How to Protect Your Ferrari from Theft

As a Ferrari owner, you know that after you have added this prized vehicle to your investment portfolio, it pays to take care of it properly. Routine Ferrari maintenance, appropriate insurance, careful driving and care all play a part in how well your Ferrari drives into the future. However, one important aspect of Ferrari care that you will not want to forget is protecting your automotive treasure from theft.

Much will depend on how you use the Ferrari. If it is a show piece that stays indoors, then protection is much simplified. If you drive the vehicle outdoors, then some steps are in order to ensure that your vehicle remains safe from harm.

Simple precautions can help prevent big crimes, such as auto theft. When you leave the vehicle, always secure it, and make sure to park in well-lit areas where there are a lot of people walking around. When you park the vehicle, turn the wheels sharply toward the curb, to make it harder for car thieves to tow away the car. Don't leave Ferrari accessories in open view inside the vehicle. Also do not leave the registration or title inside the car.

Other steps that can help prevent theft include adding visible and audible anti-theft devices to the car. Brake locks can help. Steering wheel locks that keep the wheels stationary make your car more theft-proof. Tire locks and deflators can deter a thief, because they take too much time to deal with, thus making your car less attractive to a would-be thief. VIN etching, when the VIN number is etched onto the glass of the windshield and windows can be one option you might consider in protecting your vehicle. Loud alarms also let a thief know your car is safeguarded against theft.

Computer chips can help deter a thief from stealing your Ferrari. Some ignition keys come equipped with chips that do not let someone bypass the vehicle's ignition. Preventive devices such as cut offs to the fuse; kill switches; disablers that deactivate the fuel pump, ignition and starter; and wireless ignition authentication all help to prevent theft. Tracking devices are very useful in assisting police in finding stolen vehicles. Some of these combine wireless capabilities with GPS systems, so that if the car is moved, it can be tracked on the computer. Many Ferraris also come equipped with peripheral interior monitoring anti-lift anti-theft protection, which is a camera system that is used within the car to detect movement inside the vehicle. Even when you are not with your new Ferrari, your vehicle's computer system is working round the clock to protect your car. Employing several or all of these ideas can keep your car safe.

By Jonathan Blocker.

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The Ferrari F430 - Quick And Beautiful, Not Necessarily In That Order

Can a car be too fast? Inquiring minds want to know. Local highway patrol types would tell you they certainly can, but those who know the thrill of putting a foot to the metal of an exotic sports car aren't so sure. The Ferrari F430, which was introduced to the US market in 2005, is the third fastest Ferrari roadster ever, after the Enzo Ferrari supercar and the 599. It tests at zero-to-60 in 3.9 seconds thanks to a feature borrowed from Ferrari's Formula-1 racing technology ("Launch Control," which was designed for standing starts at high RPM) but was not available in the US because of liability issues. Car And Driver tested the US version with 483 horsepower with an eye-popping 3.5 seconds. Which should answer the aforementioned question: very possibly, yes.

The F430 comes with one of Ferrari's most aerodynamic and stylish designs. Its predecessor was the Ferrari 360, and it offers trademarked Ferrari styling features, such as the Enzo's taillights and interior vents, and the large front-end vents from Ferrari's racing designs of the 1950s. The engine dawns a new day for V-8 Ferraris, rendering the 50-year legacy of the Dino racing engine obsolete in favor of a new 4.3 litre architecture based on a combined Ferrari-Maserati design. The braking system is also new, with heat-resistant ceramics and alloys that make them safer and more cost-effective to maintain. The international auto press has labeled the the F430 as an "absolutely brilliant" car to handle, which if you've ever driven a Ferrari roadster should come as no surprise.

Like many of its namesake cousins, the F430 is seen on movie and television screens with regularity, most lately with a starring role in the Pixar smash hit, Cars, and a featured role in the Miami Vice movie, among others. If the F430 isn't quite fast enough, consider the F430 Challenge Stradale. Some sources have already spied the 2008 version of this car on the streets of Maranello. The cars look very similar, but are in fact quite different. The Stradale weighs 220 lbs. less than the F430 and has 30 more "prancing horses" under it's rear-end hood. Carbon fiber door panels, magnesium wheels, and a power-to-weight ratio of 6 means just one thing, "deep pockets may not be the only thing you need to buy this car. They're expected to be long gone before their debut.."

The F430 will set you back $200,000+ for the coupe and well over the mid $300,000 mark for a Spider. As far as the Stradale, starting at $250,000 but expected to be $20k-$30,000, which means you can park it anywhere you want, usually with the help of salivating valet.

By Tim Broder.