| Author | Message | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 425 Registered: 2-2002 |
I love this car and ALWAYS, ALWAYS will. Congratulations Brian! | ||
| Brian (Bjc138)
New member Username: Bjc138 Post Number: 2 Registered: 9-2002 |
Thanks for the informative feedback, one and all. I picked up my 550 on Friday....in a word: awesome! I haven't stopped grinning since. Hugh, excellent post regarding the recalls. Regarding the 575M reviews, well, I've been told to make sure that any 575M I consider buying in the future should have the FHP. For now it's the 550....I'm off to wake up some folks on lake Zürich with my glorious V12 symphony played through the tubi.... -- Brian Some pics:    | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 415 Registered: 2-2002 |
Hughbert - really excellent, informative post - Strangely when Evo tested the 575M for the first time in Italy they said it was an improvement over the 550..... there has been a U-turn in thinking somewhere along the line. CAR magazine also agreed with EVOs initial analysis and said that the car is one of the best in the world when compared with the Murci and Zonda and said that it's cornering is actually its strong point..... ?????? How much difference will the Fiorano handling pack make - I'd love to find out some first hand info from someone who has driven an FHP equipped car - I always report other peoples impressions - most of which are not direct.... let us know.... | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Junior Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 187 Registered: 1-2002 |
A little more magazine racing: September issue of 'evo' a UK mag, varient of 'car' if I remember correctly, did a road test featuring: the 575, murcialago(sp?), vanquish, and as a baseline used a modefied 911TT w/ larger factory turbos, all to define the best 'road car'. The authors, all of them, echoed the exact sentiments about the 575's mushy feel, they did rave about the 550/575 engine as being the 'greatest' road going 12 ever, but were terribly disappointed in the loss of handling, get the fiarano handling package on the 575 or stick to the 550. Further, they had divided sentiments about the 575's F1 tranny-as nearly every uk review of any F1 tranny smacks of critique( an exception would be the latest enzo reviews where the brick in the chest 150 millisecond shifts are revered)- and said they would opt for the standard 'gated' shifter; interestingly, they did coment that the vanquish had a more refined F1 tranny; at the expense of noticably slower shifts, but with less 'clunk', smoother engagement and so on. Lastly, Brian, I've followed the edmunds review as well, and found that while the 550 they have is 'quirky'; it's not nearly as problematic as some of Ferraris other cars can be, or as say a TVR, and it could be, for reasons of 'credibility' that the edmunds authors pepper the article w/ some constructive consumer watch dog criticisim; if you read over the articles again, you'll also find that between the lines they praise the 550 as much as they do complain; just in a more muted, whisper in your ear, kind of way. From all I've seen the 550 is an excellent choice, recalls or not, but, to give you a heads up, I've looked the 550 specific issues up for you and attached them below: -------------------------------------------------- Ferrari North America, Inc. Models: Ferrari 550 Years: 1997-1999 Number Involved: 275 Dates of Manufacture: January 1997 - July 1998 Defect: The fuel supply and return lines can leak where the ferrule of the union meets the flexible pipe allowing fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in fire. Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel supply and return lines with new updated lines. Owner notification began during November 1998. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ferrari at 1-201-816-2600. [NHTSA Recall No. 98V268/Ferrari Recall No. 165] -------------------------------------------------- Detroit, MI (SafetyAlerts) - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has published a recall affecting 1997-1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello manufactured between January 1997 - June 1999. Number Involved: 468 Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the wheel bolt inserts fitted in the magnesium wheel can show signs of cracking. If the wheel bolt inserts begin to crack, a reduction of the torque applied to the wheel would result. Vehicle handling could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: Dealers will replace all four magnesium wheels with wheels made of aluminum, which are not fitted with inserts. All the wheel bolts will also be replaced because the aluminum wheels require a different type of bolt. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during October 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ferrari at 1-201-816-2651. [NHTSA Recall No. 01V297/Ferrari Recall No. 32] -------------------------------------------------- Ferrari North America, Inc. Models: Ferrari 550 Maranello Years: 1997-1998 Number Involved: 118 Dates of Manufacture: January - September 1997 Defect: On certain passenger vehicles, the steering may become stiff due to overheating of the power steering fluid, causing damage to the hydraulic seals in the steering box and steering pump. This could cause decreased steering ability during parking procedures. Remedy: Dealers will replace the power steering cooling coil, oil tank, oil lines, pump, and box. Owner notification was expected to begin during July 1999. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ferrari at 1-201-816-2651. [NHTSA Recall No. 99V166/ Ferrari Recall No. 166] -------------------------------------------------- I hope you find this information to be of help, and congratulations on your purchase. -hubert | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Member Username: Whart Post Number: 498 Registered: 12-2001 |
The Edmunds report applies a different standard--that of high quality mass produced cars like Lexus and Mercedes--to the Ferrari. There would be little doubt, to me, that Ferrari would not meet this standard, nor would it have the comforts, conveniences or overall reliability of a japanese car imitating a german one, or a german one imitating a japanese one. Maybe that says volumes about what we, as Ferrari owner's expect and are willing to put up with, but every ferrari i've had, whether it was brand new, out of the box, or used, had quirks, deficiencies and problems that i learned to put up with. To me, its the nature of the beast. It also gets shitty gas mileage, doesn't have cup holders, and can't tow a boat worth a damn. | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 413 Registered: 2-2002 |
Ross - last time I said this we ended up with a test drive..... (although it took it's time)  We really need to test drive a 575M......... | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 411 Registered: 2-2002 |
Ross - you're thoughts are spot on..... I've been chewing over this for bloody ages - have a look at the debate we've been having over here (one of the guys Anjum owned a 550 and currently has a Diablo 6.0 with Murcielago on order - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15579&f=63&h=0 and here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15579&f=63&h=0&p=2 Simple solution - get the 575M with the Fiorano Handling Pack. - Cracked me up that the purple (or Viola.... yadda yadda) car we drove was the actual one on test... | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Member Username: Ross Post Number: 262 Registered: 3-2002 |
somewhat related .... autocar magazine in the uk came out on the 28th with a test of 16 cars around goodwood circuit, and totally panned the 575, it came in 15th place. said that the whole package had been ruined by becoming too soft, luxury oriented etc. (i iamgine they did not have one kitted out with the performance package but still....) interestingly enough, the sl55 performed surprisingly well, and the top spot went to the murcielago (actually the specific car that manu, jammy and i drove not too long ago). i found it interesting that the professional drivers hired to do the test actually loved the lambo, but did mention a couple of the faults that we had discovered. | ||
| Jeffrey Robbins (Teachdna)
Junior Member Username: Teachdna Post Number: 67 Registered: 9-2001 |
I agree. Even though I've had my share of troubles with the 550, I can't believe the problems that the Edmunds people are having. I have a sneaking suspicision that they are beginning to glory in the difficulties-you know, the old bugaboos about Ferraris not being reliable, etc. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 343 Registered: 1-2002 |
Brian, I concur. I have read all the Edmunds stories as they came out. I suspect that they got the 550 lemon for model year 2001 (there is one every year) that was probably built the day after the World Cup finals...or the F1 championship party! | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 403 Registered: 2-2002 |
Brian - The 550 is probably THE single most reliable car to EVER have come out from the gates of Maranello. They're wonderful (espeically mechanicals which feel unbreakable) - check whether you car has had the recalls - (wheels, minor fuel leak, (I think) and a few others. I've forgotten..... there's more - it'll come to me soon | ||
| Brian (Bjc138)
New member Username: Bjc138 Post Number: 1 Registered: 9-2002 |
I'm new to the group and will be picking up my 10 month old 550 Maranello in the coming days. After reading the posts on this forum I've opted for the 550 over the 360 as a replacement for my Porsche 996 Turbo. I have, however, read with some alarm the American (I'm in Switzerland) Edmunds.com 550 long-term test. Your comments would be of interest. See: http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/longterm/articles/49771/page001.html There are 6 pages in total 001 to 006. -- Brian |