[212Export]

Yyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!:cro wngrin:.
Oh, what a wonderful world

[tazandjan]

212- What a surprise. You like it, as would we all.

[JazzyO]

Taz - I hope 212export doesn't mind me saying this, but he's a bit of a reserved individual. I think in that context, his first post in this thread truly states how out-of-this-world the F50 is. And given that he is a very experienced Ferrari driver, it gives us even more information about what that car is about.

It brings a smile to my face to think of him behind the wheel. Nice how this hobby can cross-pollinate.


Onno

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

I did not know that 212 had a Texan blood in him. Hmmmm. !!! Seems like F50 had demented his personality, just a bit, or should I say exposed a bit of new 212. That's great !!! w/ smiles Jimmy

PS. Now, it seems we have another new 8 years old on the block.

[212Export]

Please accept my excuses for starting that thread with such a childish note, after all I should be "Swiss", right ?!
It was just the summary of my impression right after finishing my 2 first drives with "F" each one about 40 km's.

At 3 p.m. and 8 degrees C, the sun was still shining brightly (after 4 days of heavy rain and storm) and I took "F" without roof out of the Garage let it idle for 3 minutes, put my skiing hat and skiing jacket on, lifted the front suspension for those 2 bumps in our village and entered the highway out into the green. While listening to every growl from the chain, engine or whatever (I must learn fast about the specifics of each movement of this car, it is so different to else) some very slight smoke smell entered the open driver cabin from the engine compartment thru the narrow Lexan engine cover holes. For the first moment that was expected as the mechanic told me that becaus of the new exhaust, first couple of time they warm up, they will have some smell included. (After 10 minutes of driving the smell went away.)
This car was driven around 1500 km's in the last 12 years, so I took well care for a slow, long warm up. For the first 20 km's I kept the rpm's below 2500 and for the next 20 km's below 3500. These rpm's are very low as the max torque is around 8'000. Also I drove quite some high tire pressure, front instead of 2.3 cold 2.7 and back instead of 2.1 cold 2.5. Reason was that I filled up the tires for long time winter stay in case, as I was not sure I would be able to jockey the horse in December as snow seems to be just around the corner here.

What a wonderful and beautiful car to drive. My first time all alone in a F50, my F50. A dream come true.

The new noise insulation has a great effect to dampen the cabin noise from the chain driven cams and rollers. Its much better now than before and no wishes for earplugs anymore from my side.

Like the F40 but in a very different way, totally different way, the F50 provides you with so many mechanical sounds that in another respect you feel like in a classic car again. Nowhere that kind of perfectionism, like in a 458 or 430. The F50 is very raw, its simple, its straightforward, the steering is incredibly direct, you feel the bumps on the steering wheel like on a formula car, no servo or any hint of electronics from front to back, just simple, wonderful, mechanical rawness interferenced by loads of stiff, stiff carbon walls.

The view to the front and the front bottom is excellent and without the roof even the view directly back is o.k.. Taking the first couple of curves with low rpm's but some speed, one quick realizes the very high rigidity and stability of the chassis and whole suspension layout. I knew it from several drives before (by co driving with other people) how rigid and stable this car is but driving alone is again a new experience in that sense. You know it and you expect it but experiencing it again alone is just so different once again.

The gearchanging is very impressive. Of course never as fast as the hammer man from the Scud or even the Italia. But much faster and directer (shorter) than i.e. the F40. The gearchanging feels like those short stroke gearlevers at the right side in the ols Formula cars from the 60's and 70's. Somehow you feel like being able to change gears with a move just out of you hand wrist, instead of moving the whole arm with the F40 (just as a comparison, no weighting as pro or cons).

The whole pedal alignment is more favorable and adapted to my feets than those in the F40 as downshifting with in between accelerator push is much easier and quicker. 2 additional points to mention in this respect. The flywheel is very, very small an light in the F50 (about 1/4 of the weight of normal flywheels in earlier cars) so the rpm's will fall extremely fast when leaving the accelerator pedal, something to get used to and a way to actively train that brake/accelerator pedal switch fast and sensual.
Also the engine brake of that V 12 is very impressive, I would rate it almost as strong as that of the 430 Scuderia, which employs an enhanced effect on that by will of its engineers.

The last 10 km's I went to the Autobahn to use both lines in a traffic free time to excercise a little the feeling of steering. Crisp, exact, straight direct just loveable. The car moves like on rails. Absolutely no rolling, just flat, straight, strong and stabil. Just so totally different stability than anything else I have driven, with the exception of the Enzo and Boxer,s carbon tub Jag. The suspension "eats" up every unevenness of the road without any drama just "tong".."tong" flat strong, no movement, nothing.

And all this under free sky, with the sunlight slowly turning red and the snow on the not to distant Swiss mountains turning red too. What a fantastic afternoon, what a wonderful car and experience.

In the meantime I arrived back home. My oldest daughter was eagerly awaiting me after school as I promised her in case of sun, that she would be the first one to co-drive "F". She sat in and I just turned out again, suspension up and down again and on. It was special for her as it was the first time for her to drive in a open car...and what a open car.

Another 5 km and everything from oil to water was now really warm. Even with the cold outside and topless, the cabin was nicely heated by the heater AND the warm engine air flowing slightly in from inbetween the headrests to us, constantly warming our necks. Perfect. Now I hit the Autobahn. Driving up the ramp at 3' rpm in 3rd. gear I saw that the surface was a little wet. No second thought I pushed the pedal slightly more down to about the midle of its movement when the car jumped to around 5-6' rpm's and now gear change to 4th. gear and....I had my moment as the wheels spun at around 140 km's and the back "tailed" quickly but only slightly left and right. Huuuuhhhhh. In lightspeed the Netherlands, F 50 and Onno's story passed my brain and I imagined "mike430" to post a new thread about a Swiss misshap.....Yes, high tire pressure, cold surface, not very warm tires, nice mixture for a December drama. My daughter did not even realize it...so I waited for a better part on the Autobahn to discover just slightly the speed abilities of "F". Once a dry part arrived I moved the accelerator pedal more slowly and linear and "F2 leaped forward with a incredable sound up to 6.5-7' rpm's. This is the moment on which overtaken cars on the right side just fly past behind you. Its this feeling of there is no stop in acceleration, you just fly past anything......oh, I was only in 4th. gear.......of 6.

What a wonderful bunch of engine makers down there in Maranello. All these compleately different characters of engine layouts, each one so special in its own means. I'm delighted and conscious that I should be very thankful to be able to experience all those differences.

As the F50 was my replacement for the F40, naturally some observations and comparisons happened to be directly adressed between the two. They are different cars, and different layouts engine wise although the rough constructional layout seems from distance pretty equal. It is not. As Boxer always said, the F50 is in another league as it must be as a successor...as the 458 is above else for now.

On a final note I have to admit that after having driven so many different Ferraris over all those years, my tendency towards the simple, raw, lightweight and "mechanical movement feeling" F-cars is obvious. Its kind like with classical music: You start with Mozart, Beethôven and Haydn, may deviate while romantic towards Chopin and Liszt, being blindly in love maybe Debussy but at the end you will get back to raw straightforward intonation, Bach.

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

BEAUTIFUL, 212, simply Beautiful,...almost poetic. Thank You. So happy that things have turned out the way you wished for. Many, many happy moments for you ahead. w/ smiles Jimmy

[Barry]

What a report 212! The final doubt put firmly to rest in the F50 conundrum. I'm delighted you got to sample your new machine's delights so soon. It would have been a long Christmas (and winter) if the snow had arrived before you got her out.

Many thanks for sharing the experience with us!

[Barry]

Now where's the pics?

[360 Modena]

Amazing post 212, you are one deserving owner/driver

Thanks you so very much for sharing w/all of us

How is your wife doing?

And yes, more pics please!

[Brian]

Congrats on the car.


It is in my opinion one of the top 3 or 4 road cars Ferrari has ever made, the difference between them personal tastes. There is no single word to describe driving one. Exhilaration is closest but a couple of magnitudes short.


Be careful, it is a lot of car.

[212Export]

Thank's to all you enthusiasts.
@ Barry: Made only about 5-6 pics outside and they will follow over the weekend. Sorry, but I was more eager to go and drive...
@360 modena: My wife will be operated in about 10 days, thank you for asking!

@ Brian: You bring it to the point with much less talking and writing than myself with my "parrot" style

[JazzyO]

Wonderful report!


Onno

[a1exander]

"What a wonderful and beautiful car to drive. My first time all alone in a F50, my F50. A dream come true."

For me the single most important point is the one above and one which encapsulates all the emotions.

Once again well done to you for realising your dreams and wish that you and your family enjoy it in good health.

[StefVan]

Wow, what a great review! I ate every single word of it . I hope one day, I'll have the chance to drive one because the F50 must be a hell of a car. Thanks for sharing all your impressions in such a detailed way

[212Export]

Thank you all very much!

@StefVan: In another thread, you mention Michelin PS2 as a very good tire quality also for mid temperature condition here in Switzerland (sometimes higher altitude the cause as well). Would you think that this could be a good choice for the F50 as well, once I need replacements ?

[StefVan]

Sorry, but I'm not familiar enough with the F50 requirements in terms of tires. The PS2 do a great job on the F430,even at high speed. Maybe Brian or Terry can give you some advice for your car?

[Vitalone]

Fantastic driving impressions of the magnificent F50, 212Export. Thank you! The images from your report of the red sun and the mountains close by and the drama of the F50 capture the magic of driving a Ferrari in beautiful Europe. And what a Ferrari! Wishing you many happy and safe driving miles in both the D and F50.

[212Export]

Originally Posted by Vitalone

Fantastic driving impressions of the magnificent F50, 212Export. Thank you! The images from your report of the red sun and the mountains close by and the drama of the F50 capture the magic of driving a Ferrari in beautiful Europe. And what a Ferrari! Wishing you many happy and safe driving miles in both the D and F50.

Thanks, David. How are you doing ? Already in brat. ?

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

I had a question, 212. The sound insulation you had put in, was that standard or you beefed it up ? The reason I ask is I heard that noise is very loud within. Thanx. w/ smiles Jimmy

[Vitalone]

Originally Posted by 212Export

Thanks, David. How are you doing ? Already in brat. ?

Doing well thanks 212Export. Have spent the past two weeks in Brat. Was fun to arrive at work this morning in the back seat of the hotel's Rolls Phantom. Only in Bratislava! Next week will be arriving at work in Amsterdam on my trusty bicycle sans gears and with back-pedal drum brake dating from about 1901. From the sublime to the ridiculous...Planning to move across to here around Spring next year.