A Ferrari you would want to drive every day

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: A Ferrari you would want to drive every day When I slipped into a conversation with a friend that I happened to be driving a Ferrari that weekend, their response was immediately to ask: “Oh, so did they have to teach you how to drive it?” The question illustrates the pedestal on which most people place the dazzling, powerful machines produced by the Prancing Horse. The assumption is that they are so fast and so technically advanced that they cannot be driven by us mere mortals. However, the California T could not be farther from this preconcep­t­ion. It is a sports car that has been designed for everyday use, with plenty of ground clearance and all the bits in the places you would expect to find them. But, don’t be fooled as this is still 100 per cent Ferrari. Treat it with a lack of respect and it will punish you, something I found out not long after I picked it up and thought I’d impress the neighbourhood with the sound of its engine. The result was the California T politely reminding me that there is a direct-injection V8 turbo engine under the bonnet that can knock out a whopping 552bhp. It’s fair to say that should you choose the California T as your ‘every day’ car then the drive to work will never be the same again. For those unfamiliar with the California T, it is a grand tourer that has a heritage dating back to the 1950s. It has a 2+2 configuration and a retractable hardtop. Like iconic Ferraris such as the GTO and F40, the California T has a turbo engine, which means it achieves the impressive power figure already mentioned as well as a 0-100kph of 3.6 seconds with a 3.9l engine. Now turbo-charged engines on sports cars can be treated with disdain by some, with sceptics saying the turbo can lag and the sound can be less than thrilling. However, Ferrari promised with the California T that it would address such issues and, having driven it, I can say they’ve done an impressive job. While I wasn’t giving the car a track-style workout, I was more than happy with the clinical way the accelerator responded, while the handling was nimble and there were no complaints about the sound, except possibly from the neighbours when I clumsily tried to whip off. However, it’s not just the driving dynamic of the California T that makes it a sports car for every day. The car also has good clearance so you don’t have to clench your teeth every time you go over a speed bump and the interior is a delight for the eyes and backside. The seats are luxurious, the materials are premium and the dashboard is striking. However, don’t plan on packing your three best buds in with you as the rear seats are pretty much for taking the shopping home, although I did manage to fit my two young children and booster seats in them. Finally, we come to the exterior. You might think a sports car that has been designed to be practical would have to compromise on its looks. Well, think again. This is Ferrari. OK, it’s not as eye-popping as, say, a 488 GTB, but the California T is still stunning. And all that for just Dhs857,000. simon@7days.ae Read the original story at: A Ferrari you would want to drive every day