ScoobyDoo555

http://ca.jalopnik.com/5760248/how-ferrari-spins

stilover

Hmm, very interesting. I knew a Ferrari pit crew tag along with every test drive (as pictured in magazines), but didn't know they took 2 cars, 1 being tuned for straight line speed.

I guess this does take the shin off ferrari for me a little bit. Would I own one? Damn right I would. But I wouldn't be confident about just how fast it was anymore.

stilover

I guess this means any test between the 458 & MP4-12C will be unfair and one sided.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

And it still lost in the Autocar Driver's Car of the Year/evo Driver's Car of the Year.

I remember that 360 test - it is was 2s faster to 100 than any of it's competitor's or any customer car. Pretty impressive.

Jamo

iTrader: (23)

an interesting read, nothing really jumped up off the page as a massive shock though.

DannyM

anyone remember the whole Porsche vs Nissan saga over Nurburgring times?

sadly, they all do it.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Now, now!

We all know the Nissan was simply supernaturally quick

trails

iTrader: (41)

nowt surprising...but nicely written, got time for Harris he certainly doesn’t seem to suffer fools.

jeremy

This is classic Kettle calling the (blank)...Hypocritical really, the makers have all been playing this game with the magazines since the 90's. Now Ferrari plays extra dirty and the boys get mad. We need a free press, that is not funded by the car industry for god sakes,j

BOB.T

Did I hear summat about the E types released to the press were all super quick in comparison to customer cars?

Regardless, I don't understand the fuss about car reviews, Top Gear included. I wouldn't buy a car recommended by anyone, a magazine, a TV show, Schumacher, Loeb... I really don't care what anyone else thinks, I buy cars that I like!

trails

iTrader: (41)

Think you are missing the point tbh; common sense would dictate press cars are always as good as they can be and you can't knock manufacturers for that really...however the point Harris is making is that Ferrari have gone too far...just like in F1 they seem to have become a law unto themselves and have no regard for reality\truth of the situation.

Matteeboy

Requiring permission to test anyone's Ferrari really is VERY silly.

Probably nervous because they all break down a lot.

trails

iTrader: (41)

a bit more now...

http://jalopnik.com/?utm_source=Jalo...rrari-responds

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Are the readers (and more importantly) people who comment on Jalopnik on LSD?

Have you read those comments?

Trout

iTrader: (1)

And the reality is, Chris is not the first person to hint at the blatant manipulation of press cars by Ferrari.

Witness the Autocar DCOTY test = they turned up with a full engineering team to 'optimise' the car. They have two cars, one for track and one for road.

It's not exactly a surprise.

trails

iTrader: (41)

not seen the comments Trout...can I trouble you for a link?

I know there has always been a bit of a dark feel around Ferrari with their alleged mafia links and obsessive road test control tendencies but the organisation seems to have jumped the shark over the last few years...a bit like a well loved child star on crack.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

A link to?

There have been comments peppered around the press ever since a 360 was 2s faster to 100mph than any other 360 ever in history!

trails

iTrader: (41)

sorry phone trauma\fat finger attack...my guess is most of them are actually American.

I think that's the point, its expected that Ferrari will cheat just not to the extent they now do...or perhaps its just so obvious now it's got peoples' backs up

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I am with you now!! The comments are below the article!

trails

iTrader: (41)

senior moment

hodgy0_2

do people buy these cars based on figures in mags.

maybe one or two idiots, but most surely look beyond manufactors propaganda

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I remember Clarkson hinting towards Ferrari's press car tactics when compared to other makers. However I wonder how far this goes. I recall the Holden/Vauxhall HSV VXR8s had a dedicated support team, as do some of the specials/supercars.

Also I wonder why BMW has "press preparation" on the car's order code - what does that tag actually entail? All the options? Better engine map? Stiffer shocks/springs? Stickier tyres? Who knows!

Trout

iTrader: (1)

There is propaganda and blatant misinformation. It is big difference. It goes to the integrity of the brand.

And of course people are influenced by magazines and the press it would seem naive to deny it.

Look how long it took Skoda to reposition itself - irrespective how good it's cars were.

Being realistic there is no way I would have spent a fortune on an RS if every magazine on earth had said this was the worst/slowest/most rubbish Porsche ever. Did I buy it because they said it was the best, no, but it does ease the way.

Imagine if I now discover that Porsche press cars are secretly 100bhp more than the customer cars? I would be pretty pissed off as an owner.

hodgy0_2

agreed BUT, we are not talking about general opinions here, just the minutia of various timings (down to the level where a normal human could not tell the difference).

Surely what matters is most people agree the Ferrari’s are great to drive – and interestingly the guy who is a member of the car club and recently posted all the cars he has driven on here said if he could keep one it would be the fezza

I am not defending Ferrari's tactics; they do seem a little OTT (I am sure all manufacturers do it to some degree)

It’s just that it only really matters to a few journo’s -- not the average fezza owner

it's not as if you order what you've read about in the mag - and a Fiat turns up on the flatbed 13mnths later

Matteeboy

Actually that's exactly what happens!

They are so badly made (even now) that they'd make a Fiat look like an 80s Merc for build quality.

trails

iTrader: (41)

I disagree Hodgy: their dishonesty reflects poorly on the brand and undermines its value...both financially and esoterically.

hodgy0_2

lol --- maybe (I defer to your experiance on that Mattee)

Trails -- maybe your right, but I can't help thinking this is just a "technical" argument between the press and Ferrari's press team, a bit of "handbags at dawn"

and is irrelevent to most people

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I don't think it is the minutiae.

I think it was the 360 press car. Did 0-100 in 7.8s. Not other 360 got remotely close to that time. That is a hell of a difference in the driving experience. You would feel that amount of difference on the road.

If they did that to the engine - what about 'optimising' the suspension.

So I buy a car that I believe it quicker than a 911 Turbo and it turns out it is slower than the N/A GT3, at least in a straight line. If true, and it seems to be, that is deceit at best, fraud at worst.

Matteeboy

Indeed and let's face it, when buying a supercar, you're buying it because it's meant to be "better" than pretty much anything else. So that sort of "lying" is pretty much out of order. And where does it stop? Will they BS about bhp and other stuff important to any supercar buyer?

hodgy0_2

but it not about out an out speed is it, otherwise you would have bought a GTR

I asked my neighbour - a Porsche fanatic, he has a GT2 and his wife a Boxter what is the better drive his 360 Scud (he has a Ferrari too) or the Porsche

he had no hesitation that the Ferrari was a better car/drive (not faster, better)

know I confess to knowing fvck all really, my point is Ferrari make great cars (as do Porsche), a Journo gets the hump because they are manipulative and v v competative about their product -- is that such a big deal really