A prancing horse...

[PHC1]

Very special day for me today! Ever since I first laid my eyes on a Ferrari, I have always dreamed of owning one someday. For one reason or another, it was never the "right time"... All the stars aligned today and my dream finally came true! I have my own Cavallino Rampante (prancing horse) in the form of an F430 resting in the garage after a long day of galloping around and showing me what it can do. :thumbsup:

While I've been in a few various Ferrari cars before, I have never had the opportunity to take one out for a nice long drive until today. Man, what a machine!!! The 8k rpm scream of this Italian Stallion is unforgettable and what automotive dreams are made of. :yes: I love this car! My face is sore from grinning all day while driving it. :D Like Ivan mentioned, "it is a day one never forgets"! I have to agree. While I feel blessed to have enjoyed a few nice cars before, I have never been so excited and happy before with any other car. This prancing horse really sets my soul on fire every time I flick the paddle shifter near redline into the next gear and the engine makes the most beautiful mechanical music behind me like only Italians know how to do. This Stallion wants to gallop and gallop fast! Now I understand why Ferrari owners are so passionate about their cars.

Some pics.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd18/PHC1_2007/F430/F430-10.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd18/PHC1_2007/F430/F430-1.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd18/PHC1_2007/F430/F430-5.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd18/PHC1_2007/F430/F430-4.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd18/PHC1_2007/F430/F430-6.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd18/PHC1_2007/F430/F430-8.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd18/PHC1_2007/F430/f430-7-1.jpg

[Masterlu]

Serge, Totally Awesome!

I have owned 3 Ferrari's, the F430 is in a class by itself.

Absolutely the most fun you can have with your clothes on! :laughin:

Enjoy it my friend! :yes:

[cmalak]

Serge...a big congrats :thumbsup: She's a beauty :yes:

[Still-One]

Serge
Beautiful !!!

What happend to your original thread?

Jim

[Taylode]

Way to go Serge, very nice. Enjoy!

[-E-]

:drool:

[jdandy]

Serge.......It looks fast, even standing still. Gorgeous. Congratulations on your dream come true.

[PHC1]

Serge, Totally Awesome!

I have owned 3 Ferrari's, the F430 is in a class by itself.

Absolutely the most fun you can have with your clothes on! :laughin:

Enjoy it my friend! :yes:

Thanks Ivan! With the manettino set to "RACE", I felt like yelling out something in Italian but my Italian vocab quickly ran out save for some choice words that would be typically sensored... :D

[Masterlu]

It is an Adrenaline Dispenser for sure! :)

[PHC1]

Thanks guys! Did I mention my wife absolutely loves the car...? Should I tell her there is an "automatic mode" with the F1 tranny? :D

[Masterlu]

Automatic what? Mine doesn't have one... :spy:

[PHC1]

Automatic what? Mine doesn't have one... :spy:

Yes, the "auto" button in the center console is for "automatic" wipers.... :D

[Chad.Wagner]

What a ride! Congrats!

[1KW]

Beautiful car ! Congratulations and enjoy.

[80B]

Serge, congrats. On this forum I'm surprised nobody's asked how the stereo sounds! It's a beautiful car, and your photos demonstrate that very nicely!

[Masterlu]

Serge, congrats. On this forum I'm surprised nobody's asked how the stereo sounds! It's a beautiful car, and your photos demonstrate that very nicely!

I have the upgraded audio option w/ subwoofer. Let's just say nothing sounds better than the V8 :smoking:

[PHC1]

Serge, congrats. On this forum I'm surprised nobody's asked how the stereo sounds! It's a beautiful car, and your photos demonstrate that very nicely!

Stereo? I haven't even turned it on yet. The music is coming from the engine. :yes:

[TommyC]

Beautiful car!

[chessman]

Too cool!!

[BlueChiaro]

Congrats, Serge...now go find a long tunnel and run her through the gears with both windows open to experience true stereo heaven.

p.s. The sepia tone image is spectacular.

[vintage_tube]

Congrats Serge -- quite the car and experience. Looks fast when stationary!!

Don't you wish you had an autobahn nearby.

Bob

[Masterlu]

Congrats Serge -- quite the car and experience. Looks fast when stationary!!

Don't you wish you had an autobahn nearby.

Bob

He does, the New Jersey Turnpike... :laughin:

[vintage_tube]

He does, the New Jersey Turnpike... :laughin:

Touché Ivan -- yes, that's very funny -- NJTP -- that would be the last place I'd drive an F430.

Bob

[KahunaCanuck]

Beautiful car Serge!

You need to get her on to a track next spring!

[JFR0317]

Wow! What a nice car, Serge! Congratulations. You made an excellent choice!:thumbsup:

I know you will have a blast with it!

[PHC1]

Congrats, Serge...now go find a long tunnel and run her through the gears with both windows open to experience true stereo heaven.

p.s. The sepia tone image is spectacular.

There are a few short tunnels near me. Did just that! :D

[PHC1]

Congrats Serge -- quite the car and experience. Looks fast when stationary!!

Don't you wish you had an autobahn nearby.

Bob

Thanks Bob. I prefer tight twisties to open straight road any day. :yes: Fortunately there are some pretty nice driving roads nearby. :thumbsup:

[PHC1]

Wow! What a nice car, Serge! Congratulations. You made an excellent choice!:thumbsup:

I know you will have a blast with it!

John, I put more miles on the F430 in the past two days than I did in 6 months in any other performance cars I have owned! I can't get enough of the F430. :thumbsup:

[PHC1]

Spent the whole day chasing my new friend's 458 Italia through some really fun back roads. (Amazing how quickly you make friends who share your passion!) Of course he offered for me to drive his 458. Wow, what a car! I have to say, it is light years ahead of the F430 in many ways and is a step back in sheer fun factor at the same time. :scratch2: The seamless and smooth acceleration is just nuts with the dual clutch tranny, suspension tuning is simply brilliant, the car seems to be very well put together in terms of fit and finish and looks awesome. The engine is pure Italian symphony but is toned down from the F430 for sure, it is not as raw, loud and exciting but at the same time extremely capable. I was following the 458 at some serious G-loads through the turns and the 458 seems so well planted while my F430 took some concentration to drive well. :yes: Awesome day two with my F430! :thumbsup:

Amazing how much attention these cars attract. (I don't really like that :no:) I lost count of how many cell phone pics other drivers took of my friends 458! Kind of reminds me of this... YouTube - Get Smart - Holy shit its a Ferrari (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLsc0lQ46_8)

[Still-One]

John, I put more miles on the F430 in the past two days than I did in 6 months in any other performance cars I have owned! I can't get enough of the F430. :thumbsup:
I can imagine why. They just look and sound so nice.

Last evening at dinner I parked next to Black 599. I can tell you I sure had car envy.

[PHC1]

I can imagine why. They just look and sound so nice.

Last evening at dinner I parked next to Black 599. I can tell you I sure had car envy.

Also a very nice Ferrari. :yes: More of a "GT" car than pure sport but that V12 sure makes up for it. :D

[Masterlu]

You must visit the Ferrari factory Serge, that is truly an event of a lifetime. :yes:

Once completed they will present you with a Ferrari Passport for return visits!

[Still-One]

Also a very nice Ferrari. :yes: More of a "GT" car than pure sport but that V12 sure makes up for it. :D
I don't know a lot about the different Ferrari's. I had to ask the owner which model it was.

I wish I could have seen it in the daylight.

[PHC1]

You must visit the Ferrari factory Serge, that is truly an event of a lifetime. :yes:

Once completed they will present you with a Ferrari Passport for return visits!

That would be fun. :yes: Perhaps next year? :scratch2:

[Masterlu]

That would be fun. :yes: Perhaps next year? :scratch2:

Your Dealer has to sponsor and arrange it for you. It is surprisingly difficult to get approved. :dunno:

[Vintage Pete]

All one can say is...WOW. Congratulations Serge, that's a beauty, to say the least. :drool: Never in my lifetime, unfortunately...:sigh:

Pete

[JohnK]

Congratulations, Serge, e molti complementi! And here I was excited to see "____ Romeo" in a crossword clue is this week's Inquirer.

Well, getting in to the factory is difficult, I hear, even if you are a "multiple offender" - own more than one Ferrari. But if you're in the area, the museum is quite a place too - the emphasis is on the racing side of the house. When we were there, we saw a couple disguised models on the street, heard and (barely) saw the F1 cars going through their paces on the Fiorano test track (the public road crosses over it). Here are some pics, please excuse the quality.
Picasa Web Albums - John - A Visit to Ma... (http://picasaweb.google.com/johnkpics/AVisitToMaranello?feat=directlink)

[Masterlu]

Congratulations, Serge, e molti complementi! And here I was excited to see "____ Romeo" in a crossword clue is this week's Inquirer.

Well, getting in to the factory is difficult, I hear, even if you are a "multiple offender" - own more than one Ferrari. But if you're in the area, the museum is quite a place too - the emphasis is on the racing side of the house. When we were there, we saw a couple disguised models on the street, heard and (barely) saw the F1 cars going through their paces on the Fiorano test track (the public road crosses over it). Here are some pics, please excuse the quality.
Picasa Web Albums - John - A Visit to Ma... (http://picasaweb.google.com/johnkpics/AVisitToMaranello?feat=directlink)

Magnifico!

You can easily spend two days there. :thumbsup:

[gtubes]

Works of art, every one of them

[Jean-Marc jmajma]

Congrats Serge! Wonderful, beautiful...

Probably the best sport car ever....Have fun! Enjoy!

[BlueChiaro]

And here I was excited to see "____ Romeo" in a crossword clue is this week's Inquirer.

Since it was the Inquirer, would that be Alpha? :nerd:

[JohnK]

Since it was the Inquirer, would that be Alpha? :nerd:

Nope, only four letters. :D

[PHC1]

Since it was the Inquirer, would that be Alpha? :nerd:
Alfa Romeo. :D

[howiebrou]

Holy Moly Serge!

very nice indeed!!

howie

[JohnK]

Si, Alfa Romeo. They celebrated their 100th year as a manufacturer in June 2010.

Not mine, but a decent image from a club outing earlier this year.

[BlueChiaro]

I've always been a believer in putting your money in an IRA...

Italian Racing Automobile
:D

[PHC1]

I've always been a believer in putting your money in an IRA...

Italian Racing Automobile
:D

:thumbsup::D

[tigerhonaker]

Spent the whole day chasing my new friend's 458 Italia through some really fun back roads. (Amazing how quickly you make friends who share your passion!) Of course he offered for me to drive his 458. Wow, what a car! I have to say, it is light years ahead of the F430 in many ways and is a step back in sheer fun factor at the same time. :scratch2: The seamless and smooth acceleration is just nuts with the dual clutch tranny, suspension tuning is simply brilliant, the car seems to be very well put together in terms of fit and finish and looks awesome. The engine is pure Italian symphony but is toned down from the F430 for sure, it is not as raw, loud and exciting but at the same time extremely capable. I was following the 458 at some serious G-loads through the turns and the 458 seems so well planted while my F430 took some concentration to drive well. :yes: Awesome day two with my F430! :thumbsup:

Amazing how much attention these cars attract. (I don't really like that :no:) I lost count of how many cell phone pics other drivers took of my friends 458! Kind of reminds me of this... YouTube - Get Smart - Holy shit its a Ferrari (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLsc0lQ46_8)

Serge, I luv the Ferrari and the video is priceless. :thumbsup:

Man you sure have had the Big-Boy toys Pal. :D

Terry

[zoraduntov]

I've always loved Ferraris !