Farewell Ford GT
Being around so many exceptional cars I get spoiled. I’m reminded of this every time someone asks me about some $200k+ car and I shrug with a “it’s nice.” But when anyone brings up the Ford GT, they are immediately my friend and I start spouting the triumphs and tribulations of this great car.
Of all the cars in the Van Horssen Group collection, this one stands on its own in many ways. Perhaps the first is when I list the typical cars in the collection…Aston, Bentley, Ferrari, um, FORD, Lamborghini, etc.…no offense meant to Ford but they are not usually mentioned in the same breath as these other premium car manufacturers.
Even $200,000 Plus Cars Have Issues!
I have the pleasure of driving some amazing cars as the Operations Manager for Van Horssen Group. One of my all around favorites is the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. I love it due to its looks, performance, comfort and all around great driving experience. Most people tend to think with such a great car that nothing goes wrong, that is not the case! The main issue I have run into with the Lamborghini is a little phrase on the dash that reads, “SOFT TOP CANNOT BE USED” it may happen when you push the button to put the top down or up, or it will happen half way through the process and leave the vehicle looking like the picture below.
This has happened a few times and enough for me to know how to deal with it manually. A lot of people do not realize there is a manual option for this type of problem. The problems have been stemming from bad latches that don’t latch completely which will not allow the top to be used. In most cases with the latches the dealers have had the problem resolved in under thirty minutes and back on the road within an hour or two. There is a section in the owner’s manual that explains how to manually put the top up and down. Ideally this is a two person job but it can be done with one person if necessary. If you pay close attention to the movements of the roof and engine cover while the top is being put up or down you will have a good feel for how to do it manually should the need arise.
Jarrod Freehan
Operations Manager
GT3 vs. Turbo
We are often asked which car is our favorite and after much deliberation, digression and qualifications I usually say the Porsche GT3. But what about the Turbo? The performance stats of these two cars are almost identical and it is definitely right up there in my top 5. So how do two cars that look the same in person and on paper, drive so differently?
Much of how they differ can be summed up in a description of the big tachometer in action. When you get on the gas in the GT3, you watch the needle rise smoothly, and keep on rising…forever…all the way to 8400rpms while the engine screams notes of powerful naturally aspirated pleasure all the way up. The Turbo, on the other hand, when you punch the pedal you hesitate, that is until the revs hit about 3700rpm. At that point, you better drop your cell phone and latte because you will be at what was the horizon just seconds ago. Accompanying this time warp is a quick gasp, like someone’s last breath before a deep plunge. And unless you like to visit the Porsche service center often, you better keep a close eye on the needle as it will rocket into the red line almost right after you pressed the pedal.
There are a slew of other differences that make these cars different, but bottom line is they are both a blast to drive. One might be more enjoyed setting lap times on a road course, the other getting ahead of the pack in a sea of traffic. What do you say? GT3 or Turbo?
Scott Harrington
Director of Programs
Of Favorite Cars and Kids
The question comes up all the time. Which car is your favorite? As a car share club, of course, the diplomatic response is something along the lines of “they’re like our kids, we love them all equally.” And, as is the case with most diplomacy — hopefully — there’s a lot of truth in that statement. In the recent past, however, diplomacy has gone out the window. The Porsche GT3 stands alone now when I am asked about my favorite car.