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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Living with wildlife Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute Expect up to two-hour delays on I-5 near Cottage Grove on Sunday Anonymous local makeup artist dolled up Monica for trial Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Medford robbery suspect arrested after pursuit in Bend Dispose of documents and prescription drugs safely on Saturday Emergency services Teenager struck, killed by pickup Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Former state Senate President Brady Adams dies Education Needs improvement SWAT students track progress of stream restoration efforts Students participate in fuel reduction effort at Ruch School New funding formula awards universities for graduating more students Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Environment Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste Sugar Pine Mine co-owner: "Please stop calling the BLM and threatening their personnel" Oath Keepers say they'll defend contested mining claim on BLM land State News Oregon House committee OKs more background checks on firearm sales Search for missing plane, pilot in Oregon enters third day Cheetah, dog are fast friends Bill would let motorcyclists drive between cars during jams Oregon legislators go after slow drivers Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Dennis Von Ting Richard "Dick" John Herbstruth Death Notices Florene LaVonne (Johnson) Stephens Cheryl Ann Orr Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Fredenburg grand slam powers Chieftains Warriors storm back, top Pels SOU's Neal fifth, Reitman seventh in CC multis Giants sweep Dodgers on Maxwell hit Weekley, de Jonge share lead in Zurich Classic Varsity 541 College Sports SOU's Neal fifth, Reitman seventh in CC multis Aspiring Duck quarterback bucks the odds Marshall stays with Ducks to get better Eckert, Beavers take series from Arizona Randall drives SOU into postseason Pro Sports Warriors storm back, top Pels Giants sweep Dodgers on Maxwell hit Weekley, de Jonge share lead in Zurich Classic Griner, fiancee Johnson arrested after fight Title Quest Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories (No heading) New home in an old house Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Jackson County's March unemployment rate returns to pre-recession level Real Estate News New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house GREEN ACRES: Southern Oregon provides escape from the maddening crowd Since You Asked: Metro Medford rebranding proved economical Jackson County median home price hits $215,000 in first quarter People In Business Transportation Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Agriculture Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District Letters to the Editor, April 24 Michael Gerson: 'The Road to Character' starts with humility Arthur I. Cyr: Japan-U.S. trade deal advances, with Pacific and global significance Letters to the Editor, April 23 Editorials Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District Our View: Public's right to film police should be protected Our View: Raises for Jackson County officials — again Other Views: Delay edible marijuana products for safety Our View: The rule of law vs. armed confrontation Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 24 Letters to the Editor, April 23 Letters to the Editor, April 22 Letters to the Editor, April 21 Letters to the Editor, April 20 Columns Michael Gerson: 'The Road to Character' starts with humility Dana Milbank: The right's new claim: same-sex marriage is deadly Kathleen Parker: Mr. Hughes goes to Washington Esther Cepeda: What happens in Latin America should be reported Kathleen Parker: Presidential election 2016: The woman trap Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Lifestyle Latest stories Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Fishing Report: Friday, April 24 Get Out: Friday, April 24 View from above Untold stories of the dark-eyed junco Food Community blog: Oregon Breweries to grow or seriously to grow? The joy of true wasabi Season Stepp: Veggie treat hidden deep inside artichokes Tammy Kelly: The South’s favorite side dish — slaw Community blog: Steep, don't smother, chilaquiles in red chili sauce Home and Garden Garden Cameos: Spring is time for azaleas in the garden Dear Monty: Seven costly mistakes of new real estate investors Paul Rogers: Enjoy convenience of container gardening Home Help: 3 quick, easy kitchen and bath upgrades Carol Link: Tea olive shrubs can be propagated from new growth Health Dr. Jeff Hersh: Could severe cramping mean endometriosis? Dr. Murray Feingold: Is pre-op testing for cataract surgery necessary? Community blog: What about Lucy? Brent St. Germain: One year and counting Community blog: The Healing Power of Nature Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Milestones and Achievements Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Alba's Edge at Headwaters in Ashland Regional brewers, distillers, winemakers at Harry & David Field A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Britt adds Watkins Family Hour concert with Sean and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek, Fiona Apple and others Theater 'Secret Love' playwright Stan Lai appears in Ashland REVIEW: 'Secret Love' strikes comical, poignant balance Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director A tale of two plays at OSF Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland Music Alba's Edge at Headwaters in Ashland Britt adds Watkins Family Hour concert with Sean and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek, Fiona Apple and others Alex de Grassi and Andrew York play SOU Live Music in Local Clubs L.A. rockers The Relationship play Howiee's Community Events Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Foreign language film festival set at SOU Regional brewers, distillers, winemakers at Harry & David Field A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art Movies Movie review: ‘Ex Machina’ is the droid you’re looking for Movie review: Fairly smooth sailing for ‘The Water Diviner’ Movie review: ‘Age of Adaline’ is sweet but a little sloppy Movie review: Powerful, tense kidnapping story ‘24 Days’ delivers a strong message Movie review: Crowe’s historical drama ‘The Water Diviner’ isn’t divine, but it’s pretty darn good Dining Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Have you wandered down the Bear Creek Wine Trail yet? Restaurant inspections: April 19, 2015 Siam Cafe offers 'mild' to 'very spicy' Thai cuisine Restaurant inspections, April 12, 2015 Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District ... Saving money, making money with trout ... Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute ... Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District ... Saving money, making money with trout ... Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute ... Silvio Calabi: Does 'FF' mean Family Ferrari? Comment By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Nov. 10, 2014 at 7:31 AM By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Nov. 10, 2014 at 7:31 AM » Social News If you have to talk your spouse into a Ferrari, the FF is the one, and this is how you do it: No, honey, it’s not a sports car. It’s a hatchback with four seats — there’s room for the kids, the groceries, your mother. It’s got four-wheel drive, for crying out loud, and cruise control. It’s practical! FF buyers even qualify for free scheduled maintenance for seven years, to cover those pesky $150 per hour labor charges and $300 oil changes. And then you’d take her for a ride. Naturally, you’ll do this on a day when the conditions are marginal, and you won’t dip further than about midway into the gas. This is to emphasize the all-weather capability and comfort of the car, and to calm the misgivings that arose when you held down the Engine Start button. The 6.3-liter V-12 lights off like a clap of thunder, an explosive bark that turns heads for a block around. (You might dismiss this as mere Italian bravado.) Oh, and you should set the drive-mode switch — in Ferrari-speak, the manettino, “hand lever” — at least to Comfort, if not Ice/Snow. This softens the ride and decaffeinates the steering, engine and gearbox so that you may tiptoe around as if you were in any old ordinary super-luxury car, sort of. The FF can feel fairly docile while motoring along with the other commuters, and it’s possible to forget what you’re driving for minutes at a stretch. Nudge the gas gently and the semi-automatic dual-clutch transmission stays in high gear as the engine digs for torque. Bang the throttle, however, and your wake-up call is a swift double downshift, a riotous blare from the quadruple exhaust cannons and an almighty 651-horsepower shove. Then, mission accomplished, the car will settle back like some fierce beast that’s relaxed but watchful and easy to rouse. “FF” stands for Ferrari Four, as in four seats and four-wheel drive. Four-place Ferraris have come along before, but this is the company’s first production 4X4. The 4WD system in the FF is unique. While the seven-speed transmission sits above the rear axle—a transaxle—there’s another gearbox at the front of the engine that has two speeds. The first one meshes with first and second gear, and then the second one takes over when the FF is in third or fourth gear. Hit fifth, or about 125 miles per hour, and the front power takeoff disengages. Evidently Ferrari feels that’s the limit for ice or snow, and who are we to disagree? Would you take the FF to its 208-plus-MPH limit on anything other than dry pavement? At most, about 20 percent of the power goes to the front wheels, but both axles can vary the torque from side to side too, depending on need. Four-wheel drive is also available in reverse, but not at all when the manettino is set on Sport. Then, like any other Ferrari, the FF “defaults” to super-high-performance RWD. In any mode, the FF benefits from the latest in electronic traction control. Ferrari’s patented 4RM system saves about half the weight of conventional 4WD. This, plus the rear transaxle and placing that great lump of an engine behind the front axle, helps balance the FF almost evenly fore-and-aft. For a longish, two-ton car, the FF is highly responsive and, while it doesn’t change direction like a jackrabbit, it carves through sweepers like a TGV locomotive on rails. Switch off the traction control, though, and a good driver can pivot the FF around hairpin bends all day long — to music from the thrilling Ferrari V-12 and clouds of expensive tire smoke from the rear. But that would be so wrong. Remember, we’re selling this at home as a family car. No spouse could fail to be impressed by the tailored caramel-and-champagne interior, trimmed in black leather, brushed alloy and carbon fiber, or the superb seats and stereo sound, and the spacious, airy cabin. Clambering into the body-hugging rear buckets isn’t difficult (the front seats purr forward and then return to position) and adults are comfortable back there. It’s an especially nice place to be under the available panoramic sky roof. There’s one last hurdle, of course, to making the case at home: Four-place world domination doesn’t come cheap, or even reasonable. With nearly a hundred grand in options, at least half of which we’d have ordered, this FF’s price tag read $375,087. Plus - Practicality and world domination in one package - Nearly-every-day drivability - Available Ferrari child safety seats (red) Minus - Four seats need four doors - Constant threat to operating privileges - $375,087 sticker Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at [email protected]. By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Nov. 10, 2014 at 7:31 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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