Roswell

Jean, your F355 looks so good... a classic!!

Jean Valjean

AMG,

Thanks for the video. That was a Kreisseg exhaust. There are many awesome YouTube videos with Capristo, as well. I have a Larini exhaust with straight pipes and man does it give me chills when I let it wail.

Roswell,

Thanks for the compliment. Yeah I truly feel Ferrari hit a home run with the 355. I think it will go down as one of the true great classic Ferraris. However, I think Ferrari also has hit a home run with the new V8, the 458.

Yes, I feel the C63 is the best car that I can think of if I could only pick one car to have in my garage to fit my current lifestyle. I am extremely happy with it. Like the F355, it has never failed to bring a smile to my face. We are all truly lucky to own such a great machine.

_AMG_

The new V8 Ferraris are great. The 458 is a great looking car, never seen one on the street but it looks great in pictures. Ive heard alot of 458's catching on fire for some odd reason.

jvanbrecht

The fire resulted in a recall. The epoxy/glue (yes.. they used glue.. wtf.. its a Ferrari, spend the extra pennies on rivets...) that held a part in place (I believe somewhere in the wheel well, I forget where though) failed and the part in question fell onto the heat shield which then burst into flames...

Jean Valjean

Yes, the recall has been issued on 458's due to engine fires. I believe somewhere around 4 or 5 cases of this. Cause was melting of an epoxy used on engine compartment heat shielding. The epoxy would melt and drip on the engine block and low and behold, was highly flammable. A few of these cases went ip on flames, not while being driven, but after the cars sat after being driven, while engine was off. Epoxy likely used as these things have been used in F1 to bond light composite materials (carbon fiber, etc) together in a light weight manner. Highest technology stuff. Lightweight is king. Heck, Ferrari issued a recall
on my 355's to correct possible engine fire risk due to improperly places fuel lines that would wear and leak fuel on top of the engine block. This recall was issued in 2009, some
14 years after the car came to production, likely after many cases. Likely took a serious
injury/fatality, hence lawsuit to put them over the edge to put out the recall. Ferrari has always been about winning races, priority number one. Everything else is second. That is how Enzo saw it. When paying for a Ferrari, one is paying for the engine technology, innovation, and racing history, pedigree. Prestige and wealth have naturally followed. Point is, just cuz it costs a bundle, don't correlate this with build quality or safety. On the reality of it you may be sorely disappointed.

Hans Delbruck

Nice pics and info. I love to hear you guys compare the C63 with a Ferrari.

Jean Valjean

It is particularly interesting that the c63 and f355 berlinetta have the same Nurburgring time! Same distance in very different ways!

_AMG_

I agree with you 110% on this one. But i would not be dissapointed no matter what kind of Ferrari i have in my garage Haha.

_AMG_

Thank you,
The AMG and Ferrari are 2 completely different breed of animals. The AMG is built with German precision, meaning everything was made with reliability and power in mind. It dosent have the looks of a Ferrari but the car itself is Built and looks like it will "take care of business" without being too over the top.
The Ferrari on the other hand is built with the passion of Italian engineering.
They have put soul into the car as well as racing heritage that Ferrari is known for.
Either way, both cars are amazing....

Jean Valjean

Finally took the C63 out on some serious roads with a friend's "new" Challenge Stradale. We drove on a road we were both familiar with different cars. Usually I'll take the F355 Berlinetta out and usually my friend would take out his 360 Modena. However, my buddy traded in his 360 for the Challenge Stradale on Friday and wanted to try it out. We drove our favorite 5 mile stretch of prime road and then swapped cars. We then went back to the local coffee joint for breakfast and compared notes. The AMG had no problem keeping pace with the "hardcore" Italian Stallion. My friend, a previous C350 sport owner, commented that "The AMG is a monster, and was surprisingly nimble in the twisties." He also commented that he liked how the AMG looks radically different then the 350 sport as opposed to a 335 to an M3. I've been a more traditional 3 pedal manual rev-match downshift type of driver, but in getting the hang of these paddle shift cars, I can truly understand how much faster people can go with the paddles and 2 hands on the wheel at all times. There truly is an art to driving a manual, but technology has definitely taken over (Paul Bunyon has lost to the chainsaw). Anyway, I usually do a bimonthly drive the local Ferrari/exotic group, and one of these times I think I'll bring the AMG along.

_AMG_

That stradale is gorgeous!! And your C63 looks great with the 16 spoke AMG wheels.
I agree with you on everything you said about the the Manual trans VS paddle shifters. But there is something VERY fun and special about a 6 speed. The 360 i have in my pics was a 6 speed manual so it was even more fun to drive then the paddle shift version.
If your ever around SoCal and want to go on a great driving road i highly suggest Angeles Crest higway. Its 55 miles of pure driving bliss.