Here is a dilemma.

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SteveO1965

SteveO1965

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A friend of mine wants to buy a Ferrari, now the dilemma is that he passed his driving test in an automatic car so therefore can only drive an automatic car on the road, his argument is that if he purchases a Ferrari 360 with the F1 gearbox he is not breaking the law as the 360 F1 has only a brake and accelerator pedal so is the same as an automatic even though it can be put in manual mode?

What do you think of his thinking here? is he right? or maybe because of the manual mode he is wrong? could he be prosecuted for violating the terms of his driving licence?

Thoughts?
 
Contact the DSA/DVLA.

If there's no clutch I think he's okay, but it's still worth checking.

[EDIT] Wouldn't be the owner of The Windsor now would he?
 
Sounds like an auto to me. It wouldn't be much different from a BMW with Steptronic. Ask the driver licensing office.
 
ExigeEvan
Contact the DSA/DVLA.

If there's no clutch I think he's okay, but it's still worth checking.
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He did but because the V5 says the car is a manual he would be breaking the law but he is still prepared to argue that it is not because it has no clutch pedal, even the lady at the DVLA agreed with him.
 
I'm guessing someone made the decision on it, and until it's changed (about 6 years with the DVLA's bureacracy) I don't think he has a chance.
 
ExigeEvan
I'm guessing someone made the decision on it, and until it's changed (about 6 years with the DVLA's bureacracy) I don't think he has a chance.
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I know how hard the DVLA are to argue with :grumpy: so i believe you are right here 👍
 
Time, money (Though he is buying a ferrari).

Mostly time though. As he'll have to learn to drive to the examination standard again and get the manouveres spot on.
 
slowman
That was my first thought after reading the first post. Why not just do that?
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ExigeEvan
Time, money (Though he is buying a ferrari).

Mostly time though. As he'll have to learn to drive to the examination standard again and get the manouveres spot on.
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My friend had an accident a number of years ago this resulted in a badly injured hip, he cannot use the clutch on a manual car.
 
SteveO1965
My friend had an accident a number of years ago this resulted in a badly injured hip, he cannot use the clutch on a manual car.
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Oh wow he is stuck in a bind then. :(


He could always move to Australia :D
 
VIPERGTSR01
Oh wow he is stuck in a bind then. :(


He could always move to Australia :D
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You guys both drive on the wrong side of the road.

He could come to the US where we don't test for anything and you can barely know how to drive an auto and get a license to drive anything you want. Thus how idiots that are 16 get into idiotic wrecks with 500 HP Mustangs by screwing up the clutch, or something.

I'd say get a LHD car and try to get the test done that way. Or do you have to use the examination car for that kind of stuff? Many places in the US let you use your own car, but I don't know the bits over there at all.
 
SteveO1965
He did but because the V5 says the car is a manual he would be breaking the law but he is still prepared to argue that it is not because it has no clutch pedal, even the lady at the DVLA agreed with him.
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The Ferrari 360 could technically still be considered a "manual" because of the way Ferrari tends to think of its gearbox as a F1 Manual Transmission.
 
SteveO1965
My friend had an accident a number of years ago this resulted in a badly injured hip, he cannot use the clutch on a manual car.
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He can also have his car adapted by getting a clutch lever installed on the steering wheel.
 
Reventón;3311659
The Ferrari 360 could technically still be considered a "manual" because of the way Ferrari tends to think of its gearbox as a F1 Manual Transmission.
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If the V5 paper says the car is a manual, then in the eyes of the DVLA it's a manual. If the owner ignores this and for some reason gets stopped by the Police and the case goes to court because of the issue, then i suppose the driver could have a reasonable chance of arguing the point. However i'd much rather spend £30 and an hour or so out of my life just to take the test again in a manual car. Anyone who is old enough to be able to afford a Ferrari 360 and the insurance should be more than competent enough to sail through another drivers test. If they are worried that they won't then perhaps a Ferrari 360 isn't the best choice of car for them.
 
If he can't drive a normal manual because of the lack of clutch ability...and The Ferrari is considered a manual despite a lack of clutch...Why can't he buy the Ferrari and take the manual test in the Ferrari so he can pass 💡

Problem solved :p
 
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Famine
That.
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I believe it has been stated previously in this thread that the Ferrari is considered a manual despite not having a clutch.

Unless of course your comment wasn't directed at me.

[edit]I edited my post so it makes sense now anyway.
 
SteveO1965
Thoughts?
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Why doesn't he just rent a manual car and get his manual endorsement? Surely someone considering buying a Ferrari should be able to easily do so.
 
Stevisiov.
If he can't drive a normal manual because of the lack of clutch ability...and The Ferrari is considered a manual despite a lack of clutch...Why can't he buy the Ferrari and take the manual test in the Ferrari so he can pass 💡

Problem solved :p
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Actually, this may not be a bad idea. Is it a possibility?
 
Azuremen
I'd say get a LHD car and try to get the test done that way. Or do you have to use the examination car for that kind of stuff? Many places in the US let you use your own car, but I don't know the bits over there at all.
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How would a LHD car help him any?
 
Bones Brigade
Actually, this may not be a bad idea. Is it a possibility?
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Doubtful. I dont think a Ferrari would give the instructor a good enough view around the car.

"For car and ADI Part 2 tests - seat belts and integral head restraints must be fitted to the front passenger seat and there must be an adjustable mirror inside for the examiner to use (this doesn’t apply to taxi tests). The front passenger seat must provide all-round vision for the examiner."
 
I just received a call from Tony, he had a very thorough and informative meeting with a person from the DVLA this afternoon and this is what that person told him, because the Ferrari F1 gearbox does have a clutch but no torque converter the F1 gearbox in the Ferrari is classed on their database as a semi automatic transmission, because there is no physical action needed to change gear IE clutch pedal and gearstick Tony is well within the terms of his driving licence and the law to purchase and drive the 360 F1 on the road.

He did add though that he must check with an insurer first because some may class the 360 F1 as a manual whereas others may classify it as an automatic.

Thank you all for your time and effort in answering this question.
 

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