2002 Ferrari Enzo review from North America

None; perhaps the owner himself would have rather concentrated on everything that had gone right with the car.

(Note: I have never owned a Ferrari Enzo, nor have I ever driven one. I just had the pleasure of riding shotgun in someone else's for five minutes.)

From a design standpoint, this is the closest resemblance a road car has ever held to a million-dollar-plus F1 race car. The design is a bit awkward and lacks some continuity, especially when looked at from the side. However, it is a functional, clearly F1-inspired design that's especially apparent should you nervously glance at this thing coming fast at you in your rear-view mirror.

Inside, the driver gets a good view of the outside world from a high-tech, but still very much spartan interior. The bucket seats are comfortable, and drivers of 5 to 5.5 feet in height should fit into this Mario Kart with more than enough room to wear the a racing helmet for the real Schumacher look. 0-60 comes and goes in about 3 seconds, and the handling at legally permissible speeds is excellent. The F1 paddle-shift transmission is a welcome benefit that allows for lightning-quick shifts in a matter of milliseconds. I haven't experienced the Enzo's handling capabilities beyond 90 miles per hour, because that was as fast as we could go without frightening the locals or upsetting the police (even if the owner was skilled enough to outrun them).

You may note that Ferrari has left out some traditional design aspects with the Enzo. Gone are the rear spoilers and egg-crate grilles of yore, replaced by a purely functional, visibly Schumacher-esque design from nose to tail. Also, the car is available from the factory only in Rosso Corsa Red and what I think is Fly Yellow, although other colors have also been seen. My guess is that Ferrari's corporate officers probably saw the bright green F50 posted on the Google Image Search and learned their lesson. (I saw that image myself; it was somewhat awkward. Like a Photoshopped image of Ben Affleck in lingerie.)

The (very lucky) driver told me that he had to visit the gas station about two days after owning the car. He probably didn't mind either; normally cars like this are bought for the exhilarating experience they provide to their lucky owners, as well as the implied snobbery that comes with owning a car for which the odds of seeing another one just like it are roughly a billion to one. These cars usually aren't bought for the thrills of balancing your checkbook and amazing yourself with how much you spend to let loose your inner Schumacher on the Interstate on a daily basis. Maintenance may be a difficulty unless you happen to have connections at a local Ferrari mechanic's shop. Even then, finding parts for this car can be an exercise in patience, dealing with apologetic mechanics, and then dealing with unapologetic I.R.S. auditors.

While the Road & Track figures are respectable, the car's design almost begged for an admiring crowd. Some comments on this car ranged from "the performance turd of the millennium" to "Oh my God, what has Ferrari done to itself?" To me, however, the design is a blend of functionality and passion that sums up everything Ferrari has learned from F1 racing. To those lucky few who actually own this automotive masterpiece, congratulations! As for the lucky and generous owner featured in this review, thanks a bunch and see you at Le Mans!