How Ferrari Spins

[FoxHound]

Unless there's something new to add, why would you revive a loooong-dead topic with nothing more than a rehash of the original post?

I apologise, as I was not aware the original thread existed in the first place. A moderator left me a message to say he would merge my thread into this.

[Richard]

mea culpa - Foxhound posted his post in a new thread and I moved it to the existing thread.

[cheapracer]

I can not believe that you guys who are generally car industry savvy would not be aware that every manufacturer prepares "road test" cars up and above anything you buy off the showroom floor. Most manufacturers have a full time department doing this and showcar preparation.

When GM released the Chev Citation way back when, the test cars were pulling 1g in corners, 1g!! It was so ridiculously high it prompted Car and Driver or R&T (can't remember which) to go and get a showroom stocker, test it (0.82g) and investigate why the difference (shaved tyres, modded shocks, slightly lowered and the list went on ...).

And when was the last time a major release wasn't in the South of France/Italian Alps/Switzerland/etc, etc - yeah, sure, those fully paid for trips have no influence on Journos at all .....

I once went to a major mag's Editor's house once and was shown the room he had to have added to his house just to store his clothes and accessories from all the manufacuturers from all the releases he attended (Journo's gift packs).

FWIW, I you want to dis Ferrari then putting pictures of a 548 on the same page as your story will make you look bad every time!!

[FoxHound]

@cheapracer

Did you read Chris Harris piece? That would answer you question. The man is a Ferrari nut, loves them as do many of us.
The point he makes is poignant.
No other manufacturer will go to the lengths Ferrari do to ensure they win every comparison. Sending technicians to the UK for a group test around Rockingham didn't even raise any eyebrows from seasoned journo's.
Did anyone else sending technicians? Other than McLaren whom where there to test tyres I believe, no.

It's a bit moot us even discussing it as I doubt either of us are in the market for one. But, is it really necessary to be so paranoid?

[Lurk]

Yesterday there was a test by french TV of several cars on a 2-mile straight line (airport tarmac): F458, 911 Turbo S (997), Corvette ZR1, Nissan GTR 2012 and Audi R8.

It was customer cars and 911 was way fastest than 458 to cover the 2 miles. Something which don't happen with cars provided by Ferrari.

BTW the Porsche was in fact the fastest of all and the second one to go at 300kph depsite "only" 530hp.
ZR1 was close but it has a poor start and a lot more speed at the end.

[Nando]

Every manufacturer does these things in some ways. Especially the press-cars.

Anyone remember the GTR? 480 official horses but testers were led to believe they pushed 600.