Ferrari
Barchetta
Nika
falls in love
I've never been one to use the "L-word" lightly - I mean I love chocolate, I love sunsets, I love my
Mom.....but after test driving the new Ferrari Barchetta I can honestly say:
I LOVE THIS CAR! Recently I had the opportunity to "bond" with the first Barchetta that arrived in Canada. Being a big fan of the Ferrari 12-cylinders of yester-year I approached this car with trepidation. I was sure with the new technology this car would be a sophisticated version of the Daytona - but still a 550. I was
(I know it's rare) wrong.
Designed for those who love performance on and off the track and the freedom that a roadster can deliver - this is the car. What makes it even more desirable is the limited production run. The exclusivity of this car has caused an aftermarket flurry - Ferrari to avoid speculators increasing the price dramatically have made this vehicle an "invite only" affair. I've been told that if the buyer wants to sell the vehicle within a year - Ferrari has the option to buy it back first. Whether or not this is true - it just adds to the mystique of this famous
marque.
 My first impression of the interior of this car left me salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs. The Fiorano package
lowers the car - the sharp carbon fibre
accents are standard. The seats are representing of true racing seats - snugly built and
ooooh so cozy. The dash is easy to read and the shifter a comfortable distance. The engine was quieter than I expected (even with the fabulous Tubi mufflers). I noticed a lack of rollback while on a hill and the ease in which the clutch engaged - off I went. Now the top speed of this car is 300 km/h or 186 mph, with a 0-62 mph in a mere 4.4 seconds. Would I
 get a chance to see this baby in action - no; but I would feel the ultra smooth shifts both up & down - loving the way the shifter sprung back to
centre. Cornering
had me wonder if the Michelin tires included "super glue" in the compound mixture - steering was responsive and braking,
although squeaky, brought me down to traffic reality in an instant. Oh the pain of ignoring this car's primal instinct to go
fast!
The 550 Barchetta Pininfarina uses the same 5474 cc 65° V12 as the 550
Maranello. The engine produces 485 bhp at 7,000 rpm, with a maximum of 58 kgm of torque at 5,000 rpm. The 550 signs are in the car with slight changes - The windscreen is around 100 mm lower than the 550
Maranello. It's exclusively a roadster with a manual soft-top for a rain emergency. Yes, if I owned this car, rain would be a four-letter word.
 By far this was the easiest and most enjoyable Ferrari I have ever driven and in the famous words of Ferris
Bueller: "If you have the means - I highly recommend picking one up"
Donations to the "Buy Nika a Barchetta" Fund can be made by.......
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