Should I make the jump? (Looking at 599 GTB)

Josh

I'm on my third 599, think that say's it all really, stunning cars, fuel economy is not for the environmentalist or faint hearted

 

Interesting. Before I purchased my 599, I considered looking at a R8. But, I had wanted a Ferrari V12 for 50 years, so went with the 599. It was definitely the right decision.

 

Obviously more creature comforts in the R8 (Nav, back up camera etc....) The F1 gearbox of the 599 vs the R Tronic of the early R8 is night and day. The shifts on the 599 will feel very smooth and very quick vs the hesitation of the R8.

The 599 is an amazing car. You can drive it for hours and not worry about getting beat up to badly. Plus the power and sound is great! (I do not own either but I have a few hundred miles of seat time in both so I am talking from experience).

 

You are also considering a mid engine car vs front engine. I don't know about the R8, but the 599 is not the kind of car you get that mid engine sports car handling excitement from. Its rewards come a bit slower to you: still amazing handling but amazing for such a big car, great on higher speed, highway sweepers... the 599 straddles the line between sports car and GT car. Its more on the sports car side of that middle ground, but compared to how most mid engine cars I've driven, its personality is a little bit GT. This can be good or bad depending on what you want. I've had a 599 for many years and still derive tremendous pleasure from driving it. The only thing I would say is check if the car you are looking at has the run flat tires. If it does, I'd swap them out. This requires a reprogram of the shock absorbers.

 

Huge difference in power between the Ferrari Enzo derived V12 and the Audi company V8. A 599 could probably tow a V8 R8 faster than it could accelerate on its own. Well, maybe a slight exaggeration.

 

Considerably more power with the 599 but still an extremely driveable car......

 

Drive the 599

They are different cars

The 599 can ride a little better than the R8 if both are in "rain/ soft" modes

But if the tires are 4, 5, 6 years old the ride quality will deteriorate

The 599 steering feedback is much better than the numb feeling R8.

The steering and throttle are much more sensitive than the R8, and will take some getting used to

The R8 drives more like a "sports car" the 599 drives more like a "GT car"

The 599 is a big car lots of trunk room, which of course is almost non existent in the R8

Both cars look great

The 599 is easier to get in and out of.

The F1 shifting is not as nice as the newer transmissions, but again takes a little getting used to and is OK in manual mode, I do not like the Auto mode.

I have not driven the R8 with the older paddle shifter, so I cannot compare it to the 599.

Dan

 

Dan- They have an Auto mode in the 599?

 

yes the 599 has an auto mode, and it starts in that mode. i invariably turn it off but i suppose it is nice to have available. btw, the paddle shifters still work if you want to override the computer's selection.

i put over 4,000 miles on my 599 in the past six months and absolutely love it! it is best on mountain roads but is also incredibly comfortable for long drives on the freeway. the trunk room is plentiful for weekend trips and someone on this forum helpfully pointed out that you can even fit two good sized suitcases in if you take the false bottom out of trunk.

 

I sense some sarcasm in Taz's post.

 

Me? No, never happen. Almost 6 years on the 575M and I have never pushed that button, but mine does not start in Auto. She starts in neutral.

 

I have found a new or should I say the only use for auto mode.

Whilst driving on the highway at 110kph. Keep her in auto and she cruises in 6th gear, then if you need to overtake simply put your foot to the floor and she instantly pegs back to 3rd and takes off like a scolded cat!

You guys should try this....... it's actually heaps of fun.

 

CM- Try the same thing in manual and hit the downhift paddle three times in rapid succession.

 

The 599 is a great car. GT car though. The Ferrari is more bespoke than an R8. I drove mine in manual mode only. If you RTFM it does have an auto mode. Not sure why?

 

The love for 12 cylinders, styling and ownership of a Ferrari is an experience which can't be matched by other makers. If it is not a Ferrari, it is not worth owning in my book.

 

haig - some people are 'between ferrari's'. personally, i think you are 'between testarossa's'!

i agree that the 599 is a great GT. for me, after having a pair of six-liter v12 sedans, each for over 10 years (the s600 and the 760li), the 599 was the perfect 'first ferrari' to buy as a DD. in regards to the manettino, after playing with it a little i set it to sport and haven't moved it since. interested in hearing if others switch around much.

btw, looking forward i'm interested in the 328gts and the 360cs. but i've been told that starting with the 599 will have spoiled me.

 

Aln

The 599 is not the car to own before driving a V-8 series car. had a 308, 348 then 550 and 599. Test drove a 430 gated six speed last week in order to have a manual convertible in the stable and was sorely disappointed. Will probably live with the Maserati Cabriolet as the DD ...

Mannettino is usually set to race with the traction control "off".

The 599 is comfortable and can be "scary fast" when called upon and is the wife's favorite also.

 

Josh,

Buy the 599.

No contest here...

Jack

 

Your car is perfect brother and you maybe right about the Testarossa... I had a Vegas run with group of exotics this week with my 996, ton of fun but there is no fun like being in a Ferrari.

 

Just out of curiousity, what sort of mpg figures do you get? I average 12mpg in my 360 with varied driving. Not that its a deal breaker, but what could I expect in a 599 as a daily driver? Also would the figure be similar to a 612's mpg?

As for the op's question. Not that I have driven either but they are completely different cars. 599 is a enzo engined beast and an r8 is sucessful hairdressers audi TT!

 

I have no idea precisely what my 612 gets around the burbs, but it's bad. Highway is fine, but I'd be surprised if I get even 10mpg locally.

 

Manettino always between Sport or Race, depending on my mood. Race allows a bit more play before interfering.

 

Drive a 599 with HGTE and you'll forget about the F430.