Ferrari F40 v 488 Pista drag race.

[FezSpider]

Well, I enjoyed it

[Camlet]

Thanks, although shame poor old Tiff totally buggered his first to second shift making the content kinda pointless. Guess the F40's owner looked at his start and said no to a re-run.
The Pista (coupe) is brutally aggressive (and in cold damp conditions on its Cup tyres likely to cause serious damage to life and limb if underestimated) but the F40 is the stuff of dreams and run rings around any modern car in terms of driver experience, not to mention the insanity when boost comes in - nearest thing to a Star Trek jump to Warp speed.

[IMI A]

Great example though of cars never matching manufacturers claims unless perfect conditions. Mean while a 996, 997 and 991 turbo will beat that Pista to a 130mph whatever the conditions. Send it to tuner and it will leave the Pista at 130mph. Cant wait for VMAX tomorrow

[likesachange]

Gobsmacked at the weight of the F40.. surely thats not right.. I was sure it must be well sub 1200kg..

Almost the same weight as a new Ferrari spider!? with 30yrs advanced safety, electronics etc. I know engine and gearbox will undoubtedly be heavier in F40 tho..

If you look et the terminals they are only 4mph difference. But that just shows me Pista lifted towards the end. Should be hitting 135.. not 121. Shame after all that effort.. Pedantic maybe.

Would have been nice to see in gear comparisons.. both in manual 4th gear at 50mph or something... (in fact that wouldn't be fair either with F40 being a 5 speed I presume!)

[Rari]

That F40 appears to be riding high on its front suspension too.

[Stig]

Given the advances in traction/launch control, tyre tech etc. how on earth does anyone think the F40 has any chance??

I know it has 'legendary ' PH status, but you're comparing cars that are 33 years apart in age.

[sparta6]

30+ years older design is 1 second slower ?

Not too shabby

[blueg33]

F40 - stunning car, and the one Harry Metcalfe cited as a hero not to meet.

[JamieBeeston]

blueg33 said:

F40 - stunning car, and the one Harry Metcalfe cited as a hero not to meet.

Beautiful to behold, less fun to drive unless you're on the continent in the hot sun with fresh sticky rubber.

Still.. enjoyed it all the same... even when it did go from Lane3 to Lane1 on the M6 without me requesting it to in the rain!
Or when I had to open the windows to see where I was going
Or when I had to plan braking quite a while in advance
Or when I had to have a cigarette lighter heater plugged in to demist the front screen
Or when I had water pouring in over my feet as I drove in the rain
Or when I had wheel spin on the motorway from acceleration in the rain
or when I had to bail water out of the driver foot well one morning

beautiful to behold

[franki68]

blueg33 said:

F40 - stunning car, and the one Harry Metcalfe cited as a hero not to meet.

A friend has one and says similar.

[WCZ]

F40 to look at and F50 to drive please

[sparta6]

JamieBeeston said:

Beautiful to behold, less fun to drive unless you're on the continent in the hot sun with fresh sticky rubber.

Still.. enjoyed it all the same... even when it did go from Lane3 to Lane1 on the M6 without me requesting it to in the rain!
Or when I had to open the windows to see where I was going
Or when I had to plan braking quite a while in advance
Or when I had to have a cigarette lighter heater plugged in to demist the front screen
Or when I had water pouring in over my feet as I drove in the rain
Or when I had wheel spin on the motorway from acceleration in the rain
or when I had to bail water out of the driver foot well one morning

beautiful to behold

It's a proper Ferrari

[blueg33]

sparta6 said:

JamieBeeston said:

Beautiful to behold, less fun to drive unless you're on the continent in the hot sun with fresh sticky rubber.

Still.. enjoyed it all the same... even when it did go from Lane3 to Lane1 on the M6 without me requesting it to in the rain!
Or when I had to open the windows to see where I was going
Or when I had to plan braking quite a while in advance
Or when I had to have a cigarette lighter heater plugged in to demist the front screen
Or when I had water pouring in over my feet as I drove in the rain
Or when I had wheel spin on the motorway from acceleration in the rain
or when I had to bail water out of the driver foot well one morning

beautiful to behold

It's a proper Ferrari

That makes my Ginetta a proper Ferrari and aside from the beautiful bit my student Renault 4 too

[sparta6]

blueg33 said:

sparta6 said:

JamieBeeston said:

Beautiful to behold, less fun to drive unless you're on the continent in the hot sun with fresh sticky rubber.

Still.. enjoyed it all the same... even when it did go from Lane3 to Lane1 on the M6 without me requesting it to in the rain!
Or when I had to open the windows to see where I was going
Or when I had to plan braking quite a while in advance
Or when I had to have a cigarette lighter heater plugged in to demist the front screen
Or when I had water pouring in over my feet as I drove in the rain
Or when I had wheel spin on the motorway from acceleration in the rain
or when I had to bail water out of the driver foot well one morning

beautiful to behold

It's a proper Ferrari

That makes my Ginetta a proper Ferrari and aside from the beautiful bit my student Renault 4 too

I'm afraid it doesn't.

But it's good to hear that other marques also come alive

[thecremeegg]

I think if I had the money I'd buy an F40 and upgrade the brakes, suspension etc to modern levels, keeping the steering, throttle resposnse etc all standard.

[JamieBeeston]

thecremeegg said:

I think if I had the money I'd buy an F40 and upgrade the brakes, suspension etc to modern levels, keeping the steering, throttle resposnse etc all standard.

Then it wouldn't be an F40!

[thecremeegg]

JamieBeeston said:

Then it wouldn't be an F40!

Well it would, just better! I don't understand the desire to keep cars like this standard when they have such big flaws in the experience. I don't think better brakes and suspension would be detrimental, quite the opposite!
I know for some crap brakes and wobbly suspension is all part of the charm, but I think on a car like an F40 it is crying out for modern damping and big brakes. I wouldn't want to change the steering or the engine, but yea, I'd like to semi-update it!

If I won the Euros I'd just buy 2, keep one stock for the purists and never drive it, and have one that I semi restomod that I'd drive all the time.

[hunter 66]

Real issue with the F40 in these situations are the tyres , which only the original type fit the rim size , so 30 year old tech , then when on boost , grip is interesting

[JamieBeeston]

hunter 66 said:

Real issue with the F40 in these situations are the tyres , which only the original type fit the rim size , so 30 year old tech , then when on boost , grip is interesting

You're close, issue isn't the 30 yr old tech, its that most of the cars are on original tyres as its so hard to find replacements, so very old, very hard rubber.

[AndrewD]

JamieBeeston said:

Beautiful to behold, less fun to drive unless you're on the continent in the hot sun with fresh sticky rubber.

Still.. enjoyed it all the same... even when it did go from Lane3 to Lane1 on the M6 without me requesting it to in the rain!
Or when I had to open the windows to see where I was going
Or when I had to plan braking quite a while in advance
Or when I had to have a cigarette lighter heater plugged in to demist the front screen
Or when I had water pouring in over my feet as I drove in the rain
Or when I had wheel spin on the motorway from acceleration in the rain
or when I had to bail water out of the driver foot well one morning

beautiful to behold

Sounds like complete rubbish!