about Ferrari is that they consistently move the game on with each new release. Aesthetic arguments aside – some people still argue a 355 is better looking than anything since – I appreciated the more modern look of an F430 over the 360 and, subsequently, the 458 over the F430.
Crucially though, I think it is the technological and speed advances that impress the most. If the stats are to be believed, the Italia can hit 100mph from a dig in 6.7s. That is hyper-car territory and I cannot imagine how they can significantly improve on that next time around! I recall noting with awe that the McLaren F1 could accelerate at 20mph per second well into tripple figures. When I was 17 – having just learned to drive – that seemed impossibly quick. The Italia is, as damn near makes no difference, almost as fast. Better yet, in 10 years time you’ll probably be able to throw one around your local circuit for a few hundred quid. I can’t wait!