Chris L

Ether way it's a cracking car and I would have one tomorrow. See one in the flesh and they are amazing. The colour works believe me. Not many cars could get away with it. I was lucky enough to see 3 at the TiPEC show last week (including Cem's) they are simply stunning cars.

The ceramic brake question is, as Cem said, really defined by how you intend to drive the car. The fact that the 'standard' steel discs can stand the punishment of a full on Porsche Cup race with no side effects, says to me that they are perfectly capable of withstanding anything we could throw at it on a track day. I know Cem has already taking his car around Spa.

If you intend to keep the car and use it in a 'spirited' fashion on the road, then the ceramics start to make sense. With this kind of use, they are expected to last 4 or 5 times longer than normal steel brakes. The replacement cost is not too bad, compared to 5 sets of steel brakes. If you drive normally, then as Chuck says, the brakes would probably outlast the car. So don't dismiss people who have the ceramics, it is not as clear cut as it seems. You will also see this technology making its way down into more 'humble' sports cars over the next decade or so.

However, if you intend to use the car for the purpose that it was intended i.e. around the track, then steel is going to be the only sensible option. Given their performance, I doubt they would be found lacking.

Chris

Adam M

shame its still white.

Only thing that would allow me to have one is that you can hardly see that god awful colour when in the driving seat.

Blow Dog

I see the comedians have just crawled out of the woodwork again (Craig + Adam).

Craig,
If you'd spend less time building and more time driving, you may have the opportunity to see me at a trackday soon. I'm well keen to see your monster too.

Adam,
This car wouldn't suit you anyway. Need to do at least 4 miles a year to make good use of it. Track days are also a good idea in a car like this but I know you prefer to polish than to drive

Cem

Adam M

lol, says the man who taught me how to polish!

the same man who is too busy looking around to see who notices him, to enjoy the road!

Blow Dog

Adam,
Did you know your car's rev limit was higher than 3000?

Cem

jjones

cem you ****er, you went to tipec and didn't tell me! i could walk there from here! maybe you didn't want to see me. oh shi...

Blow Dog

lmfao

Shi...I thought to tell you boys but I changed my mind as I thought James might come too.

Cem

CraigH

One could say you're normally too busy looking around when on track, to notice the corners

Cem,

I'll show you my monster if you show me yours

igratton

Cem,

like I said - get booked in for August the 31st at Bedford autodrome (Seloc) - they we can all have a in-depth look at each others beasts

Bank Holiday so not a work day buddy.

We are doing the Porka owners day with Autocar at Bedford a few days prior to that too. Hoping to have a drive in a GT3 then - should be an interesting yardstick to the westi I think.

Ian.

RedFive

Can you explain why that is?

mynickers

Calm down, calm down!

What 'I' was trying to saying was if you want the best, expect to pay for it! On a similar note to what Ed was saying despite Porker making shed loads of cars for a sports car company, they still don't have anywhere near the economy's of scale of the larger car corporations. Small production runs of high tech parts, using the latest technology isn't cheap. Although £5k for replacement discs is abit excessive I grant you!

If you dont' want to pay a fortune on parts for a performance car though, dont' get a Porker RS


All cars need it! They love it!

I think you made the right choice Cem! Saw a Gallarado the other day, my misses said it was a hideous attention seeking ostentatious *** extension of a car! So she didn't like it much, I was too busy wanking off to listen to her lol, it's a very good looking car, but I think the RS is a better track day car.

I like that one!

Ralf

I heard rumours they are making a profit of 20K Euros per car

mynickers

There is alot of profit in the high marque areana for sure, which is why alot of manufacturers such as VW are trying to move their brands into that market place. But they still don't have the financial resources of the consolidated mulitnational giants! High cost of materials and parts, and also high mark up, but reletively speaking low production run. Although as sports cars go, it's a massive production run, but compared to Merc or Ford its peanuts!

Blow Dog

Nope
If you mean technically, I think it's because the cobwebs start clinging to the piston thingies and the valves start to get all rusty because the turbochargers don't get up to temperature. Oh wait, I don't have turbos do I...?

Ian,
Is that GT circuit? I need to bloody register for SELOC. Book me up and I'll be there!

Cem

igratton

Yes Cem,

full GT circuit. get yourself over to http://www.seloc.org

No excuses

Type R

At the last SELOC day there were 2 RS's, 1 was very fast and one I could keep within viewing distance just !!!

DavidBrown

Do you think this is still true of Ferraris ? I know the older models were a bit flimsy but I've been very impressed with the 360.
In fact, my 360 Spider had done 39,000 abusive miles before I sold it, and it didn't miss a beat.

360 Modenas are becoming pretty "reasonable" nowadays with some dropping into the mid-£60s

Great track car though Cem.

Edcase

IMO the last 'flimsy' model was the 348.

The targa version was a joke, the roof literally squeaked over every tiny bump or jolt the car hit.

Clutch was like a rock. Heavy lifeless steering.

The 355 was where Ferrari really started getting it right. Great driving position, climate control that actually works, light clutch, wonderful steering, I haven't driven a 911 yet, but the 355 would be pretty effortless to drive around town, except for the rear visibility not being great.

But on a track it was fantastic. Almost surreally pointy, and the back end of the car was connected so intimately with what you do with your right foot, both powering on and lifting off. You *really* have to be careful coming off the power in anything less than a straight line.

The 355 still has the problem with battery life and location, but the guy who's I drove around Goodwood said providing you use the car hard now and again it was fine. He basically lends his to the Goodwood driving School and they keep it serviced and pay for consumables, so it spends most of its life on the track and as you say David it didn't miss a beat.

Blow Dog

Consider my opinions based on reputation rather than experience. Would Ferarri honour warranty claims knowing you'd been thrashing it around on a circuit?

Cem

Blow Dog

Ian,

Booked and paid for dude - cya there!
http://forums.seloc.org/showevent.php?eid=265

Cem

scoobynutta555

If you don't like the colour, then get it sprayed any colour you like

DavidBrown

Yep, in fact they encourage it ! Most Ferrari dealers hold trackdays to encourage owners to use their cars properly !

Edcase

Yeah this guy at goodwood was on his 3rd ferrari (previously 348 and 328 gtb) both of which had also been tracked extensively, and had no probs with warranty / dealers.

The 360 cs is probably the closest comparison to the gt3 rs, and the car is designed and marketed as a trackday tool, so there is no way they could then have issues with track use.

Old_Fart

OTOH David I know of a 2001 360 F1 thingy which seemed to live up to the Ferrari reputation..clutch didn't last 5k, rust bubbles below sidelights already, suspension problems, ECU needed replacing at 15k miles...
But I know of 2 GT3RS which needed engine rebuilds within months of purchase also..these low production cars suck

Do you still own the Exige David? I'll bet Craig and Hippy would love to callibrate their Westie aginst that
Chuck

DavidBrown

For sure, you'll hear horror stories about any marque (ie. £25,000 for PCCB brakes..) and most people will/should avoid the F1 box.

Nah, I sold the Exige nearly a year ago.

Just have the Merc S600 and R34 Skyline at the moment.. though there could be rumblings of a stampeding-bull..

igratton

'bout time too Cem - we've only been talking about it for the last 6 weeks or so it will be lots of fun. If you have any video gear bring it along - we can try and get some nice chase shots.

Having never owned either a Porka (once looked at a 993) or a Ra Ra (once looked at a 348) I would still think a 996 would hold together longer than a 360 - or am I assuming too much about the build on german cars theses days - I know some porka owners believe early 996 cars were not screwed together as well as the 993.

Watching David Yu munch a clutch from the passenger seat of his 355 gave me bad dreams about running costs of exotica.

If I was buying such a car my mind would shout 996 GT3RS and my heart would scream Ra Ra 360CS. Thing is we have to remember that generally speaking if you can afford to buy the machine in the first place you should also be able foot the running costs.

I think the other issue we are up against these days is getting the chance to exploit such a car on the road is getting next to impossible unless you are a very naughty boy.

I know one of my reasons us running the XTR4 is this - if you can only use the car properly on the track you may as well have something very raw for maximum driver involvement. Its such a joy to drive a car that requires you to know and understand what you are doing - I feel we''ve both advanced (Craig I'm sure will say I've regressed LOL) - this car is a very physical experience and it has inspired me to actually try to keep fit (I've lost 1/2 stone YAY!!!) pushing for 20 mins on Bedford GT is leaves me fooked.

Chuck - I would love to try Davids Exige - I was very nearly interested in buying it at one point. I loved driving the std 190bhp car so I'm sure the supercharger would make it fly. You should get yourself along for a play you old_fart

Blow Dog

David,
No questions though, if I had an extra £50k burning a hole in my pocket, I'd rather have a CS in my drive. That's if I wanted a £140k track car. My wife would have me assasinated though. I'm also aiming for a bull in the garage, but I want the big brother. Murci is the most beautiful car on the road today in my honest opinion.

Ian,
I do have suction mounts and recording equipment. I'll have it ready for the day.
That SELOC day is an absolute bargain - what's the catch?

Cem

DavidBrown

That's the one I'm referring to. I'm currently in "negotiations"

igratton

The catch is you turn up - you drive with nice bunch of track edjucated lotus owners and their mates - you all smile and have a great day driving the $#!+ out of you and the car. A nice open pit too so you can pick your moment.

Thats the catch (err ) - my 3rd time here with these folks this year.

Til '10 is familiarisation time for folks new to beford - every driver has to do 3 laps not exceeding 50mph - but its good for another few observation laps to see the corners at a slow speed - you been since they changed the layout of the long left-hander before the back straight ?

Just returned from a quick blat in the XTR4 on the road - its not really at home on the road - but it will do

Blow Dog

David,
My ICQ got hacked so please re-authorise me when you can.

Ian,
What are peoples reactions to your car on the road??

Cem