Are Ferrari Speedometers Inaccurate (or is mine) ?

[RockyTop]

At RoadAtlanta yesterday I was running with a couple of guys with 360s. Each was saying that he was hitting 160 at the end of the back straight. However, I typically passed each of them 2/3 the way down the straightaway and was only reaching 145ish before braking. On the front straight one said he was hitting 135 (to my 120-125). Granted, they may have braked deeper, but I STRONGLY suspect the speedos are a bit optomistic. If so, I guess the Italians (i) cannot convert from metric, or (ii) want their customers to think they are going faster than they are so they won't feel like they paid too much for their car !

The neatest thing was a guy in a 914 that was just hauling it around the track. It was genuinely hard to catch him ! No telling what he had in that thing, but it was very fast !

 

[Janni]

RockyTop -
Here's my guess - their speedos are probably a *bit* off, but I'll bet their rose colored glasses are more the cause of the problem. It seems that the longer folks are out of the car and bench racing after the event the *faster* they were going. LOL.

 

[JimDavis MT 97GTS 650R]

First of all, the important fact is that you passed them! 140, 150,165 MPH really doesn't matter. As for Speedo calibration, the most common reason Iv'e seen for upsetting a reasonably accurate Speedo is the rolling diameter of non stock tires and wheels. Frankly, I would ignore the Speedo (which is just a distraction) and start watching the brake markers!

 

[Steve-Indy]

On our 2 Ferraris, the speedometers are high...that is, they read 70 mph when side-by-side cars ( Cad., 930, 911, 928, Lincoln,various Vipers, etc.) read 60 mph...all with STOCK tires. 79 308 GTS was the worst...but, admittedly, we have NO experience with current models.

 

[Steve-Indy]

Remember...we have NO experience with current Ferrari models...hope to hear from a wider group with newer vehiches!!

 

[Vip-RT10]

The real problem is that metric is more accurate than miles, so the conversion may be off a bit. In our Ferrari's in Italy, they are right on. I have gone 320 Kph or 200 Mph. I would also be more concerned with the deceleration markers. Personally I rarely look at my speedo, I can accurately judge how fast I'm going w/o looking at the speedo. I do admit that older Ferrari speedos are a bit "primitive".

 

[JimDavis MT 97GTS 650R]

I forgot to mention, I have checked my 97GTS speedo both with radar and the DRB tool and the sucker is absolutely right on the money when using stock rims and tires. (Nice to know how accurate the speeding ticket is.) Shame on those perennial optimistic Italians! Must be a Fiat thing....

 

[Mark Young]

So I guess their 0-60 times are more like 0-45 times?