Good comments - this thing is rudimentary all right. For example, take the simple matter of the pedal area. Should be no big deal, right? Clutch, brake, throttle, maybe a dead pedal and off you go. On the F40, wrong answer. Even with my tightest, skinniest track day shoes, my 10 1/2 feet are too big for this baby. Maybe the car's designers all wore size 8's or something. Example: no way I can place my foot flat on the dead pedal without a fair amount of overlap over the clutch pedal. Example, unless you operate the clutch pedal with mainly your toes, when you turn the wheel any significant amount, a u-joint in the steering column spins and bangs into the top of your shoe. A bit disconcerting.

I've looked at re-positioning the pedals which is easy to do as they have lots of holes drilled in them. I've concluded that any moves to address one issue will just yield space issues somewhere else so I'm just sticking with it.

So how does one cope? Just place the tip of your shoe on the dead pedal and operate the clutch with your left toes too. It's a very stiff clutch, so just using your toes takes some commitment on the driver's part.

But it's exactly these kinds of quirks that make this car so interesting to drive - it truly commands your full attention all the time and I suppose none of us would have it any other way. There are plenty of other cars out there, including some mighty fast and good-handling ones, that a person can drive without 100% commitment - I guess it's all about what one is looking to experience when getting behind the wheel.

 

Congratulations.

Needs......bigger......turbos

 

Congrats on the beast..

 

Amazing...

 

I am terribly jealous. Top Ferrari of all time in my opinion, I am definitely obsessed with them...

 

I hope it's comes with spare undies!

Roger that on the 997TT:P

 

What a beautiful machine. But I think it needs a good detailin' .

I can only dream and imagine what it must be like to have that much of a car, with no power assisted things, and only you're will and skill keeping it in place. What a dream!!

 

Thanks and I hear you about it needing a good detail. That's being done first of next week by Bob at Auto Concierge who has worked on all my cars. Though I'm sure your work is excellent too!

And I'm with you - I too dreamt about this car since the F40's were first shown in 1987. So I guess in this instance, sometimes dreams do come true.

 

Just like my 348!
If you had to choose one - GT vs F40?

 

Wow, that is one of my favorite cars growing up. Congratulation.

 

Gee, I would not want to have to choose one because there are so many different criteria you could use for the selection:

Provenance: F40
Capabilities: CGT
Looks: F40
Sound (stock): CGT
Total driver involvement: F40
Maintenance: CGT
Steering feel: F40
Brakes: CGT

and the list goes on...which would you choose?

 

Not even a tough question....F40, no doubt.

I'll take the CGT though if offered.

 

SSNISTR,

How about for now I offer up a couple of the CGT's photos, both shot at Laguna Seca. First is tracking out of turn 5 up the hill, second is descending out of the corkscrew.

But I understand your preference - emotion usually wins over logic, and all of us enthusiasts who spend silly money on cars are clearly ruled by the former.

 

congrats

 

amazing car. congrats