355 F1 Tips

Just ask a question.. WHOA!!!
Anyway I have had my 355F1 for almost a month and love it. I haven't used the auto mode yet. I always up and down shift with the paddle.
When upshifting hard, I let out of the throttle a hair--seems to shift a little smoother especially in Sport mode.
I usually keep the car in 1st gear when at a light, with my foot on the brake.
If you take your foot off the brake for more than about 8-10 seconds it automatically shifts into Neutral.
Of course if a problem arises there is more of a cost than a manual car..

 

I just took delivery of 99 355 F1 yesterday. I can't give you an indepth review but I personally never considered anything but this trans. For starters...my buddy has a Maserati with the same trans and loves it. All of my research pointed to a pretty solid system with no glaring weak points. And, finally, I just thought that the system was way cool and more technologically advanced. Just my personal 2 cents. If the car you are looking at checks out (do you know the service history?...mine just had the 30k done last week along with clutch replacement for additional $1200) I would seriously consider it. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

Ok 6-speed opinion time .

No disrespect to the F1 version. I consider myself a sort of driving purist...........the more I get to do, the better!! I love coordinating my movements for my best shifting efficiency. Especially around turns, it is even more challenging!!! I get to heel/toe the pedals !!!That is one of the reasons I went F-car from P-cars. P-cars were getting too civilized and when they started putting cupholders in their cars, well that just crossed the line!

So in sumation, using Jeremy Clarkson's words: "I don't want anything making decisions between me and the car" This was in reference to his choice between the Enzo and the F40. His choice....the "F40" because of the lack of power/electronic gadget anything!!!

Thank you Jeremy, I couldn't agree more

 

I drove both and bought a F1. Seven years and 21,000 miles later I like it so much I am keeping it when my 599 comes.

After 50 years I’ve had my fill of driving sticks.

BTW, I never use Auto mode, it sucks.

 

Clutches are the same part. Life is very variable depending on a host of things but can last well. Computer does not use it as well as you, simple as that.

The systems are pretty good and getting better all the time but it is more complex and long term, something, sometime, will break. When it does it has the potential of being expensive.

Cars with the system are best suited for the track or country roads and are at their worst in an urban enviornment. The newest F1 equipped cars are getting very good however and the last comment applies little to them.

Shifting is intended to be done without moving throttle foot. No need.

One mistake many (most) make with the F1 is to evaluate the car in an hour or less test drive. You really do need to drive the car differently with one and there is no way an hour drive will reveal what an F1 can be like. I liken the learning experience and curve to going from a typewriter to a word processor. Trying to use a word processor like a typewriter will not be a satisfactory experience. Same with F1. I drive owners in their cars all the time and get comments like "I didn't know it could do that" or "How did you do that?". Many owners take some time to really figure them out and they are not always a lot of fun until you do.

 

I have a 99 355 GTS F1 and really like it. One could write a novel to answer all your questions. First off in the 355's there is no "Blipping" of the throttle by the computer. I'm sure someone will disagree with this but it is a FACT.
I don't like the auto mode and really never use it. Like anything mechanical ... take care of it, regular maintenance & don't beat the living sh*t out of it & you should have very few problems. At traffic lite I go into neutral with the paddles just to take the strain off. Sometimes I lift alittle to shift & other times just keep the foot planted ... depends on what my fun factor is at that time. You have to drive an F1 for awhile to really appreciate it and know how to use it vs stick. A quick drive isn't going to tell you too much. If you want to save $$ buy the stick but the F1 is really the way to go. As far as costs go ... Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche etc we as owners all know going into one of these cars is that "you pay to play" ... otherwise buy a Honda Accord.

 

The only problem I have is occasionally lifting the turn indicator stalk in the Excursion to downshift.

 

My vote also goes with the F1 crowd. I had a Maserati with the cambio corsa (F1 equivalent) and my current '99 355 has the F1 transmission. Like others have mentioned, once you get used to it, it's pretty hard to go back to a manual. And so far (knock on wood) no problems at the 19K mile point.

 

Well looks like the F1 "mob" has spoken......and I was the only 6-speed opinion .

 

Probably because the 6 speed is more traditional and we all feel comfortable in our ability to change our own gears

 

I would go for the six speed, but haven't been in an F1 355 so can't speak from experience there.

I really enjoy shifting my 328, and with more power and a newer gearbox the 355 would have to be even better. I also like simplicity in my cars. I'd tend to agree with Clarkson - I'd eagerly take an F40 over an Enzo.

Figure out what you like the most and go that way. The whole reason these cars exist is fun, unless you're planning to use it to deliver pizzas.

 

I have had my 1979 308 GTS for ten years, and my 99 355F1 for two years,I enjoy both cars, but prefer driving the F1, my only negative is the F1 in traffic is a bit of a pain shifting in and out of neutral, I was instructed to shift to neutral when approaching a stop sign to reduce clutch wear, do I have a concern later on about replacing parts - yes - but hopefully as time goes on there will be info (adapting 360 parts to the 355 etc.), the chat lines have been most helpful. Whichever car you get - enjoy.

 

i think the f1 transmission is very cool, if you've never owned a ferrari before i would recommend a 6 speed just for the patented rifle shifter nothing like it in the automotive world. that's just my opinion. if its not your first ferrari then get the f1.

 

I think the 6-speed shifter says classic Ferrari all over it.

 

I was told that is a bunch of hype. When the car is stopped there is no strain on the clutch--no need to put it in neutral...

 

Advice given by someone who actually went to the trouble of finding out how it all works instead of a salesman whose product knowledge came from the sports section of the newspaper.

 

. As far as costs go ... Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche etc we as owners all know going into one of these cars is that "you pay to play" ... otherwise buy a Honda Accord.[/QUOTE]


I always love these statements!! Pretty funny when you are telling me a $12k car is more reliable than a $150k car!Who is the fool here!!!??? For all the talk of quality of building!!

On a side note, the wife and I were looking at the F1 360 and F1 355 at FOW last night and this thread is coming along at a good time! I am currently driving the SMGIII system in the BMW M5 and have had zero problems at 10k miles and I love it!!!! The blips alone are worth the cost of admission!
I think buying the 355 F1 and saving about $20-30k would be wiser, I just don't want to make a mistake and regret not moving up to the 360 F1.
Thanks guys your help is always appreciated!!

Robert