Dream of a Lifetime! (1 Viewer)

[Njja]

Today wife and I traveled to Ferrari of Atlanta to take a look around. I have always loved cars, and
this is certainly a fun place if you enjoy beautiful cars! This is not our first visit.....but the wife was
actually excited to ride over today. All the cars were what you would expect, if you enjoy beautiful
craftsmanship. We took a serious look at a Testarossa the style driven in "Miami Vice" (for those of
you with a good memory)......but it would be a tight fit for anyone over 165lbs, and those days are
long gone for me.

We looked at a half dozen cars, each one unique, but none we really liked enough to consider. Then
we went downstairs to look at a 360 Spider that had just arrived. A classic Red Ferrari, the wife
(my voice of reason) was lost when she heard the engine.

Just that fast, my quest which began over 40 years ago when I saw my first Ferrari was over. A
very easy negotiation was completed, check written and car will be ready for us by next weekend.

My camera is still in the shop, parts on backorder but I will try to post a picture or two from my
phone if I can figure out how to do it.

 

[Go for Broke]

New house with swimming pool. New Ferrari. You are certainly living the American dream! Enjoy it all.

 

[Njja]

Heres a photo.......sorry for the angle, I'm still figuring out this computer.

Yes, thing are going well..........it only took 44 years of work!

Nothing really in the grand scheme of things!

 

[mikemiller1955]

John...kudos to you...it's nice to realize a dream...

IT'S GORGEOUS!!!

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I just saw on CNN that your front lawn is the next stop for the Wall Street demonstrators. Better rent a few "Johnny On The Spots"

 

[Njja]

I just saw on CNN that your front lawn is the next stop for the Wall Street demonstrators. Better rent a few "Johnny On The Spots"

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Ha! Only problem is I was a teamster, in the "old days" when you expected to actually work for a fair wage,
not have it handed to you.

Our country gives people the opportunity to be successful but it is by no means easy, and marching on Wall
Street while you collect your 2 years of unemployment may be fun however it is not a good long term plan.:tongue:

I just thought any other "car" guys might enjoy the experience. I'm still in shock!

 

[Njja]

New house with swimming pool. New Ferrari. You are certainly living the American dream! Enjoy it all.

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Yeah almost as nice as living in Hawaii!

Now that must be really cool!

 

[Njja]

John...kudos to you...it's nice to realize a dream...

IT'S GORGEOUS!!!

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Thanks Mike, it was really a fun day! I didn't expect to find one for 6 months or longer. You see a lot on Ebay, and on the internet, but you have to be really careful. A car that hasn't been properly maintained can be very
expensive to repair, and since production is so low they keep records that follow each car around, which can be good or bad.

When you buy from an authorized dealership you know what you are getting, and you have an active
relationship should you want to replace your current car. You can also arrange for a guided tour of the factory
if you travel to Italy.

 

[jazzeum]

John,

It's amazing how much those old Arnhem sets will sell for ^&grin

Congratulations!

Brad

 

[Njja]

John,

It's amazing how much those old Arnhem sets will sell for ^&grin

Congratulations!

Brad

. . . . .. . . . . .

Thanks Brad, Arnhem sets are still here, but lots of other things are going to go.......someday! We
are still unpacking but enough is enough! You wonder where all the stuff came from.

I haven't been on eBay for months, maybe during the winter who knows.

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Sweeet Purchase! My friend is buying the F430...will provide pics when he obtains it.

Here is an F430 Video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj58hRUe05M


And one of my favorite video's is the Ariel Atom, a must watch. Go to the 5:40 min segment...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWoo82zNUA

 

[Njja]

Sweeet Purchase! My friend is buying the F430...will provide pics when he obtains it.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Yes F430 is beautiful, we considered that and the 360 Spider. I knew when I saw mine and heard it
start up. My wife thinks I'm crazy but I have always had a "special relationship" with my cars, and
They have never let me down.

If something is going to go wrong, wife is usually driving!

Case in point, she went through 2 moon roofs in a corvette in one week.

Drive belt let go in a Porsche when she was driving.

On the other hand a drunk driver killed my favorite corvette, hit me head on and totaled my car.
Car did a great job protecting me as I was able to walk away from crash. Idiot crossed over into my
lane at full speed to turn down a street that was 1/4 mile behind the point of impact.

F430 and 360 are the only two models with the glass over the engine bay. New models have the
regular solid hoods.

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Sweeet Purchase! My friend is buying the F430...will provide pics when he obtains it.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Yes F430 is beautiful, we considered that and the 360 Spider. I knew when I saw mine and heard it
start up. My wife thinks I'm crazy but I have always had a "special relationship" with my cars, and
They have never let me down.

If something is going to go wrong, wife is usually driving!

Case in point, she went through 2 moon roofs in a corvette in one week.

Drive belt let go in a Porsche when she was driving.

On the other hand a drunk driver killed my favorite corvette, hit me head on and totaled my car.
Car did a great job protecting me as I was able to walk away from crash. Idiot crossed over into my
lane at full speed to turn down a street that was 1/4 mile behind the point of impact.

F430 and 360 are the only two models with the glass over the engine bay. New models have the
regular solid hoods.

I assume the Corvette was a modern version?

 

[Njja]

I assume the Corvette was a modern version?

. . . . . . . . . .

Yes I believe a 1995 or there a bouts. The one I got to replace it was horrible and that was my last

one. I'm sure they are great today, I just never went back, my SSR, and Camaro are terrific so

they have their engineering back on track.

I picked up the Ferrari yesterday and the first few minutes were quite a shock! It was not at all

What I expected especially from the passenger seat! My other cars are large, roomy, powerful you

float down the road with loads of raw power when you put your foot down on the accelerator. When

The salesman was driving it felt completely different.

Then I took over, first thing you notice when you open the door is how close to the ground you are.

You have to lift yourself up to stand. When you get in you fall into the seat which fits you like a glove

you make a few adjustment then start it up and you feel like you are at the Indy 500! The engine

Which is right behind you growls. The F1 transmission is unlike anything I have ever driven. It is a

true 6 speed without a clutch pedal. I had a difficult time starting off in 1st just as I did learning to

Drive a stick with my Dad 45 years ago! The salesman looked like a bobble head as we bucked off

Down the street every time we started off. At one point I asked him if he wanted out!{eek3}

However as in all things time and patience win the day, and after about 15 minutes I was able to

drop him back at the dealer and proceed on my own. I am still learning, but shifting is vastly

improved, and it would appear that I know what I am doing. Car is what you would expect it to be

In the end. A world class hand made vehicle capable of 185mph!

It handles like a dream, you could steer it with two fingers, it goes exactly where you aim it with no

Drift or sway. Power is awesome, different from our muscle cars. The Ferrari wants to be in the high

revs between 5000-8000. It pulls hard in the lower range but takes off once you hit 5000 rpms. It's

A true sports car, lots of shifting, downshifting, your not going to daydream when driving it. I'm

Never going to get someplace while pondering something and wonder how I got there. When you are

driving it you are not thinking about anything else.......except maybe the cops!

Oh, and it does look killer in the garage!

I will try and post a few pictures this weekend......my camera is still in the shop!

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Awesome follow up! Please do post pictures, I will be looking forward to them...don't forget to include or add later the finished pool!


Markey

 

[Njja]

Awesome follow up! Please do post pictures, I will be looking forward to them...don't forget to include or add later the finished pool!


Markey

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Ferrari has arrived and is really great. I enjoy it more each time I take it for a drive. I actually can't believe I have the keys.....and its just sitting there

waiting for me. I must be dreaming! Other cars are at our other house awaiting the lifts for this garage. They are suposed to ship out this week so I hope

to have it finished in 2 weeks.

Here are a few shots of the garage, Ferrari, my work area and a couple of shots of the finished pool area so wife is happy.......and she will leave me alone.

I have to keep her happy because she has her own keys to the Ferrari

 

[Njja]

Rest of photos.

 

[Njja]

Friday evening our local Ferrari Dealer flew a small group of us to Savanna for Dinner. Young lady in photos is a

CNN News Anchor who was on the air later in the evening. She was very nice, as was the jet!

 

[Njja]

All of the men were very nice, and no the wives were not invited!

Check out some of the cars!

Ferrari 458 Italia, Aston Martin.......and Porsche was mine.

 

[Njja]

Ferrari 458 Italia is a work of art, 600 HP and the Spider (convertible) is sold out locally even though production is still a year out.

It certainly was a lot of fun.......pinch me I must be dreaming!