Opinion Inside

"Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney" (braddelaparker) 12/16/2013 at 11:47 • Filed to: None

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Ferrari hasn't made a truly attractive vehicle since the 355.

Anon > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 11:48

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Your opinion is bad and you should feel bad! Have you seen a 458 in person? They're beautiful!

HammerheadFistpunch > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 11:50

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sorry, I'm totally a fan of the 458. I quite liked the 430 too, but its not pretty per se, just attractive.

The TheFerrari though....barf.

phenotyp > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 11:51

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I agreed until the 458 came along.

Barbarian772 > Anon 12/16/2013 at 11:53

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The lights are wrong though... the 355 was the last ferrari that looks good frome very angle on every picture and in real life. The 599 wasn't too bad either imo, but when they started with their way too big headlights they ruined everything....

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 11:54

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The 355 isn't a bad investment, either. Dat ass.

Anon > Barbarian772 12/16/2013 at 11:54

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But have you ever seen a 458 in person?

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > HammerheadFistpunch 12/16/2013 at 11:54

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I don't mind the 458, but I find it to be much more "dudebro that's sick" than it is beautiful.

Gamecat235 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 11:55

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Sooooo tempted to post pictures of the 8c, MC12 and the Stratos revival.

But I do disagree with you because of the 599 GTO and the 458. Both of these vehicles take function and make it sexy.

offroadkarter > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 11:55

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what about the 550?

HammerheadFistpunch > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 11:55

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no, in person...its stunning.

EL_ULY > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 11:57

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In order imo

1. 430 Scudi

2. F355 GTS (seen above)

3. 360/360 Challenge

4. Played out 458

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/16/2013 at 11:57

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Their value curve looks attractive, but they're not cheap cars to own.

benchslap > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 11:57

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The F355 is and always will be my dream car. I could have bought one for what I paid for my E60 M5... but it quickly would have become a lawn ornament once I couldn't pay the service costs.

TheJWT > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 11:58

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I think their cars since the 355 have been good looking, but not truly beautiful like the 355.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Gamecat235 12/16/2013 at 11:59

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I like both the 599 and the 458, but they're not beautiful to me, merely cool-looking. The 355 is the essence of understated, classy design.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > offroadkarter 12/16/2013 at 12:00

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I kind of lump the two together as far as production periods go, although I guess the 550 actually postdated the 355 for a couple of years. No argument there, though.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > EL_ULY 12/16/2013 at 12:01

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360 on that list?

Mattbob > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:02

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Collin > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:02

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I'm glad I'm not the only person who hates modern Ferrari design.

AND YES I'VE SEEN THEM IN PERSON

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > TheJWT 12/16/2013 at 12:03

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Such is my point.

I, for one, hated and still hate the 360. The 430 smoothed most of the 360's imperfections over but couldn't completely hide the bar-of-soap underpinnings. And the 458, while very cool looking, isn't beautiful, per se.

briannutter1 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:04

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I'd like to say they've been trading aero for sexy since the demise of the 288gto. I like the 355 and the modena ok, but not great. The 599 gto/fxx is hot. The 458 isn't going to age well. Photographers aren't showing us the bad angles of the 458 that we see in person. The notrils and the cheap plastic c-pillar to deck body seam looks plain bad. Still, love the 458 as a performance car.

Gamecat235 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:05

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Understated classy design and Ferrari haven't gone hand in hand since...

uh... guys help me here.

Well, lets see, the 400 and 412 were definitely understated. Classy though? Nah.

I could argue that the Dino 206 and 246 were relatively understated. Of course I could also argue that the 550 was understated as well, based on what vehicles it sort of looks like (it doesn't stand out like most modern Ferrari's do).

(For clarification, I find the F355 to be one of the most beautiful vehicles of its era, I just don't think it is understated. It looks like sex.)

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > briannutter1 12/16/2013 at 12:05

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I still think the 360 is the ugliest car that Ferrari has ever and will ever make.

Leadbull > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:06

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Do you lump in the 575 as well? It was produced until 2006.

Party-vi > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:06

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Does it count if they just put the logo on it?

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:06

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Ferrari/Pininfarina has gone too academic/art-school. They aren't doing real-world gorgeous designs... they are theorizing and trying out things that are different, just to be different, not because the new designs have real technical reasons to look the way they look. They certainly don't retain timelessness or classic good looks, or a simply clean aerodynamic form wrapped cleanly and tightly over the purpose-built chassis.

I agree that 355 was a great design. If 348 had the 355's door intakes, I would put it right up there with it... the combs in the door intakes date the 348 to the 1980s, along with the pre-512TR Testarossa.

Ferrari 550/575 Maranello is also a great one. Far better than the oddly dis-proportional 599.

I thought F360 was a bit too soft, but I always liked the 360 Challenge Stradale's back end.

The F430 fixed all that was too soft with the 360, and gave it a nod to the 156F1 shark-nose... but ruined the back end.

An F430 with a 360CS back end, with the full width mesh grille, and the classy older pie-plate tail lights, rather than the cut-int0-the-fender smaller cylindrical 430 tail lights, and the simpler 360CS rear bumper and diffuser... and a set of BBS Challenge/CH/CH-R wheels... especially in LeMans Blue...

That would be epic.

I want to like the 458 Spider, but the front end ruins it for me. The back end isn't fantastic, but not as bad as those stupid little cavities inboard of the headlights where the front fascia doesn't fit the hood lines.

LaFerrari/F70 has some potential, but still too much "art-school different-to-be-different" ... like the front chin spoiler not meeting the fascia/fenders at the side. Not quite clean enough to be timeless. But it is better looking than the ridiculously cubist Enzo/F60.

Frankly... McLaren P1 is more of a disappointment, *based solely on aesthetic design*, than the LaFerrari. No top-end Ferrari has been gorgeous since the 288 GTO and F40, both based on the 308/328 format (the roofline and the windows show it, everything else is modified.) F50 and Enzo were both atrocious looking, but technically astounding.

But McLaren F1 was a gestalt-shift game-changer and absolutely gorgeous... P1 looks alien and weird. I like 12C's understated, yet sublime looks better than P1 or most current or immediately-previous ferrari generations, and better than Lamborghini.

Audi R8 (especially the new face-lift), McLaren MP4-12C, or Porsche 918 would be on the top of my new high-end shopping list, not really Lamborghini or Ferrari, and I think those cars will prove to be more graceful and timeless, when the styling fads' novelties wear off.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Leadbull 12/16/2013 at 12:07

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I flip/flop on the 575. I think it (particularly the Superamerica) is a gorgeous car, but sometimes I'll catch a certain angle of one and find it to be absolutely revolting.

EL_ULY > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:07

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oh yes, it was neck and neck with the 355 GTS

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Gamecat235 12/16/2013 at 12:09

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Have you seen a 550/575 Maranello?

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Gamecat235 12/16/2013 at 12:09

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Such is the 355's uniqueness among their lineup, certainly since the 60s. The 355 is simple, smooth, unadulterated lines. It took the basic shape of the 348 and cleaned up all of the awful Testarossa influences that besieged its design.

Leadbull > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:10

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I mean, my point was that looks nearly identical to the 550.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Leadbull 12/16/2013 at 12:11

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Potato, potato. They all stem from a fairly similar timeframe in Ferrari's history in my mind.

Gamecat235 > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/16/2013 at 12:17

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Yes. Several times. They don't sing to me in the same way that the 599, 612, F430 or 458 do. Or even the 308...

Barbarian772 > Anon 12/16/2013 at 12:20

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I have seen a few and they don't look that bad in person, but I still think they kinda ruined it with the headlights. The rest of the car looks great, but I'm not a fan of the front...

Party-vi > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:22

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Also, c'mon.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Gamecat235 12/16/2013 at 12:26

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It doesn't get much cleaner than that ^.

612 isn't bad, but 550 is more purposeful looking than the 2+2.

F430 is great, but cab-forward mid-engined, and slightly rounder shapes, isn't quite as classic looking as the long-hood 550/575.

I wouldn't class 458 in the same league. Too gimmicky, and not timeless enough. I think it will look dated, and the stupid cavities inboard of the headlights drive me nuts, and the bland shape of the lower air intake doesn't fit the sharp lines of the rest of the car. And the high-hip c-pillar base on the coupe is odd. I like the Spyder roofline much better.

308 is an all-time great, I will give you that. 328, 288GTO, 288 Evoluzione, F40 share that by extension of having the roots of 308 as their basis.

512BB is also one of the all time greats for me.

Awe_thentiX > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:28

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Agreed.
For me, the 458 gets the closest, however it's not truly attractive. Their line up just seems bland.

Gamecat235 > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/16/2013 at 12:37

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Finding non-race car homogolation ME models that look classic and classy is a very very difficult task. And the F430 and 458 are victims of function over form. And in my opinion, only the 308 (and 288) and F355 have overcome this from Ferrari (yes, I have excluded the F40, I'm not a fan of the styling from an overall holistic point of view - burn me at the stake now).

briannutter1 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:41

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ok, I'm thinking the 348 and mondial are the worst, but I guess a lot of it is how old we are and how we remember Ferrari. I did some digging to see what fits my personal taste: REALLY digging shows there were some standouts in the 1950's and 1960's, but a lot of crappers then too. I don't know those cars well due to my age, but let's talk about the newer ones. There's overlap between the decades and I'm sure I'm missing some, but how about this for the 70's: 308>Daytona>Dino>365>512>400. For the 80's: 288gt0>328>Testarossa>412>Mondial. For the 90's where there aren't many good choices: F40>355>512>F50>550>456>348 For the 2000's, there's even less choices...599>360>575>Enzo>F430 2010's a bit better: 599xx>599Fxx>GTO>LaFerrari>458>F12>FF>California

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Gamecat235 12/16/2013 at 12:46

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I get the function of the outboard extractor vent to the right of the headlight. I don't get the function of the cavity on the inboard side, to the left... that may have a mesh-look insert, but isn't actually any kind of intake.

The function would be a sleek shape with the fascia panel fitting to the hood, like the FF.

-

Re: F40... I prefer 288 GTO to F40, myself.

But F40 seems like a 288 GTO 'turned up to 11'. and all the ducts and the wing, and such... are functional and purposeful.

My preference, aesthetically, pretty much gets worse with each successive generation, 288 > F40 > F50 > F60/Enzo.

Although I think I like LaFerrari/F70, aesthetically, a bit more than F50 or F60/Enzo... but I still don't think it is quite right, or timelessly classic like the 512 Berlinetta Boxer, or some of the cleaner, later 512TR variants without the combs in the door ducts.

quarterlifecrisis > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 12:48

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I looooove the 360. I've learned to really appreciate the 348 and 355, and likely see the 355 as what I'd end up with if I could ever scrape together enough cash for an F car. The 430 and subsequent models haven't really done it for me the way that did. Maybe its because it had just come out when I started really paying attention to Ferraris, or maybe it's because it's the only Ferrari I've driven. Shameless picture of my car with a friend's 360..if it works. Trying to link from an FB album whilst at work with all sorts of blocked junk.

Edit: of course it doesn't work.

Gamecat235 > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/16/2013 at 12:55

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I share your opinions. And in fact love the FF from a styling standpoint if I am looking at it from a point of view that disassociates the FF from the heritage that led to it.

And IMO, I still think that the 250 GTO is the beast that all successive Ferrari super cars try, and fail, to recreate. =)

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Gamecat235 12/16/2013 at 13:02

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FF is growing on me. Especially since I was under-whelmed by the gimmicks on the F12.

Where I prefer 550/575 2-seater to the 612 2+2, now it is going the other way.

Now I am liking the FF more and more, and the F12 leaves me a bit flat.

Especially now that FF is offered with a full glass roof, which kind of helps the styling, as well. (I would probably forgo the rear seat entertainment system, though. :D )

Sn210 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 13:29

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Since you clarified your stance on the 550, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Also, 550 is beautiful, 575 is ugly.

Sn210 > Party-vi 12/16/2013 at 13:32

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I want to back you up on this one, because it's one of my favorite underrated Ferrari's, but I can't get past those googly-eyed headlamps

Party-vi > Sn210 12/16/2013 at 13:39

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K.

Sn210 > Party-vi 12/16/2013 at 13:43

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...alright I'm convinced! 612 counts! (It figures you'd have an butt to post)

TheCraigy > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 15:17

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I would agree that the 612, 599, FF, and even the F12 are not the most beautiful of cars. Arguably the Enzo as well.

But the 360, 430, 458 are fantastic. 360 moreso than the 430, but the 458 is simply stunning.

TheCraigy > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 12/16/2013 at 15:20

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Yeah a 355's value has bottomed/flattened out... but to say these cars are "investments" is ludicrous. Just your standard routine maintenance and belt changes are horrific, and lord help you if you bought a F1 transmission on top of that...

TheCraigy > Collin 12/16/2013 at 15:21

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But have you really seen them in person? Like in-person, in-person? ;)

TheCraigy > Party-vi 12/16/2013 at 15:21

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Ugh one of the lost enzos turned matchbox cars...

Party-vi > TheCraigy 12/16/2013 at 15:25

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And it looks better and is faster than the Enzo :D

Collin > TheCraigy 12/16/2013 at 15:53

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Like how in person are we talking about?

TheCraigy > Collin 12/16/2013 at 16:04

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You know, personally. While you were a person. :D

marshknute > Anon 12/18/2013 at 00:57

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I've seen a 458 in person. From the back it's beautiful. From the side, it's derpy. From the front, it's painfully ugly. I get frustrated just thinking about it because of how awful that front end is.

The F355 was the last beautiful Ferrari. The 308 Quattrovalvole was the prettiest Ferrari ever.