My Stradale Is Here!

[Andyk]

Well I looked at it yesterday on forecourt with price still on it

Are we talking about the white one Chris.....that's odd....A few phoned off here the day it went up for sale and were told it sold. Perhaps it's cheaper for a reason.

 

[ChrisQP09]

Are we talking about the white one Chris.....that's odd....A few phoned off here the day it went up for sale and were told it sold. Perhaps it's cheaper for a reason.

Aye mate.

 

[Andyk]

Very strange.

 

[3leftovercrest]

From one Stu to another, congratulations!

My Strad will be 3 years old later this month. Can't believe it's nearly 3 years from when I picked her up all shiny and new. And I need to get a MOT!!

I should do a 3 year report seeing as I will be virtually on 16K when I get to the anniversary.

Came from 2 GTS's and a Gransport from 2004 to 2014 so it's been an interesting evolution.

Stu

 

[StuartW]

Very good Stu, look forward to hearing your report & I think we need some more pictures from you too!

 

[Dyer3200]

From one Stu to another, congratulations!

My Strad will be 3 years old later this month. Can't believe it's nearly 3 years from when I picked her up all shiny and new. And I need to get a MOT!!

I should do a 3 year report seeing as I will be virtually on 16K when I get to the anniversary.

Came from 2 GTS's and a Gransport from 2004 to 2014 so it's been an interesting evolution.

Stu

Soooo how does the Strad compare to the GTS's ?

 

[iainw]

From one Stu to another, congratulations!

My Strad will be 3 years old later this month. Can't believe it's nearly 3 years from when I picked her up all shiny and new. And I need to get a MOT!!

I should do a 3 year report seeing as I will be virtually on 16K when I get to the anniversary.

Came from 2 GTS's and a Gransport from 2004 to 2014 so it's been an interesting evolution.

Stu

Could we have a photo of your current fleet - perhaps with a wide angle lens!

 

[StuartW]

Come on then Stu, let's hear your thoughts on why the Strad is better than the GTS...

After some spirited driving yesterday, I have to conclude that the Stradale is streets ahead of my GTS which was already a great car.
The differences are subtle but the more you drive it, the bigger these differences become. The ceramic brakes are incredible, the seats are so much better & supportive, the suspension now that I don't have Skyhook is a huge improvement but the number one thing is the gear change. Admittedly it has a brand new clutch, but it is now lightening fast and so positive and yet when you read the reviews, the consistent criticism of the Stradale is the gear box. They really have got that wrong in my opinion, it is just fantastic and the multiple downshifting when you pull & hold the paddle as you are approach a bend is very exciting!
And I haven't even mentioned the noise in race mode - just a delight. But in auto and sport, it purrs like a kitten, no chance of waking the neighbours, so it is good for all situations. My only decision now is do I pop my Larini x-pipe and sports cats on or leave as is? Dilemmas!

 

[conaero]

Stu thanks for that.

What about the power I take it little difference in acceleration and general seat G force?

 

[Contigo]

Stu thanks for that.

What about the power I take it little difference in acceleration and general seat G force?

Having been in Athol's there really is not a marked difference between the Strad and the GTS!

 

[w5pwr]

Stuart's experience echo's my thoughts on the difference between my old GTS and my Stradale. Outright performance difference is not vast but as an around package its just better in a number of area's......

In between the GTS and the Stradale I had a F10 M5, 991 GTS & 991 GT3 all quicker than the Stradale, so for me performance was not the main driver, just the sense of occasion the car provides.

I have had more compliments about the car from the general public in the six months I have owned it than the previous three cars over the four years I had them.

 

[iainw]

Stuart's experience echo's my thoughts on the difference between my old GTS and my Stradale. Outright performance difference is not vast but as an around package its just better in a number of area's......

In between the GTS and the Stradale I had a F10 M5, 991 GTS & 991 GT3 all quicker than the Stradale, so for me performance was the made driver just the sense of occasion the car provides.

I have had more compliments about the car from the general public in the six months I have owned it than the previous three cars over the four years I had them.

The GTS is a stunning car - I love mine - but the Strad is just Incrementally better, as the price and rarity suggests.
Just looks and sounds exquisite certainly in race mode.
Its good to know your thoughts with direct experience on the GTS and GT3. IMHO the Strad looks so much better than the Porsche Rivals - and who would quibble about a few 1/10ths of a second 0-60. I find it impossible to use my GTS to its full potential as it is.

 

[StuartW]

Coming from a 2008 GTS with 54kk on the clock to a Stradale which has just turned 3 years of age with 20k, it's a bit of an unfair comparison but the claimed BHP increase of 440 to around 460 I would say is about it - it probably does feel around 5% quicker.

But as has been said before, the sense of occasion is huge and very enjoyable

 

[Rwc13]

I felt the biggest difference in driveability came from the gearbox improvements and non-skyhook suspension rather than in absolute straight line performance terms. And of course you do have the similar MC Sportline non-skyhook suspension on some GTS.

The seats on the 4 seat Strad are the same as those on the model year 2013 GTS except with alcantara centre section. Both I think are a considerably more sporting and comfortable than the earlier seats.

I was actually slightly disappointed with the noise the Strad makes in Sport compared to a GTS, albeit the noise in Race is epic and I've yet to hear anything standard to beat it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[azapa]

the number one thing is the gear change.

. My only decision now is do I pop my Larini x-pipe and sports cats on or leave as is? Dilemmas!

Stuart, some comments on both points, now 5 months into my ownership:

- gearshift. I thought it was dreadful during slow manoeuvring, but that ALL changed when some saint gave me the start up tip, which I assume you know, but will repeat: put key in, turn to dash light up position, and leave it there for 4 seconds or so - I wait until the airbag light stops flashing - and then start. "butter smooth" slow driving shifts!

Other end of spectrum - 60ms shifts. Its not easy at first to appreciate when these happen, but they really are something. Like a shotgun recoil.... I feel them most consistently: in race mode, engine warm, over 5000rpm and when flat out. The last part is subtle, unless the accelerator is really mashed, it will just do the "regular" shift.

Xpipe: I went back and forth, the Ferrari/Maser dealer even told me "the stradale is the best sounding car in the world - don't spoil it", but I eventually did it. It does sound raspier, especially cold. I am really on the fence, but all my car nut mates (ferrari included) agree it sounds wonderful now still. I would say try it and see, maybe recording before and after.

Enjoy!

 

[StuartW]

Stuart, some comments on both points, now 5 months into my ownership:

- gearshift. I thought it was dreadful during slow manoeuvring, but that ALL changed when some saint gave me the start up tip, which I assume you know, but will repeat: put key in, turn to dash light up position, and leave it there for 4 seconds or so - I wait until the airbag light stops flashing - and then start. "butter smooth" slow driving shifts!

Other end of spectrum - 60ms shifts. Its not easy at first to appreciate when these happen, but they really are something. Like a shotgun recoil.... I feel them most consistently: in race mode, engine warm, over 5000rpm and when flat out. The last part is subtle, unless the accelerator is really mashed, it will just do the "regular" shift.

Xpipe: I went back and forth, the Ferrari/Maser dealer even told me "the stradale is the best sounding car in the world - don't spoil it", but I eventually did it. It does sound raspier, especially cold. I am really on the fence, but all my car nut mates (ferrari included) agree it sounds wonderful now still. I would say try it and see, maybe recording before and after.

Enjoy!

Very interesting, thanks for your feedback. I'm looking forward to experiencing it some more in the coming weeks and months

 

[DaveT]

Very interesting, thanks for your feedback. I'm looking forward to experiencing it some more in the coming weeks and months

Congrats on the new car.

 

[outrun]

Stuart, some comments on both points, now 5 months into my ownership:

- gearshift. I thought it was dreadful during slow manoeuvring, but that ALL changed when some saint gave me the start up tip, which I assume you know, but will repeat: put key in, turn to dash light up position, and leave it there for 4 seconds or so - I wait until the airbag light stops flashing - and then start. "butter smooth" slow driving shifts!

Other end of spectrum - 60ms shifts. Its not easy at first to appreciate when these happen, but they really are something. Like a shotgun recoil.... I feel them most consistently: in race mode, engine warm, over 5000rpm and when flat out. The last part is subtle, unless the accelerator is really mashed, it will just do the "regular" shift.

Xpipe: I went back and forth, the Ferrari/Maser dealer even told me "the stradale is the best sounding car in the world - don't spoil it", but I eventually did it. It does sound raspier, especially cold. I am really on the fence, but all my car nut mates (ferrari included) agree it sounds wonderful now still. I would say try it and see, maybe recording before and after.

Enjoy!

Better yet, turn the key to the dash light up position then turn it off again. Then turn all the way to start. This works on all MC Shift cars, takes away the low speed stutter. Do it. Trust me.

Phil - I love how you talk up your car and make the differences so small as to keep your cash in your wallet. In reality, it's not dissimilar to the difference between a 42 and a GS. Subtle and hard to quantify but just better. I urge you to get a hold of a Strad for a couple of days.

 

[Contigo]

Better yet, turn the key to the dash light up position then turn it off again. Then turn all the way to start. This works on all MC Shift cars, takes away the low speed stutter. Do it. Trust me.

Phil - I love how you talk up your car and make the differences so small as to keep your cash in your wallet. In reality, it's not dissimilar to the difference between a 42 and a GS. Subtle and hard to quantify but just better. I urge you to get a hold of a Strad for a couple of days.

That wasn't the question. Someone asked about performance differences between the GTS and Strad to which I responded yes there really isn't much difference which Stu confirmed as about 5%. I'm not disputing that it's a better handling car with better setup etc and so it should be for nearly twice the used price!

Will I ever get one? I doubt it

 

[VMSRTI]

what a stunning car. Congrats!