Is the Ferrari Stradale worth it's asking price?

[Fast-Britches]

Been fairly absessed with this car since it was first unvieled some months ago. Watched the video of it circulating on the net of late, and am thinking, is this thing worth all the extra coin they're asking for it? Isn't it around 75k more than a "standard" 360?

 

[Thlam]

i don't think it actually is 75k more is a lot of money for new suspension and so on. If it was me i would just get the 360 spyder

 

[Famine]

What in Thor's Scrotum has this got to do with Gran Turismo Concept?

Cars in General forum, please.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

It's an interesting car, because it's the first indication that other manufacturers have got Ferrari on the run - particularly Lamborghini with the new Gallado.

Having read the comics, it appears that the Stradale is really only suitable as a track-day car (much like the NSX Type-R). As such, I would not say it's worth the money, speaking personally.

Like Thlam says, the 360 Spyder F1 is probably the best car in that range. If I had one, I'd spend all day looking for tunnels to drive through.

 

[Frustrated Palm]

I wouldnt mind owning one. Read an article on it in Road and Track. It has 25 more HP (425 HP), weighs 250 lbs less, a tranny that is clutchless (a computer does it) that can change gears in 150 miliseconds (faster than any human could do), and a bunch of other parts (and the regular 360 Modena isnt exactly a slug either). It was not made to be a race car though, more of a road car. That is why the exhaust is more made to sound cool, rather than a race car sound, and the editor thought it sounded better than a race car too. I forgot the month of the issue but if you want to know what issue it was, they were comparing the roadster's (S2000, Boxter, 350Z Roadster, etc)...

 

[Thlam]

Actually a stock 360 modena makes exactly 395hp they just call it 400hp so it sounds more appealing

 

[vat_man]

Isn't this just Ferrari's equivalent to the various GT versions of the Porsche 911?

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by vat_man
Isn't this just Ferrari's equivalent to the various GT versions of the Porsche 911?

Yeah - does that make it worth it?

 

[-Fred-]

Originally posted by M5Power
Yeah - does that make it worth it?

Considering a GT2 costs less, is more usable, easier to drive and is faster, i'd say no.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by PunkRock
Considering a GT2 costs less, is more usable, easier to drive and is faster, i'd say no.

Meh. You hate Ferrari; I hate Porsche. Though to be fair I hate most Ferraris also.

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by M5Power
Yeah - does that make it worth it?

You'll note I made no comment on my perceptions of the quality and worthiness of the vehicle.

That said - I can not for the life of me work out why this vehicle has stirred up such a commotion. It's a limited number, track edition 360. Big deal. It's not like they went and released a huge 4WD vehicle they're sharing with another manufacturer.

Oops.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by vat_man
You'll note I made no comment on my perceptions of the quality and worthiness of the vehicle.

That's why I asked!

That said - I can not for the life of me work out why this vehicle has stirred up such a commotion. It's a limited number, track edition 360. Big deal. It's not like they went and released a huge 4WD vehicle they're sharing with another manufacturer.

Oops.

👍

Huge? Hardly.

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by M5Power
[/bHuge? Hardly.

Well, let's run a 911 and a Cayenne headlong into each other at 80kmh and see what happens. It's all a matter of perspective.

Back on topic ( ) I'm actually a bit surprised Ferrari haven't done this sort of thing earlier. Did they do a Challenge version of the F355?

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by vat_man
Well, let's run a 911 and a Cayenne headlong into each other at 80kmh and see what happens. It's all a matter of perpsective.

Perspective indeed and comparative to the stuff running around on US roads, I perceive the Cayenne to be small. Note:

Back on top ( ) I'm actually a bit surprised Ferrari haven't done this sort of thing earlier. Did they do a Challenge version of the F355?

Yep.

 

[vat_man]

Oh - I wasn't doubting that there was stuff bigger. We did get the Suburban here for a while - very few people bought it.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by vat_man
Oh - I wasn't doubting that there was stuff bigger. We did get the Suburban here for a while - very few people bought it.

Did you get the Tahoe? We call it the Suburban's economical cousin - just 17 feet long (and an impressive 15.5 MPG!).

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by M5Power
Did you get the Tahoe? We call it the Suburban's economical cousin - just 17 feet long (and an impressive 15.5 MPG!).

Ah - no. We did get both the petrol and diesel versions of the Suburban though. The diesel came in for some, uh, frank and candid discussion by the local motoring journalism fraternity.

I occasionally see one in town - some local tour company runs it. It has about three inches of lane space to spare on either side of the car.

There's been quite a shift in 4WD buying patterns here - the Landcruiser (not the Prado) and the Nissan Patrol were kings, but the top selling 4WDs are now Nissan X-Trails and Honda CR-Vs. Whilst the market for 4WDs has grown markedly, sales for the big guys have fallen, and it would seem many of the buyers have actually downsized into Prados, Pajeros (Shogun there?) and so on.

Can't wait for the Cayenne GT3....

 

[CerberaLM]

If you want a balls-out track car and have the money to burn, you could do worse than a Stradale.

Of course, you could also do a lot better for half the money, but it won't have a dancing pony on it.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by vat_man
Ah - no. We did get both the petrol and diesel versions of the Suburban though. The diesel came in for some, uh, frank and candid discussion by the local motoring journalism fraternity.

I occasionally see one in town - some local tour company runs it. It has about three inches of lane space to spare on either side of the car.

Consider yourself lucky. I cannot remember the last time, if ever, Chevrolet used a diesel engine in a vehicle here in the US - certainly never in the Suburban. I want one immediately.

There's been quite a shift in 4WD buying patterns here - the Landcruiser (not the Prado) and the Nissan Patrol were kings, but the top selling 4WDs are now Nissan X-Trails and Honda CR-Vs. Whilst the market for 4WDs has grown markedly, sales for the big guys have fallen, and it would seem many of the buyers have actually downsized into Prados, Pajeros (Shogun there?) and so on.

Rising gas prices? Maybe slightly smaller vehicles are becoming the new trend, though from what I hear the Patrol is laughably outdated.

The Land Crusier thing is interesting - Toyota has realised that they can still make money off the old Land Cruiser so they're being very careful with how they market and position the new one. We get it (the Prado in Australia) as a Lexus only and it's the most advanced SUV on the market - every electronic thing you can think of it has.

Pajero in Australia and Japan, Shogun in Europe, Montero in the US, by the way.

Can't wait for the Cayenne GT3....

Wait but don't hold your breath - I'm still waiting for the X5 M.

 

[Fast-Britches]

http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/324/

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by vat_man
Well, let's run a 911 and a Cayenne headlong into each other at 80kmh and see what happens. It's all a matter of perspective.

You're only saying that because it would rid the world of two Porsches!

Originally posted by vat_man
Back on topic ( ) I'm actually a bit surprised Ferrari haven't done this sort of thing earlier. Did they do a Challenge version of the F355?

The "Challenge" cars (there was a 348, and a 355 and now a 360) are little more than slightly modified versions of the standard car. They have things like 5-point safety harnesses and mesh rear grilles. Slightly enlarged brake ducts, and that sort of thing. In other words, they can't go any faster than the standard cars, but they're able to maintain performance out at the far end of the envelope for longer.

The Stradale is the first real example of Ferrari on the hop, since the F40 came out anyway.

 

[Danny]

Everyone Asks Wether it is worth the money, But then you see things like this, and it changes your viewIs this worth it?

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by ultrabeat
Everyone Asks Wether it is worth the money, But then you see things like this, and it changes your viewIs this worth it?

But why does it change your view? That's just sales rhetoric! It's hardly likely to say that the 911GT3 is faster, or that the BMW M3CSL is better value, or that the Lamborghini Gallardo is a better car off the track, or that the NSX Type-R is a better car on-track, are they?

I have to say that I think the market for cars like the 360 Challenge Stradale, and NSX Type-R is quite limited. Anyone with £130,000 to spend on a track-day car is unlikely to spend that kind of money when they could buy a Westfield XTR or Radical SR3, and find that they had a quicker, more focussed, more racey car, for less than half the money.

Even the 911GT3 retains a semblance of roadworthiness, but the above listed cars are all likely to be popular as "weekend cars", because you don't have to take them to a track to enjoy them, which was pretty much the claim levelled at the Ferrari. I would think that this car will appeal only to Ferrari collectors and aspirationalists.

If I had that kind of money, and was looking for something a bit special, I wouldn't buy it. To me, it's not worth the asking price. It's not worth the uplift in cost over the standard car.

 

[Mike Rotch]

I see that you mention the M3 CSL. Now in my opinion it is a fine car, but in South Africa it has a 50 % premium over and above the regular M3. That price is serious porsche territory - so way over priced. Bmw's are great, but shucks, not for that money...

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by Mike Rotch
I see that you mention the M3 CSL. Now in my opinion it is a fine car, but in South Africa it has a 50 % premium over and above the regular M3. That price is serious porsche territory - so way over priced. Bmw's are great, but shucks, not for that money...

Yeah, it's something like that here too. I mentioned it because even at £60,000 it's still half the price of the Ferrari. The fact that it's 150% of the price of a standard M3 makes it expensive, and a greater percentage uplift between the 360 and the 360CS, but it is still useable on an everyday basis.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Originally posted by GilesGuthrie
Yeah, it's something like that here too. I mentioned it because even at £60,000 it's still half the price of the Ferrari. The fact that it's 150% of the price of a standard M3 makes it expensive, and a greater percentage uplift between the 360 and the 360CS, but it is still useable on an everyday basis.

Hmmm..an arbitrage opportunity here..... 60000 quid for the CSL there, an equivalent CSL 80000 quid here. 💡

 

[Danny]

A)It is an emotive image designed to stir passion by the way they're shot (Ie the deep red) With a contrasting background.This is clever on ferrari's part.
B)You can get a turbo filter put on a standard M3 by a japanese company, that you can put together yourself for £450. This will boost the bhp up to 500, Which is more than the csl. Isn't that better value? Besides you can only get the csl in grey, Whereas the Standard M3 comes in the sexy dark purple.

 

[Nightmage82]

im still unconvinced about the new gearbox thing that seems to get put in all the new ferraris. correct me if im wrong but can u even buy a stradale with a regular stick shift manual gearbox?

my daily driver is a manual. i spent all summer driving an automatic and after 2 months i was _almost_ bored with driving. there's something extra to be had from holding onto the transmission with ur left hand and the wheels (steering wheel) with ur right. (hehe err make any adjustments for non right hand drive vehicles).

but like other people said, if i had spent a decade saving up £130,000 and i wanted a blazing track car, i'd more likely go for a porsche, or something much cheaper but much more crude, westfield, or an E30 m3 kitted out for track or something. i've seen an evil e30 conversion that had an engine swap with the e39 m5. 0-60 in less than you can say 'nought to sixty'

 

[Danny]

Originally posted by Nightmage82: im still unconvinced about the new gearbox thing that seems to get put in all the new ferraris. correct me if im wrong but can u even buy a stradale with a regular stick shift manual gearbox?

thats an interesting opinion, but nightmage, the conversation's moved on

 

[Nightmage82]

Originally posted by ultrabeat

thats an interesting opinion, but nightmage, the conversation's moved on [/QUOTE]