Ferrari Mailing List: Re: No more Ferraris with auto-transmissions??

[Fellippe Galletta (fellippe.galletta]

On Thu, Jun 10, 2010 at 9:01 PM, Erik Nielsen <judge4re [at] gmail.com> wrote:

And the email I sent the author earlier today...

Jason:

One thing that you could also mention in a future article is that while the death knell of the manual may have been given to the new cars coming from Ferrari and Lamborghini, if the market wants these features, there are still thousands of older Ferraris and others that can provide a more analog experience to the 458 and any future Ferraris. While the cars have gotten better, how often is the average driver really going to be able to drive a new Ferrari at its limits? I know that every time I drive my Mondial 8 or the 308 GTS QV or my 365 GT4 2+2, that if I get a turn right or ace a heel and toe shift, it was me. It wasn't a computer, it was my involvement in pushing the car. I also know when I have a jerky shift or enter a turn a little too hot that I'm the only one to blame.

 

Progress is not a bad thing, the kids today that lust after these cars grew up playing video games on X-Boxes and PS3s, and never learned to drive a stick on a friend's VW. The older gen X'ers that want a more involved driving experience have already started filling their garages with the purer cars that don't have "flappy paddle gearboxes", ABS, traction control, etc...

And if I want a rather uninvolved, but comfortable, drive with a great radio and a powerful A/C, well, that's why a Bentley Mulsanne S is parked next to the Ferraris...

Enjoy your writings, please keep them up.

Cheers,

Very well said Erik....

BTW, I believe the article made an error....to my knowledge Lamborghini has not discontinued the standard stickshift except in their Reventon hypercar.

Ferrari was supposed to be the most passionate marque on earth but this obsession with technology has gone over the top.......I love the tech but don't numb the shit out of the driving experience...

And how come no one gets on Montezemelo's ass for making the following statement (paraphrase):

"We design the Ferrari in the wind tunnel....the shape that gives the best aerodynamics is what we use"...

I believe I heard that right...and if that's the case why we haven't been lusting after the styling since the '90s, then I wanna strangle Luca...

:)

FG