Ferrari refuses to let Top Gear track-test the LaFerrari against the Porsche 918

[soccerballtux]

http://jalopnik.com/heres-how-top-gear-can-test-the-laferrari-against-the-p-1687365910

Here's the short version:

Porsche has already agreed to let Top Gear test the 918 on their test track at any time. No fine print. This is important because both McLaren and (especially) Ferrari have refused to let their cars be timed on the TG test track unless certain conditions are met.

McLaren also agreed to let TG track test the P1, but only if the test is not done on the Top Gear test track, as they feel the 918 will have an advantage on the tight TG track due to AWD.

McLaren also insisted that customer cars for all 3 be used in the tests, to prevent a one-off factory special with a higher tune from being used. Here's where Ferrari's conditions come in. Ferrari will only allow TG to test the LaFerrari against the 918 and P1 if the car used is a factory LaFerrari and not a customer car. Ferrari even went one step further and banned all owners of the LaFerrari from lending their cars to TG for the test (or else they would be banned from buying any limited edition Ferrari in the future).



TL;DR seems like McLaren and Ferrari are scared to lose to the 918 Spyder on Top Gear.

excuse me I purchased your $500k car how can you prevent me from using it as I like?

In the States we have a thing called 'fair use'. I know it's a foreign concept to you European socialists but basically it permits you to do as you please with the item.

For example, if you own a CD, to make MP3s out of it, or if you own a book, to lend it to someone.

 

[_Rick_]

excuse me I purchased your $500k car how can you prevent me from using it as I like?

In the States we have a thing called 'fair use'. I know it's a foreign concept to you European socialists but basically it permits you to do as you please with the item.

For example, if you own a CD, to make MP3s out of it, or if you own a book, to lend it to someone.

Oh sure, you can use the car whichever way you want.
Ferrari just won't sell you their next toy if they don't like your face.
Doing what they do not want you to do will put you pretty high up on the "we don't like your face" list

 

[soccerballtux]

Oh sure, you can use the car whichever way you want.
Ferrari just won't sell you their next toy if they don't like your face.
Doing what they do not want you to do will put you pretty high up on the "we don't like your face" list

I would never consider them for their behavior. too much tool-bagery

 

[KeithP]

Ferrari has a LONG history of sending ringers to comparison tests and also mandating tracks and conditions that favour their cars.

Yep. The fact that automotive "journalist" allow them to get away with this says all you need to know about the automotive press.

-KeithP

 

[tsupersonic]

I already have a low reputation of Ferrari, but this just takes the cake. If you are truly proud and confident of building such cars, you wouldn't have to tune it for every specific track...I can't believe anyone respect's this pathetic company.

Out of all the three cars, I'm most impressed with the P1, but the 918 is a very close second. The Ferarri Ferrari, forget it.

 

[felang]

Not Top Gear and missing the LaFerrari but it´s something...

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/1503_2015_mclaren_p1_vs_2015_porsche_918_spyder/

 

[exar333]

Yep. The fact that automotive "journalist" allow them to get away with this says all you need to know about the automotive press.

-KeithP

Auto press is a lot like technology 'press'. They suck at the teat of the companies they 'report' on and cannot be too critical else they lose early-access to future products.

 

[Aikouka]

They said on the show last night that Ferrari finally agreed, but now Porsche -- who has been open from the start -- doesn't have a car available for them to use. So, Top Gear is waiting on Porsche to find one.

 

[996GT2]

They said on the show last night that Ferrari finally agreed, but now Porsche -- who has been open from the start -- doesn't have a car available for them to use. So, Top Gear is waiting on Porsche to find one.

I hope Porsche takes some time to "factory-prep" (in Ferrari's words) a 918 with a more aggressive tune and some hidden bottles of nitrous.

After all, gotta have a fair playing field, right?

 

[smackababy]

I've never understood why people care about other people's cars. If I like my car, I like it. If I don't, I don't. The fuck does it matter what somebody else is driving? I know it's about status and peer pressure and all that, but it just doesn't make sense. People are stupid, and I don't care what they think about my car.

Because I paid $500k for my penis to be bigger than yours! If your car is faster, your penis is enhanced further and it isn't fair!

 

[exar333]

They said on the show last night that Ferrari finally agreed, but now Porsche -- who has been open from the start -- doesn't have a car available for them to use. So, Top Gear is waiting on Porsche to find one.

Hopefully they can setup the race soon.

Part of me wonders if this was just a big, elaborate setup to hype-up the race.

 

[smackababy]

Hopefully they can setup the race soon.

Part of me wonders if this was just a big, elaborate setup to hype-up the race.

IDk, Ferrari have pulled similar things before haven't they?

 

[jlee]

IDk, Ferrari have pulled similar things before haven't they?

Yup, I believe Ferrari has quite the reputation for stuff like this. Providing "special" cars for review use, etc.

 

[Nebor]

I would never consider them for their behavior. too much tool-bagery

What will you be purchasing instead of Ferraris then?

 

[tamm]

Not anytime soon, with JC suspended.
Everyone better factory spec their cars like ferrari.

My prediction:
The Ferrari is gonna be the fastest
Porsche is gonna be second
Mclaren is gonna be last

afterwards, Ferrari is going to say nothing and how the race was fair and how Chris harris and the type are basically liars, Porsche will say they DRL system was sipping 0.000000000000000000001 volts too much over spec hence the only second place finish, and Mclaren will say how their car was last since their car was a customer car and more indicative of the real world performance of the car.