| Author | Message | ||
| Dr. Shelbee (Shelbee)
Member Username: Shelbee Post Number: 335 Registered: 12-2002 |
I don't know about getting the 575M, driven both F1 and 6 speed, just feel it floats too much. I am really surprised about that  I stick with my classic 6 speed for now. Love the sports seats I have on my 550  | ||
| Steve Marschman (Hossheim)
New member Username: Hossheim Post Number: 15 Registered: 8-2001 |
You know what makes me sick? Having purchased my 88.5 TR just before the market crash and then having to sink $20K of repairs into it... for a few $K more I could be sitting in that '97 550 that Dan mentions. And my TR is worth what, $50K-$55 maybe? | ||
| martin j weiner,M.D. (Mw575)
Member Username: Mw575 Post Number: 999 Registered: 5-2001 |
I agree Kuzi-I have never driven anything as classy looking with such an exhilirating performance package.The F1 is a joy and the car FLIES.Not as tossable as the 360 ,with a totally different feel.Hard to even compare them ,and I loved my 360. | ||
| Kuzi (Kzma)
Junior Member Username: Kzma Post Number: 171 Registered: 3-2003 |
I'd describe it more as "aggressive comfort".......the nice thing about the F1 system and the skyhook suspension is that it takes time to "adapt" to your style of driving. A spin around the block, or even a few hundred miles on the thing is not going to do it! I've put nearly 1500 miles in the last month and a half, and whilst I don't drive it every single day, when I do drive it, it feels solid as a rock. Nothing except some slick roads could upset its demeanor..........It is the "best" automobile I have ever owned! | ||
| martin j weiner,M.D. (Mw575)
Member Username: Mw575 Post Number: 995 Registered: 5-2001 |
Dr.S' Are you serious "floaty--Cadillac feel" What car have you been driving??? Sounds like very sour grapes to me. However,to each his own. | ||
| Dr. Shelbee (Shelbee)
Member Username: Shelbee Post Number: 331 Registered: 12-2002 |
IMO 550 is as great as 575M. I am not too impressed about the F1 on 575M. If your wife wants more CADILLAC feeling with the car being more floaty, choose 575M, plus $70-80k more than late 550. Highly not recommended to get the fiorano package The price of 575M will come down for sure in the next 6 months IMO 550 is classic and a keeper | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 617 Registered: 9-2002 |
Will, Just for comparison's sake, 97 550's with ~35k miles are hitting 100k even. As Dave mentioned, the 2000/01 with low miles and dealer service is most likely the best bang for the buck, especially if you plan on moving out of it in the earlier part of the long-term future. --Dan | ||
| will h (Willh)
Junior Member Username: Willh Post Number: 63 Registered: 3-2003 |
I'm off to the dealer again this weekend to look at the new 575 I've been admiring - which also has the 19" wheels, and something called the hifi with subwoofer. Quite a few options, really. I think the car is beautiful, hard for me to resist. My wife likes it as well, though I think she prefers the Vanquish! All of your comments are very, very well taken - Peter, I had for some reason not considered a lightly used 575. I suspect I will pass on this car - I have been leaning that way, and all of your comments have pushed me further in that direction - and try to be patient, wait for the right 550 or 575 and avoid the new car premium. Once again I have found this forum invaluable. Regards, Will | ||
| Peter Allen Dysert II (Peterd)
New member Username: Peterd Post Number: 5 Registered: 9-2002 |
I just went through this exercise and purchased a 575M with F1 transmission; Rosso Corsa with Tan interior, Scuderia Shields, Daytona seats, and red stitching. I found several new cars available for purchase with F1 and 6 speed transmissions. I opted for a used car with 111 miles on it and saved 40K off sticker. The dealers were offering significant discounts on the new cars but not enough to compete with the used car price. Depending on equipment a used 575 F1 with less than a thousand miles can be purchased for 200-210 if you are patient while 6 speeds are 190-200. New ones with F1 are 220-230 while 6 speeds are 210-215. I drove and looked closely at 550s but like the other post opted for the 575 with F1 because it is more than just a transmission. It also includes some very sophisticated sensors that adjust the suspension etc. based on input from the car. I came close to buying a 99 550 red/tan with 900 miles for 150. At that price you won't lose much money. I was initially interested in the Fiorano pkg but after driving several and getting some input decided that the additional harshness for everyday driving was not worth the cost. Plus the brakes on all the Fiorano cars seemed to howl, 2 dealers told me that they had attempted to fix the brake issue but were unsuccessful. The standard car is low enough from a practical sense as is. The only redeeming feature for the Fiorano in my opinion was it tended to reduce the nose rise of the car upon agressive acceleration. The big wheels are nice but make the brake calipers actually look small to me. If I had been on a budget and was looking to try one out to really see if I liked it, I would have bought the 550. But I decided after driving the F1 575 that I really wanted one and will most likely keep it for a long time. I decided to be patient and wait for the right total package including price. I couldn't be happier. I know where several used ones and new ones are available if you are interested. | ||
| Christopher Byrne (Scuderia512)
New member Username: Scuderia512 Post Number: 46 Registered: 2-2003 |
While a used 550 may be the best buy for the money, in the range of cars we are discussing here. However, after driving a 575 F1 I felt the extra money was well worth it. I am not a big fan of the F1 in the other Ferrari models but in the 575 it just seems so right, cannot really be explained. IN terms of options, the 19" wheels are very attractive and not prone to air loss as the modular Barchetta wheels are. | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1148 Registered: 12-2001 |
This one has also gotten hashed out in a past thread or two. I came out concluding that the improvements in the 575 were not worth an extra 100k $ over a used 550, given the bargain basement prices of the latter, but others disagreed, either because of the availability of the F1, or other attributes of the 575. I tend to like this car in a color other than red: dark blue with cuio is very rich looking, but hey, that's a pretty subjective thing. I would go for one with carbon fiber, unless you have an aversion to the stuff, since it looks better than stark plastic on the console. Dunno about the Fiorano package; given the nature of the car, i wonder whether its really necessary, but it does lower the car, too (yes?), and that may be desirable as an aesthetic matter for some. If you buy a garage queen, keep in mind that the cooling hoses on these things tend to go, so replace them, and check other threads for recalls,and other misc. defects etc. They are great cars. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Intermediate Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 1729 Registered: 1-2002 |
IMO, a lightly used & dealer-serviced 2000 or 2001 550 Maranello is a GREAT deal these days, particularly if you are a skilled negotiator. | ||
| will h (Willh)
Junior Member Username: Willh Post Number: 62 Registered: 3-2003 |
I've been following the threads about F1 v 6sp, Fiorano yes or no, etc., with great interest, and have received great comments from 2 owners. I wanted to ask the question more generally: 575, F1, Fiorano, Daytonas, carbon trim, & more - delivery miles, delivery price, interior and exterior colors I like. With pretty good deals available on 550s, does it make sense to go with the latest and greatest? I fear that falling prices make buying a new 575 at this time a little risky, particularly as my wife and I tend to reshuffle the "fleet" every now and then. Thank you. |