Ferrari 348 Test Drive

Yet another classic exotic owned by my father during the 80s/90s rolled into my local dealer.  This time a Ferrari 348 convertible.  Lately I have become more serious about moving away from the modern performance of the Porsche GT4 into something else that brings back the memories of growing up.  Basically Italian, Gated Shifter, V8 or such.  So I have been mulling where along the spectrum of "classic with no driver aids and limited electronics" to "somewhat newer but still memory with gated shifters" I want to be.  AKA for example between Ferrari 308 to a 360 or Gallardo and everything in between do I truly want less modernity, or do I prefer A/C that works... or both... 

Having previously test driven the 308s, 355 and a 360 as well as multiple Gallardos I have a pretty good feeling now for the lineage of both the Ferrari improvements and general progression of technology over time.  Basically increased reliability versus older classic mechanical cars.

The Ferrari 348 slotted in right between the end of the old 328 series and the newer 355.  As I was mulling the 355 my friend said he also had a 348 that I should check out.  Meanwhile I called yet a different friend to discuss the 355 who owns a 348.  Ends up it is his car that is potentially for sale.  Small world.

F348 Views - Plus a Ferrari 308 and a Ferrari 308 GT4 behind!

Styling

The 348 represented a departure from the 308/328 look but blended in elements from the Testarossa with its side strakes and popup headlights.  The car is still quintessentially 90s.  Classic edge shape.  Seeing it pull up brought up memories.  I still remember laughing that the radio is hidden behind a center console cover you have to lift to gain access.  This car red/tan is again what I grew up with although our car had been a targa or "TS" variant not a spider.  Most people will say the the cleaner lines of the 355 and return the round headlights vs the rectangle and black stripes of the 348 make it more pretty.  For me both are about the same, and I enjoy the retro feel of the 348, while also appreciating the 355 for its cleanliness.  I think they are just different.  I also think the front end of the 348 is more cohesive with the black center grill and rectangle fog lights vs the rounded look on the updated car.

Interior and Ergo

The interior of the 348 shares a lot in common with the F355 and is much roomier and more comfortable than the 308 era cars the predate it.  Most of the controls are in a central console with the very old school toggle switch style.  Two major gauges for Fuel and Oil temp also reside in the center above the gated shifter.  This car also featured the automatic seat belts that slide forward and back automatically.  Two issues I had here were those upper seat belts not retracting, so we just used the other lower set, and the side view mirrors not adjusting - probably a fuse somewhere.  But beyond that ergo is pretty nice.  Steering wheel can adjust up and down within limits.  The A/C controls are a bit funky but seemed to at least turn on - though it was unclear if it was "cold" or just warm air coming out.  The radio is stored behind a flap above the center gauges.  Seats are manually adjustable with a level for rake and a pull handle for forward/back.  Unlike the 355 which has automatic seats and issues that can come from that, this car is truly more old school.  I asked about power top issues - oh right this car was manual release up and down for the top.  No annoying hydraulics here to go bad.  Way less interference.

Driving

Speaking of no interference this is one of the last Ferrari's with no power steering.  Really amazing feel on the road cruising and at speed.  Definitely a bit of a chore in the parking lot but I haven't worked out for a while...and taking turns at stop lights etc seemed easy.  That is probably one of the coolest parts of this car.  On the flip side I personally found myself wondering if I actually liked that vs having some assist.  As much as I keep saying i want old feeling - it is more work and more to pay attention to.  Which can good and bad...but cruising on the freeway felt totally comfortable and relaxing.

Similarly the gated shifter feel fit right between the experiences I have had with the 308 and 355.  A bit temperamental about trying to spin the clutch too much while also not being too rough with the car.  I sadly burned the clutch a little trying to get my brain around it... oops.  But the clutch itself is easy to use and the gear level generally slotted in with a mechanical feel and some force.  One or two shifts seemed a bit harder to do but overall just the older have to learn how to deal with it feel.  I did pseudo-revmatch just doing blip while slowing down and it felt fine.  The 348 uses a cable linkage shifter vs the newer F355 rod.  So again differences and evolution.

This car had a stock exhaust so it sounded good but not like anything aftermarket would.  People like the 355 for the sounds it makes but the 348 with a proper exhaust woud be near the same.  Power felt good.  Not modern car fast but unlike 308s where I felt like I had to floor it just to try to get to 35mph with traffic, this car felt usable.  Was totally fine in traffic, taking on-ramps etc.

Braking similarly felt right between the generations.  A fair bit improved over the 308s but I don't know that it was quite as good as the 355 felt.  Like the 308s I found myself wanting to brake earlier to make sure I would safely stop.  Not to the same level but not at all like a modern car.  I was imagining what it would be like on a mountain road.  Much more attentive and planned out.  Whereas the F355 almost instantly had felt like a normal "car" to me this still felt a lot more "old school".  If there was any upgrade to do on this car, brakes would be first I think.

Closing

The 348 was a bit of a curve ball for me.  It was exactly what I expected as far as "better" than a 308.  More usable.  But also was surprisingly still classic from and interior build quality, driving management sort of way which I kept telling myself I wanted - but found myself questioning?  Do I really want no power steering?  Really?  Do I really want older controls or A/C that may not work?  Would I get used to the nature of the clutch and shifter or be happy with the brake performance from early 1990s?  Maybe it is just more time with the car needed.  But I found myself second guessing the desire for "classic" a lot more.

I think this would be about as old as I would ever want driving wise.  And by comparison the F355 felt quite a bit more modern.  Perhaps that is more the blend I am after.  However both of these cars with maintenance costs and such are a concern, perhaps the F355 even more so.  Both would require engine out work and have their own issues.  So we will see.  At this point I am starting to really consider something more usable and newer yet still memory "related" perhaps just by marque and shifter style.  Not sure where I will end up.

To be honest in the "moment" out with the car I felt a bit like I was fighting the car or vice-versa.  Steering in the parking lot to messing up shifting and wishing I knew how the brakes worked a bit better.  It left me initially feeling like "nope this is too too old for me - something like F355 with power steering etc is better".  On the other hand writing out the review perhaps that would actually be the draw longer term.  The F355 by comparison actually felt near modern as an initial impression.  Hop in, drive around, felt natural almost Porsche like.  The 348 felt like something you would have to learn and get acquainted with.  Plus dated electronics and the rest of it all that comes with classic car ownership.  All of that against the backdrop of me mulling something as new as a Gallardo which is more usable and modern, probably lower maintenance and probably the most "numb" feeling out of any car.  Any comments feel free to share below!

Thanks for reading!

2015 Porsche Targa 4S Test Drive

Yes two test drive posts on basically the same day.  While I drove the Ferrari 308 yesterday I noted a lovely 911 Targa 4S for sale as well.  In reality land I have been mulling a few potential things related to my GT4.  The first is wanting something fun and classic - which as noted yesterday really needs to be an eventual "extra" car.  The second is for the a weekend car (Porsche GT4 currently) to perhaps allow not just me and wife but some back seats for the dachshunds.  Mix that something a little less stiff suspension wise and potentially PDK so my wife can enjoy as well.  Basically special and still fun but perhaps more usable and comfortable.

Obviously any car that replaces the GT4 981 with PDK and softer ride will likely be less "special" or "exotic".  So I am still mulling that.  It may be the right answer is just a new daily driver that gets used on weekend and is fun enough.  But one of the solutions would be to replace the 2 seater track toy with a 4 seater 911.  Variant is the question and I was mostly mulling Turbo (maybe out of range cost wise) and S and GTS.  Also a 992 version Carrera S or such... so a turbo car but with apple car play, and tune-options for power make it another potential. 

I always loved the look of the new 991 Targa's when they came out.  While not a true convertible guy it seems like the hard top look still works when up and it is fun to have top down at right temps and areas like coastal runs and forest rides.  I have driven a few 997 but never been in a 991.  Enter the Targa 4S currently for sale at Vanquish Motors in Concord, CA.

Looks

Always subjective but the look of the 991 Targa I think is quite good.  It has the classic 911 shape and lines but with a really cool almost UFO looking rear window glass and roll bar.  That said there is no question the GT4 is in a different category.  The fact this car is black isn't helping define the lines well... but park it next to a bright green wrapped Cayman GT4 and well...hard to compete. However imagining the Targa in a bright color and or with different (gold perhaps) wheels or such and I think it could hold its own fairly well.  It's not meant to be a GT car.

The rear end looks really nice with the wide body hips that the Targa's, GTS and Turbos get.  I didn't bother to put the rear wing down but regardless the back view just looks meaty.  I dare say the thinner tail lights and wide body look better on the 911 than the Cayman.  Mix in quad exhaust ports and well... it's a classic.  All that said...the GT4 will always win the visual category unless next to another GT car I think.

Ergo / Interior

The benefit of Porsche is while cars change, looks adjust, and power increases every generation, there is always something familiar.  This was true of my 986 Boxster S as it was of my 981 Cayman S, GT4 and now this 991 Targa 4S.  Each of these cars had an instant familiarity and similar feeling getting in.  This is especially true being that the 991 and 981 share many interior bits and placement.  Everything from the button layout, Infotainment, storage in door pockets, etc is essentially the same.

Sliding into the seat I adjusted the seats - effectively the same as my 981 GT4 18-ways.  Instant comfort, feel and steering and pedal position.  On top of that this car has both heated and ventilated seats.  A must have for any sort of convertible and with temperatures today rising once again to over 100 I turned it on straightaway.  Adjust the temperature settings and mirrors and I was off to go.

Visibility is good.  While there is a spot at the roll bar area that is obviously solid - it's still decent.  Most of what is around you is glass.  And the rear B pillar is no worse than the GT4 and rearward visibility notably better than being blocked by a large wing.

A small gripe compared to the Cayman is the location of the air vents.  The right side one I usually point at my body.  But being a lower location on the 911 means it hit my hand more than anything else.  My biggest gripe would be the multifunction steering wheel. For me I would want the buttonless GT wheel and the usual "stalk" to control the multi function display.  I found myself accidentally hitting other buttons a few times.  The other big gripe is with the MF wheel and how the Up/Down shift buttons work.  More on that nonsense later.

Power / Handling / Transmission

One of the big questions I had was how would it drive. Being that the Targa is the heaviest variant of the 911 mixed with 4WD made me wonder how well it would go.  I also really wanted to see if I felt like I was missing the 6MT compared to PDK.  I wanted to test two parts of the driving.  How did it feel puttering around side roads, and secondly how did it handle on back roads and turns.

I started in sport mode and automatic as the car warmed up.  Top open and windows down.  Within minutes I was quite happy.  Gone was the harshness of my GT4 suspension.  Still a lot of feeling and slight bumps for sure here, but nowhere near as jarring.  Mix in A/C full blast and ventilated seats and I was actually enjoying the open top targa.  Windows up gets a bit of wind buffet sound much like having only a single window open in a coupe.  I found I could slide both windows almost fully up to remove wind noise... and get some A/C cooling.  But the real experience was windows half or fully down which gave more air movement as temperatures rose.  Still this is a Targa I could see enjoying compared to the 308 with older Italian 80's era cooling.  I imagine this would be great fun along Highway 1 coast lines.

Power was good.  Initially torque felt stronger than my GT4.  But I think they are close.  My car running stage 2 tune is probably closer to this and being that the 911 is heavier both are probably within a few tenths of each other with the GT4 likely faster 0-60.  Like the Cayman with the NA engine power is more at the higher end.  When you are not in the torque range it's more of a slow pull.  PDK does a great job of shifting for you.  I found Sport mode exactly what was needed for basic traffic street driving.  Shifting well before redline but giving you power when needed.  Off the line it tended to up shift a bit earlier than I would like but most people probably don't try to jet out of green lights.  Or switch to sport plus or manual mode and that problem is solved.  It was really nice to be able to just cruise and not have to manage shifting in traffic.  It felt like any other car except still special being a Porsche.

The bigger difference was suspension.  I tried this car with both PASM (Porsche's adjustable sport suspension) on and off.  The 911 just isn't quite as "tactile" as the GT4 which I knew was going to be the case.  Still the result was basically a slight numbing while driving.  While street driving was basically enjoyable and "more" than my current daily - I found myself having to look down at the speedometer to see that yes -  I really was going fast.  Like my previous 981S the modern Porsches make fast driving effortless.  Cruising at any speed often feels like you are going 20mph slower compared to any normal car. I found the soft suspension providing enough information on normal traffic.  Stiffer setting made it more akin to the Cayman.  So overall seating position, sounds, steering etc was exactly what I would want for a back road "chill" drive with the "family".  The next question though was how would it compare when pushed harder?

When I got to the start of a nearby back road I was able to push a bit more.  Sport Plus mode does a great job of holding gears more as you would want for aggressive canyon carving.  While I sometimes shifted up or down myself (getting stuck behind slower cars - waiting a bit then catching back up) I could see that you could easily drive in automatic and have fun.  The gear shifts at red line while fast provide a nice jolt into your seat when accelerating.  All that said the car felt a lot more numb than the GT4 on the turns.  Again I had to compare to how fast I was going to how fast I felt like I was going.  Turning the PASM setting to stiff mode helps.  The GT4 is so solid that "on" mode here was probably slightly softer still than the Cayman.  Still the car just doesn't quite communicate the same way.  The chassis of the GT4 really is "that special".

However it is fast.  I was able to push a few corners and never once did I feel any slide or rear bias.  Partly may be the 4WD.  And partly this car like every Porsche it just grips.  I did feel the weight but still it wasn't bad.  Brakes are still Porsche level good.  While perhaps not GT car still more than adequate for fun.  That said I wasn't quite pushing (not my car) to the level of GT4 partly out of respect for owner and partly because I wasn't quite sure of how the weight and 4WD would play out.  Would it be fun for canyon carving -  I am pretty sure the answer is yes.  Would it be as special/tactile as the GT4... no.  It makes me wonder about a proper 2WD rear 911 such as a S or GTS.  But still this thing will eat corners like any other Porsche just with less feedback than a GT car.

The other important factor with back road driving is transmission.  I already noted that the PDK was quite good.  In fact I daresay that the "engagement" factor between GT4 and the Targa had little or nothing to do with the 6MT vs PDK.  Both are great.  Both let you shift.  It was more the "feel" of the car and chassis. 

However my biggest griped is the way the MF steering wheel "triggers" or "buttons" work.  I fortunately discovered this at lower rpms and traffic light driving. But whereas the expectation was that the left side would do "down shifting" and the right side pull would do "up shifting" this is not exactly how it works.  For some reason Porsche decided that EACH paddle side would do both Up or Down depending on if you pulled it toward you vs pushed it like a button. The left side pull towards you does a down shift as expected.  However so does the right side "pull".  To Up shift you have to "push" the right side lever like a button from the front of the steering wheel.  This means you can also shift fully with just one hand.  Left hand push to Up shift to a higher gear, or pull back to do down shift.  Same with right hand.  For whatever reason my brain found this confusing.  I just wanted the left and right sides to work like practically every other car.  Apparently there are some wiring hacks you can do to the car (see this thread for example) that lets you disable the push and make the pull behave more as expected.  I also would have preferred larger actual paddles like the GT wheel gets.  Again I know that can be modded.

All that said I was quite happy with PDK.  Surprisingly.  While I can't say that shifting the GT4 isn't fun and special... when driving I still felt like I could do what I wanted as I wanted and it was really nice to not have to worry about it in traffic.  By the time I headed back to fill up I was driving in manual mode and suspension on stiff setting just because. 

Side view is arguably the best view of this car

Sound / Closing Thoughts

Driving the targa was surprisingly fun.  It felt great "around town" and could blend in quietly when needed.  Switch to higher revs and passing other cars was instant easy mixed with sound from the NA engine.  While not a GT4 wail it was quite good and I imagine an aftermarket exhaust would make it perfect.  This car had quite a few goodies from OEM backup camera (very nice) to the ventilated seats. 

I put the top up at the gas station before driving the rest of the way back.  Both to cool off and experience the closed top state.  Like many reviews state you have to be at a complete standstill for the 19 second ballet to move the top either direction fully.  Watching it was quite amusing.  Also as many reviewers said there are some creaks and sounds when closed and driving on normal roads.  Maybe something that would be annoying.  Still with the engine noise at higher revs the sound was great traditional Porsche flat six.  If anything it sounded purer without wind noise.

Overall the Targa surprised me in a few ways.  It made me remember the comfort of my 981S suspension but with the cost of more numbness.  It also made me a bit of a PDK convert.  I wouldn't say no for my next car.  It is still enjoyable to drive and would let my wife experience or help out on a longer road trip.  It also sounded quite good.  Having been in 911 with the engine in the rear you miss the engine type sounds of the two seater, but it was nice having room behind me be it for dogs or road trip goodies.  And the speed and cornering ability is still pure Porsche.  However I am concerned it wouldn't be quite as engaging as the GT4 which was one of the reasons I purchased that car.

What does all this mean for me long term?  Would it be better to keep the exotic GT4 for more solo or shorter drives and limited track time?  Or would it be more enjoyable to have a special weekend car that isn't quite as unique but can be used for longer day trips but is perhaps more special than whatever the next daily driver is?  Time will tell.  I probably need to test drive some GTS and perhaps 992 generation cars to really see. 

I will say the GT4 with green wrap is still special.  With sport headers and green wrap it turns heads everywhere.  Perhaps a fitting end to the days test drive was a mom coming over when I pulled up in the black targa.  I got out and was taking pictures.  She came over and told me her son had been walking around my Cayman for 5 minutes before.  She wanted to let him sit in it and get some pictures.  I of course obliged and revved it for him.  He was wide eyed and ecstatic sitting in the leather and alcantara seats looking around the GT4 cabin.  I don't think this would happen in a Targa.  Well perhaps if it was wrapped in 3M Gloss Green Envy.

I headed back home with all the above swimming through my mind.  The GT4 is still amazing and arguably the best car for me still for fun rides.  The next step is likely a daily driver change and seeing if that fills the gap enough for weekend fun or if I miss the frequency of the 981.  I am not quite in a rush to lose the "GT" feel - that would be a loss - but I can also see a benefit to a switch too.  Either way: Porsche - there is no substitute.

Thanks for reading!

Ferrari 1985 308 QV Test Drive

Yep it is time for yet another test drive!  You may not realize it but when I test drove the F355 posted about previously I also test drove the 1979 Ferrari carb car on the left in the photo below.  Vanquish recently acquired a 1985 Ferrari 308 quattrovalvole on the right.  Time to review the newer 85 car.

This car was much more updated and more comparative to the 82 and 83 cars my father owned.  Despite mileage it looked and was quite clean.  So I really wanted a chance to test this car more.  Just to compare to a second 308 and with the initial excitement worn off to really see how the car felt.  I always find a second test drive is usually more informative as you can focus on the car and not just initial jitters.

Looks

There is no question the Ferrari 308 looks are classic.  Just a timeless design that holds up.  Factor in the Targa roof and you get the best of both worlds for convertible vs hard top.  Anyone who has watched a lot of Magnum P.I. or just grown up in the 80's will recognize this car. 

While the car sits fairly high on its suspension it is the correct look for the period and vehicle.  This vehicle had red carpet interior (not my favorite would prefer matching beige to the seats) and someone added non-period Ferrari "shields" to the front fenders.  Despite that the car looks great.  It garnered attention on the road and thumbs up from multiple people.  I actually had a small conversation with a FedEx truck driver next to me at a stop light - because the targa top plus FedEx trucks have no doors meant we were practically right next to each other.  "Looks like an amazing Ferrari for the age" was the comment along with "how much are they asking for it?". 

Ergo and Interior

As mentioned this car has red carpet.  Despite some wear/dirt on the drivers side the car interior was quite immaculate and seemed to be likely reupholstered if not well kept.  While there was some usual age showing on the dials and such the interior was quite good.  The owner appeared to have added red stitching to the steering wheel (again I don't think that was factory) and Ferrari logo floor carpet but it looks quite nice. 

I managed to get a sitting position that worked for me.  With the long throw of the clutch and my shorter stature I wasn't quite comfortable 100% in the seat but it wasn't horrible.  In fact hopping back into my GT4 later I felt like my Porsche seats were stiffer and clutch more like a sport shift short and heavy throw.  Very odd.  The Ferrari pedals are notoriously oddly spaced.  The clutch pedal very close to the dead pedal on the left making it tricky to not hit both.  Meanwhile the brake and throttle pedals are far to the right and perhaps a bit too close to each other.

Steering wheel position is non adjustable.  It did seem at least to my memory lower than I recall in the earlier 308.  Mostly I remember the "tractor like" wheel position etc.  That said this time around it didn't seem bad.  While perhaps a little high for me it didn't really feel odd or egregious. 

Amazingly the A/C also worked quite well.  At least as much as I would expect from a car of this era and in literally 101 degree temperature outside.  This was very welcome with targa top off baking in stop and go traffic.  Beyond that the clutch knob reach is comfortable and the gated shifter in easy access.

Driving / Sound / Handling

There is no question that the 308 is a "classic" car.  While F355 felt and drove comfortably and very much like a modern car the 308 has little interference between road and driver.  Non-assisted steering is heavy while parked and loads up in turns on the road.  Brakes are hard to press and don't give anywhere near the normal expected amount of breaking power compared to anything 90's and newer.  Clutch work is slow and methodical but a joy when you get it right. 

This is a car where you won't be on a cel phone or distracted with anything other than both hands on the wheel and foot ready to stop if needed. 

Steering and suspension actually felt quite good.  Taking a few normal street corners at moderate speeds we actually quite fun if not a fair bit of work to watch and do safely.  It would be a  lot of fun on fast sweepers and rolling roads.  I am not quite so sure it's a car I would want to deal with on tight slow canyon corners with braking before sheer cliffs.  As noted braking needs planning ahead of time.  (Except the one time the car in front of me switched lanes and I found myself rapidly approaching a stopped car after a brief spurt of throttle... - HARD press on the brakes.  They do work... but again effort).  Body roll is definitely a part of the car... but again it's not a bad thing.  In fact the ride is quite compliant... when I got back into my GT4 I had almost forgotten how back breaking the Porsche suspension is.  This would be a great car for CnC rides, and slow rides to wine country.

Sound was enjoyable from a volume and noise standpoint.  Still it doesn't have the high pitch wail one expects of modern Italian cars.  More of an intake and vacuum sound mixed with pleasant engine noises and lower tone exhaust.  Not bad.  Just different than modern day sports cars. 

Speaking of the engine if you want to look for power - don't.  At least not really.  It wasn't a bad level of power - again going in with normal expectations.  But to keep up with normal flow of traffic it requires a heavy foot from stop lights partly because of time it takes to shift into gear and partly because any minivan will easily blast past you. That said I had no problem passing a few cars to change lanes on side streets.  Visibility is decent although hampered by small side view mirrors and rear view.  Still this isn't a car for stop light drag racing.  It's a car to cruise in.

Overall Impressions

Having grown up with these cars and having memories of my Father's 308 parked in the garage while waiting for the school bus to come by it is quite nostalgic.  I decided to drop the car into my garage just to grab a few pictures with his old signs and this car in there.  There is no question the Ferrari 308 holds a prime place in culture and automotive history.

The thing I was pondering was would I prefer this over the GT4 and/or a modern Porsche.  I am honestly more mulling a 911 for back seat usage with our two dachshunds.  But if I were to stick with two seats...does this car do enough compared to the Porsche or say a Gallardo?  At the end of the day I realized two things.  First - no question it is fun to drive... and would be great for events and slow runs to get ice cream, but I am not a big convertible fan.  Especially in 100+ temps it just wasn't enjoyable.  Second - as much as I like the classic car look I realize there would likely be a fair bit of maintenance and issues.  I sort of want a car that is modern and reliable and isn't going to require wrenching.  My friend who has had a 328 has told me repeatedly the cars are very reliable.  Still this is a 35 year old car.  So in the end my conclusion was that this would be a great "extra" extra car.  In other words have the Porsche or some modern day equivalent for back road work and then have this for the times when you want a classic.  Right now that is out of my possibility but perhaps in the future.

If you live closer to the coast or in a more temperate area, and don't mind classic car feel, power, and issues then I suspect this would be great.  I should note this car had no real problems driving it.  It started every time I needed.  Was relatively well behaved, and while the temperature got on the hotter side in the 100 degree weather it didn't overheat.  And yes... it looks absolutely gorgeous.  I still remember the leather smells a day later.  Ah Italian super cars.

I suspect if I drove a 328 I might find a bit more power and comfort.  The other interesting thing I have wondered is what would a 348 feel like?  After driving the F355 which was almost modern feeling I wonder if the 348 bridges that gap between the 3x8 era and later cars.  Would be interesting to experience, although I dare say with engine out service needed on 348 and 355 the latter would be the better vehicle.  (No engine out cars for me please - 40 hours labor is not something I really want to experience).  Anyhow in my personal case I suspect that the right answer is still a modern vehicle unless I can "add" to the garage.  It was great to have a chance to really get more personal with the 308 to give it an accurate shakedown.  I hope it finds a good home.

Early 80's photo of my Father and Grandfather in my dads early Ferrari 308

Thanks for reading!

Ferrari F355 Test Drive vs Cayman GT4

Well it's time for another test drive note session!

I saw my local dealership Vanquish posted a second F355 6MT that they had taken into stock.  I decided being red/tan and convertible I at least wanted to look at it for pictures.  Since my dad owned one in a similar spec and I had been in it, I wanted to at least look at it for nostalgia sake.  I was pretty sure there was no way I wanted to afford a car with engine out service, but I was curious to compare it to the automatic F360 and 308 I was able to try.  Sure enough he was happy to throw me the keys.

Nothing like a wedge shaped car

Looks
Obviously always subjective but I have to say I quite like the car.  Even in soft top form which I was surprised by it's just that classic wedge.  Shooting pictures there really isn't a bad angle.  Just a great design.  The Red/Tan absolutely drew me more than the silver.  Didn't really get shots of the silver one tho it is on their website since it was against the wall.  (their web is http://www.amusainc.com/ if you want it)

Anyhow despite the age and a few small chips on the nose the car looked pretty clean. Quite surprising even the interior looked really good.  Surprising with 38k on it...  I do wish it had the black challenge grill in the back that the silver car has.  Still it's a looker.

Just look at it...gorgeous from any angle

Ergo and Interior
There are some cars that just work, and some that just don't for me.  This surprisingly worked and worked well.  I literally sat down and turned to my buddy and was like wow, this is comfortable and I fit really well.  He looked and said yeah it looks like you do.  I just slid the chair forward a little but had no issues reaching wheel, pedals, shifter etc...  In fact it felt as close to the GT4 as anything else I have been in.  The shifter sits a bit lower down than the Porsche.  And clutch is lighter.  But everything else was good.  I did slide a bit in the smooth leather seats when I was driving.  It's not a track car with Alcantara... or at least unlike the silver F355 in his possession it doesn't have the Ferrari Buckets which I could see being useful.  Still I was quite happy especially when thinking back to the issues I have in the Gallardo.  And compared to the 308 where the clutch is way way too close to the brake the pedals were spread out in what I thought was a comfortable normal way.

Clean interior

If there is one quibble about the interior it is the location of the gauges.  The center area above the center console (see picture below) has an analog clock on the left and the Fuel and Oil Temp are on the right.  So especially during warm up you have to look over there at the radio quite a bit.  Seems like fuel would be something nice to see up front too.  The front simply gets Oil Pressure, Water Temp and then speedo and tachometer.

Still most dials were understandable and usable.  Setting side view mirrors from a control in the center console was fine altho the side view mirrors are tiny.  I mean super thin even compared to my Porsche which I feel is small.  On the flip side the car even has some useful space.  The area just behind the center controls is a flat leather area and I easily fit my Fujifilm mirrorless camera there during the drive.  The only other annoyance is the dashboard itself.  It's tiny and doesn't look that great.  It is funny because I have a video of dad taking me and Marci out for a drive in the 355 back in the day. And in the video he complains that the beautiful dash is gone.

Driving / Sound  / Handling
After starting it up and getting adjusted we pulled out.  Immediately I was like wow this is actually a usable car.  I felt like the size was understandable, with the top down had decent rear view (altho the rear 3/4 haunches are quite high).  And steering felt normal and the car high enough to drive fairly normally out the driveway.

The sound at idle is great.  You don't get the loud rumbling of the engine in a Porsche.  At least not anymore.  Even sitting at light with the Fabspeed exhaust this car has it was great. I told my friend as much, you just know you are in a special car with the sound and looks even sitting still.

The owner asked me again to skip second gear until warmed up - typical of old ferrari's.  Sure enough at a stop light  I gently started to try second and stopped when it was still cold.  First to third felt pretty normal though even tho there wasn't as much torque.  And once warmed up the car hit second gear just fine in normal usage.

Handling wise the car was quite good.  It didn't feel as tight as the Porsche or like I would trust it as much. There was slop in the steering even at freeway speeds.  But the feel of the steering overall was fine, just felt like an older sports car.  Taking on ramps with a cloverleaf I still was able to get some lateral pull.  And it was super engaging.  Mix in the clutch and shifter and it was great.  Owning my GT4 which is maybe the best modern day 6MT shifter and having tested the Gallardo which has a great meaty throw and feel, the F355 felt somewhere in the middle.  Super satisfying, great click and seat between the metal gears and natural and special.  My friend told me he was enjoying the sounds of the gated shifter.

Speaking of sound the car definitely had a nice growl to it.  That said it didn't have the high pitched F1 whine I have heard from some videos online.  I am not sure if that is down to exhaust or due to something else.  Maybe headers.  Still it had a nice loud sound that I am sure was getting me noticed on the freeway.  EDIT: I had a chance to drive this car a second time and when not getting wind noise on the freeway.... wow the V8 sounds amazing.  For back road or side street driving just insane near redline.  It screams.  Going under a bridge is epic.  Also as far as notice goes this car definitely was getting looks. Convertible.  Red/Tan.  Not as many cars out.  Even on the freeway old moms in SUV's were craning their necks to look at us.  I get looks in the green wrapped Porsche GT4.  This felt like it might be even on another level.

Engine wise I felt like the car made decent power.  Enough to be fun especially on a back road and even on the freeway to move a bit.  That said putting the pedal down the revs would jump up and then settle and we would move.  My buddy said I think the clutch is slipping - I think he was right.  Annoying as I felt like I didn't quite get to experience what the power would be like but still I could tell it was there.  Also anyone have a guess on how much a clutch job on a F355 would cost?  I am sure not cheap.  I may try to test drive the silver car to compare sometime assuming I work with the bucket seats.

Me smiling behind my mask and friend - another Michael

Overall Impressions
I was quite happy with the car.  I was thinking I can see why so many owners and people love the F355.  You have power that would be enough fun for a back road blast.  Handling that is dated but good enough and engaging because of it (and probably adjustable I imagine).  A V8 and gated shifter.  I literally thought "I would be happy with this car if it was in my garage as my weekend car".  No it isn't as fast as a modern day car, but it was fun.  Looks great and is the last of the 80s/90s era wedge cars.  I also thought "there is no way I will afford an engine out service".

Thinking of the "Ferrari" specialness and gated shifter these thoughts were also met with "I sort of wish I had bought my dad's old F360".  Now that I finally have driven a Ferrari with the gated shifter I know I ergonomically fit and it's engaging and fun to drive... wow.  That car would be near GT4 performance but not quite as good.  Dated, but special... and more expensive to own.  Ah well.  On the flip side I swear my F360 drives the engine like this F355 just don't sound as good to my ears as the Porsche Flat 6.  Again tho maybe exhaust.

Even without a Challenge Grill this rear end is lovely

Interestingly hopping back into my Porsche GT4... I was like wow...bigger car, sitting higher a little bit but wow. The Power my GT4 makes, the sound is so great.  Followed by wow this shifter is just so tight and perfect, and the car so taut and engaging still.  It's like the GT4 is the modern day engaging feel of the classic sports cars.  The steering and handling so "taut" again you feel like you can take on anything.  I don't know that the F355 was "worse" in an engaging sense (def worse performance wise) but just different. This test drive again like others gave me an appreciation for modern day Porsche GT cars with manual transmissions.

To anyone who can afford an F355.  I would say go for it.  For me I am happy with the GT4 for a good while longer I think.  If a F360 6MT comes up (more modern no engine out) and I happen to be in a place and mindset to switch... maybe.  Still I love being able to drop miles on the GT4, have modern day feel, power, sound, and comfort and affordability.  But the F355 test will definitely stick with me.  Such a cool car.  My next step will be to find that video and upload it to youTube.

Here is a picture of my Dad's old car back in 2000:

My wife and my dad circa 2000

And time to hop back into the GT4...

Thanks for reading!

Ford Focus RS Test Drive

Introduction

My friend decided to hand me the keys one day to his Ford Focus RS.  Reason: He's mulling other cars and wanted to give me some time behind the wheel to compare for discussions about other cars

he is testing out.  I had been a passenger many times before but had never slipped behind the wheel which always gives a different impression.

After thinking it over, we agreed and I took the car home from work on my evening commute and then drove it back the next morning via some nice backroads that connect where I live to the office.  Both gave me ample opportunity to test out the car in real world situations.  Meanwhile he snagged my Golf SE keys for his ride.

Looks / Cosmetics

Looks are always subjective but the Focus RS looks pretty slick.  The front end is amazing and very Aston Martin-ish which makes sense since I believe it had the same designer.  Comparing it to my Golf even when opening the garage the next morning was like "wow".  Just looks so much more sporty than the traditional soft styling of the VW Golf I usually have parked there and seemed to fit with the GT4.

The interior is good quality you would expect from a car in this range.  Nice color digital display with traditional gauge clusters, a wrapped wheel with blue stitching and climate controls.  I am still not used to having some information like oil pressure over to the center of the car but it works.  The wheel I also found a bit slick and smooth in my hands.  A surprise since it looks to be leather wrapped but didn't quite feel that way to me.

At first I was amazed there was no digital speedometer but then found it when scrolling through the center screen using buttons on the wheel.  Much better.  In addition I couldn't seem to find a physical volume knob for the radio until I realized the center button under it did the job when I accidentally brushed it.  I had thought it was more of a joystick.  Interestingly for some reason the Apple Car play navigation seemed smoother and seemed to run a little bit nicer with the Ford display.  Not sure what that is but it felt like there were more animation bits or resolution.

The biggest item for the interior for me were the seats.  Big bucket seats that envelope you.  Speaking of seats lets talk about ergo issues.

Ergonomics 

Probably the biggest drawback to this car for me is seating position and wheel setup.  Being on the shorter side I found my legs awkwardly angled up in the seat to reach the pedal.  It's as if the front of the bucket seat lifts towards the sky.  Then the steering wheel doesn't drop quite as much as I would like either.  Follow it up with a clutch that feels to move more downwards than forward and it is all just a bit odd.  The seat especially felt weird and I kept finding my pants bunching up as I worked the clutch.

The apple car play as mentioned was nice but I also found the screen fairly far away and deeply inset to the front of the car vs being available right on the surface.  Working the touch screen means you are reaching forward and outwards to use anything like WAZE.  The Volkswagen by comparison provides everything in easy reach.

On the plus side the clutch and shifter feel really nice.  My friends car has a short shift kit and bushings.  It had a very tight and precise feel and made driving the 6MT very enjoyable.  Location of the shifter next to the wheel also felt close and natural.

Visibility is decent considering how much longer the car felt compared to my golf.  By the time I was a few minutes out from my way home I felt confident changing lanes and moving around traffic.  Side view mirrors that felt a decent bit larger than the Golf helped.

Engine / Sound / Handling

Just getting the car out on the way home I was already grinning.  Where my lowly standard Golf SE is pretty quite and underwhelming the Focus RS had a nice growl and pop to it.  I only drove it in "Sport" mode because why not.  Torque is decent but drops off at higher end where I am typically used to staying.  Having been in his old Focus ST prior we had both commented long ago that the ST actually felt faster or at least more torquey than the RS.  This was true more so in the driver seat for me now.

Interestingly the car also didn't feel as quick as I expected at least in the moment.  I sort of felt like the VW was smoother or faster or such.  That said eventually switching back mixed with some back road driving and watching the speedometer sort of changed my mind.  It moves quite quickly but just doesn't feel as intense.  As another point of comparison being in a new Honda Civic Type R he recently rented as a passenger is a whole different experience.  Just feels amazingly aggressive and fun by comparison.  Where the Golf is refined and smooth and maybe slower, the Honda CTR feels faster than it is... the Focus is somewhere in the middle.  One other note compared to my standard VW the Focus takes 91 Octane or better.  Another point to consider.

The pops from the car feel a little bit "tin can" to me, there is a lack of deeper bass sound to them but I am probably also spoiled by my Porsche sport exhaust.  Compared to the silence of the VW I was still enjoying it though.  So the overall sound and driving feel was great.  The car handled amazingly well even on back roads.  Never once complaining or hearing tire squeal even when pushing it hard.

Suspension wise the car is quite bumpy.  Even in soft suspension mode the feel is probably too rigid for most people wanting a daily driver.  While I think my Cayman is probably worse I would have expected more dampening from soft mode here.  In the meantime putting the suspension into stiff mode is beyond stiff and anything you would want to use for public roads.  Just seemed unusable.  That said the car turned in very well and when asked to turn hard almost seems to pause for a moment and then turn in and hunker down in a way I wouldn't have expected from a FWD car.

Driving back roads especially with the manual shifter was really a blast.  If I am honest it was actually quite reminiscent of the Cayman,  I actually took the GT4 two days later just to compare over the same roads.  While the Porsche is clearly faster, and it's audio sound track adds to the thrill the handling and feeling of both cars is actually quite superb.  With the Focus RS having back seats, ample trunk space and allowing for a bit more under the radar driving it's a great combination of usable car with country road prowess.

Summary

I myself will be looking for a "more fun" true car guy car in about a year.  Driving the Focus RS was a bit of a revelation.  It made me realize how much I have been missing in interaction and feel for a daily driver.  One can have fun with a usable car, some decent exhaust sounds and an engaging transmission.  While there are times it's nice to tune out when tired and just putter home in an automatic, the shifter and car I am sure would become second nature.

At the same time it also made me appreciate the GT4 for the even extra bit of oomf and feel it has.  While I really am not comparing a Ford that costs half as much to a Porsche the reality is the GT4 is just a fantastic car.  I've always been worried a "more fun" daily would encroach on the feel of the weekend car.  In reality it seems like both are great in different ways and would still stand out from each other.  In addition it also makes me realize how vanilla the Golf SE I have is.  Just super boring.

The biggest complaint which would honestly stop me from even considering an RS is the ergonomics.  For me seating position and feel is just too tight and too awkward to live with.  Mix that with a suspension that is harsher than it needs to be for daily use and I would have to pass.  That said the car is still a blast to drive, has a fun "character" to it and would be great for back road usage.  Plus it looks great.  And honestly the morning I took it to work I was truly looking forward to the commute.  Something I can't really say happens on a daily basis...

Thank for reading!

2000 Ferrari F360 Test Drive vs. Porsche Cayman GT4

Intro

Well those who have read previous articles or blogs know that I have grown up with a number of Italian exotics my father owned.  That fact has always left a lasting impression and desire for something in that realm, as well as a bit of Nostalgia and memory.  Having sat in my dad's old F360 as recently as 2007 I have always looked at those cars as well as others.  Currently F360 are pretty close in price to my current Cayman GT4 so I figured it was time to start investigating more.  To see if the memory and nostalgia held up and to compare old school analog to modern digital performance.

Quick Impressions / TL;DR

Looks still make an impact on me. Car feels surprisingly more punchy than Porsche.  Feels Fast. Good ergo.  Sound so-so. Classic older car and all that implies from cosmetic to quality to driving feel and handling. Didn't have as much of an "occasion" feel as the Gallardo but also easier to drive, more Porsche-esque comparatively but way older in capability.  Brakes and actually to some extent sound a big letdown.  F1 paddles, and "ease of driving" a bit of a  surprise.  I'd go for a 6MT but for a first test drive the F1 was actually pretty fun.

Looks / Cosmetics

Headlights dated. Car soft but still has that exotic wide low slung look. Challenge grill always good. Going back and forth to my GT4 sort of like both look cool. No question my GT4 and wrap is exotic and looks really good. 360 still in that world tho. Sort of a toss up and of course looks are subjective.  That back end tho... memories of OutRun... But yeah GT4 is still a stunner especially in green.

Probably more worth noting it is things like bits of trim under carpet area missing under wheel.  Driving around the top plastic bits of defroster surround pop out and fell into lap of my buddy who was passenger. Typical of these. Dash shrinkage etc.  General cosmetic wear and tear on paint, window trim, wheels etc etc.  30k plus miles and nearly 20 year old car.  Yeah. In that way reminds me more of my old 2001 Boxster S. Which makes sense same era / age.  A pre-owned car decades old.  Not a pristine show car but a driver.

Engine / Transmission 

Surprisingly spry when you consider when this car came out. Felt as fast or faster than GT4 tho I know it’s not quite the same. Close enough. That v8 torque helps.  Still a long draw to red line but torque continues to build. Similar to Porsche it’s a high revving prefer to be at higher rpm car. But felt like a stronger pull sort of like Quaids GT3 I was in vs my GT4.  Weird being that I feel like 0-60 times etc are slower than my GT4.

My buddy was instantly laughing from passenger seat. I also felt the torque but still not as much as say Gallardo was torque wise.  And passenger seat plus auto transmission always makes it feel "more".  Honestly for straight line torque fun no Q the Gallardo was the winner.  That's the only way the Gallardo was the winner.  Straight torque and looks.  For any sort of usability for "driving" Ferrari or Porsche.

The F1 transmission was actually fairly fun. Since you still have to let off of gas and shift. Still fairly engaging. That said I would only ever want a 6mt gated shifter.  

Side note this car had a check engine light that never went off. 

Sound

Sound was the usual more loud idle and cold start of an Italian car.  That said I was surprised that the tone didn’t really get to the high pitched F1 feel I was expecting.  Honestly my gt4 and headers sounded better and higher in pitch at redline. Plus louder than the 360 with capristo. Surprised me.  Maybe I am expecting 458 sounds.  Maybe I just like my car.  Funny as I was recently considering yet even more exhaust for GT4... 

Steering / Brakes / Handling 

Steering lighter as mentioned by reviews. Not horrible but not a Porsche.  As you start to get to faster speeds and turn you start to lose a bit of assuredness about what the car is doing.  Nothing as bad as the Gallardo which felt like absolute zero no info....  But not my Porsche.  Little bit of slop and not as quite as precise as even my VW but way better than the Lambo. So overall steering and suspension a bit soft. Salesperson mentioned they would suggest tightening up/redo suspension stuff.  Just to plus it.  Makes sense.  Can’t imagine what that would cost.   

Brakes were disappointing. At least compared to my GT4  Maybe even to my Cayman S.. Just nowhere near as much bite as I would have wanted or expected moving at that speed.  Again I guess I am spoiled by gt4. Or maybe this car needed a flush or something. Also possible.  And again it’s 20 years old.  Classic car. But so fast you definitely want to be thinking about how fast you attack corners. Or slow down for freeway ramps etc earlier than I anticipated. 

Suspension softer. Again not bad just not modern as much.  Did a freeway exit out then side roads back. So got some good feel of car in various scenarios.  Not like a ton of body roll but again not GT4.  Actually thinking back car was maybe smoother over bumps too.

Ergo

Actually quite good. Didn’t feel too different compared to Porsche driving and feel. Visibility was good back and sides. Car size felt similar etc. At normal speeds felt like could just cruise around.  Again similar. Felt like I could understand the dimensions of the car, and see what I needed to.  Having to drive in a narrow construction bit on Freeway with divider blocks to my right was tight but ok.  About same as I felt in my Porsche.

Summary 

Can’t say I am surprised car felt 20 years old but I guess actually driving it - drove that point home (pun intended) quite a bit more than just reading about it.  As I was driving and discussing with my friend the F1 trans and torque we were both mulling what a 458 must feel like.  Tho my suspicion is faster and torque, faster shifts and better handling like gt4 but also meaning more filtered less analog.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing?  i just imagine a 458 is basically my GT4 with not as good steering/handling, but crazy sound, way faster and equally digital.

I did a quick DM to a guy I know who has a 360 and was out driving it today. His response was of course you can’t compare a modern car to the 360. But he likes the analog feel it has but overall took him some weeks to get used to and appreciate.  Pretty interesting. I’ve seen people who had had both. And others who have had both ferrari and porsches and such and swore they would keep the 360 and sell everything else before it.  

Anyhow interesting. During the drive I was like wow. I was actually impressed. It sort of had the better feel of a sports car.  On the other hand I don’t know that it felt "different enough" than the GT4 sports car feel other than being a dated older version.  The Gallardo was somehow giving me a much more nostalgia memory feel with the gated shifter and low seat and visibility reminding me of the Countach. I feel like the Lambo was more of "an occasion" but at the same time even -worse- of a "car".  Popping back into my GT4 I was like yep feel a bit more filtered but wow much more precise. Trusting. Able to drive faster.  Brake better. Etc.  I guess I was expecting the F360 might feel more "special".  I remember reading some forum where people were talking about the difference of Lambo vs Ferrari...and that you need to drive both to understand "which one you are" or prefer.  I can understand the show-off big muscle lambo vs. racing heritage ferrari snob viewpoints now.

I also have ‘waned’ quite a bit in recent months over the whole lust of an Italian exotic. I think wrapping my car has given me that extra bit of fun too. Interestingly I felt like my gt4 got more attention. Then again I wasn’t really looking around Vs focusing on test drive.  But yeah.  Very interesting.  The salesman was ogling my car and wrap from the moment I showed up.  Even took video of me pulling out of his shop etc...Heh

Anyhow from a “scratching the itch of owning an exotic” the 360 would be livable and fun. (assuming I could stomach occasional service costs ) But having tasted the fruits of modern day performance I don’t know that I even want to go backwards. I guess I respect people driving classic cars now in a different way. It’s just a different experience.  Probably more raw but I don’t know that raw translates to fun as much as maybe I was imagining...

My friend left me telling me not to ever drive a GT3.  Because even with PDK I'd want to move forward that way vs. the GT4.  Heh.  Like I said I sort of wonder what a 458 is like but I love my 6MT.  Reality is unless a gen 2 manual trans GT3 falls from the sky at some affordable price and I test drive it doubtful I'll be changing cars...

Porsche just nailed everything so well with the GT4...    I think if I ever do nostalgia thing it would have to be in addition to not in replace of...  I also perhaps would need to drive another different 360 to get a feel, have a second more calm test drive etc... but I am pretty sure I am hitting the nail on the head about "sense of occasion" which is more what I was after with the exotic and nostalgia thing than anything else.  And in that regard it seems like other than Lambo the Ferrari and Porsche are more on equal footing.  Which means the GT4 will win by default.

It also cracks me up that this "Ferrari" is basically same price or less than some of the Teslas roaming around all over today.  What does that mean?  Actually what I mean more is perception of owning a Ferrari when in fact it's less expensive than other peoples daily drivers... of course...maintenance....

Thanks for reading!

2005 Lamborghini Gallardo Test Drive vs. 2016 Cayman GT4

Introduction

Well it's been a while since I have posted here, but I decided it was wotth it to log yet another comparison test drive for future reference.  I drove an Alfa Romeo 4C back in December 2015 which I blogged about, and figured this would be a good addition.

This time... it was for a 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo with 6 speed manual gated shifter.  The comparison is with my current car, a 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4.  Having grown up with lots of Italian exotics that my father owned in the 80s and 90s I have always had a yearning for something of that nature.  The GT4 is an amazing car... and quite visceral by modern Porsche standards... but the gated shifter, sounds and looks of something like a Lamborghini has always been of interest.

In recent times many of the cars from the 1990s and 2000s have dropped in value to the point where they are at or near the price of what a GT4 fetches.  A recent online search (cars guys are always just "browsing" right?) yielded a 2005 Gallardo just a little over an hour from me in Sacramento.  After a brief call to the dealer I arranged for a test drive the following morning at Luxury Motorcars.

Off I went, braving smoke and ash that was falling in that area from recent fires to check out the car.

The test car awaits...

My Cayman GT4 enroute to the dealer...

Initial Impressions

Having sat in a friends Gallardo once before I sort of knew what to expect.  Overall this car is about 13 years old.  I wasn't expecting modernity.  Nor was I expecting the refinement of the German GT4.  Still there is something about the Lamborghini that has more street looks.. or "presence" if you will.  It's wide... it's low... and even if it is starting to look a bit dated, it's still a Lamborghini.  The car looks good, but compared to the GT4 I don't know if it is "better".  Perhaps more exotic...but hard to say.  Looks are subjective anyhow... Still I consider my GT4 a baby exotic.  With proper wheels or wrap it could hold its own I feel.  On the other hand the wedge shape is still a classic.  On the street especially in California where Porsches are quite common, the Lamborghini will still turn heads.

The car was generally prepped for me in the garage but they still had to move another car to get it out.  So I asked them to do those honors.  I got to stand outside as they did a cold start in the closed garage...  Epic sound.  Reminded me of Car Week quite a bit.  There is no questioning when a Lamborghini starts up...you look around.  Especially in any sort of closed off space.

Cold start "inside" was of course pretty epic

Interior

Getting inside the car isn't too bad.  You definitely sit lower than the Porsche.  I'm pretty short which historically means that I fit better in exotics.  Still I had some ergonomic issues with the Gallardo.  Notably I wished the seat went higher upwards than it did.  You sit low in this car.  So low it makes it hard to judge where the front end falls off.  In addition I had to move the seat to the limit forward to reach pedals and push the clutch.  I actually adjusted some of the lumbar to help.  Still I wasn't exactly "comfortable".  So much for "short" being helpful.

In some ways this hearkened back to my fathers old Countach.  I remember even then using a pillow to help push forward in the seat.  The car was usable but not exactly laid out for comfort for someone with my smaller stature.  Still the Gallardo seats felt reasonably good.  Bolsters felt solid and I felt planted.  Comparatively I have also driven a few R8 V8's.  Those seats feel like large sofas that I slid around in.  These definitely gripped.  But the R8 felt ergonomically more comfortable to me.

Definitely a Lamborghini interior

The air conditioning worked amazingly well despite reasonably old buttons.  My only two real gripes would be the radio which looked and felt archaic with its display... and the fact it took both CD and ... yes ... cassette tape.  Add the fact that I couldn't get any sort of digital speedometer display in the main center gauge cluster.  Not knowing exactly what speed I was driving without looking at tiny numbers on the analog dial was annoying if not downright frustrating.

Radio sound quality was ok... I didn't really spend time trying to adjust it.  It seemed like the same low quality you get in the Porsche.  But lets face it, you're really going to be hearing engine noises most of the time anyways.

So dated...

Driving

Pulling out of the dealer was an interesting procedure.  By comparison to the very long throw and heavy feeling of the Cayman GT4 clutch, the Lamborghini has a very short and light feel.  Very much the same as the Audi R8s  I have been in.  And similar to a F360 I toyed with while parked once.  That said the engagement was still fairly high.  I had an interesting time trying to figure out how to pull out.  I definitely let the clutch spin a bit to make sure I wasn't going to stall.  Mostly it's just a completely different feel.  I started connecting and smoothing out by the end of my test drive but never really got "perfect" with it.

Braking

Once on the road I didn't have far to go approaching my first stop sign.  After a brief spurt I hit the brakes.  Then hit them harder.  Because the initial feel and amount of braking was significantly less than the same amount on the Porsche.  They aren't totally horrible...well maybe.  But I found I had to push fairly firmly to get any sort of real braking.  The modulation didn't feel linear.  A bit of throw with not much result, then suddenly braking with lots of force.  Not exactly what I was hoping for.  Still with a heavier car I expected some amount of braking to feel less precise.  It's possible this car needed a brake flush.  Or perhaps I just wasn't used to it.

I also did a fairly hard brake test on an offramp from the freeway part of my test drive.  By that point I was getting used to the car and the brakes there felt decent.  Still there is no question the car is bigger than the Porsche.  It feels more agreessive, full on or full off as far as how it wants to be driven compared to the GT4.

Transmission and Power

As mentioned this car has the sought after 6 speed gated shifter.  In general when I've tested cars like the R8 I found myself somewhat non-plussed.  The shifter in the GT4 is generally considered to be one of the best ever in modern day...and it is.  That said I did like the 6 speed in the Gallardo shifter wise.  The click click of one gear to another was pretty cool.  However not being used to it I did find myself looking down to make sure I was actually in the right gear.  It's strange but I suspect it's something one would get used to and I would enjoy over time.  Again the GT4 displays both speed and current gear in a digital display right in the center gauge cluster.  Both are missing in the Lamborghini.

Pedal-wise, I still found the clutch a bit unnerving.  It may be that I just needed more time to get used to the car and how it engages.  But the lack of experience with the gated shifter, and lack of feeling on the clutch made me constantly aware of how poorly I was doing.  There was a lot of apologizing to the salesman about how I wasn't used to this car.

Interestingly the first 3 gears felt pretty grabby and chunky.  On the freeway the higher 4,5,6 gears felt a lot softer and smooth with a more normal "seat in" feel that was more Porsche like.  I don't know if that's an indication of wear on the clutch or not.  This car had a bit over 17k miles...  A throwout bearing was recently replaced but the clutch I believe was still deemed to be "good".  Or maybe the seller just didn't bother.

Yes... it's good

So being unused to the car I felt like a new driver learning how to drive stick again.  Pretty violent gear shifts but fun.  Gearing actually felt a bit long similar to the GT4.  I know this is an issue that was addressed in the 2006+ cars where they shortened gearing, changed suspension and also changed steering rack and exhaust.  Still it wasn't bad... but I found myself staying in higher rpms...  I never felt like the power was going to get away from me.  I can understand why people supercharge these engines.

That said the car isn't slow.  Like the GT4 you can be at "decent" freeway speeds in 3rd gear.  And it does push you in your seat a bit more... but it's not a ton more than the Cayman.  Full disclosure my GT4 has Street Cats and Stage 2.

Overall the car felt fast... there were several times I was like wow I feel like it's fast..oh it's THAT fast.. wow.  Ok more than I thought.  Interesting...  it may be I just wasn't used to the car... or that it is a bit more feeling speed wise because you're lower to the ground. But not so feeling that you realize just quite how fast you are.  Plus I was still distracted focusing on the gated shifter.

One last note... my Cayman GT4 with Sport mode will auto-rev match when downshifting.  That said I can also do it manually.  In my old Cayman S when I did it by hand (or is it by foot) all the time, the car definitely felt a bit "electric" and drive by wire.  Sometimes a full throttle blip would result in less throttle etc... the Porsche computer helps you to get a more perfect rev match.  The Gallardo was similar, to the point where I would blip  the throttle but actually it seemed like nothing would happen.  Literally nothing.  I am not sure if this was because I was just so off and not used to the clutch (and gated shifter seemed like it was slowing me down), or if it was electronic nanny's interfering and not letting me rev match for some reason.  Again more seat time might help, but it seemed odd.

Steering

Perhaps the biggest difference to the Cayman is the steering.  The Gallardo steering felt a lot less precise.  Over slow turns I felt like I hard to turn the wheel a lot farther than I do in the Porsche.  In addition overall the AWD feel and weight of the car made it feel way less tossable.  I managed to get a nice big sweeper on an off ramp where I pushed the car a bit more.  People said the car is "not confidence inspiring" especially at slow speeds.  I would agree.  I am not sure what it is but there is something about the way the car turns in that makes it feel like you are fighting it a bit.  Or maybe it is just less "feel".

By comparison I pushed pretty hard in my GT4.  I can get the back to swing a bit but and have a blast putting down the power.  The Porsche chassis is just so communicative and the car so telepathic it will just do what you want and you can push it and play with it.  The Lamborghini seemed like the beast you might have to wrangle and be careful with.  Not so much because of the power... but because you just don't trust it quite as much.

V10 power plant

Sound

With a big V10 behind your head you expect the car to sounds good...and it does.  It was unclear if this car had an exhaust mod or not.  But it sounded quite decent.  With my Sport Headers on the GT4 I would say they were similar sounding actually.  With the Lamborghini being slightly louder.  In addition the tone near red-line is a lovely high pitch wail that counterparts the lower range nicely.  Even with windows up on the freeway, you know when you are on the gas.  Again similar to my Soul Performance Headers.  Windows down, great sound, and under any sort of bridge or underpass it's as if you are in a tunnel.  There's no question this car would get attention and looks driving it.

The salesman mentioned having sold a previous Gallardo with a Stasis exhaust that was epic.  I can only imagine what aftermarket would do...  (drool)

Visibility

I mentioned sitting low.  Overall the car felt like a mix to me.  The rear 3/4 view in the car is blocked by the rear pillar in the same way the R8 has the side blades you can't see through.  The front of the car was hard to judge, at least for me.  In addition this test car had an issue with the main rear view mirror.  It was a self dimming mirror but broken so the bottom 3/4 of it was near solid dark.  Only the top part was clear and functional.  With what little rear view I could get (didn't seem like it would be much more even if the rear view mirror was working) rear visibility was pretty limited.

However on the freeway the reality is the side view mirrors are decently big.  Maybe even wider than the Cayman.  I actually felt quite confident changing lanes...and despite a fairly high belt line on the car looking out the side windows, the view isn't bad.  Let's face it though this is a car you are going to be driving forward more than anything else.  Probably passing others...

Thinking about using this car for any sort of "errands" like I have with the Porsche is a different story.  Again it might be the sort of thing getting used to the car would ease.  But I don't know that I'd love trying to figure out how to park it anywhere and everywhere.  The lack of a rear view camera also made it challenging to back up with... more so than my current car perhaps.  That rear view is really quite limited.

Summary

So where does that leave the Gallardo?  For me I think the ergonomics alone were the main issue for me.  That mixed with super dated radio and such made it a big question mark.  It made me really appreciate just how good of a car the Cayman GT4 is.

But, there is no question driving the Lamborghini is an experience.  You have to pay attention to what is around you due to looks, visibility, and general feel of the car more so than the Cayman.  It's wide.  It's low.  It's loud-ish.  When I jumped back into my Porsche it actually took some getting used to.  I suddenly felt like I was sitting high up in a Honda or something.  The clutch pedal and shifter felt too long to throw and actually a little odd all of the sudden.  Overall my car felt more plain...  There was something more aggressive about the Lambo.

Still enjoying the sound of the Flat 6 engine was just as good as the Lamborghini thanks to the headers.  Putting down power was a bit slower and definitely a bit less torque filled but you can play with the car handling-wise a lot more.  It felt safe and easy to toss around.  But maybe a fair bit less "special".

It is interesting.  In the "moment" when I finished my drive I was like no...no way I would trade cars.  The GT4 just does so much well and in a balanced way.  Comfortable yet sporty.  Fast but refined.  But thinking back to it, there was something about the gated shifter and exotic nature of the Gallardo that makes me second guess that opinion.

In reality I think the Lamborghini would be a great car to take out for the occasional drive and show.  But the Porsche wins better driving car, and maybe even more fun on twisty roads.  The Gallardo would be fun to go out in here and there, but I don't know that I'd actually want to "own" it for any sort of long term period.  The Cayman GT4 fulfills a lot of what makes a car good to enjoy, without the same amount of fanfare and drama.  I don't know if that's a good thing or not.  It might depends on ones mood or intended usage at a specific moment in time.

I think back to the Alfa 4C test drive I did.  There's something about it that was hugely engaging and memorable.  It's something I think back to when I drive other cars as a point of comparison for how memorable and engaging, and yet imperfect it was.  The same will probably hold true for the Gallardo.

I didn't get to test drive the Ferrari F40... I wonder why...  :)

Not a bad garage...

Thanks for reading!