FERRARI 458 - caught fire!

[Zeb]

(No, not really, it's a story from the Daily Mail)



Ferrari is taking seriously reports that several of its latest 458 models have burst into flames, and has started an investigation. We have no idea whether there's a real problem or not, but the story has been whipped up on the internet as a result of a few flaming 458s reported on wreckedexotics.com. (We try not to go there often, to spare your pain...)
The Daily Mail picked up the story today, and broadened its scope by amusingly suggesting the 458 'is being plagued by a mystery jinx' as several of the cars have crashed as well. The Mail say there's no technical fault to blame, however even Autocar couldn't resist running an item in its generally more sober style, and has quoted a Ferrari statement thus:
"The company is currently investigating the particular incidents in which cars have apparently been involved in a vehicle fire, and it is currently treating these as separate incidents. Until these investigations are complete, Ferrari is unable to provide any further comment."
Fortunately, PHers are free to comment liberally even without being in possession of all the facts(!), but whatever the truth of the matter, it's not great PR for the Prancing Horse, is it?



Mind you, at least a fire in a metal Ferrari need not necessarily be terminal. Carbon fibre fires are a different story, at least according to one race team manager I spoke to recently who reckoned heat damage does something to the resins that makes it unstable and therefore fit only for scrap. (Can anyone out there tell us more?)

It could be food for thought for anyone thinking about a TPF&T insurance policy on a new MP4-12C...

[Guest 2]

Not the first one thats burst into flames according to Wrecked Exotics. A good old VAG car wouldnt do that!

[phil miller]

lets hope its insured

[Borab0y]

Thats not good, glad nothing like that happened when I was testing them at full chat around the mountains of Maranello.

[DSG4ME]

Thats not good, glad nothing like that happened when I was testing them at full chat around the mountains of Maranello.

I saw you there mate, how do you sit so close to the pedals, after you got out I had to push the seat a fair way back to be able to get in, I did smell some burning tbh, but it was at 187 mph, so I just assumed it was the brake pads warming up, it was a nice drive though, so nice I nearly ordered one on the spot, I'm not sorry though, on the way back the Bentley reminded me I like comfort over speed.

[Borab0y]

I saw you there mate, how do you sit so close to the pedals, after you got out I had to push the seat a fair way back to be able to get in, I did smell some burning tbh, but it was at 187 mph, so I just assumed it was the brake pads warming up, it was a nice drive though, so nice I nearly ordered one on the spot, I'm not sorry though, on the way back the Bentley reminded me I like comfort over speed.

I get the feeling you are not beleiving me

[DSG4ME]

I get the feeling you are not beleiving me

I'm just messing mate

[MalcQV]

Just a little food for thought. From another forum...

Ferrari made approx 4000 430’s in 2008 and ceased production of that model in the August 09 factory shutdown. Assuming they’ve be producing 458’s at a similar rate since the September 09 restart then, allowing for some ramp up of new production, there’s probably at least 3000 458’s in circulation worldwide already.

... I’ve seen 3 confirmed cases of fires (Black one on the street in Paris, red one in the Swiss Alps and red one parked in a city street). That’s approx 0.1% of production. Whilst unacceptable it’s hardly endemic. I’d be interested in what the equivalent percentage is on a 3 series or a Mondeo – worldwide. ... typical sensationalist reporting. The linking of the fires with a couple of accidents and the warehouse fire into some kind of jinx on the car merits particular contempt.

Mid-engined cars as you can imagine have different issues to front engined cars. Heat is one of them, or build up of.

For A6 Chris VAG's don't burn...

[DSG4ME]

Pretty sure a Lotus was a firelighter some years ago.

[dave18]

As said its such a small number, i think its more to do with the fact that they are high profile cars, You see a fiesta on fire you might tell one or two mates, you see a bugattie or ferrari on fire you put it on face book lol