I went to a party hosted by a wife's colleague last night when this murmur spread through the gathering that there was a Ferrari parked outside, and not just any ferrari but an F50 !

Well, just about that time I am introduced to this fellow who is an A320 Airbus pilot and the husband of another of my wife's friends.
She introduced me as "a car nut just like you !"


Well, this guy was an extremely nice fellow who had a real passion for the marque and we quickly disappeared outside to the car.

Even in the evening dark, the beautiful lines of this car were evident in red. What a presence this car had. The whirring of the starter from the push of a button was the kind of theatrics that make owning a car like this the experience that it is. We drove off with him driving and put it through some brisk bursts that brought the engine to song.....AMAZING ! The back end would twitch under acceleration anf broke loose a couple of times but was easy to recover. He pulled into a side street and hops out and while I'm sitting there glued to my seat says "lets switch !"

Lets switch ? HOLY SHI&*^&^ ! I ease into the drivers position and belt up. First impressions are that the seats offer amazing lateral support, and the clutch is very stiff. Ease out of first and off we go ! The gated shifter was a bit notchy, but you get used to it. What surprised me was the brakes. Very unimpressive I have to say. They are non ABS brakes that did not grab the same way as the car leapt forward. This guy was telling me that the F50 brakes took a lot of criticism and in some magazine testing actually had longer stopping distance than some contemporary domestics !

We drove back to the party, and he hops out. At that point I took it for a spin alone and really got on it. The engine note is pure art as far as I am concerned, and that was the best party I had been to in a while !!!!!

Later, I got back to the party and shared car stories with a new friend that was equally afflicted with the disease as my friends on this board ! I wish I had driven my beast to the party as he was really interested in driving it, and I would have loved to reciprocate the favour. No mind, I think there will be lots of opportunites in the future. The funny thing is, my wife didn't want me to take the car because she would feel too conspicuous amongst her new resident colleagues ! I laughed later and told her an F50 didn't exactly "blend" !

 

AWESOME! Does an Airbus pilot make that much money to be able to afford an F50??

 

Buddy,

I think he buys and fixes Ferrari's as a stress relieving hobby. He told me he traded 3 or 4 ferrari's for the F50...This particular F50 had been tracked in California, and the engine needs to come out for a rebuild.

I bet that will cost a little "coin"

 

wow, nice guy. i bet very few of the already very few f50 owners would let anyone else drive their car, let alone a complete stranger.

 

I think Pilots are well paid

 

wow great story... So when you got back to the party and got out of the car did he say "Why don't you take it out for a spin by your self!"

 

Offroadr,

i think thats what surprised me ! I mean, you have to be pretty trusting and ballsy to let a stranger get into a car like that. But, I guess our short conversation about cars prior to the trip convinced him I could handle it !

No question though, an extremely nice guy and not the norm for F type ferrari owners I'm sure.

 

Sandoval,

Yep, we get back and he says' Take it for a spin yourself !!!!"

not only that, when I get back again, my wife is waiting in the drive way and I took her for a ride ! Her reaction was pretty amusing to say the least ! something to the effect of "holy freakin &&**&^*& !"

I've turned her into a monster !

 

That is one great story!!
Never driven an F50 myself but been in one with a friend in Miami (he sold it and now has an Enzo!!)...His had Tubi straight pipes and headers!!!!! Loud does not describe it...Hope Porsche moves into V8s or bigger engines in the next gen 911 so we can have better sounding cars...
BTW - this pilot has one expensive hobby

 

I know your buddy also...he did not sell the F50, he has BOTH!!!!!!
Very nice, I was sent pics of his new Enzo...it is VERY SWEET!! Bryan and I were talking about him the other day...
Yes his car is the loudest thing I have EVER heard in my life!!! He pulled into the Cavalino Classic last year and people were holding their ears .
Evan
PS-RUFMD:you are one lucky SOB I only wish I could RIDE in one let alone drive it!!! I have sat in F40's, F50's, and even an Enzo, but never been for a ride in um

 

Evan - you sure we tlaking about the same kid?? I was 110% sure that they got rid of their F50...He now has a 360 spider and his dad (a true Ferraristi) has the Enzo amongst some other cool toys in Miami...

 

Well, I thought so...not many kids in Miami that have (or had) an F50 and Enzo... Is his Enzo black?? If not then no different person...sorry
Evan

 

RufMD , Not many people on this board that can say that.

 

You are one lucky duck!

All I can say is that I have seen a F50 in action (Monte Carlo), and I have sat in an Enzo (Detroit Auto Show Black-Tie Event).

 

Evan - my friend's F50, spider and Enzo are all Rosso Corsa