GT4 New Horse in the Stable

Barry · 11-13-2011, 02:40 PM

Evening all.

Well its been a long day. Early morning flight from Dublin to East Midlands (UK), with my very excited son (ok I was pretty hyper myself...

). We were picked up by the owner of the GT4 and his son. 40 minutes later and we were drinking coffee and reading through the mountain of paperwork, manuals, service history, reports and other assorted paperwork on the car. The records are a credit to it's 2 previous owners and much more than I could ever have hoped for. An hour of document review and then it was on to the main event.

The 308 shared a garage with a beautiful Gallardo (a good sign). Fired up first time from cold and out she reversed. I could not have been happier and nor could my junior navigator, where I maintained some composure he (as only a 7 year can) proceeded to run circles around the car and scream in delight. Good first impressions...

Formalities over, and after a quick demo on the controls, etc it was off to commence the 180 mile run to Holyhead ferry port in North Wales. Time was tight, roads were slippy and the weather was damp and foggy, but the GT4 never missed a beat (except for one minor issue, but I'll get to that seperately!). Mostly motorway driving with steady cruising at about 70-80 mph, sitting at approx 4K rpm in top gear. We got to the ferry with about 15 minutes to spare and 2 hours later were back in Dublin and shortly afterwards home, tired, slightly stressed and ready for bed.

There wasn't a lot of time for pictures today, such were the tight schedules we were trying to keep, but here's a few we took to give you a flavour of the day, and some of 308 GT4's new home and stablemates.

I'm looking forward to a whole new type of Ferrari experience (and my apologies in advance for the many questions I shall be asking over the coming days, weeks, months....)

Barry · 11-13-2011, 02:42 PM

I felt just as happy too...

Barry · 11-13-2011, 02:44 PM

Some driving pics...

Barry · 11-13-2011, 02:46 PM

The inside of a classic Ferrari is a very nice place to be. And surprisingly comfortable over the 3 hour drive today.

Barry · 11-13-2011, 02:49 PM

GT4's new abode, introductions over, everyone now settled down for the night...

Barry · 11-13-2011, 02:50 PM

and the new view from the kitchen sink...

brettgagnon · 11-13-2011, 02:53 PM

Great photos and a great looking machine. Congrats on the new girl.

JayG · 11-13-2011, 02:57 PM

Congrats. I love the levers on my dash for some reason I feel more connected to cars like that. Interesting view from the kitchen too! Long live the wedge.

Barry · 11-13-2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayG

Long live the wedge.

champagne612 · 11-13-2011, 03:37 PM

Great looking set up all around - you are a lucky man!

Enjoy

t1fosI · 11-13-2011, 03:57 PM

Tremendous Barry!

.

wetpet · 11-13-2011, 04:13 PM

is that a fish tank in the garage? nice car too!

Pete04222 · 11-13-2011, 05:15 PM

Awesome!

Pete04222 · 11-13-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry

I'm looking forward to a whole new type of Ferrari experience (and my apologies in advance for the many questions I shall be asking over the coming days, weeks, months....)

No problem. I've got 10 years of 308 ownership under the belt and I think you'll find that 308 owners are more than willing to share their experience.

tazandjan · 11-13-2011, 08:06 PM

Barry- Nice addition to the collection, and in a contrasting color, too.

212Export · 11-13-2011, 08:16 PM

Congrats again, Barry. Well done. The Boy's face is absolutely priceless !

JazzyO · 11-13-2011, 08:27 PM

Fantastic. Looks like a great example.

Enjoy, Barry!

Onno

Barry · 11-13-2011, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetpet

is that a fish tank in the garage? nice car too!

Sure is. It's actually in the children's playroom, so we can see into the garage from the kitchen and they can see in through the fish tank from their playroom. Builders thought i had lost the plot completely when i designed the house. They were probably right

Only problem was I needed two F cars, one for each window so to speak. Problem now sorted

Barry · 11-13-2011, 10:47 PM

Thanks for the good wishes. Looking forward to getting to know 'the wedge'.

Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS · 11-13-2011, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 212Export

Congrats again, Barry. Well done. The Boy's face is absolutely priceless !

+1000 !!! AWWWWHHHHHHH....Barry, that is just fabulous.
Your son (children) is priceless. I think I would take that over the car, even tho that is a fine example. Looks like he's got his arms folded there as if to say he owns the car ! Very nice all in all. Take good rest first and enjoy the car. There should be no disappointment at all and you would probably enjoy her more than the other F car in many different ways. Congratulations, Barry. w/ smiles Jimmy

11-13-2011, 02:40 PM	#1
Barry Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Europe Ferrari Life Posts: 3,257	New Horse in the Stable Evening all. Well its been a long day. Early morning flight from Dublin to East Midlands (UK), with my very excited son (ok I was pretty hyper myself... ). We were picked up by the owner of the GT4 and his son. 40 minutes later and we were drinking coffee and reading through the mountain of paperwork, manuals, service history, reports and other assorted paperwork on the car. The records are a credit to it's 2 previous owners and much more than I could ever have hoped for. An hour of document review and then it was on to the main event. The 308 shared a garage with a beautiful Gallardo (a good sign). Fired up first time from cold and out she reversed. I could not have been happier and nor could my junior navigator, where I maintained some composure he (as only a 7 year can) proceeded to run circles around the car and scream in delight. Good first impressions... Formalities over, and after a quick demo on the controls, etc it was off to commence the 180 mile run to Holyhead ferry port in North Wales. Time was tight, roads were slippy and the weather was damp and foggy, but the GT4 never missed a beat (except for one minor issue, but I'll get to that seperately!). Mostly motorway driving with steady cruising at about 70-80 mph, sitting at approx 4K rpm in top gear. We got to the ferry with about 15 minutes to spare and 2 hours later were back in Dublin and shortly afterwards home, tired, slightly stressed and ready for bed. There wasn't a lot of time for pictures today, such were the tight schedules we were trying to keep, but here's a few we took to give you a flavour of the day, and some of 308 GT4's new home and stablemates. I'm looking forward to a whole new type of Ferrari experience (and my apologies in advance for the many questions I shall be asking over the coming days, weeks, months....) Attached Images Barry Ferrari's: 360 Modena F1, 308 GT4 Other Italians: Ducati 916, Ducati 848 DD's: RR Sport, BMW 645ci, BMW 1200GS Adv.

11-13-2011, 02:42 PM	#2
Barry Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Europe Ferrari Life Posts: 3,257	I felt just as happy too... Attached Images Barry Ferrari's: 360 Modena F1, 308 GT4 Other Italians: Ducati 916, Ducati 848 DD's: RR Sport, BMW 645ci, BMW 1200GS Adv.

11-13-2011, 02:44 PM	#3
Barry Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Europe Ferrari Life Posts: 3,257	Some driving pics... Attached Images Barry Ferrari's: 360 Modena F1, 308 GT4 Other Italians: Ducati 916, Ducati 848 DD's: RR Sport, BMW 645ci, BMW 1200GS Adv.

11-13-2011, 02:46 PM	#4
Barry Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Europe Ferrari Life Posts: 3,257	The inside of a classic Ferrari is a very nice place to be. And surprisingly comfortable over the 3 hour drive today. Attached Images Barry Ferrari's: 360 Modena F1, 308 GT4 Other Italians: Ducati 916, Ducati 848 DD's: RR Sport, BMW 645ci, BMW 1200GS Adv.

11-13-2011, 02:49 PM	#5
Barry Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Europe Ferrari Life Posts: 3,257	GT4's new abode, introductions over, everyone now settled down for the night... Attached Images Barry Ferrari's: 360 Modena F1, 308 GT4 Other Italians: Ducati 916, Ducati 848 DD's: RR Sport, BMW 645ci, BMW 1200GS Adv.

11-13-2011, 02:50 PM	#6
Barry Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Europe Ferrari Life Posts: 3,257	and the new view from the kitchen sink... Attached Images Barry Ferrari's: 360 Modena F1, 308 GT4 Other Italians: Ducati 916, Ducati 848 DD's: RR Sport, BMW 645ci, BMW 1200GS Adv.

11-13-2011, 02:53 PM	#7
brettgagnon Owner Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Ferrari Life Posts: 426 Name: Brett Gagnon	Great photos and a great looking machine. Congrats on the new girl. - Brett ----------------------- Current: 1978 308 GTB (25823) Past: Other: 2011 Audi A6 Avant

11-13-2011, 02:57 PM	#8
JayG Owner Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Acworth, Ga, U.S.A. Ferrari Life Posts: 328	Congrats. I love the levers on my dash for some reason I feel more connected to cars like that. Interesting view from the kitchen too! Long live the wedge.

11-13-2011, 03:37 PM	#10
champagne612 Owner Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St Louis Ferrari Life Posts: 4,631 Name: Doug	Great looking set up all around - you are a lucky man! Enjoy 612 Nuvolari 16M Grigio Ferro

11-13-2011, 03:57 PM	#11
t1fosI Owner Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: London, UK. Ferrari Life Posts: 1,439	Tremendous Barry! . Current: 360 Modena Future: ? ----------------------------- 'Some people dream of success... while others wake up and work hard at it.'

11-13-2011, 04:13 PM	#12
wetpet Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chevy Chase, Md Ferrari Life Posts: 6,603 Name: Ed	is that a fish tank in the garage? nice car too! Everything you know is wrong Stop chatting and start living the ferrarilife!

11-13-2011, 05:15 PM	#13
Pete04222 Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA & Singapore Ferrari Life Posts: 5,405	Awesome! Capt. Pete '79 308 GTS, '82 Jeep CJ7 Jamboree "Time is what prevents everything from happening all at once."

11-13-2011, 08:06 PM	#15
tazandjan Owner Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Ferrari Life Posts: 3,606 Name: Terry H Phillips	Barry- Nice addition to the collection, and in a contrasting color, too. Taz Terry Phillips Present: 575M 135171 Past: Dino 246 GT 02984, 365 GTB/4 14009, 308 GTS 25125 Every day I look around, and if nobody is shooting at me, it is a pretty good day.

11-13-2011, 08:16 PM	#16
212Export Owner Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Europe Ferrari Life Posts: 2,288	Congrats again, Barry. Well done. The Boy's face is absolutely priceless !

11-13-2011, 08:27 PM	#17
JazzyO Owner Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jersey, Channel Islands Ferrari Life Posts: 4,289	Fantastic. Looks like a great example. Enjoy, Barry! Onno Future: 458 Italia (May 2012) Present: 550 Maranello, 330GTC, 365BB (x2) Past: eh - see above.

11-13-2011, 10:47 PM	#19
Barry Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Europe Ferrari Life Posts: 3,257	Thanks for the good wishes. Looking forward to getting to know 'the wedge'. Barry Ferrari's: 360 Modena F1, 308 GT4 Other Italians: Ducati 916, Ducati 848 DD's: RR Sport, BMW 645ci, BMW 1200GS Adv.

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