No sentence containing the words "fantasy" and "convertible" would be complete without Ferrari's 360 Spider. This emotive mid-engine sports car was introduced last year as an expansion of the 360 Modena lineup. It's an aluminum-intensive machine, using light alloys for its body panels, engine, transmission, suspension, and chassis structure. Its 3.6L/394-hp cinquevalvole (five valves per cylinder) V-8 screams to lofty 8500 rpm. Our tester had Ferrari's F1 sequential/ manual six-speed gearbox, plus a snazzy set of newly optional two-piece modular alloy wheels. Any car that turns its engine into a design element by showing it off through a glass panel on the deck is okay in our book.
Much attention has been given to the Aston Martin Vanquish's selection as James Bond's new ride, but it's not available in convertible form, Aston still makes the ever-elegant DB7 Vantage Volante. A 414-hp V-12 replaced the former supercharged inline-six a few years back, and Aston has continued to give the DB7 subtle tweaks over time. Our car was equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission that, much like the Mercedes, features Drive and Sport automatic modes, plus the opportunity to shift semi-manually via the lever or buttons mounted on the front surface of the steering wheel. The Vantage's power top requires manual latching, but is well padded and lined in Alcantara suede.
BMW's retro-modern Z8 roadsteralso a recent Bond machineremains one of our favorite supercars. Like the Ferrari, it makes extensive use of aluminum, but employs a space frame instead of a monocoque chassis. Beneath its voluptuous alloy skin resides the underpinnings of an M5, a certain Good Thing. That includes the supersedan's 5.0L/394-hp V-8, six-speed manual transmission, suspension, and brakes. A Sport button allows the driver to request sharper throttle tip-in, while Dynamic Stability and Traction Control are there when requiredor can be shut off if desired. The superbly detailed interior is an artful blend of heritage-inspired and modern design cues. The Z8 is handbuilt in small quantitiesand is a sellout each year.
The fifth player here is the Man himself. Attempting to describe Mario Andretti's racing career in a paragraph or two is like trying to pack an elephant into a thimble. He began with a homebuilt Hudson in 1959. He was still at it 40 years hence, running a Panoz LMP1 at Le Mans in 2000. In between these two bookmarks, he earned four CART/USAC titles and ranks second on the CART/USAC all-time win list. He captured the Indy 500 in 1969 and the Daytona 500 in 1967. There were sports car wins at Daytona, too, plus Sebring and others. Add in way too many sprint and midget car victories to list, plus countless poles and lap records. Can-Am, Formula 5000, IROC? Those, too. In 1978, Mario achieved his ultimate goalthe F1 world driving titleat the wheel of the ground-breaking Lotus 79.
Been there, won that.
ON THE ROAD
Andretti's hands have a light yet sure grip on the banjo-style steering wheel. His eyes seek the apex yet look through the corner in preparation for the next. "Fun. Fun fun fun!" is how Mario summarizes the BMW Z8. "It's such a refined, classic front-engine roadster. It's got the power of a musclecar, but is so much sweeter, much more European." Since the engine's torque peak comes at 3800 rpm, there's little reason to use every inch of the tach. Andretti doesn't, shifting at around 5000 revs, letting the torque do the rest.
He likes the handling, too, but asks for even sharper turn in. "They've dialed some initial understeer into the package, but it's still very tight, as you'd expect. I do like the fact that, even over bumpy surfaces, the Z8's suspension allows it to maintain full contact with the road." Andretti's happy with the ride quality, but keeps coming back to the handbuilt, M5 V-8. "There are just no holes in the power anywhere, and it's really fun to work it down low. It's `right there' and sounds awesome." Mario comments little about ergonomics, but adds that the dash isn't exactly "self explanatory. The gauges are in an unusual place, but I like that, and they're very nice."
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