Ferrari 550 Maranello vs GTS (long)

[ACR Joe]

I love this analogy .......

Sports Car International wrote "the Ferrari is more like a fine cutlass and the Viper more of a two-handed battle-ax. You can dispatch your opponent with either one, but only the Viper can cleave his head clear off in one massive stroke".

 

[rschiltz]

wow, awesome story. How do you have the opportunity to test all these world class machines? Do you know people or just pull up in the Viper? My next request is for a Diablo test drive or maybe Mclaren F1

 

[Steve Ferguson]

If you want to drive a F1 let me know. There is one for sale in the Chicago area, and rides are available!

 

[Allan White Mamba 200/200]

i can tell you about the lamborghini diablo, have had my 2001 diablo 6.0 for about six weeks now. as for accelleration, the diablo is faster, 0-60 in about 3.6 seconds and the quarter in 12.2/118 (about the same as a good viper),but top speed is above 200.(these are the numbers quoted in road tests).the handeling is spot on,it feels glued to the pavement and the overall quality is outstanding. it is the only car i've driven that actually attracts more attention than the viper- some of it unwanted. like it alot but the VERY BIGGEST THING IT LACKS is a "support" group like VCA and this BB where information is readily available and you can communicate with a great group of "like minded" people.i guess my decision to order a 03 RT frome Bill P. a few months ago was a good one.the viper,ferrari and lambo are all great cars, we are all very fortunate- arn't we.

 

[BWoodbury]

I don't think I'd qualify for a test drive, but I'd love to see the F1. Where is it Steve?

 

[Martin D]

Allan,

I live pretty close to you....I would like to see the Lambo!

Any Chance, I can take you for a spin in the Venom?

Regards,

 

[Kid97GTS]

Pshhh. Some Yahoo in his Red Witch tried to rumble on the toll road a while back. After I finally got serious and uncorked a 4th gear roll-on, the 550 was no match; and at speeds starting below 120, the 550 will lose every time. In fact, Big Boy broke off such a big piece up said 550's tailpipe, that the little Red Witch and her driver won't even venture to south OC for fear of getting another epic thrashing at the hands of Big Boy.

 

[PMUM]

Is this the same Kid97GTS that after said encounter came on this board and posted this?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kid97GTS:
Basically with the 3.55 gear set, the highest speed from which the Viper can start and have a chance to beat the 550 to 150 is about 80 mph. Start any higher than 80 and there is no way the GTS can build up enough of a lead to hold off the inevitable push that the 550 is going to bring somewhere between 110 and 120. In fact, every time (all 4) the slow-to-learn GTS driver started in 5th gear at 3000, the 550 walked it. Only when GTS driver smartened up and started in 4th around 4500-5000 did the Viper build up such a lead that it was able to fend off the 550.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Is this also the same Kid97 that has been terrorized by the 550 that has been seen thrAshing on ALL 3 of Kid's cars? I seem to remember a Kid '97 getting scoreboarded 4 to 1 on the toll-road......errrrrr racetrack by said 550 then justifying it by saying it took until the 5th attempt to figure out which gear to put it in. Scoreboard 550- 4, 97GTS- 1.

Round 2, Vehicle 2- the same 550 pilot (we'll call him "Kid Killa" from here on out) rolls up to a stop-light on the way to purchase a grinder for lunch. Low and behold there's a '66 Chevelle with open exhaust, 4.56 gears, 383 Fuelie Chevy in it, with "Kid" pilota. Said "Kid" looks over and sees a 550 looking to dole another thrAshing out on the Kid family of vehicles. What does Kid do with his big bad Chevy? Slowly ease away whilst 550 with Kid Killa pilot and a certain Viper Tech passenger lay rubber laughing at poseur "muscle car Kid"! Smart move. I'm sure after his '97 Viper got it's walking papers it warned the Chevy not to mess with the Kid Killa!

Round 3, Vehicle 3- the last of the Kid fleet to get "tuned up" by a 550. Apparently the Viper and Chevelle forgot to tell the "lil 330i that couldn't" to watch out for the Kid Killa that has been taking liberties with the vehicles in Kid's garage over the last couple of weeks. Sure enough they meet! In between doling out massive thrAshings to many-a-Viper (big and lil cammed ones) at Willow Springs the 550 doles one out to the 330i. Unfortunate that a flyweight got caught in the ring with a heavyweight, but apparently Gerry Cooney....errrrrr Kid hadn't learned his lessons with the other losses.

So my advice is to take any of Kid Cooney's comments with a grain of salt. He's obviously reeling after watching all three of his vehicles get scoreboarded by the Italian Stallion. Let's all help him get through this.

Heck I'll even start: If you apply the Corvette Forum Theorum you'll see that it doesn't matter that all of his vehicles got smoked because they were all cheaper and he COULDDA bought some niiiice bolt-ons to change the outcome with the money he saved. Hope this helps ease the pain and allows you to sleep better at night Kid.

I must be going...I heard that Kid Cooney has a **** wacker that hasn't been smoked by the Kid Killa yet so I've gotta go to Home Depot to buy a faster one.

WAR TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS!!!!!!!!

 

[Kid97GTS]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PMUM:


I must be going...I heard that Kid Cooney has a **** wacker that hasn't been smoked by the Kid Killa yet so I've gotta go to Home Depot to buy a faster one.

WAR TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS!!!!!!!!

[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am quite sure I have no idea what you are talking about PMUM. Let me set the record straight:

The GTS vs. 550 encounter was factually reported by me after it happened. Fact remains, that if Kid Pilota starts against the Red Witch at any speed below 80, Kid wins. Above that, we start to get into the narrow range in which the 550 has all the advantages (the only other arena in which the 550 would have the same sort of advantages is cruising the Wal Mart parking lot for chicks). BUT, if you doubt the ability of Big Boy to thrAsh the Red Witch, bring her out, and Big Boy's got a little something waiting for her (Big Boy had a couple "implants" since our last encounter). Don't give me a weak "Scoreboard" reply - just bring it, or save it.

The Chevy vs. 550 was a non-incident. I rolled up to the light with the Chevy (which by the way, may only be running on 7 cylinders) and looked over at the Howdy-Doody piloted 550, ready to dole out a stoplight thrAshing, to which Howdy-Doody shook his head in a "NO" fashion. Fine, I assumed that Howdy realized he would lose in a boulevard smack down, so I let him off easy, only to find that my little marionette friend later runs smack like some sort of ricer on a fly-by. Come on, P-Rice, come correct.

Finally, I have no defense for the 550 vs. 330i beat down. I will add, however, that the carpeting on the 330 did not come unglued and fly away after a couple laps, unlike the fine Italian product PMUM speaks of....

So, there you have it - by my tally, PMUM and his 550 have only gotten over on ONE of Kid Pilota's rides - the one that hauls around the groceries and the once-in-a-blue-moon chick. As far as completing the triple crown, all I can say is that Big Boy awaits, P-Rice. Come south and take your thrAshing like a man.

 

[PMUM]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kid97GTS:
Don't give me a weak "Scoreboard" reply - just bring it, or save it.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Since when did Scoreboard become a weak take? You got run 4 times in a row! How many times do I have to dole it out? Maybe in Kiddieland scoreboard doesn't amount to much, but here excuses don't cut it. Save the excuses for the Corvette Forum! Scoreboard!

As for the Chevelle, maybe you didn't bring your booster seat and couldn't see over the door panel but I was gesturing for you to bring it. Not my problem if the Chevelle never runs right. Once again--Scoreboard!

WAR CORVETTE LOGIC!!!!!!

PS-Scoreboard!

 

[SoCal Rebell]

Kid Killa
Kid Killa
Kid Killa
Kid Killa
Kid Killa
Kid Killa
Kid Killa
Kid Killa
Kid Killa
Kid Killa
Kid Killa


Oh yeah, Candy says "Hi Pauly" (She loves Kid Killas)

 

[PMUM]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SoCal Rebell:

Oh yeah, Candy says "Hi Pauly" (She loves Kid Killas)

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Didn't a wise man once say "...to the victor go the pornstars"?

 

[Kid97GTS]

That's it - next time Big Boy runs into the Red Witch, she's going "***************" for maximum Big Boy enjoyment. Tell Candy that Kid Pilota may need some fluffing before his next beat down of the Toll Collector.

 

[PMUM]

It's hard not to like the 550. I think it's the best all around car in the world. It's infinitely better as a daily driver. Rides really well, sounds great, tremendously smooth, linear power, revs to 7500 like nothing (titanium con rods). I couldn't imagine a better GT car. It seems to be just as quick as a creampuff Viper once it's hooked up. It doesn't have enough tire (295 rears) to hook the car up in first and spins a bit going into second. Even if it's hooked up, once it hits about 4-5000 rpm it breaks away so in a street race the Viper should beat it.

In running with Kid's '97 we both agreed that about 110-120 they accelerate about evenly. The Viper pulls much better from a standstill, then it gets closer and closer until 110ish where the 550 takes over. The further you get above 110 the harder the 550 will pull it. Kid's car is a strong "lumpy" '97 that put out 422 stock. He then put filters, cat-back and 3.55s so you'd have to adjust the 110 over/under in relation to that car (Kid's car should've been 435 or so rwhp when we raced). The 550 feels like it would walk my '01 ACR (394rwhp) at any speed once it's hooked up in 2nd gear. On the highway, it would walk my creampuff from any speed.

For the track the Viper is a much better handling car. The 550 is a piece of cake to drive very fast. At Willow Springs it seems like the 550 would be about 3sec./lap slower than a Viper with a very experienced driver. An average or beginning driver would probably go quicker in the 550 because it's so easy to drive. The brakes on the 550 are huge and come with 4" ducts from the factory so they're much better than the Viper. The ASR on the 550 is tremendous because in sport mode it allows you to get very close to full potential before ending the party (but it's still quicker with it off).

So on the street the 550 is a much better car, but should be considering the price. On the track, I'm a huge fan of the Viper merely because no matter how good I think I'm getting I know the car has more in it. I've never driven a car that can come even close to the Viper on a track.

 

[Steve Ferguson]

Bob, the F1 was in Oak Brook, but as of last month I guess it was shipped to England. Irving looked at the car, but was unwilling to trade a few of his Ferrari's for a car that was not US legal. But he sure was impressed.

I will ask Irving if he can get the owner Tom to bring it to a VCA meeting next year when it returns.