I sold my 360 two years ago. I couldnt believe I did it – at the time it was the best car I had ever driven. Fast cornering, amazing engine sound, super revvy engine, fantastic Italian styling, great seats and a cool attitude.
Meeting people at the lights was always an adventure; “nice car mate, what do you do for a living – are you a footballer!” If I had a pound for every time I was asked that the Bugatti wouldn’t have to be on the never never.
Then they started becoming a little poplular, prices started falling, builders and plumbers started buying them and turning up at my car factory to say, “Oi mate, I’ve got the same as you now, how do you feel!?” This was a little annoying, but good on them. So I sold the 360, it was absolutely knackered after I had driven it around the world twice. The car was on its third clutch, and that was about to go, the interior was starting to wear, the screen was cracked, the service was approaching and the paintwork was chipped to death from London NCP scrapes, stone chips and other girly accidents. So I swapped it for a Gallardo SE. Serious engine, fantastic exhaust note and very solid ride. The people from Lamborghini are ever so helpful, and make you feel exceptional. For me the brand is something out of this world, especially with the Audi backing.
My car was officially the highest mileage F360 the world. And I’m not surprised, it was used for every day and I loved it. Tunnels were never so much fun again- until the Carrera GT came along, but that’s another story! Now that I’ve sold the car everybody says “woa you dont own a Ferrari – why?” My usual response is that my two Lamborghinis are better, more exclusive, and I am so well treated by Dominic Lancaster at HR Owen. Besides, I get my Bugatti soon. But, my next door neighbour at work decides to get a 430, my good friend Paul gets a 430 and a challenge car for weekend racing, and my friends start reminding me that a particular brand is missing in my little collection. You walk into my factory and most brands are covered – even an Ultima GTR. They are all fantastic fun, but no prancing horse, or dancing donkey as the TVR guys proclaim, so no heritage. Ok fuck them!
Paul gives me a call. “Oi Arash, why dont you have a Ferrari, I have 6, even Jean Todt said you should get one [maybe we can hear more about that in the next issue]. Let’s sort this out, give me five minutes”. Paul calls his mate Mario at GreyPaul Ferrari, then gives me a buzz back and says, “Ok, let me get this straight, you want a black 430, well he has a Scuderia for you or a Scuderia spec car with carpets and creature comforts. Since the Enzo refusal thing he wants to look after you…” Mario calls me up, it sounds good, and I give him the okily dokily. £20k down and the car is mine. The arses in Ferrari still cant spell my name right though; ‘Farbound’ on my chassis spec sheet.
I have just paid for the most amazing 430 ever. It is completely Scuderia spec. Wheels, carbon bits, body system as well as all the creature comforts including bluetooth and iPod link, sat nav etc. When on earth am I going to use the thing on track anyway? I am not a hack and neither do I have the time to mess around at Silverstone trying to be all nimbly-bimbly like Jenson or Lewis.
So the car was paid for 3 days ago. It will be delivered to my garage and finally my collection will be pretty much complete. The car is a bit good in the shiny carbon department and the engine noise bit, but I am not sure that it will be used that often. It is kind of a tick in the box, but not really what I wanted. The Koenigsegg is still too expensive and unreliable, the Pagani is ready for me when I hit 50, forget Aston, forget Bentley, forget Rolls. I suppose it is like a cost effective Enzo - now that is a proper Ferrari. Paul let my abuse his car a few months ago, and that was the most fun ever, easy to drive, lots of epic drama, steering wheel lights, paddle shift, great exhaust, carbon everything, harness… Oh my god stop me! The 430 Scuderia is a great, but watered down, car - not really my bag to be honest. But it will suffice for some garage eye candy.
So whats next then. Apart from the obvious launch of the AF10 – my 3rd production car, I get the Veyron, probably will get the LP640, however there are rumours about the LP660. The Reventon is bit of a piss take to be honest and the Porsche 911 range is seriously not doing anything for me.
Finally, I ordered the new McLaren P11 recently. Very helpful people, fantastic looking car as per CAR magazine (a little like Farboud GTS), but not sure when it will come out. I feel that the car will be very similar to the Gallardo, I really do hope that they make it with a carbon chassis with pushrod suspension otherwise it will be a bit of a fashion accessory, as per the Audi R8. I really do not understand that car at all, but the way it drives along with the Audi marketing push will make it the new 911. I reckon Porsche are very upset about this, and the V10 version will wind up Lamborghini, but I still won’t get one. I’m not a ponce.
