| Author | Message | ||
| Tino (Bboxer)
Junior Member Username: Bboxer Post Number: 114 Registered: 8-2001 |
Luigi, the problem is when, in the real world, you want a car to be both fun on the track and in the twisties but also for the occasional GT trip from LA to Vegas or to SF. Then how do you chose ? I am 56 years old and enjoy GT drives very much but I also need to occasionally (maybe frequently)relive my 15 years of racing; it's hard for me to decide. Now that I've owned the 360 for 18 months and driven both 550 and 575 many a time, I did decide the 360 is more enjoyable overall. | ||
| Luigi Gatti (Luigi)
Junior Member Username: Luigi Post Number: 51 Registered: 10-2001 |
What does "the best car" mean? If you are looking for a fun car to also take to the track, the 360 is obviously a better car. If you want a great GT for long trips, then the 550/575 is the way to go. Manu: What is the best aftermarket exhaust for the 550?The one with the most aggressive sound? Have you ever heard a 550 without the cats, is it too loud?TIA | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 306 Registered: 11-2001 |
tino - did you drive an f1 or a 6speed? i'd love to hear your thoughts on the test drive. doody. | ||
| Tino (Bboxer)
Junior Member Username: Bboxer Post Number: 113 Registered: 8-2001 |
I must be the odd one out. I test drove the 575 and now seriously thinking about not getting mine. imHo the 360F1 is much more satisfying to DRIVE. I don't know about the F40 (I imagine it is an awesome machine) but my 288 was nowhere near as much fun as my 360. | ||
| Chris Richardson (Boozy)
Junior Member Username: Boozy Post Number: 185 Registered: 11-2001 |
I have yet to drive a 550 or 575 so I cannot comment on their handling, but they are fantastic cars which are made even more so by the price one can buy a used 550 for right now. I agree that it is surely the best "deal" available (besides the 348 spider! --bias--) | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Member Username: Whart Post Number: 399 Registered: 12-2001 |
Not a suprising perspective from a dealer. On the other hand, two dealers have sworn to me that i did not have a leaky wheel problem with the barchetta; i finally called FNA, got the zone manager, who, without a fuss, ordered me some new wheels. Are the dealers uninformed? Are they unwilling to do anything that costs them money, no matter who the customer is? Or did FNA just figure, well, if it gets raised, we'll deal with it. FNA are not alone. Mercedes apparently has ongoing problems with some of the computer stuff in the S class, issues i am told are well-known, but if you walked into a showroom, and wanted their full-on sedan, would the dealer advise against it? My take on all of this is that it is subject to the whims and scruples of the individuals involved; corporate "culture" is rarely a positive influence. | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 332 Registered: 2-2002 |
As regards modification (exhausts etc)- some of the more realistic and helpful Ferrari dealers in the UK will play ball and not invalidate a warranty if you've got a Tubi etc on. BUT as Kevin will testify to - the IDIOTS will not give an extended warranty to you if the car has been modified in any way after purchase.... SOOOO.. if I put a set of aftermarket Speedlines on my theoretical F355 I wouldn't be able to buy an extended warranty ON ANY PART OF THE CAR - THE WHOLE CAR WOULD BE VIOLATED FOR A WARRANTY ACCORDING TO FERRARI UK!!! WHAT A LOAD OF SHITE!!! Kevin, I'm with you all the way mate. In a way, I don't care what other people think - it's MY opinion that matters - so I DO understand where your coming from. Most of the debates are pointless journo clap-trap - something I DID care about before, but have recently changed my opinion on. However they MAY (MAY) take on added significance if they're coming from Ferrari. In this case, I really don't care....... but interesting nonetheless. (Ernesto my damn work email server is rubbish. I'll get back to you ASAP - I've emailed you twice already. Sorry about this!) | ||
| russell rosenblum (Rosenblumr)
New member Username: Rosenblumr Post Number: 27 Registered: 6-2002 |
Frank's reason would be why Ferrari SPA can get away with voiding warranties in Europe, but FNA can not do so in the US. The US warranty laws will not permit them to. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Junior Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 60 Registered: 4-2002 |
Frank, Tenney: I work at a GM dealership. Don't know about other makes, or the laws surrounding all this, but Frank's statement sums it up. Aftermarket exhaust, etc. doesn't void the warranty unless it can be demonstrated that the modification somehow fouled up the car. Usually the manufacturer/dealer will be quite accomodating. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1074 Registered: 9-2001 |
Tenney you're correct. In the U.S.A. a manufacturer can not deny the entire warranty on a car just because you have added aftermarket parts. It can only deny a repair to a part under warranty if it can prove that the afermarket part caused the failure of the particular part. | ||
| Tenney (Tenney)
Junior Member Username: Tenney Post Number: 184 Registered: 2-2001 |
Re: Tubis and voided warranty: No legal guy here (see Dino Frank or other resident expert), but am pretty sure that in the U.S., the Tubi would only invalidate the exhaust system (and related parts?) as it applies to the car's warranty, Manu. Remainder of the car should be covered as outlined in the warranty agreement. All of the car's in the current range could use some exhuast help, IMO. The 12's in particular. | ||
| Joseph Caretti (Pino)
Junior Member Username: Pino Post Number: 51 Registered: 4-2002 |
I'm not about to get in a "best car" debate, but who here hasn't been treated unfairly by FNA? I don't think anyone will raise their hand. | ||
| Kevin Johnson (Jammy)
New member Username: Jammy Post Number: 44 Registered: 3-2002 |
Manu, We're friends so I know you won't take it the wrong way if I *sort* of disagree with you!!  We get a lot of stuff thrown at us that one car is better than another in this or other department (the journalists favourite: The Supercar Shootout!)and to me it smacks of angels on the head of the pin. One rule of thumb I use for lots of things is the three 'so what's' test; make a statement and answer 'so what'; reply to it and see if you can say 'so what' again. If you get to the third 'so what', then, so what? So what if the F50 won't out drag a sports bike. So what if the 456 isn't fast or sharp enough or the handling on the 360 isn't resolved. Both the latter seem just fine to me. I use my cars on the road and I don't particularly care whether they get a bit wheezy above 160 mph. I hear this a lot relating to the 348 which ends up with the 348 being classed as a 'bad car', when the real problem is people disappearing up their own backsides tracking down dem angels.... Kevin! | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Member Username: T88power Post Number: 486 Registered: 2-2001 |
No Manu, I did not receive a response to my last e-mail! Now I dont know if you ever received my answer. Ernesto | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 331 Registered: 2-2002 |
The Maranello really is a bloody good car.. Mind you so are the 360 and 456 - but these things are all relative. Where do you guys stand on the Ferrari North America parts and service issue? This is apparently a major headache for Ferrari SpA. (Listen to this - American Ferrari dealers actually recommend Tubis to their customers and supply and fit them - but here fitting one invalidates you warranty) (What BULLSH1T!!) Also - I saw a Ferrari F40 again the other day and together with the 288GTO - I'd say it's probably the best looking modern Ferrari too. (Ernesto - did you get my emai? - my work computers went down) | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Member Username: T88power Post Number: 485 Registered: 2-2001 |
I would not go as far as to fay that the 550/575 is the best Ferrari EVER, but it is definitely the best Ferrari currently in production. The F40 would be above the 575 in my book best Ferrari ever. Ernesto | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1071 Registered: 9-2001 |
I agree. The 550/575 is probably the best Ferrari ever. And the F40 is the best Dino ever as well. I'd like to have one of each. | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
Member Username: Willis360 Post Number: 793 Registered: 8-2001 |
NO argument here. I think the ideal combo to have in the garage would be a 550/575 plus a F40 (slightly tuned). I still enjoy my 360 immensely though. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Member Username: T88power Post Number: 484 Registered: 2-2001 |
I don't think anyone could argue with anything you've said in this post, Manu. | ||
| Tenney (Tenney)
Junior Member Username: Tenney Post Number: 183 Registered: 2-2001 |
The F40 is the best purpose-built Ferrari with a license plate yet built, IMO. Although the 360 is a more focused car, would agree that the 550/575 is the best all-around Ferrari of the current range (and perhaps to date). Shame much of the V-12 audio magic has been lost, though. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1070 Registered: 9-2001 |
That is the same info I get from the technicians at FOA. They all love the car and say the 550 is the most reliable Ferrari they have ever seen. | ||
| Manu Sachdeva (Manu)
Member Username: Manu Post Number: 330 Registered: 2-2002 |
Here are a few comments from a well respected Ferrari dealer. He had some interesting opinions (which are not my own) but I thought I ought to share them with you. First thing - it appears the Ferrari F50 was a rather large disappointment to Ferrari - bottom line? Too slow..... (think about that if you will!). At this level of money you basically want a car that can take on a Road going superbike - and the F50 can't. Ferrari still regard the best modern car to have come out from the factory as the F40 and think it would be sensible to have a full LM Michelloto conversion done instead of buying an F50. This need to have a non "junk" (I quote) flagship has probably lead to the Enzo well before the 60th anniversary of Ferrari. Next thing: "Ferrari NA are a shambles." Evidently the lawsuits and other problems regarding Euro imports and honouring warranties is actually a large embarrasement to Ferrari. Other things like your dealer being able to supply and fit non-Ferrari items (like TubiStyle exhausts) goes completely in the face of Ferrari corporate policy in other parts of the world. The Ferrari NA parts situation is terrible (very long delays and appalling service with frequent shortages...). Most controversially. Ferrari insiders/dealers secretly all regard the 550/575 Maranello as the best car Ferrari make - EASILY AND DEFINITELY. I quote, "its the only car they make now that handles properly." Insiders think that the 456GT simply isn't fast and sharp enough, and that 360s handling is totally unresolved - (try turning off ASR). The 550/575 is the best product coming out of Maranello...... Remember guys - Even as customers we shouldn't think of ourselves as insiders. Lets hear some reactions. Manu |