Ferrari 355

[dan_b]

Oh yeah Baby!
Here's me at Silverstone yesterday doing my Ferrari track day. First session was in a Lotus Elise to learn the circuit/ get used to mid-engined RWD cars, second session is the Prancing Horse itself.

All I can say is "oh my God" what a vehicle.

Beautiful to drive and a real handful. Fabulous engine, fabulous brakes and a very responsive chassis. I got the rear end moving sideways a couple of times when I got a bit more confident with it :mischeif: -boy does it require quick reflexes! Manual gearshift was a bit of a dog though and a lousy driving position to be fair.

In the background you can see the TTSport Quattros which were being used to give non-drivers a "hot lap" or two round the circuit. They're impressively quick.

I do love the Lotus though, I would seriously love to have one of those -they were the 190bhp tuned versions and the top end on them with the very high lift cams is brilliant - it's almost a turbo-esque boost. Brilliant. Full opposite lock on full throttle car control time, wonderful.

A huge thank-you to my wife for the whole day out

[dan_b]

These are definitely geunine "sports" cars - I'm not sure I would want to have a Ferrari for driving round London -you do see them quite often round here and I don't know how people do it, it demands your full attention the whole time, and the temptation to just give that right foot a squirt is constant.

I can't get over how quickly the 355 turns in when you've balanced it up right in the braking area

I pulled 240kph on the main straight and there was stacks left in the engine, unfortunately there was not enough track to carry on with, those pesky bends

I'm afraid the S2 felt like a bit of a boat after that day on the track!

Still, winter's coming, wet weather is never far away and I think for most driving, an understeering quattro is probably good enough. Might start saving for an Elise though, just don't tell Sara

[kninio]

just red cars allowed to be in this track place?

[Bibby]

I do like the 355, nice cars.

[Robatron]

I'm glad you had such a great time Dan. I would love the chance to get behind the wheel of a 355 or 348 again but as you say, I would find it a real handful to own in london, the gearboxes are really hard work and Yes, the temptation is there.

Unlike your experience, mine was done on an airstrip so I was basically hammering the car for maximum speed in a straight line, but I would have much rather have had your experience for the sheer sake of being able to throw it around the track.

Great pics too!!

[tekkno435]

There is NOTHING quite like a Ferrari. If i sold the S2, i would buy another.
"Oh we have come in our new Mercedes.... Oh? I couldn't find a spot for the Ferrari out front...." People are absolutely ********ed at that point, there is no reply. Lovely things if you can put up with the constant maintenance, but then, with the S2, lovely things if you can put up with the constant maintenance:-)

graham.

[Alistair C]

Whilst I still admire ferraris, I never really obsessed over them as a kid. 80s films like the canonball run got me going with the countach and as such, this summer's exotica led me to this beauty down at goodwood:

It's just a shame you can't find a countach to experience for love nor money - (unless you can afford to join Damon's car club)

[dan_b]

There is a company who do a "Gallardo" experience I think?

@Robo what top speed did you get out of it on the runway then?

Have to say again how much I enjoyed that V8 sound on full chat, oh yes!

[Sidspud]

That Diablo seems to have extended wing mirrors. It wasn't towing a caravan was it?

[Robatron]

Well annoyingly they had the speedo disabled but I hit limiter in 4th gear in the 348 and it only has 5 gears.

I had the 355 in top gear, foot flat to the mat and it still had plenty left but I do know we were motoring. The trouble is they feel so stable at high speeds and it was a very wide runway so it was hard to judge speed by passing objects but I would say I was going well over 160.

[S2 Ant]

Ive never really been a Ferrari fan, but the engine noise they make is something else and i love that to bits!

[ottawa coupe]

my dream ferrari is a 355 spider.....but pretty much anything with the bull on the front is more desirable IMHO...

[dan_b]

I think if I had the money I'd have one of each