[DeTomaso] FW: NPC: The F-car
Charles Engles
cengles at cox.net
Sun Sep 11 16:41:53 EDT 2011
-----Original Message-----
From: larry gilmore [mailto:mgilmore11 at mchsi.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 1:22 PM
To: Charles Engles
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] NPC: The F-car
Hi Chuck! Just returned from the RM Collector Car auction in Auburn
Indiana.
I have lots of real Ferrari items in my collection, including dealership
signs, cam covers, etc. Talked to a number of Ferrari owners at Auburn, as
elsewhere, the recurring complaint is the huge operating costs, including
now the "engine out belt service" being specified by Ferrari EVERY 3 years,
and the steady decline in values of most of the Ferraris made in the last 30
years or so, a few exceptions, the 288 GTO, F40, F50, and Enzo.Talked to a
new owner of a beautiful Testarossa, said he would love to "get on it" once
in a while, but a ring &pinion for that car, he said, is $13,000.00! About a
year ago Forza magazine followed a shop doing a rebuild on transmissions out
of a Testarossa, and a 512 Boxer, the cost was around $15-16 THOUSAND for
EACH transmission! OUCH!!! If the valves need to be replaced in a 355, they
are $500.00, PER valve, and there are 5 valves per combustion chamber. And
that brings up the MOST important thing about the Pantera, it truly is the
most pratical, and easy to maintain, EXOTIC car on the planet. Things can, &
do break on the Pantera, as on any car, can, but they will not break your
bank account when that happens. Yes, I love Ferraris, but I know, if I ever
buy one, I will take a financial beating on the car, no matter how good of
care I give it. You can post this on the "net" if you wish.
Best regards,
mike gilmore, 1984, GT-5
-- Original Message -----
From: " Charles Engles" <cengles at cox.net>
To: "'Mikael'" <mikael_hass at mail.tele.dk>; <detomaso at realbig.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 9:20 AM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] NPC: The F-car
> Dear Mikael,
>
> I just returned from the Dallas-Ft. Worth Italian Car Fest
> yesterday. Egad, your pithy comments perfectly nailed the sociology and
> human behavior seen at these things. I have friends that ask me if I want
> to buy a Ferrari and I always tell them I would much rather have another
> Pantera for all the reasons you mentioned. Well said, sir.
>
> I often ponder why it is that a collection of sheet metal,
> aluminum, cast iron, rubber and copper wire has such an effect on me and
> other Pantera owners. I conclude that it is a combination of Tjaarda's
> genius styling, Dallara's genius engineering and the wonderful people that
> seem to own these cars.
>
>
> Warmest regards, Chuck Engles
>
>
>
>
>
> Original Message-----
> From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com]
On
> Behalf Of Mikael
> Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 6:44 AM
> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> Subject: [DeTomaso] NPC: The F-car
>
> Admitted, I once was close to buying a 365 GTC/4. But today I'm glad I
don't
> own that brand. Was at car show yesterday, 4 Panteras, 5 Ferraris right
> opposite. Of course most people around the F-cars. But listening to the
> stupidity of the questions, the know-it-alls, the envious people and the
> many many wannabees, I was happy I was in the other camp. "What's the fuel
> mileage, ha ha?" was heard multiple times.
>
> Around the Panteras (and Maseratis and classic Fiats and Alfas) the proper
> enthusiasts were plentiful. Around the F-cars there wasn't room for them
> because of the wannabees. If I owned an F-car, I would never park
anywhere!
>
> Anybody else has the same experience? Ferrari, great traditions, some
great
> cars, ridiculous running costs and unbearable fans :-)
>
> Mikael
>
>
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