355 F1 or 6 speed? preferences...

I went with a 6-speed but if the F1 was less prone to having expensive problems I would have gone for an F1 model.

For the era, it was quite a revolution and the whole steering wheel F1 gear changing thing was super cool then and still is now.

In short, I prefer the F1 but I will never buy one (if that makes any sense???)

 

More of a time bomb: only in cost.

But really, even if it were completely free, bulletproof, and did not eat clutches; I, personally, would still want the manual.

 

My F1 has 48k+ miles on it, 14k by me in the past 4+ yrs. on the clutch I installed myself when I bought it. It's been bulletproof, and nothing compares to shifting like Schumacher screaming through a tunnel. Nothing. Not to say that 3 pedals aren't fun, I love driving my highly modified STi...but in my Ferrari I wanted the Formula 1 experience.

 

Had my F1 GTS for about 7 months now and I love it... No problems so far with almost 30,000 miles on her.

 

I've had the car for approx 1.5 years with no problems and no history of problems before that with the F1 system. I don't know why it has gotten a bad name other than the fact that the horror stories get more airtime in this forum. There is a "religion" associated w/ it versus the 3 pedal guys who see the future and are railing against it. It appears to me to be a myth that there are any more problems with the F1 system versus any other system on the car. I say if you like it, go for it. It is an absolute blast at the track and the quick shifting always bring a smile to my face, especially in sport mode.

 

I have posted this before, I am a manual only guy and the F1 is a true manual with a computer hagnin with you. In the end I am glad I said, "F" it I am buying a Ferrari, lets go F1.

 

Depends how you use it. The F1 is a joy on any challenging backroad. I prefer it over the new dual clutch transmissions as the single clutch system gives me more of a thump - its more direct and raw. It does allow you to keep both hands on the wheel and just focus on your line. The upshift is a tad slower than I would like but the downshift is magic. Really fun.

However, should you find yourself commuting in heavy traffic or have lots of hills in your home town (Hong Kong has both), I would encourage you to go for a manual and perhaps get a little time on the track to perfect your heel toe. The F355's manual is a real joy to use. I used my first F355 (97 Spider manual) in traffic all the time and it never failed me.

 

I like the F1 system in my car. But I have other three pedals cars to play with.

It is a good story when people ask about the dainty little shifter handle... You can explain that the system in your car is the first ever paddle shifting system put into production. It was technology taken directly from Ferrari racing in Formula 1, lifted from their race cars and applied to this model. It employes a normal clutch and pressure plate unlike today's paddle shift systems which are nothing more than an automatic transmission.

Given the fact that the paddles select up with the right side, down with the left side and neutral using both, the engineers needed a safe way to select reverse....so the drunk Italian designer made the daintiest little handle right there in the middle of the console to accomplish the task .....

 

And then you finish the story by saying "remember what you dad told you about not ever buying the first system of anything? He was right"

 

Hi Watson, I like the 355's F1 as well. A few friends of mine had them and each was a blast to drive and ride in.
If used regularly, the key issues for F1 cars in Hong Kong are; jerky driving/crawling in traffic and frequent visits to the dealer for new clutches. When used on weekends F1 cars are addictive.

 

I leave that part out So far, the system has been pretty robust once dialed in and operational. <now I did it.....gulp>

I rarely use my car in traffic as my rural surroundings are pretty forgiving in that department. But I certainly appreciate your point.

 

I'd have to say that if you are experiencing "jerky" driving in traffic or elsewhere then your system needs to be re-calibrated or tweaked in some other way. There is a somewhat complicated procedure to re-calibrate, but the system should be smooth and not jerky like mine is.

 

I guess I'm old school ... all my personal cars have been sticks. My first Ferrari was a 355 stick and my current Ferrari is a 430 stick ... which may be my last one, since sticks are now gone.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDEeoYwt3Qc&list=FL4Lrb9R-_Xew-8SkFk0ttbQ&index=27&feature=plpp_video[/ame]

Great factory (I think) 355F1 video

 

Nothing quite as satisfying as perfecting heel-toe rev-matched downshifts when you're rowing your own at full tilt. It wouldn't be quite the same with an f1 trans.

Ideally I'd have one of each , but if only one it has to be gated.

 

Cool.

 

Yes, a great video for me too as I have just purchased an F1 car to keep my 308 company.

 

Having the F1 does have it's drawbacks of course, for example: After spending last weekend driving around in my 355F1. Come monday morning out of habbit I found myself trying to paddle shift my Honda Accord, it's an automatic.

I wasn't so sure about the F1 when I first got it, now I wouldn't want to go with a standard.

 

My mother's Honda Fit has paddles on the wheel for sport mode shifting. Not sure if I am getting the same experience.

 

I prefer the 6 speed manual transmission (NOT Tranny!)

 

I really enjoyed that vintage video. Thanks.

 

I know you do and to be blunt, it doesn't matter. To be clear all my cars, in all my life, have been manual transmissions. I never accepted the automatic slush box that I've experienced through a bunch of rental cars over the years, and so believe I've sampled the best of the current generation automatic transmission technology. It must be said that there is no comparison between and automatic transmission with a torque converter and the so called "flappy paddles" and the electro-hydraulic masterpiece that went on to win F1 races. The F1 system in the 355 is a piece of history and I can tell you for real that it lives up to it. All this back and forth is of no use at all to appreciating what Ferrari did to bring the first F1 derived system to the 1st production car. It is truly a masterpiece.
Now y'all can go back to denigrating the 348 and and propping up the 355 and vice versa if you have to, carry on . . . . . . . . . . . . .