Ferrari - ground clearance?

7 Nov 2002, 16:33 (Ref:423913)

I'm hoping one of you guys has or can point me in the direction of some info regarding ground clearance.

I've drooled over Ferraris as long as I can remember, and I reckon at a pinch I'll be able to stretch to a 308 GT4, maybe a GTB in the not too distant future.

My problem is that between my garage and the road I have an upwards sloping drive, the public footpath, followed by a steepish downward slope. My Alfa GTV can clear it at walking pace - 5MPH or above and it's the horrible steel on concrete scrape.

Hence I could do with some info - a beached Ferrari is the last thing I want!

Any help greatly appreciated.

josvandeperre · 7 Nov 2002, 17:12 (Ref:423956)

I've no idea what my ground clearance is but if you get a GTB (or better still a GTS) try not to get the deep front spoiler - they look rubbish too - if you're lucky some GTB/GTS are below £ 20 K - don't forget to join the Owners Club - we're a very friendly bunch

8 Nov 2002, 08:53 (Ref:424428)

Hi Jos,

I've seen a few GTB under the £20K mark recently. Have to agree on that spoiler - the car looks much sleeker without. I've never been a fan of bolted on air dams, skirts and wings.

It's the owners clubs fault my Ferrari dribbling has been rekindled - plenty of you guys were at Donington for the BTCC/ GT/ F3 meeting in September.

If it's no trouble could you run a measuring tape around the car? -that's assuming you've got a 308 as opposed to something more exotic and out of my budget! Promise to buy you a beer or two one day!

I could do with knowing:
distance between floor and road
distance from hub cap to hub cap
front overhang from front hub cap

rear overhang doesn't look a problem.

josvandeperre · 11 Nov 2002, 09:20 (Ref:426231)

I haven't forgotten

Tristan · 12 Nov 2002, 01:20 (Ref:426775)

Ride hight on the 550/75 is adjustable, I know that much. (Thank god they've sorted out that Fiorano version out. That was getting embarassing)

josvandeperre · 13 Nov 2002, 13:48 (Ref:427764)

Its a brutal world we live in with this question sprayed all over the world ! It looks like Ferrarichat.com has answered your query - unless you are worried by the 3 in allegation - if you live in the SOuth East and want to try a physical thats something that cant be done on the ether !

13 Nov 2002, 15:43 (Ref:427847)

Hi Jos,

That 3 inches sounds kind of scary - good news that some are the right side of 4 inches. Saves me smashing the pavement up with a pneumatic drill and having the council come after me!

I'm a Northerner (Hartlepool), so trying a physical is out of the question. When I've got the cash together and go looking at cars I'll just have to crawl around the floor with a measuring tape... no doubt that'll get me some funny looks!

Cheers,
Peter.

josvandeperre · 13 Nov 2002, 16:19 (Ref:427866)

Sound fibre glass GTB on Exchange & Mart's web site - know the car - £ 20 1/2 - need to decide re GTB vs GTS - a/c was an option but fairly necessary

13 Nov 2002, 16:45 (Ref:427888)

Cheers Jos,

I'm looking at the middle of next year realistically before I can buy. Just wanted to check the potential pitfalls in advance so I had plenty of time to do something about them. Next step is to see how scary the insurance is... (hopefully OK, becuase it'll be a Sunday car, will do very low mileage and be kept in a garage with better security than Fort Knox!)

Cheers.

Tristan · 13 Nov 2002, 17:10 (Ref:427900)

There WAS a rumour of a Ferrari SUV (á la Cayenne). I don't think that'll happen (thankyou god (Enzo))

Mal · 14 Nov 2002, 07:31 (Ref:428309)

I think if it did happen it would be branded a Maserati. Just as bad I know!

Bluebottle · 23 Nov 2002, 22:32 (Ref:435503)

As far as I know, the Construction and Use Regulations for cars in the UK don't specify a minimum ride height- does that mean that you can take your local council to court for obstructing the roads with humps?
Just a thought....

25 Nov 2002, 13:17 (Ref:436364)

I saw a TVR (very briefly) last week as it zoomed past me - the exhaust can't have been more than two inches off the ground!

I bet that guy has panic attacks when humps are dead ahead!

**Woolley** · 23 Dec 2002, 01:56 (Ref:455876)

I heard TVRs are very good for humps. Oh, sorry, you meant speed humps?

garcon · 23 Dec 2002, 02:16 (Ref:455886)

As you should know if you watched Top Gear, TVR's are for the - ahem - older gentleman with a rapidly ascending trouser line who probably thinks it'll be good for humps...

I could've sworn I just read the word stereotype somewhere...

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