F1 or 6 Speed

The F1 shifter was not perfected untill into the 360 model. Stay with the 6.

 

Nothing sums up the the ferrari driving pleasure and experience of driving a true manual gear box, shifting thru the shift gate and hearing the stick hit the gates

 

Fantastic! nothing like a good F1 vs. 6 spd thread after a long day at work

The F1 in the 355 rocks, drive one yourself for the Michael Schumacher experience. And keep in mind most who post about how the F1 is not as good as the 6 spd, costs more, yada yada yada never owned one

 

Good points. I perfer the 6 speed. We should make it a rule that in order for anyone to post an opinion in this thread, they must disclose if they own a 6 speed or an F1 and if they have actually driven both.

 

OMG, here we go again. There must be 20 threads on this one.

I owned a 6-speed. I now have an F1. I like them both.

The 355 F1 is not clunky but is every bit as smooth as the 360. It also has one difference (rarely mentioned) from every other F1 system ever made: mechanical throttle link. So you still have to know how to heel and toe to get it right.

Every car nut should at ALL TIMES own a manual transmission. If you do not have another car that has a traditional stick, then you should get the manual. If you do, then you are free to enjoy the F1.

 

... and hearing the rattle of the 355 shifter when that little doo-hicky down in the linkage wears out. That drove me nuts.

 

Own a 99 F1 for several years...no issues and love it. Don't be scared by the rumor mill....

 

I own an F1, but in a 575M. The 355 F1 system differs from the 360 and later systems because it is not hooked to a digital throttle and does not have enough throttle authority to perfectly match revs on all downshifts. From some points of view, this is an advantage, because now you have a quick, authoritative shifter, but you still get to practice heel and toe (or right foot, left foot) on downshifts to help the system match revs. Just depends on how you look at it.

Both are fun, just a slightly different set of skills to be learned or practiced. No manhood issues, regardless of which shifter you choose. Both shifters operate exactly the same six speed transmission.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Sorry to vent but PLEASE use the search function.

There are at least 20+ threads on this exact subject but I'll net it out for you. There is no right answer. The people that own F1's love them and would never go back, the people that own 6 speeds love them and think it's the only way to go. Most (not all) of the responses in the 20+ posts are from people that own neither but are happy to give you their opinion.

Bottom line, they both have rabid fans which should tell you that just buy either one that meets your needs and make sure it has good records and a clean PPI.

There, now I've saved you the time. Best of luck!

 

I would only purchase an F1 if I already have a 6spd fcar in my stable.

If I was in the market right now for a 355, I would first decide on what:

body style (gts, gtb, spider)
color
condition, mileage
very well detailed maintenance history
PPI completed and results

once those areas are filled I would take whatever Ive narrowed it down to (6spd or f1).

 

+1000

 

I own a F355 6spd, and just drove my friends 360 F1 back to back with mine a few days ago..

The manual is smoother then the F1... maybe I'm nuts by my friend seemed to agree with me. If you know how to drive a stick well it will almost always feel smoother if shifted correctly then a similarly equipped car with an F1. I don't know about you guys, but unless I'm really working it, my shifts feel as smooth and seemless as a real automatic does. When I drove his F1, not matter what I tried, it was still a little jerky from standstill and you really had to modulate the throttle correctly to shift the car smoothly, but it could have just been me. But I've driven F430s, 612s, 599s..etc, and while the F1s were smoother, they still, to me, were not as smooth and interactive as the manual equipped cars. Also, the chrome ball and gate just screams FERRARI at you when you get in.

But as other members have posted, its all a matter of prefference and how you really plan on driving/using the car.
If you plan on tracking the car even a few times a year, an F1 Trans is an absolute MUST! Trust me...

Petey

 

Not true----Ask a mechanic...Mine have worked on Ferraris for many years and tell me many more problems with 360F1 cars than 355F1 cars....I have the first year F1 1998 and have not had any problems with it...Smooth when you want it to be and bangs hard as hell if you want it to....

 

Ok, now tell the truth... Spring Thaw *hint hint*

What ever happened there, btw? Guessing it's all resolved?


To OP, be a MAN and go with 3 pedals!

 

To each his own i guess but it is a fact that an F1 will go through 2 clutch disks before a 6 speed will go through 1. Every Mechanic I have talked to say the same and they also confirm that the problems with F1 shifters in the 355 is not worth the bother. My Mechanic and another I know here in Toronto both worked for MS in F1. Not only the function but the look is not even a comparison. I remember the first time I saw an F1 shifter and wondered why they would put such a little handle in the position where a real mans 6 speed shifter used to be.

 

One of the major reasons you get a Ferrari is this....
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I love the F1 Change, Had Manual 328 then 355 and 550. I was converted by a Maserati Spyder with Cambio corsa so sold my 550 to get a 575 F1, since then 2 x 599 F1's, a Year or so ago I bought another 328 and absolutely love it, just bought a 355 today and went for F1, only driven 15 Miles and it seems good, need to work on the downshifts to get it ultra smooth but so far I'm impressed, collect it from the Dealer tomorrow so will advise more when I've put some miles on it

 

+1 ....

I drove both ......... personal preference is still manual 6-speed .... heel/toe is still so much fun ......... but if I was trying to shave time on a track ....... I would consider paddles .... then deal with 'restless leg syndrome' with medication ......

 

I've owned and driven both in 355 form If I was facing this question having the knowledge I gained from my ownership experence I would choose 6spd for a driver, F1 for a track car. Might seem reverse to some people but on a track the F1 system is excellent and around town or on a spirited run I prefer to have the task of changing gears.

Drove mine to work this morning, in the rain. Let's be honest, this is a good problem to be facing, "Should I get an awesome car, or, an awesome car" Life is good!

At the end of the day no other person can make this choice for another, you need to drive both and make your own mind up.

 

I agree but if I was going to buy an F-car for my wife....then F1 all the way!

 

Not necessarily. My wife found the F1 to be another thing to have to learn, but she can already drive a manual.

 

Mine also loves manual in her other cars but F1 shifters unless you are on the track is for women.

 

I prefer F1 but love the six speed as well. No issues with my F1.

 

One thing to note is that paddle shift gearboxes have come a long way since the 355. If you have extensive experience with newer F1 systems, the current crop of dual-clutch gearboxes, or even "manumatic" automatics with a paddle-shift manual mode -- the 355 box may feel especially clunky and dated. even the current F1 and dual-clutch boxes are far from perfect (still can be jerky and rough in traffic and harsh on full-throttle upshifts in race modes) but they are worlds better than the initial technology.

The key is to drive them both and see for yourself. Even if you think you don't want a 355 F1, I'd tempt you to at least drive one to be sure. Same if you think you don't want one. Drive it and find out. It sucks to plop down $65k on a depreciating ride in a soft market, only to find out a month later that you've bought the "wrong car."