Long Time No Chat

Welcome back. The traditional manual vs. paddle shift is a frequently discussed topic here and everywhere else.

There are many issues at play, the primary being that a clutchless manual (meaning no clutch pedal, since there are still clutches inside) can shift faster than a human, so from a pure performance point of view, the paddle shifter is "better" in a pure sports car. Additional issues, and two that are less of issues with Ferrari and more for other manufacturers are that it's cheaper to design and produce one single gearbox, plus a manual with "automatic" mode can be programmed for better fuel economy, allowing higher MPG ratings -- helping a manufacturer achieve higher CAFE compliance.

Unfortunately, the F1 gearboxes are quite complex and expensive to repair compared to a traditional manual box. (It only cost me $450 to replace the clutch in my 308 GT4 last year, and my guess is that nothing on the F1 box would be that cheap to deal with.)

 

Welcome back mate! Any pics of your 355??

Most here would have not seen it before.

 

Andrew,

Welcome back.

I agree the 355 is something special. It is the last model in the series of sleek wedge-type designs before Ferrari changed course and went with the wider rounder designs of the 360, 430, and 458. With its revolutionary 5-valve per cylinder engine, nothing else sounds like it at high-revs. And it has that clever door knob inside the side vent!

Please post a few pics of your car. That would be fun. What year did you first buy it?

BTW, do you still live near Vancouver? It must be beautiful there this time of year.

 

If you had to do it over again, would you stick with the S63 or go with an S600?

 

No doubt -- I find paddle shifters to lend themselves to a disconnected feeling with the car. I drove the 599 GTB with the paddle shifters and I just felt isolated. The M5/M3 SMG tranny was downright miserable. Your S63 AMG was (if I recall correctly) just a traditional torque converter automatic with "manual shifting".

From Ferrari's point of view, however, they want to sell the "best sports car", and the flappy paddle gearbox is faster and easier to use...and since it probably outsold the traditional six-speed box 3-to-1 previously, it's a good business decision. (It's like in 1981 when 86 percent of Corvettes were ordered with automatics, so for 1982 no 4-speed option was available.)

 

I am a die hard manual transmission guy. There is nothing quite like a well executed double clutch down shift.

However, i am also a track driver/instructor and I am faster with the F1 gearboxes, and I love it. If you develop a new skill set (ie left foot braking, etc), you will feel involved.

 

I agree with ingenere, I love manual shifting, my last new buy was a 612 manual, although I had a few cars in between that we're f1 etc. however, the facts are that if you are into speed, particularly on track, the f1 box is king, and as a result, this week I'm trading in the 612 for a 599 f1

 

I am looking for something more like an original Q45 rather than something closer to an M5. That is Luxury over sportiness.