Centennial Stradale

[Doohickey]

Picked this up on Wednesday but a combination of work and pants weather prevented a proper exploitation until this evening.

Went out on a well known and favourite route and the car is a completely different beast to the Sport Auto. Handles and stops much better and the ride on the fixed dampers is tons better than the Skyhook. The noise is different to the old one but is even better. The gearbox is taking some getting used to but the flat out upshifts are incredible. Not sure it's going to enjoy the uphill reverse out of the garage though.

The car was registered first in Jersey in 2017 and I rolled over 3000 miles whilst I was out this evening. It looks the dog's dangly bits so I'm surprised by the apparent different shade of paint on the bonnet in the pics as it doesn't look like that in the metal (or carbon fibre).

 

[stikey]

nice
try larini cats and a cross pipe it sounds good then ,the roads round your way look good to

 

[Ewan]

Instead of reversing uphill out of the garage, can‘t you more simply roll in backwards, but then drive out and up forwards?
BTW, lovely car!

 

[Sam McGoo]

Absolutely beautiful.
MC-gearboxes do take a bit of getting used to, but worth it when you do for that thump in the back! I assume you do the secret super start up clutch learn thing?
And I completely agree about the fixed rate suspension, much nicer.

Instead of reversing uphill out of the garage, can‘t you more simply roll in backwards, but then drive out and up forwards?
BTW, lovely car!

As Ewan said, if possible, I'd do it the other way round. Uphill reversing when cold isn't going to be pleasant, and will likely eat your clutch if your doing it all the time. The technique for hills with an MC-shift, is a good positive engagement and trying not to let the clutch slip too much. Much easier to do forwards.

 

[azapa]

up hill reverse is worse case scenario in a strad. smell that clutch burn afterwards!
Congrats on a lovely car though. Have you felt the 20ms (i forget, about that) shifts in MC Race mode yet? Shotgun recoil fast.

 

[hashluck]

Lovely thing. The colour shade will be apprarent from time to time with that type of paint on different materials and different surfaces, depending on light etc.

 

[Doohickey]

Instead of reversing uphill out of the garage, can‘t you more simply roll in backwards, but then drive out and up forwards?
BTW, lovely car!

I had thought about that but hadn’t really appreciated how much strain it would put on the clutch until I did it! Will have a rethink.

 

[StuartW]

Fantastic - congratulations! This should be a keeper, a very special car

 

[Doohickey]

Fantastic - congratulations! This should be a keeper, a very special car

Thanks. That's certainly the plan!

 

[CLRut]

Many congrats - after 4yrs of Strad ownership, I'm still enjoying mine enormously! With such low miles, you've got a fantastic excuse now for some big Euro-road trips post Covid....

 

[StuartW]

Many congrats - after 4yrs of Strad ownership, I'm still enjoying mine enormously! With such low miles, you've got a fantastic excuse now for some big Euro-road trips post Covid....

Indeed, it's what they're made for!

 

[conaero]

That is one lovely Strad, I expect to see it in person during an SM trip shortly.

 

[Doohickey]

That is one lovely Strad, I expect to see it in person during an SM trip shortly.

Absolutely - let’s hope we can have one soon!

 

[conaero]

Me too.

Due to Le Mans now being mid August it’s unlikely for one of our mega tours this year but we are thinking of doing a shorter Harwich/Holland/Nijmegen/Belgium/Spa/Lille and home loop over a long weekend

 

[Lavazza]

Me too.

Due to Le Mans now being mid August it’s unlikely for one of our mega tours this year but we are thinking of doing a shorter Harwich/Holland/Nijmegen/Belgium/Spa/Lille and home loop over a long weekend

Would I be welcome if I decide to take the Exige? Just weighing up options.

 

[conaero]

Sure, the more the merrier

 

[Lavazza]

Sure, the more the merrier

I appreciate there's a masochistic element to taking a stripped out road rocket on a cross continental tour, but I just enjoy it!
If I still have the Granturismo, I might well take that.

 

[Doohickey]

Me too.

Due to Le Mans now being mid August it’s unlikely for one of our mega tours this year but we are thinking of doing a shorter Harwich/Holland/Nijmegen/Belgium/Spa/Lille and home loop over a long weekend

That’s assuming we are able to go to Le Mans.

 

[JonW]

Me too.

Due to Le Mans now being mid August it’s unlikely for one of our mega tours this year but we are thinking of doing a shorter Harwich/Holland/Nijmegen/Belgium/Spa/Lille and home loop over a long weekend

I can’t do Le Mans this year as it clashes with my and my wife‘s birthday in August, but would be very interested in hearing more about this weekend jolly...

 

[conaero]

Ok as we come out of lockdown next week, a few weeks and things should become clearer.

No point organising it all just to get scuppered.

Le Mans in Aug will go ahead even if we are not aloud in the track.