The cars and bikes thread!

[mlcor]

So, a fun and interesting day. Drove to an executive airport, where the Ferrari folks had two helicopters waiting. There were about six people in our group, plus a couple of guests. The helicopter ride was surprisingly smooth and fun (I’ve never been in one before).

The cars were waiting:



The Portofino is a big improvement on the California, they’ve cleaned up the rear end, and overall the car (which is completely new, shares no body parts with the old Cali) is lovely.





We did some driving on some country roads. The car has a great ride—firm but comfortable even in sport mode. The engine is insane—torque everywhere in every gear, and of course a wonderful exhaust note. Jury is out on the steering, which is electronic. I was spoiled by the manual steering on the Lotus, and the Aston is hydraulic, not electronic. I’d need more time with it, but initial reaction is it’s quite good, but doesn’t have the feel of a non-electronic rack, or even as good a feel as the electronic rack on my Panamera. Would that stop me from buying it? No. Quality, fit and finish were impeccable, although it has a different vibe than the Aston.

We then got taken to a private airstrip, where they had cordoned off one of the runways. We each got to go up to a set of cones and floor it, keeping it floored (if the person was willing, which of course I was) until another set of cones, at which time you lifted and started braking. Even without using launch control and letting the dual clutch tranny (which felt as good as the Porsche’s PDK), the thing was insanely quick. I saw an indicated 125 mph before I had to lift, and the car wasn’t breaking a sweat.

Would I buy one? Yes, far more practical and less overtly over the top than a 488 or a McClaren 720s, less gadgetry, and 50% less money.

Of course, it’s most likely an academic exercise, but it sure was fun.



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[geoffbot]

Would I buy one? Yes, far more practical and less overtly over the top than a 488 or a McClaren 720s, less gadgetry, and 50% less money.

Bargain - do it!

[Raza]

So, a fun and interesting day. Drove to an executive airport, where the Ferrari folks had two helicopters waiting. There were about six people in our group, plus a couple of guests. The helicopter ride was surprisingly smooth and fun (I’ve never been in one before).

The cars were waiting:



The Portofino is a big improvement on the California, they’ve cleaned up the rear end, and overall the car (which is completely new, shares no body parts with the old Cali) is lovely.





We did some driving on some country roads. The car has a great ride—firm but comfortable even in sport mode. The engine is insane—torque everywhere in every gear, and of course a wonderful exhaust note. Jury is out on the steering, which is electronic. I was spoiled by the manual steering on the Lotus, and the Aston is hydraulic, not electronic. I’d need more time with it, but initial reaction is it’s quite good, but doesn’t have the feel of a non-electronic rack, or even as good a feel as the electronic rack on my Panamera. Would that stop me from buying it? No. Quality, fit and finish were impeccable, although it has a different vibe than the Aston.

We then got taken to a private airstrip, where they had cordoned off one of the runways. We each got to go up to a set of cones and floor it, keeping it floored (if the person was willing, which of course I was) until another set of cones, at which time you lifted and started braking. Even without using launch control and letting the dual clutch tranny (which felt as good as the Porsche’s PDK), the thing was insanely quick. I saw an indicated 125 mph before I had to lift, and the car wasn’t breaking a sweat.

Would I buy one? Yes, far more practical and less overtly over the top than a 488 or a McClaren 720s, less gadgetry, and 50% less money.

Of course, it’s most likely an academic exercise, but it sure was fun.



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Sounds like an awesome experience! I also really like the looks of the Portofino, but the post-facelift California was quite good as well. I still think a soft top is preferable; hard top convertibles seem like a good idea until you want to put the top down and you lose all your trunk space. Say goodbye to the top down weekend trip with the lady (or someone else’s lady, even better), because it’s all “Honey, I can’t put the roof down, the luggage will get in the way”.

A manual transmission in that thing and I’d be really interested. As it stands, though, cars like your Aston (well, a manual version of your Aston) and other AMs that are available with manuals, as well as cars like the 911 Turbo Cabriolet appeal more at a much lower price.

[mlcor]

Bargain - do it!

In the same way that a previous generation Daytona is a bargain compared to the new ceramic one.


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[mlcor]

Sounds like an awesome experience! I also really like the looks of the Portofino, but the post-facelift California was quite good as well. I still think a soft top is preferable; hard top convertibles seem like a good idea until you want to put the top down and you lose all your trunk space. Say goodbye to the top down weekend trip with the lady (or someone else’s lady, even better), because it’s all “Honey, I can’t put the roof down, the luggage will get in the way”.

A manual transmission in that thing and I’d be really interested. As it stands, though, cars like your Aston (well, a manual version of your Aston) and other AMs that are available with manuals, as well as cars like the 911 Turbo Cabriolet appeal more at a much lower price.

Even with the top down, you can fit two carryon suitcases in the Portofino’s trunk (three with the top up). There’s also a pass through so you can fit a set of golf clubs or skis in with the top down. So trunk space is about the same or slightly better than the Aston. The rear “seats” are useless other than for cats (and small ones at that) but do give you more space to toss something in (the Aston is a two seater).

I get the love of a stick, but in terms of really high performance cars, the 911 variants are the only ones left I can think of with one, and 911s, while they are great cars, are so ubiquitous that I wouldn’t really want one of the high level ones.


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[gnuyork]

So, a fun and interesting day. Drove to an executive airport, where the Ferrari folks had two helicopters waiting. There were about six people in our group, plus a couple of guests. The helicopter ride was surprisingly smooth and fun (I’ve never been in one before).

The cars were waiting:



The Portofino is a big improvement on the California, they’ve cleaned up the rear end, and overall the car (which is completely new, shares no body parts with the old Cali) is lovely.





We did some driving on some country roads. The car has a great ride—firm but comfortable even in sport mode. The engine is insane—torque everywhere in every gear, and of course a wonderful exhaust note. Jury is out on the steering, which is electronic. I was spoiled by the manual steering on the Lotus, and the Aston is hydraulic, not electronic. I’d need more time with it, but initial reaction is it’s quite good, but doesn’t have the feel of a non-electronic rack, or even as good a feel as the electronic rack on my Panamera. Would that stop me from buying it? No. Quality, fit and finish were impeccable, although it has a different vibe than the Aston.

We then got taken to a private airstrip, where they had cordoned off one of the runways. We each got to go up to a set of cones and floor it, keeping it floored (if the person was willing, which of course I was) until another set of cones, at which time you lifted and started braking. Even without using launch control and letting the dual clutch tranny (which felt as good as the Porsche’s PDK), the thing was insanely quick. I saw an indicated 125 mph before I had to lift, and the car wasn’t breaking a sweat.

Would I buy one? Yes, far more practical and less overtly over the top than a 488 or a McClaren 720s, less gadgetry, and 50% less money.

Of course, it’s most likely an academic exercise, but it sure was fun.



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Nice experience. The Portofino is SHARP looking! And I love the gray! Are these not offered in a manual at all? Wasn't the Cali offered in a manual trans as an option?

Also which watch did you wear for this experience? Too bad you didn't have an IWC Portofino

[mlcor]

Nice experience. The Portofino is SHARP looking! And I love the gray! Are these not offered in a manual at all? Wasn't the Cali offered in a manual trans as an option?

Also which watch did you wear for this experience? Too bad you didn't have an IWC Portofino

Nope, no manual, and I could be wrong but I don’t believe one was available for the Cali, either. In fact I think it’s been many years (five? ten?) since Ferrari offered a stick in any of its cars.

I wore this one—seemed appropriate.




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[Raza]

Even with the top down, you can fit two carryon suitcases in the Portofino’s trunk (three with the top up). There’s also a pass through so you can fit a set of golf clubs or skis in with the top down. So trunk space is about the same or slightly better than the Aston. The rear “seats” are useless other than for cats (and small ones at that) but do give you more space to toss something in (the Aston is a two seater).

I get the love of a stick, but in terms of really high performance cars, the 911 variants are the only ones left I can think of with one, and 911s, while they are great cars, are so ubiquitous that I wouldn’t really want one of the high level ones.


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Interesting. Hardtops have come a long way in the compactness department.

As for stick, it’s not just love for me. It’s a requirement. If we’re talking about an SUV or something boring like a big sedan, an automatic is fine. But if it’s something I’m suppose to enjoy driving, it has to be a stick. Gear changes are one of the major controls of a car, I’m not just going to leave that up to a computer. I get that computer controlled transmissions are faster and more efficient than I am, but when I’m driving, it’s about me and the machine. The two of us coming together and working in harmony. With an automatic, I can’t get that feeling—it turns me into just the thing in the seat with an on/off switch. Might as well just go fully autonomous at that point.

[Raza]

Nope, no manual, and I could be wrong but I don’t believe one was available for the Cali, either. In fact I think it’s been many years (five? ten?) since Ferrari offered a stick in any of its cars.

I wore this one—seemed appropriate.




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Manual Californias did exist, put to market due to demand by American buyers for a stick. Apparently the demand didn’t pan out to sales, as it’s estimated that only about a dozen were made.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...ld-for-435000/

[happyscrappyheropup]

Interesting. Hardtops have come a long way in the compactness department.

As for stick, it’s not just love for me. It’s a requirement. If we’re talking about an SUV or something boring like a big sedan, an automatic is fine. But if it’s something I’m suppose to enjoy driving, it has to be a stick. Gear changes are one of the major controls of a car, I’m not just going to leave that up to a computer. I get that computer controlled transmissions are faster and more efficient than I am, but when I’m driving, it’s about me and the machine. The two of us coming together and working in harmony. With an automatic, I can’t get that feeling—it turns me into just the thing in the seat with an on/off switch. Might as well just go fully autonomous at that point.

Why not drive a car that's not computer controlled? Every aspect of the cars you drive is controlled by the ECM/BCM... except a gear change.