550/360 $$ comparisons.

I was convinced i needed a 360, 360CS in the stable until yesterday a very good friend of mine (Fchatter) drove by and let me loose on his 2001 550, 12,000kms on the clock, and spanking new rubbers, and new exhaust we went galloping. I havent thought of the 550 as my next car because i was convinced the 360 was the route to go. Here in CDN 550 prices have hit hard abit and it seems that for about 150CDN you can either get a 360 or 550.
Heres my question / dilema.....they are both different cars, but which one would be better long term as far as maintence, more depreciation, and overall satisfaction?

Thoughts on this from owners of both cars, or what are the things that drive you nuts about them both ?
Thanks for the feedback.

 

Maintence - the 360 is way better . . . it is simply because the 360 is v8 while the 550 is a v12.

Depreciation - As for the Canadian market at this current moment the depreciation of the 360 would be slightly higher. A fairly nice 550 (if one waits with patience) can be bought around $140k-155k CAD 99 and above. 99 and lower would be 130k-140k CAD. Right now there are a few around, two I believe at FMoV asking 150k with lots of kms. I wouldnt touch those lol. I wouldnt pay over 155k even if it is a 01 decent milage/condition unless it is an unbelievable car such as one which was sold in vancouver a few weeks ago. It had 9k, factory carbon racing seats . . . + all the options you can order factory on the car. It also had a tubi exhaust and novitec wheels. The 360 would be around $130k-140k for 99 or 00 with about 20k.

. . . lol they actually are really close. I think they both will depreciate till the $110k-125k range CAD(depending on condition) and would stay at that mark for a while before they will drop again.

Satisfaction - I like the 360 a bit more since it is a newer look, but the 550 is a very neat car. They're a fewer around . . . making it still a pretty desirable and attractive car. I think the 550 would be funner to drive.

I think $150k CAD is a good buy at this moment.

Cheers,

If you buy the car, post some pics

 

My 550 has been maintenance free for a year now. it gets way more looks than a 360, as they are much less common. it is way torquier, and, driven properly, can kick a 360's a##. they are a steal right now. and bound to be a classic in the future. No brainer if you ask me. 550!!!

 

I just bought a 03 575 and love it. I also have a 2000 360. Which do I prefer?

575 without a doubt.

 

About three years ago I was looking for a 360 and couldn't settle in F1 versus 6-speed. Across my local dealer's showroom I spotted a red 550 they had just taken on pre-trade for a 430. Hmmmmmm........red/black, 12 cylinder, 6-speed, carbon fiber package, Daytona seats. The next day I bought the 550 for $20-30K less than the 360s I was considering. About a year later I purchased a Challenge Stradale as a stablemate to the 550. The cars couldn't be more different in purpose and feel, but they are both modern and reliable cars. If one of your selection criteria is maintenance costs, simply walk away from Ferrari and buy Japanese or German. The difference in costs between a 550 and 360 is not material when you consider both cars are depreciating rapidly, expensive to insure, etc.

 

I sold a perfect Yellow 360 Modena and bought a 550 Barchetta. I know there is alot of differences between a 550 Barchetta and a 550 Maranello but as for the power/Torque and handeling they should be very similiar. I can honestly say iI have never looked back since buying the 550. Its a spectacular car. Maintenance is actually cheaper on the 550. Routine maintenance is easy even do it yourself like brakes and oil. Probably the same with the 360 except for the access to the oil filter in the 360 is a challenge. The belts and such are cheaper to replace on the 550. Neither need engine out but less labor in the 550 involved. The 360 is more commonplace but much more recognizable as a Ferrari. True afficianados of the Prancing horse will admire the 550. As for future depreciation...if its a supply vs demand thing i think its a crap shoot. Far fewer 550's made but will they be sought after like the 360? Only time will tell. Jon in Delaware

 

I had some guy ask me if my 575 was a new Mustang yesterday.

ohhh boy.

 

I guess all horsey badges look alike to some people. Sigh!

 

Here is the key statement. Do you want a mid-engined nimble sportscar, or a gentleman's GT? The 360 will get much more attention, but the 550 is the greater bargain and will be the choice of your significant other........unless its a guy........then its a different issue altogether.

From this day forward, depreciation rates should be similar, and the maintenance costs so close that it will be strictly based on how well you chose a car.

There isn't a wrong choice and consider yourself quite fortunate that you have this kind of option.

 

As far as maintence cost, do both these cars run the 3 yr/30,000 mile belt change ? I know the 360 does becuase the tensioners are hydralic, the same for the 550 ? As far as track times, or reported times on these cars, any numbers reported?
Thanks.

 

Both the 550 and 360 have the 3 year belt service. That service will be more for the 550.

If you care about lap times, the 360 is the car for you. If you want a daily driver, the 550.

I think overall the 550 will fair better in the future. They made a lot less 550's than 360's.

Best,
dsd

 

The Ferrari 550 a gentleman's car. Please!!!! Spend about a $1000 us and this car turns into a BEAST!!! It will run from any 360 any day of the week 489hp. They made 17,000 360's, 3500 550's, it’s under $100K us, low maintenance, classic V12 engine, the sound is unbelievable, and you can't lose. It's the best bang for your dollar. Just make sure the maintenance is done and done right.

 

I also disagree about lap times. If it's a short track the 360 does do well. The 550 does better on longer tracks. I agree. All you have to do is slicks, new springs, turn off the ASR and let it go. The 550 was a much more successful race car than the 360. The 360 never had enough horsepower to make it winner.

 

I have been leaning more now to the 550..by lap times i meant, around the ferrari test track , was the 360 faster when in came out in 99 compared to the 96 550 ? Any real changes between both as far as braking. I would be look ing ofr a 96/97 550, i would prefer the 1st year model actually which was the 96 here in Canada i do believe.
Thanks.

 

The 550's can have a big brake kit installed. Either alone or as part of the Fiorano Handling Package (FHP).

I would opt for a 550 over a 360 anyday and twice on Sunday.

best,
dsd

 

This is such a personal thing. They are both great cars. The 550 is the choice for me, but the 360 has its own merits. You need to decide for yourself what you want. And BTW, if you are deciding on service cost difference, you shouldn't be driving a Ferrari. ANY F is expensive to service, and there isn't that much to choose between them. "V12s are more expensive". Puhlease - as if the 2 grand every 3 years make a significant difference on ownership cost. Depreciation and investment potential are much bigger factors, but even they are rubbish reasons to choose your next Ferrari.

Drive them both, and DECIDE WHAT YOU LIKE!


Onno

 

My friend, John, has a CS and a 550. He loves the CS for its sound, feel and handling on the track but feels it is a bit twitchy on the limit. He took the CS to New Orleans for the French Quarter Classic - about a 5-6 hour journey and got some back pain. So it is not a comfy cruiser by any means

The 550 is a perfect GT to him - great torque, comfy driving position, decent luggage space, easy ingress/egress. The 550 would need a lot of work to make it a track weapon - its very heavy.

Thus he uses the 550 more for regular driving and the CS on the weekends for an occasional blast. They are complimentary and not competitive if you know what I mean.

Personally, if I had to have one car, it would be the V8 one. Your choice would depend on whether you want a GT or Sportscar.

 

If you would have floored it like I told you to....you wouldnt even be asking these questions now...LOL!

The 360 is without a doubt a more "nimble" and lighter car....but, for shear torque and accelleration (especially at highway speeds..) there is no comparision...the 550 would eat any 360 for breakfast. The 360 would be able to outhandle the 550 on a smaller, tighter track....but, that being said, the 550 has amazing handling, unbelievably so for the size of car it is.....

As a real, useable car, the 550 is just incredble....far less common than 360s, a classier, less boy-racer look (although looks are subjective, you already have the space-ship looking F-car in the TR..), for weekend trips with the wifey it can't be beat! The other cars in your stable are good for nimble, weekend jaunts, I think in your case the CS might be overkill (as incredible a car as it is...you already have the pure, 8 cyl, race car , not to mention the TR).....the 550 is the perfect modern day F-car cruiser, IMHO.

As an aside, the earliest 550s in Canada are 1997s, so you wont be finding a 96 as far as I know.....You know Id be glad to help you scope out any potential 550 (not to mention, save you a bundle over the CS!)....but just remember, Ryans Dad has that 550 Barchetta in your preferred colours...I doubt there would be much of a price differential between that or the CS...just a thought!

 

I recently had sport springs, and a x-pipe installed on my 550, made by F-chat member “Ferrarifixer”, along with spacers. The result was a car with a much more connected feel, it felt more like a sports car without losing any of the GT qualities, in fact the ride improved. I was able to attend a track event recently which included all types of Italian cars and my 550 easily outpaced 360's in the infield as well as the straights and was very competitive with Gallardo's. The natural balance of the car with the addition of a wider track and stiffer suspension allowed me to comfortably explore the limits of the car without the worry of snap oversteer of a mid engine car. I believe a 550 setup properly is a very sharp track tool. Just my two cents.

Stan

 

I think it's a completely reasonable question. One of the reason TR's have taken a beating in the market is because of their exhorbitant repair costs relative to purchase price, so obviously it's relevant to a lot of us.

 

You cannot compare a 360CS to an F550. Not fair!

 

Two totally different cars serving different driving styles. It's unfair to say that one is "better" than the other. I drove my 550 on the famed G19 winding road into Monterey one year and HATED the car! Wanted to leave it in Monterey. The roads were so windy and full of undulations that it totally unbalanced the big car. Meanwhile the same road in a 360 or even a 355 was significantly more manageable. Does that make the 360 better than the 550? Perhaps in that particular situation, however, I often preferred the 550 for the "grand touring" drives.

Money can make any car into a better accelerating, stopping, or handling car but in stock form the 550 was meant to be a GT car and the 360 was meant to be a sports/driver's car. No doubt you can punish the 550 and make it handle like a 360 but that is not how the designers intended the car to be. The 550 was meant to be a gentleman's cruiser with the sole of its heritage. I think it fits that bill perfectly. Would I take a 550 over a 360 if I had to choose one? Depends on what kind of driver you are. As for maintenance - it did not cost me any more to own the 550 than it did to own a 360. In the end ... drive both. Determine which one suits your style better. In the end ... both are GREAT cars and both are FERRARIS!

 

The changes I made to my car enhanced the GT nature of my car while stimulating the natural sports car breeding of the car. Additionally, prior to buying my 550 in ’04, I spoke to six or seven service managers at primary Ferrari dealerships plus a couple GM’s I know well at Ferrari dealerships , who are intimately familiar with both cars and not one said that a 360 is a better car in any respect than a 550, period.

Best regards,

Stan

 

Dealers and service techs don't drive the cars the same way that owners drive the cars. I know several people that have owned both and they all say that the 360 is sportier.

I prefer the looks of the mid-engine Ferraris but after driving a 550 I have a whole new respect for the front mounted 12s. It's a totally different feel than the mid-engine cars.

 

I think i agree with this. The front mounted driving on the 550 was very different than my other Fcars. I think im leaning into the 550 since its opposite of what i have. The service cost difference is important because i would hate to be in a very money hungry 12 again, i have one of those that i intend to keep, would prefer not to get into the 2 most money hungry fcars either .

Steve you mentiond Ryans 550 Barchetta, as much as i love that car, i have not been one to like the open air ferrari's for some reason, though the SA and the Barchetta would be the jewel to have. Unfortuately, i would have to sell a car to get into one of those, and that defeats the purpose. I think after all the comments and the research i have been doing the last few days the 550 is in order...now to find a red/black 96 550 is another story.