As Fast as a Ferrari

Sure, we'd all love to own a Ferrari 430 - after all, it's a true work of art.

But, can you find a place to work on it for less money than giving up your first born son? I say no - although my first born son might have a great future as a Ferrari mechanic down here in Florida. You see a lot of them on the roads from Naples to Tampa, exercising their 483 horses and wishing the FHP would let them wind out to 196 MPH. All this for a sticker of between 170,000 to 230,000, depending on options.

Well, I'm on my third Corvette, and every one of them had a prior owner and each and every one of them was reasonably priced. That 2008 in the picture had a brand new sticker price of under 50,000 and when something goes wrong, I need only look for a Chevrolet dealer. So I ask you, Ferrari V-8 or Chevrolet LS-3 engined Corvette. It's a "no brainer" and you can carry more luggage as well. Luggage in my case often includes my dog.

Now, these cars (and I must assume the case for the F430) are not forgiving if you stop paying attention. I personally ground-looped an 04 Coupe going south on I-57 at 80 MPH in the rain.
The dog was my only passenger, and for over a year she never told on me. Matter of fact, she never woke up, it happened so fast. I had just traded in my 01 Convertible at the dealer, and the newer car did need new tires on the rear in order to pass inspection. Foolish me should have insisted on new tires all around, but I wasn't thinking (some would argue I haven't been thinking since the first Corvette) and headed south with Millie with good rubber on the back, and "less good" on the front. I hit rain at 80, and the rear end and front end thought it a great idea to swap positions, several times I suspect. So, Millie and I got a panoramic view of the pavement before getting the opportunity to enjoy a similar view of the grassy median. Fortunately, no barriers on that stretch and a wide median.

Almost immediately I recognized there was little I could do but hold on. I flashed back to an off-camber road in France where in 1969 or 1970 I "pranged" a BMW 2002 into a cement light pole. It was that same feeling of helplessness, and all you can do is await the inevitable. I am convinced there are no atheists in foxholes, but I also suspect that applies to Ferrari's and Corvettes as well. I vividly recall thinking, perhaps even saying aloud "well Lord, I am now very much in your hands". God looks out for small dogs and fool drivers, and we ultimately were slowed by the mud and tall grass and ended up alongside (but not crossing) the northbound lane - headed back where I came from but about 200 feet further south than where the flat spin began. I got out, walked around the car and aside from a few paint chips around the wheel wells, no damage. The dog got out, looking happy to be in the grass, and immediately peed. No comment on the content of her daddy's drawers.

We drove back to the next exit to the north, pulled into a rest area and checked out the undercarriage of the car, and there was certainly a lot of grass and small sticks. I fear I had not replaced my divots after than short drive down the fairway. But, life must go on, and so must the trip. I can say that when I got to Florida, an early visit to my favorite Corvette mechanic resulted in putting on FOUR new Nitto tires, Z-06 anti-sway bars, and Edelbrock premium shocks. And from that day on, I've been a little bit gun shy of driving 80 in the rain.

In 2009 I found an 08 coming off a lease with only 5,000 on the odo - so we traded up from the LS-2 (346 hp) to the new LS-3 (430 hp) engined coupe. People keep asking "what's next" but I think I've learned that faster is not always better. So, Ferrari - eat your heart out, my courage nor my wallet are destined to put you in my garage. Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet forever.