That's the noise that annoys the noisy oyster

The Ferrari 360 is bit of an enigma really. It looks awesome. People offer to do very naughty things in order to get a ride in it (none have had their offers accepted). It goes like shot off a shivel and I love the way it drives.

The problem is not with the way it drives. The problem is with way it sounds. As standard they are a bit....well…farty sounding really. Sounds more like a 1970s Ford Escort Mexico than a prancing horse. Not right. Definitely not right.

I resolved to deal with this lack of a decent exhaust tune and so did my research. I lurked on a load of fora ( forums ?) AND spoke to Furlonger Specialist Cars. Yep, everyone agreed. Novitec Rosso make the best 360 sports exhaust. No doubt. 100%. Count me in.

And lo, as luck would have it I found a new one for sale on the Bay of E. A price was agreed and the beastie was shipped directly to Furlonger and I was a happy girlie.

Except that this bliss did not last long. Oh no. When the car rolled out of the transporter (I love that) the noise was quite something. Shaky windows stuff. It made a lovely sound at idle. Quite antisocial in everyway.

So what’s the problem then, why so unhappy? Ah because I have a 5-year-old son whose little ears are too delicate for this almost straight through system. I tried it on 4 journeys and then decided to give up. I would have to go back to the old stock system. Pants

The thought of fitting the old rusty heavy exhaust system to a place of the gorgeous shiny gold Novitec was too much to bear.  So I called an expert to ask for help.

Tim Walker at Walkersport is such an expert. There is nothing he doesn’t know about Ferraris. He’s just that kind of guy. Anyway, long story short, he recommend getting a 430 exhaust and having it modded to fit a 360. We had a really nice techy/ geeky chat about why this option would work best.

So all I would have to do is to find a 430 exhaust in good nick and then get a fab shop to make the mods…Simples.

But things got even better. It so happened that a Ferrari track instructor had such a system  - suitably chopped – that he wanted to sell. So I bought it before you could say brmm brmm.

And now my car is lovely. At idle and anything below 3500 rpm, it sounds like a basey Ford Mexico. Nothing flash or sinister. And then as I press my foot down harder on the gas peddle, something strange happens. The happy little kitty that was gently purring behind me becomes a rabid tiger after a night on Stella. I love it. It’s purrrfect