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View Full Version : Apr 11: Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale indepth!


TT
04-10-2007, 04:58 PM
Had to push this indpeth up the queue since the owner couldn't wait to see it featured. And considering his next car will be damn interesting too, I need to make him as happy as possible, to be able to shoot that one too :)

I always wanted to hitch a ride in a CS since it was launched. I saw tons of them racing on track, on the road, at meetings. But never managed to make contact with an owner till some weeks ago when everything went fast forward and I found myself strapped into the passenger seat, ready to go-

Then this guy registered on the swiss board asphalte.ch and started to attend our monthly meeting. What the hell, I had to try my chance, we quickly met at march's meeting, but too many ppl asking him questions about his beauty and I had no real opportunity. So I went the PM way, and well, the indepth now is done! And this is a hell of a CS. Typical color combo, red w/ stripe and red/black interior, it is lowered and it has a big wing. You can argue about the need of the wing, but just so you know, this car covered 9'000 km so far, and a good 80% on track, where the owner says he can feel the added downforce in long, fast corners. If it's usefull, it's ok to have it there, ok? :)

I adored the CS since the first day it was presented, and to be allowed to take a good look at it, to touch it and so on is really priceless. Maybe not the more exotic car I shoot, but a damn fine Maranello product.

What about the passenger experience? Well, bloody brillant. We shoot at three different locations and covered quite some km inbetween, which is something I always appreciate. Strapped in those racing seats with 4 point seat belts is fur enjoyable, even if the slow cruising lasted longer than I thought. This car runs racing oil, which is dense, and take sensibly more to reach the perfect temperature. Isn't it cool?

Luckily the time came for hell to break loose and the way the car is transformed by the press of a button is beyond words.
I saw literaly tons of CS being flored on track and on the road, and I know how the dull low revs sound has nothing to do with the above 4000 rpm firing range experience, and yet, when the owner first reached for the magic button, and went for it, I was like :shock:.
You expect it, and yet it's so totally mad and different that you'd swear there are two engines behind you. Believe me, it's amazing! It's like ON / OFF.
But well, what is really impressive, and I mean, REALLY, is when a corner approach. We were doing around 170 kmh when I realized there was a long sweeper at the end of the straigh. A 90 to 100 km/h corner I'd say. Well, we reached what I considered being already a late braking point and my instinct made me press my feet against the carpet. Nothing, not a flinch from the owner, who actually pulled the right paddle, engaging an higher gear and kept accelerating. I was sure we were about to die since the corner was just a few meters down the road when he jumped off the gas and on the left pedal while quickly downshifting. All I know is I had to look for my eye balls under the seat and that my ears were just pierced by the BLAM-BANG of the automatic trottle blipping. Holy shit those braking. He did me this trick twice, and it's just imprissive how close to a corner you can go, at 200 km/h, before even thinking about braking.
The way the car stays flat through the bends is also mesmerising.
The main feature is for sure the way the car transforms itself

Here are the pics. It was actually my first day with the 30D which I picked up the evening before, so it was quite tricky and the very strong and low on the horizon sun didn't help a bit, but I think most pics are still ok ;) Enjoy!

Click any preview to be taken to the full 46 high-res pics update

http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/504/medium/Ferrari_360_Challenge_Stradale_1387.jpg (http://www.swisscarsightings.com/indepth/pages/indepthferrari360cs.html)
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/504/medium/Ferrari_360_Challenge_Stradale_1372.jpg (http://www.swisscarsightings.com/indepth/pages/indepthferrari360cs.html)
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/504/medium/Ferrari_360_Challenge_Stradale_1377.jpg (http://www.swisscarsightings.com/indepth/pages/indepthferrari360cs.html)
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/504/medium/Ferrari_360_Challenge_Stradale_1378.jpg (http://www.swisscarsightings.com/indepth/pages/indepthferrari360cs.html)
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/504/medium/Ferrari_360_Challenge_Stradale_1391.jpg (http://www.swisscarsightings.com/indepth/pages/indepthferrari360cs.html)
http://www.jabbasworld.net/photopost/data/504/medium/Ferrari_360_Challenge_Stradale_1408.jpg (http://www.swisscarsightings.com/indepth/pages/indepthferrari360cs.html)

Fleischmann
04-10-2007, 05:09 PM
Awesome shots and a very good right up. I'm sure that if I was in your place I'd have shit my pants ! Any hints as to what the future car will be or are you keeping it a secret for now ? :D

TT
04-10-2007, 05:16 PM
No secret. He ordered already months ago, before it was confirmed actually, a "Light Pista". Expected delivery, beginning 2008 i think

chest3r
04-10-2007, 05:19 PM
One of my favourite cars of the last years !!! And I'm pretty sure I will love it for long years 8)

IMO that rear wing looks horrible, but.... with that awesome sound.... I would take it even in pink :lol:

Thanks for the pics !!

pzgren
04-10-2007, 05:25 PM
my oh my..... what a machine... somehow i like it with the wing... brilliant pics as always :P

TopGearNL
04-10-2007, 05:52 PM
Great write-up Matteo and very nice pics!

One of my most desired Ferrari's ever this one! :D

Very interesting to read about the track ride, how it handled and how the owner could do some amazing stuff! The G-force in the corner must be intense!

Not sure what to think about the wing, but it does fit and increase the downforce so the owner says so why not?

And the sound must have been amazing, luckily Sameerrao shared his vid so we know how this monster sounds from inside! :twisted:

sameerrao
04-10-2007, 06:27 PM
Cool shoot TT. The pics came out real nice.

Isnt the feel and sound of the CS something out of the world. My best in car experience to date and my friend wasn't even close to the limit like your friend was.

ferrari550
04-10-2007, 07:24 PM
Great Read TT and pics are fantastic!!

dingo
04-10-2007, 07:32 PM
Haha, I don't think I've ever heard a person say a bad thing about a CS drive/passenger ride...it really is mindblowing!

Nice pictures and I have to say I like the wing, on a car like this it doens't look out of place.

Fav pic is this one, simple but effective!

http://www.swisscarsightings.com/ferrari/thumbs/Ferrari%20360%20Challenge%20Stradale%201387.jpg

gis
04-10-2007, 07:50 PM
That was a joy to read mate,from your description you could really imagine what it was like,you must have been one happy bunny that day,lol

Thanks for the pics,they are great :D

twboy1999
04-10-2007, 11:56 PM
nice ride up
sounds like you had a blast with the cs

Cs is one of my all time favorite ferrari

MIHALS
04-11-2007, 03:04 AM
awesome writings and pics :love:

my fave pic is the same as dingo mentioned :good:

I think if there wasn't the stripe, the wing wouldn't look so nice - I like it that way :D

thanx for a great load TT :wink:

Shinigami
04-11-2007, 03:54 AM
One of my favorite cars as well, nice write up!

stmoritzer
04-11-2007, 05:38 AM
same here, my dream Ferrari :love:

thanks for the interesting read, nice pictures as we are used to see!
What a nice experience to ride in such a car.

The wing is ok IMO - and helpful,since 80% trackused :mrgreen:

MartijnGizmo
04-11-2007, 06:43 AM
Very nice car and nice shoot, but fast cars don't belong on the grass. :P

ViperASR
04-11-2007, 11:43 AM
Awesome review and shoot. But even better car :twisted:

TT
04-11-2007, 12:20 PM
Very nice car and nice shoot, but fast cars don't belong on the grass. :P

LOL :D I would have killed to shoot in on track and in a pitlane, but since there is no track in the region, I guessed grass would do :D wing or not :D

Smartdriver
04-11-2007, 12:36 PM
Absolutely great car and shots! :good:
Well done, TT!

ae86_16v
04-11-2007, 01:04 PM
Great shots as usual TT. As boring as Red might be, I still think that is the best color for a Ferrari.

Why do people dislike the 360 so much? I think it has an awesome shape. :)

silentm
04-11-2007, 02:00 PM
awesome write up, very entertaining to read. imo the wing fits nicely, it's a very muscular car and it just complements it. nice CF ;)

sameerrao
04-11-2007, 02:04 PM
Oh TT I forgot to mention one thing in my original post --> RE-POST :fuck: ;)

TT
04-11-2007, 04:54 PM
:P I was just a tad slower than you :D

sameerrao
04-11-2007, 04:58 PM
You snooze you lose! ;)

TT
04-11-2007, 04:59 PM
Mince has a bigger wing :fuck:

TopGearNL
04-11-2007, 05:18 PM
^^ Exactly my thoughts! :D

I don't like the normal 360 because its nose looks weird and the lights too.. :bah:

chest3r
04-11-2007, 06:32 PM
What's wrong with the Modena !? For me the CS is just a sportier version of the Modena.

The 360 Modena is already a very beautiful car, and will be a great looking classic car in the future, just like the 348 and the 355. Yes, I know they're not trues classics yet.

But the CS is stunning. It has all the beauty of the 360 plus a race look. It looks very low, and close to the tract. That one with the wing looks higher, and that's why I don't like it.

TT
04-12-2007, 06:20 AM
As dani and TGNL, IMO even if thanks to simple details, the look of a CS differs greatly from the basic model. As pointed out, the front bumper is just wrong in the Modena and it was corrected with the new one in the CS.
A Modena can only look decent in dark colors IMO.

Erez
04-12-2007, 06:27 AM
8) 8) 8) :twisted:
TT, Thanks :D

TopGearNL
04-12-2007, 09:12 AM
As dani and TGNL, IMO even if thanks to simple details, the look of a CS differs greatly from the basic model. As pointed out, the front bumper is just wrong in the Modena and it was corrected with the new one in the CS.
A Modena can only look decent in dark colors IMO.

Well said TT!

Amen! :wink:

chest3r
04-12-2007, 10:26 AM
I still don't agree with that but what really matters is the CS is an awesome car. I

It's one of my favourite cars ever, and I just hope the new F430 Light Pista will be as cool as this 8)

MC12
04-14-2007, 04:38 PM
Awesome shoot TT. I love this car, not too sure on the spoiler but it looks not bad :D. I love the write up and the pics are fantastic. My favourite is also the one which Dingo and Mihals have mentioned :mrgreen: