Thinking of moving up to a 550

I'd be interested to hear why you want to 'upgrade' (some would call it a downgrade...). They are very different cars, particularly F1 vs stick, but also because of the peaky vs torquey ride. Can you explain your thinking?

As for me, when I was deciding on my first F, 6 months ago, I was contemplating an F355 but I decided on the 550 for three reasons:

1. I wanted to do long European continent trips, and the 550 is the better car for that
2. I lusted after a 550 ever since I saw one in the flesh in '97 - I just love the styling. The F355 is prettier but somehow the 550 stirs my soul more
3. I loved the idea of 12 cylinders in front with a gated stick - the classic Ferrari combo

So far: 0 regrets! But an F355 to complement the 550 would not be a bad thing!


Onno

 

Well I can sort of relate. Went from a 360 stick to a 550 Barchetta Stick. My impressions:
1) 550 is a classic Ferrari and the 360 is a more modern design
2) 550 requires a more refined taste/interest to appreciate 360 is more appreciated by the masses
3) the 360 is like a 25 year old full of testosterone while a 550 is more like a 45 year old who is really well taken care of physically with lots of life experience
4) 360's are awesome 550's are tremendous

Take your pick but try them both.
either one is a significant improvement over a 355 I have heard. Jon in Delaware

 

I agree with the Jazzy's 3 reasons.I went from a 355 F1 to a 575M and feel I got the best of both worlds.So perhaps you also might consider the same.The 355 looks still give me a .... but you might be surprised how many looks the
Maranello get's.I also think it's a fact that the $$$ maintainance is unquestionably less expensive especially the belt service. GO FOR IT !!!

 

don't let her in the 550. I can't get mine out of the 'beast'. She no longer likes the 8 cylinder. We took both to a small car show last weekend and guess who drove the little guy, ya', me......she was all smiles.

12 cylinder is awsome, and will now always have one in the garage....of course closer to 60 now than 50

 

I know what you mean about missing the F1.

I traded a 2004 Maserati CC (F1) for a Manual 575

Very different. I feel the F1 makes me a better driver but the manual is more fun

-dsd

 

Hello:

I had a 355 and 90 TR - When I drove a 550 for the first time I knew the TR was gone. Now I have a 355 and 550, but when I'm in the 355 the power and torque are noticeably lacking (especially in the lower rpms).

So now I'm looking to replace the 355 with a 996TT which is closer in HP and torque (I'm not ready to spend the $$ for a 430 or V10 Lambo and never really considered American muscle).

Just my experience - Hope it helps!

 

I've never driven a F355 - too bad you're not in Holland; we could swap drives for a day!

But to get back on your comment about what it is like to drive - the 550 experience is all about what the French call "souplesse": the engine is so tractable that you never feel you're in the wrong gear. It does NOT give you a kick like you are describing (which, incidentally, sounds to me a bit like the turbo boost in my brother's old Delta Integrale - awesome car), it's more of a constant building force. There is, however, a strong climb in torque around 5000 rpm. If I accelerate fully, the moment it kicks in 4th it spins the wheels at 100mph and kicks in the ASR a moment later (I have not driven it without ASR yet - I'm not a fan of lampposts but I'm getting confident enough to start trying it soon). Quite exciting.

One party piece is to drop it in 6th at 40mph and then just let the engine mercilessly build up the revs to sling you past 140pmh and more....

It's an incredible engine. But less of an adrenline rush - this car is like a single malt whisky: it's not about getting drunk - it's about savouring the taste.


Onno

 

Very well put! I agree whole-heartedly!!

To the OP:

I made a direct jump from a 355 to a 550. Unlike yourself, I never warmed to the 355 F1, and chose a manual version for myself...so no issues there for me in that regard....

There are many a thread contrasting/comparing the 355 vs. 550 experience....the search engine is your friend in this instance.

One of the better comparision peices I've read regarding this topic was posted a while back by a F-chat member called "doody" (who owned both for a while)...you might want to try and look it up. It was in PDF format, I believe....
Also, don't forget to search the old F-chat archives...tons of stuff there too!

IMHO, although they each have there own charachter and styles (both beautiful in their own way) I have never regreted the switch...not even for a second. If you like standing out in a crowd, though, you might want to consider sticking with the 355, or even "upping" to a 360...the 550 is way more incognito...but for myself, I considered that a plus! As someone else here has suggested, if you have the means, having both would be ideal!!

Good luck, you can't really go wrong with this choice.....

 

I've owned both; the 550 is in another league entirely.

 

wife and I took both on a 100+ mile trip one way to a friend's car show...about 50 cars.

We were on 80 going East...I was quicker in the 80-100mph sprint [ok, had the jump on her...and YES we were safe not scaring the straight-drivers..don't do that]. But when she laid it on...I was toast...she was all smiles ...

good thing was: let her have it later ;\


now whos the daddy...

 

Although this is very subjective, I've had both and I think the 550 is far superior. The sheer torque it makes is so gratifying, versus the need to rev the 355 to make quick progress. Another area where I think the 550 is much better is in the quality of the interior. The 355 feels like a car of an older era and definitely doesn't feel of the same quality as the 550. My 550 has no rattles at all and has been reliable and easy to upkeep.

I hope this information helps and I would recommend the swap wholeheartedly.

 

I just traded my 360 6-speed after only owning it for several months to return to the 12-cylinder car (had a 550 before the 360, and now a 575). To me, the difference is light years in favor of the 550/575, and perhaps that's why the 12-cylinder cars cost $100K more than the 360 when new. With the 550/575 depreciation putting it close to what a perfect late 360 now costs, the relatively small amount of money I needed to add to obtain a loaded 2004 575 with 4K miles was a no brainer. I was sooooooo displeased with the 360, and I'm sooooooo in love with the the 550/575 cars. I can't imagine missing anything about a 355 if you replace it with a nice 550.

 

I can't comment on 355 v. 550 BUT

I can say the 550 experience is much more rewarding than that of a Porsche Turbo (996). And yes, I am qualified to make that (albeit slightly subjective) statement. So considering 355 vs 996tt... and 996tt vs 550, the transitive property makes the Maranello the winner!

 

If you're going to be in Belgium on the 1st of September, you HAVE to be here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=159606

Otto (Dino2010) is organising a great meeting with my mates of the F-chat forum, and he's got the Belgian Ferrari-importer involved as well. It promises to be a great day and the attendance list is already mouthwatering. Send him a PM, I'm sure you'll be able to attend. I won't make it, unfortunately, as the Goodwood Revival weekend in the UK is at the same time, and I already booked that.

We could hook up on the way back from Goodwood for a drink or lunch (Monday 3rd of September), or two weeks later on the 14th. I'll be driving the 550 back from Italy that time - I'm going to drive the Alps and visit Maranello. As you can imagine, I'm looking forward to both trips tremendously!!! Send me a PM and I'll see what we can do.

God, I miss my car - I work abroad and I only get to drive it every few months... Another 33 days to wait before I see it again!


Onno
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I think we have discussed the 355/360 vs the 550/575's before. I have both and they are such different experiences. The 550/575 from a performance and all around car is much better. As stated before they are not even in the same league.

The 355 is very sexy and a bit more of a boy racer vs. a GT car. If you go drive a 550/575 one then get back in your 355 it will feel quite slow, but the seating position is better IMO. I am not sure you would miss the F1 trans from your 355 but you may. I have not been impressed by the F1 in the 355 but that is my subjective opinion.

RH55 makes a great statement about the interior of the 355 and it feeling a little dated vs classic. Agreed..

Not sure it helps but when I am asked about which car I prefer to drive it is always my 550 vs the 355. If I had to keep just one it would be the 550..

 

I own several F cars, however, if i had to get somewhere in a reliable, comfortable, fast, good looking car that can go 200 miles one way without making a single noise other than the beautiful tubi exhaust sounds when the windows are down, I quickly jump into my 550 and take off. It never disappoints. It is a modern front engined powerful Ferraris. I vote go for it. as it is a great value for the money.

 

I did not trade in the 355 to get a 550, in a direct swap. I had a couple of years between the two cars. I have a 550 PF Barchetta, obvious from my forum name). The 12 cylinders is fantastic, and the overall "finish" of the car is much better. The 550 is 4 years "newer" than the 355, so the technology was upgraded considerably. The horsepower and torque are noticeable--the 550 feels like a rocket compared to the 355.

While I love the Barchetta, I do miss closed top driving some. I drove my 355 over 10K miles a year. With the Barchetta, it is more like 4K to 5K because the weather is just too hot to drop the top in summer and too cold keep it open in winter.

Plus, in my opinion, the 550 has much better lines.

 

It is worth noting that you can't really compare these two when they were new - the 550 was 60% more expensive than the F355 in 1997! So it is not just technological advancement because of the later date the 550 came out, it was also built as a much quicker car.


Onno

 

Well the extra 4 cylinders has a lot to do with it. It has over 100 HP more and over 100 ftlbs of torque more.

The 355 I had was a nimble and quick car, and I loved getting the rear end out and drifting it around. This was actually hard to do, since, the balance on the 355 was as perfect as any car I have had, except the 360CS, which is basically a race car.

The 550, with the engine in front is more of a straight line beast, but it does corner very well. While I actually do not keep up with 0 - 60 times, it is my feeling that the 550 is a full second quicker to 60. In 3rd gear, from 50 to 100, it must be 2 or 3 seconds quicker.

One more thing . . . and I mean NO DISRESPECT TO ANYONE . . . the 355 (or 360 or 430) is a "player's car." The 550 is a gentlemen's car. Not a statement of ego, but rather a statement of our station in life. I have 2 kids and am married. If I were single, it would be the 355, 360 or 430.

 

Well, that just goes to show that these generalisations are just that: I'm single, under 40YO, and no kids, and I own a 550, not a 355.


Onno