Look what Internet Meme sent me in the mail today!

[Danza.]

I can't put a pic up. That's a prototype of a new model from a company I help develop products for. They did just drop the production model at Interbike but there shouldn't be pics on the internet of this one until 2013.

Is it a Parlee?

[Uberhare]

Found this related to F-40 repair:

I have an F40 in our shop for work. One issue on the car is the forward under tray has a small piece of material missing. It is a carbon kevlar weave that I haven't seen before. Sorry I can't post attachments but I do have pics available. I am looking for a small piece of cloth to repair the panel. As you are aware the customer wants it perfect.....

http://www.compositescentral.net/showthread.php?t=6026

One of the guys responded with this:

If I remember correctly, that is a harness weave. Back in the day, Ferrari was using some "non-standard" weaves.

Sounds really, really expensive to find and repair the composite materials.

[Chris_V]

If, god forbid, you get into an accident and bust up a fender is there speciality repair shop you have to take it to or do you simply bolt on a new body piece?

You go here:

[Danza.]

Is it a Parlee?

althought EPS comment makes me wonder Calfee

[GTIDamien_407]

Yes now give me your old wheels and Ill put them on my mk4

[LaFerrari]

The Enkeis *are* OEM, just OEM for an LM.

I can't imagine what it's like to use an F40 as a street car, btw.

Yes, this I understand...sorry, should have been more clear with my previous statement.

[DUBLUV401]

awesome thread.. just wanted to suscribe to the best thread ever!!

OP beautful cars you have!

[Sherpa23F]

All this talk about vids. I don't have a GoPro or even know how to host a video. Someone else would have to film it from a follow car and post it up. Either way, I'm not putting anything on the car right anyway.

[absoluteczech]

or even know how to host a video. Someone else would have to film it from a follow car and post it up. Either way, I'm not putting anything on the car right anyway.

sign up for a youtube account and upload video

[WagonHatch]

sign up for a youtube account and upload video

Have you tried to drive it to a suburban parking lot with speed bumps? I'd create a traffic jam trying to drive it. haha.

Also, can it run on 91 octane?

[Robski92]

Yes now give me your old wheels and Ill put them on my mk4

No, you're supposed to flip them for a profit remember.

[mhjett]

Hey OP, you mentioned what a blast it is to drive the F40 on Rocky Mountain roads. Have you ever driven CO-113 from Carbondale to Hotchkiss? That road absolutely blew me away - great views, perfect pavement, banked curves, little traffic, and almost no cross-roads.

[.LSinLV.]

Hey OP, you mentioned what a blast it is to drive the F40 on Rocky Mountain roads. Have you ever driven CO-113 from Carbondale to Hotchkiss? That road absolutely blew me away - great views, perfect pavement, banked curves, little traffic, and almost no cross-roads.

I have a house is carbondale....that's why I asked the OP if he lives on the western slopes....that and a few others on the western slopes are INSANE!!!

me and my 914-6 love them!

[mhjett]

I have a house is carbondale....that's why I asked the OP if he lives on the western slopes....that and a few others on the western slopes are INSANE!!!

me and my 914-6 love them!

Ha, I bet. I was unfortunately in a rental 2012 4Runner and I kept telling my wife how awesome the road was, and how much more awesome it would be in a proper sports car. Then a red F430 Spyder passed us in the other direction, and I told her that guy is DIR.

[Old Windy]

Get any man bagels yet?

Not the mental image I needed....

unless you're a hot chick (in which case send me pics of you naked with a bagel covering your special parts so I can judge whether you're real or just another Internet Meme).

And this years Halloween TCL costume is.....

[Sherpa23F]

Hey OP, you mentioned what a blast it is to drive the F40 on Rocky Mountain roads. Have you ever driven CO-113 from Carbondale to Hotchkiss? That road absolutely blew me away - great views, perfect pavement, banked curves, little traffic, and almost no cross-roads.

I have not but have ridden my bike on it. One day maybe the F40.

[_a2coupe2a_]

more interior picture pretty please

[Sherpa23F]

Have you tried to drive it to a suburban parking lot with speed bumps? I'd create a traffic jam trying to drive it. haha.

Also, can it run on 91 octane?

No speedbumps with it and yes, 91 octane is fine although I do use ethanol free gas.

[Uberhare]

See my questions above about body repair/replacement. Very interested in how you deal with the unique Kevlar-Carbon body peices in terms of maintenance and accident or damage repair. You mentioned before about the paint quality being iffy, so I'm wondering if the body itself is partly to blame. Maybe they didn't prep the surface correctly? Or maybe, in an effort to keep weight down, used the bare minimum amount of paint/primer.

[justanotherusername]

An F40 with a bagle is a win for sure.

I saw that in his list of cars a few days ago and was but assmuded it was just a joke. Good to see it isn't. One of my all time favorites!

[Sherpa23F]

See my questions above about body repair/replacement. Very interested in how you deal with the unique Kevlar-Carbon body peices in terms of maintenance and accident or damage repair. You mentioned before about the paint quality being iffy, so I'm wondering if the body itself is partly to blame. Maybe they didn't prep the surface correctly? Or maybe, in an effort to keep weight down, used the bare minimum amount of paint/primer.

The guys were given a very limited amount of paint to keep weight down, I've read many places. I suppose it could be the prep, too. Ultimately, it was painted by hand with a limited amount of paint so you figure that's how it is. As a result, many cars have been repainted "just because." But it looks good enough for me and I like that it's original. It's the nature of the car, too, so if this is your favorite car on the the planet, you kind of embrace that.

For crash replacement, I know that there are some parts out there but I really hope I never have to find out. The molds are around and supposedly Ferrari can remake panels if needed. Again, I hope that I never have to find out. There is also a guy in L.A. who has some repaired body panels for sale. Once more, I hope that I never have to find out...

[Mayerz]

oh wow how come i only saw this thread today Subscribed!

I was wondering since it's the first time i get to ask an actual owner, how reliable is a F40 ?
Would you be confident to go on something like a 4-5days road-trip without a breakdown?

It's something i've asked myself for a while, and im very jealous, very nice car!

[Sherpa23F]

oh wow how come i only saw this thread today Subscribed!

I was wondering since it's the first time i get to ask an actual owner, how reliable is a F40 ?
Would you be confident to go on something like a 4-5days road-trip without a breakdown?

It's something i've asked myself for a while, and im very jealous, very nice car!

I did in December. I drove 500 miles in 4 days on a little road trip to see some sites. It's a great car as long as you pack light.

As far as reliability without a breakdown: Can you drive it on a 4-5 day roadtrip without a break down? I am not sure if this is a serious question. It's a car, not a paper mache sculpture. If you take care of it, it's a great car. It's way more robust than people realize. It's not like if I have a team of mechanics that live at my house who have to prep it for me each time I drive it (although I got applications from Vad and Slonie). If I wanted to go to L.A. tomorrow with it I would have no hesitations to gas it up and drive it out there. The more you drive it, the better it is - as long as you take care of it with the regular maintenance.

[jazzcat2001]

this is awesome

[CK98Beeetle]

I did in December. I drove 500 miles in 4 days on a little road trip to see some sites. It's a great car as long as you pack light.

How much were you able to fit in it? I'd maybe keep a light jacket on the passengers seat. Have to keep it clean.

And thanks again for being cool, OP. I've regained hope for TCL.

[SchnellFowVay]

I did in December. I drove 500 miles in 4 days on a little road trip to see some sites. It's a great car as long as you pack light.

As far as reliability without a breakdown: Can you drive it on a 4-5 day roadtrip without a break down? I am not sure if this is a serious question. It's a car, not a paper mache sculpture. If you take care of it, it's a great car. It's way more robust than people realize. It's not like if I have a team of mechanics that live at my house who have to prep it for me each time I drive it (although I got applications from Vad and Slonie). If I wanted to go to L.A. tomorrow with it I would have no hesitations to gas it up and drive it out there. The more you drive it, the better it is - as long as you take care of it with the regular maintenance.

So this raises the next question that I am sure is on others' minds as well.

What does maintenance cost on this thing? It seems like you do some of it yourself, but I am assuming that it needs periodic valve adjustments, etc. What do these run? What about a new clutch? etc. .

[Uberhare]

Cars that sit too long tend to have more leaks, running problems, etc. People think if they just sit they'll age like a fine wine, but it turns out they just rot away. A F40 that sees regular use, in my opinion, is far less likely to breakdown.

[8v_gti777]

Bet you've taken some epic drives in CO. Some great places out there.

[Sherpa23F]

So this raises the next question that I am sure is on others' minds as well.

What does maintenance cost on this thing? It seems like you do some of it yourself, but I am assuming that it needs periodic valve adjustments, etc. What do these run? What about a new clutch? etc. .

Figure $500-$1k a year for routine things and $6k to $8k for a major service every 5 years which is belts, valve adjustment, seals, gaskets, injectors removed and cleaned, various odds and ends. It could be more or could be less depending on the car and the needs but that's a good benchmark. I think that a clutch runs $3k for parts and labor but I'm not 100% sure on that. The clutch can last a while. The car has so much torque you just come off the clutch slowly and when it's off all the way you get on the gas. It's when people rev it up and then come off the clutch they don't last.

[Sherpa23F]

Cars that sit too long tend to have more leaks, running problems, etc. People think if they just sit they'll age like a fine wine, but it turns out they just rot away. A F40 that sees regular use, in my opinion, is far less likely to breakdown.

Correct.

[Electioneer]

Cars that sit too long tend to have more leaks, running problems, etc. People think if they just sit they'll age like a fine wine, but it turns out they just rot away. A F40 that sees regular use, in my opinion, is far less likely to breakdown.

WHAT? So the Mk3 that has been sitting in my garage for the past 12 years will not become a Mk6 anytime soon?

[71DubBugBug]

do you plan on doing the work yourself? just curious

other than body work, the dealership can get just about any part for it, correct?
you also mentioned fitting more modern turbos to the v8, how do the blocks hold up when you up the boost?

[Sherpa23F]

do you plan on doing the work yourself? just curious

other than body work, the dealership can get just about any part for it, correct?
you also mentioned fitting more modern turbos to the v8, how do the blocks hold up when you up the boost?

I can do some of it but I'm not going to do the major service. Some of that stuff involves a little more know how that I have. I am fine with removing and replacing parts but I would rather not do things that require adjustments and things that you should have a real pro with real experience for.

The dealership can usually get parts but I source a lot of parts myself, usually to save money or get better quality parts when applicable.

Have no clue about changing the turbos but if it's made for the car, I'm sure the block would hold up fine.

[_a2coupe2a_]

Do you have any more pics of the interior? Really curious to see the exact seats that were used. Is the dash wrapped or flocked?

[woofster]

I'm a little late coming into this thread but just wanted to say that it's refreshing to have someone down-to-earth like Sherpa23F share his experiences with a car many of us grew up fantasizing about.

Keep on livin' the dream!