| Author | Message | ||
| Dr. Shelbee (Shelbee)
Member Username: Shelbee Post Number: 450 Registered: 12-2002 |
That was what I have noticed too. 550 is heavier, real clutch, but short stroke, versus 996 is smooth, like plastic feel, and long stroke. These are good for lady drivers  You will get used to for a while. It is an ultimate of the ultimate. Love the MARANELLO | ||
| Malcolm West (Ferrari_uk_tech)
New member Username: Ferrari_uk_tech Post Number: 24 Registered: 7-2003 |
The 550 does have a predomanently heavy clutch compaired to other modern Ferraris - the other thing to bare in mind is that as the clutch wears it will get heavier, and as you're thinking of purchasing the car I would, when going for the test drive ascertain how much life is left in the clutch. Cheers | ||
| Bart Duesler (The_bart)
Member Username: The_bart Post Number: 260 Registered: 1-2003 |
My 550 has a stair master clutch. | ||
| Mark Moon (Enzomoon)
Junior Member Username: Enzomoon Post Number: 227 Registered: 4-2002 |
My 550 has a much heavier clutch than my F512M. It was really surprising but not unpleasant. I was afraid it would be too light. All the controls have a nice weighting to them imho. | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Intermediate Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 1644 Registered: 12-2002 |
I pressed the clutch in on a 550 a while ago and in all honesty, it wasnt much harder than my Mustang (which also has a huge distance of travel). However, I havent tried another Ferrari to compare it to. | ||
| Eric Vartanian (Evartanian)
Junior Member Username: Evartanian Post Number: 226 Registered: 3-2002 |
Mike, as an added opinion on your concern for the "heavy" clutch, the first time I felt the 550 clutch I also thought immediately that "wow, that's a heavy clutch." So, from my experience, I also found it a bit more heavy than all other clutches I have ever felt. | ||
| William Henderson (Billh)
Junior Member Username: Billh Post Number: 82 Registered: 5-2002 |
who went and what hardware? I must have missed the post. where'djago? I wanna know..... | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1548 Registered: 11-2001 |
we actually lamented your absence at lunch, dude! doody. | ||
| William Henderson (Billh)
Junior Member Username: Billh Post Number: 81 Registered: 5-2002 |
whats that??!?!?!? a Northeast Cape drive and I wasnt invited?? | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1546 Registered: 11-2001 |
some random gotchas to check for: * make sure all the recalls have been done, obviously. * check for a fuel smell in the trunk. open the trunk up after it's been sitting for a while and see if you have a strong gasoline odor. the fuel tank seals might need updating. * the actuators on the shocks were redesigned at some point post 99 MY. have these looked at. apparently on some cars they would SPIN on the stalk and eventually fail. two of mine were replaced before i purchased. * there were problems wtih coolant hoses leaking through MY 99 and maybe beyond. there are updated parts available apparently that fix it. * sift through the service section of the owners guide against the service history to match up what they have and haven't done. my car hadn't had some fluids changed out like it should have, which was taken care of pre-purchase. you can get the PDF off the owners site. * unless repaired previously, you might have the old-style alarm unit without the extra/grounding wire. if the alarm isn't working right, get that fixed beforehand with the new unit (which will probably still fail within two years - total dogmeat stuff). * i am unaware of any factory 19" wheel option, although i am in fact unaware of a great many things ;-). * they do have a tendency to eat oil. so make sure the changes were kept up to date, etc. the color combo sounds very cool! would love to see pics! good luck with the beast! you totally won't regret it. i put nearly 300 miles on mine yesterday for our Northeast FChat Cape drive. it's a stellar machine. doody. | ||
| Michael Vaughan (Vanimal)
New member Username: Vanimal Post Number: 48 Registered: 3-2003 |
Doody, thanks for that, your comparison on the 355/550 helped me make this choice. The car is at the same service agent thats been looking after my 348 for a while now, loads of lovely cars there so they know their stuff. The clutch was strong, but not fiercly so, the test drive will tell me more. The wheels were apparently an option, so cant see the wheel well rim being an issue but will check, many thanks for that tip, anything else I should be aware of?? on a '98 that is?? | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1540 Registered: 11-2001 |
i'm afraid i've never driven a 348, so i don't have any relative reference point for you. i once had the vaccuum assist on my 996TT lose its vaccuum. now THAT was a HEAVY clutch (almost had to use two feet to depress it!). i guess the 550 clutch is "heavier" than most other sticks i've driven, but not so much so that i'd rush to call it "heavy". if i think back upon all the times i've gotten stuck in stop and go traffic over the years, i guess the 550 has left my left leg a bit more "worked over" than the other cars, but again, not so as i'd rush to call it "heavy" per se. if you get serious about the 550, make sure you get a PPI on it - the mechanic should be able to tell you if there's something wrong with it lickety-split. make sure the 19" wheels were done right and they didn't screw up the wheel well/rim with rubbing, etc. good luck! doody. | ||
| Michael Vaughan (Vanimal)
New member Username: Vanimal Post Number: 47 Registered: 3-2003 |
I am considering trading my 348 challenge for a 550 that I saw on the weekend, so a few questions prior to me getting the test drive next weekend. I notices the clutch was really stiff - heavy and the travel on the pedal was rather short in comparison to my 348, is this normal as there were no other 550's to compare to. Doody, perhaps you can help on this one. Car is a '98 titanium grey with red/burgundy leather interior with optional wheels, think they were 19 inch - amazing car. |