Drove a Ferrari Superamerica today.

Pedro · 21-12-2008, 11:06 PM

Had lunch today with an old mate who's just back fom the UK where he purchased a couple of exotics for the 2009 GT championship.
He's driving one and the other's being driven by a multi championship winning driver. (Sorry can't say who at the moment).

Anyway, after lunch (no alchohol until after the drive) we swopped cars and he had a drive in my FG F6 and I drove his Superamerica for about half an hour. We were both mightily impressed. He didn't know such great driving cars were made in OZ and I .... well what can I say. With V12, over 400kw, paddle sequential 6 speed (or auto), it was an impressive beast I must say.

Here's some Superamerica info...

The Ferrari 575 M Superamerica was an innovative convertible version of the 575 M Maranello; it featured an electrochromic glass panel roof which rotated 180° (both are production car firsts) at the rear to lay flat over the boot. The Superamerica used the higher-output tune of the V-12 engine, rated at 540 hp (403 kW) and Ferrari marketed it as the world's fastest convertible, with a top speed of 199 mph (320 km/h). The GTC handling package was optional.

A total of 559 Superamericas were built; this awkward number followed Enzo Ferrari's philosophy that there should always be one fewer car available than what the market is demanding.

And here's a couple of pics of the beast ...

flappist · 21-12-2008, 11:15 PM

Yeh baby.....

Kenay · 21-12-2008, 11:19 PM

so how was it to drive??

Pedro · 22-12-2008, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenay

so how was it to drive??

With 400kw, it's got some mumbo. It sits nicely on the road but has the dreaded convertible problem of scuttle shake over bad road surfaces. The paddle shift is superb with seamless changes on the up shift and computer controlled throttle blips on the down change.

In auto mode it got a bit lost if I accelerated hard from a start and then had to back off quickly in a 60 zone. It didn't know if it should change to a higher gear or hang on to the one it was in. But I guess you could control that once you got used to it and drove it every day.

Being on public roads, I couldn't stick it into it but had a few chances to do some hard acceleration, and it was very impressive.

I had the top down and hardly any wind came into the cockpit at 110 on the freeway.

GS608 · 21-12-2008, 11:19 PM

one word...

WOW

DoreSlamR · 21-12-2008, 11:23 PM

ROFL Winnie Golds in the centre console FTW!

Oh yeah, nice car

(Would prefer a scuderia personally)

Green X · 21-12-2008, 11:22 PM

where else but Australia would a Ferrari have a set of crunchers and 25pack of Winfield Golds in the center consul!

XR Martin · 21-12-2008, 11:22 PM

Hope it drives better than it looks

**Peuty** · 21-12-2008, 11:24 PM

The drivers seating position looks very awkward.

Nice car.

kocho · 21-12-2008, 11:27 PM

Its just a car.

hehe

schnoods · 21-12-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kocho

Its just a car.

hehe

Just a car that most of us dream of.

:

Pedro · 21-12-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

The drivers seating position looks very awkward.

Nice car.

It's just the camera angle. The seats are better than a GTP (waits for flame). The only criticism is the driver's left foot rest is too high. (at least it's got one) LOL

gcg2503 · 21-12-2008, 11:51 PM

pedro - not much of a review mate!

tell us more - he would have had to have been here in UK greater than a year and done it as a personal import. Import Duties +GST +LCT +shipping would have been onerous!

Pedro · 22-12-2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcg2503

pedro - not much of a review mate!

tell us more - he would have had to have been here in UK greater than a year and done it as a personal import. Import Duties +GST +LCT +shipping would have been onerous!

No, you're a bit off course there mate.

He's importing two exotics to race here.

He bought the Superamerica a year ago here in OZ. Four were imported and one went to NZ. He bought the only black one from NSW when it was a year old and only done a few K's.

Yellow_Festiva · 21-12-2008, 11:51 PM

Almost looks like it has a mini T bar auto between the seats.

Very very nice...

MethodX · 21-12-2008, 11:55 PM

Love the interior.

if it had an Aston badge on it would the naysayers like it?

**Peuty** · 22-12-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MethodX

if it had an Aston badge on it would the naysayers like it?

But the problem there is that an Aston isn't as ugly as a hat full....

MethodX · 22-12-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

But the problem there is that an Aston isn't as ugly as a hat full....

Well looks are subjective.
Astons all look like Jaguat clones to me.

**Peuty** · 22-12-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MethodX

Well looks are subjective.
Astons all look like Jaguat clones to me.

All Ferrari's look like mutant clones to me.

Each to their own.

Actually, there is ONE exception to the rule, the F430.

**DJM83** · 24-12-2008, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

But the problem there is that an Aston isn't as ugly as a hat full....

Here here, nothing against the fezza, but id take an AM anyday.

Something to remember anyway not many people would EVER get the chance to have a steer of something so exotic.

Pedro · 24-12-2008, 10:36 PM

[QUOTE=51RTE]Here here, nothing against the fezza, but id take an AM anyday.

Something to remember anyway not many people would EVER get the chance to have a steer of something so exotic.[/QUOTE]

That's right 51RTE, and that's why I put the thread up.

Some of my network of friends have been very successful in life (all started with nothing) and when I was unexpectantly asked if I would like a steer, the first thing I did was take the photos at the start of this thread with the sole intention of posting my experience up here for all us enthusiasts to share.

Pedro · 22-12-2008, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Almost looks like it has a mini T bar auto between the seats.
Very very nice...

All Ferraris have that. Believe it or not, that's the reverse gear selector.

MethodX · 22-12-2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

All Ferraris have that. Believe it or not, that's the reverse gear selector.

What would you ppl prefer?
Semi auto like this one?
Or traditional 6 speed manual with the gated shift, topped with the metal ball shifter?

traditional shifter for me.

gcg2503 · 22-12-2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MethodX

What would you ppl prefer?
Semi auto like this one?
Or traditional 6 speed manual with the gated shift, topped with the metal ball shifter?

traditional shifter for me.

me too

6 speed manual all the way MethodX

even though it will be slower !

XR6_190 · 22-12-2008, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MethodX

What would you ppl prefer?
Semi auto like this one?
Or traditional 6 speed manual with the gated shift, topped with the metal ball shifter?

traditional shifter for me.

Oh definitely the H pattern, just the way it should be

gcg2503 · 21-12-2008, 11:58 PM

colleague at work has an brand new Aston Vantage convertible - the interior is sublime!

But would rather the prancing horse here any day over any AM

rodderz · 22-12-2008, 12:09 AM

Must of felt like magnum PI with the roof down!

Would of been great to drive

Muscle_Inc · 22-12-2008, 12:11 AM

*pulls up in the xr8*....................''Whats the retail on one of those''......LOL

**data_mine** · 22-12-2008, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNG-40L

*pulls up in the rx8*....................''Whats the retail on one of those''......LOL

Fixed to suit the quote better. (gotta be a ricer)

**DJM83** · 22-12-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNG-40L

*pulls up in the xr8*....................''Whats the retail on one of those''......LOL

"More then you can afford pal, FERRARI"

: very nice car indeed. Very lucky to have had the chance to have a steer