Comments on: Speed:Sport:Life Imaginary Internet Millionaire Track Test: Ferrari F430 v Lotus Elise v Dodge Caliber SRT-4 v Ford Mustang GT500

By: protomech

protomech — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:31:40 +0000

Nice. Some people are either subtly trolling here or need to unbunch their undergarments. No one will be cross-shopping any but the elise/f430, but the comparison was still an interesting read. I personally would have preferred less defensiveness over the comparison methodology in the article – but that’s personal preference. C&D could certainly stand to take some pointers before they do another “Vision Quest”.

Duane: what makes a 40 year-old racecar the proper counterpoint for an entry-level soft-top penis-mobile? *arch*

By: Byron Hurd

Byron Hurd — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:28:29 +0000

You guys are confusing preference with some sort of absolute scale. He liked it better, so he picked it.

Carl, you should read my most recent column. I think we see eye-to-eye on a few things.

By: carl

carl — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:50:10 +0000

your words:
“But to claim the Ford superior……that’s just plain stupid, and the
only way he could even say that was to just blatantly admit that his decision was entirely subjective.”

is Jack really saying the Mustang is absolutely superior? i really don’t think he does! read closerer.

my “target” is clear: people who get their panties bunched by someone NOT picking the ferrari as the winner. the things you say above about the Ferrari are true – race bred, technology, track competence, etc. i assure you, it’s not about the author’s lack of “getting it.”

i think it’s about the reader not “getting it.”

of course this grouping of cars makes no sense. but how often do people actually DO this? how often do we get to see the relative gaps between drastically differing classes of cars?

now i really WISH we’d put the Tahoe Hybrid on the track along with the other 4. that would underscore the point that much more.

By: Duane K Estill

Duane K Estill — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:13:30 +0000

Carl I think you’re creating your own ‘target’ and attacking that. Nobody said a word about
Ferrari enthusiasts ‘being so comfortable and secure in their purchases,’ could you remind me
where that was mentioned?

Likewise…..no one argued about the fun factor either.

The argument seems to be schmuck journalist not ‘getting it’ when it comes to comparing
a car with tons of race breeding and technology with a mass produced Detroit muscle car.
The Ferrari is infinitely more competent as a sports car, though the Ford is doubtless lot’s of
fun when you mash the gas. But to claim the Ford superior……that’s just plain stupid, and the
only way he could even say that was to just blatantly admit that his decision was entirely subjective. Besides…..there are plenty of ‘not so imaginary’ millionaires who appreciate both.

That’s not to take anything away from the Ford, it’s a fun, modern, muscle car that is a great
bargain. It is NOT a sophisticated race-bred exotic sports car that reflects a direct
application of Formula 1 racing technology, and it never will be. The GT40 comes closer
to that, which is why it would be a better comparison to the F430, or better still, the Enzo.

Oh….and since when are Lamborghini’s friendlier or cheaper than Ferraris???

There are also people who are not millionaires that own and maintain Ferraris. It’s a stereotype
to think that only millionaires have Ferraris.

By: Duane K Estill

Duane K Estill — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:12:35 +0000

Likewise…..no one argued about the fun factor either.

There are also people who are not millionaires that own and maintain Ferraris. It’s a stereotype
to think that only millionaires have Ferraris.

By: carl

carl — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:50:36 +0000

lol, just lol.

if the ferrari community is so comfortable and secure in their purchases, then why should one journalist’s words incite such ire? insecure much?

the whole point is that you can have arguably as much fun for (hundreds of) thousands less.

By: enzothedog

enzothedog — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:52:39 +0000

THANK YOU DUANE for saying what all true ferarri enthusaists know which is that the f430 would of been faster if the driving had been better how a shelby beats a ferarri the word is PAYOLA and basically the so-called “jouranilst” gets a check in the mail and all of a sudden the f430 is not fast yeah bs.

this is most likely payback for what happened to mclaren it is a deliebarte arbitrariness as you said.

this guy should definately be marked and when i say marked i mean “MARKED FOR DEATH”

By: Duane K Estill

Duane K Estill — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:53:59 +0000

Well….he’s either being “endorsed” by some Ford related interest or trying to piss off the Ferrari enthusiasts (who are easy to piss off and quite an intense bunch), or both. The arbitrariness with which the Ford was chosen is both utterly stupid and smacks of de facto irrevrence, ‘just to be different,’ as most anyone with a brain would know that the the Ford GT40 is the proper counter point for the F430 and would compare much more favorably to the type of car each is intended to be. And the GT40 would without a doubt be cheaper to maintain. The very idea of a Mustang being chosen over an Italian exotic ‘overall’ just doesn’t fly.

You disqualify the legitimacy of your conclusion by tacitly admitting you’re subjectivity…..that and a nickel won’t even get you a cup of coffee. Consider this journalist “marked” by the Ferrari community.

By: carl

carl — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:36:47 +0000

perfect?!?!

i don’t know if that’s a compliment or a shot in the junk.

nevertheless, i think it’s clear why the “Rustang” wins here. of course, you EXPECT the Ferrari to win. and in a manner of speaking, of course it does. but at the same time, it doe$n’t. that help?

By: Riz

Riz — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:39:41 +0000

On the whole it is an entertaining read and a good way to soak up an already booked track day. I don’t think you need to over-engineer the rating system a la TTAC as long as you focus on what you’re looking for in the ‘feel’ of the day.