Transmission preference | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Transmission preference

Discussion in '348/355' started by bobzdar, Sep 26, 2014.

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Which 355 would you buy?

  1. Manual and would pay more for it

  2. Prefer Manual but would consider either depending on price

  3. F1 only and would pay more for it

  4. Prefer F1 but would consider either depending on price

  5. I like both equally

Multiple votes are allowed.
Results are only viewable after voting.
  1. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Aug 10, 2002
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    I think you have it backwards. For an executive cupholding GT with luggage you want the automatic. For an engaging sportscar you want 3 pedals.

    Almost no one would want a turbohydromatic slushbox Ferrari but The performance gap between Autos, F1's, and DCT's is narrowing. Auto's will win. Let's see if I'm right within 5 years.
     
  2. 355dreamer

    355dreamer F1 World Champ
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    Strange. There were 4 other buyers lined up behind him for asking price. The buyer bought the car sight unseen, with no PPI. He's incredibly happy with the car.

    I should have asked 95k. I think that car would have brought it, no problem.
     
  3. 355dreamer

    355dreamer F1 World Champ
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    Exactly. Look at the premium gated 575s get.
     
  4. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
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    I don't have the time to search but I thought I recall you stating (before selling) you had buyers willing to pay $125k if you ever sold. That said, an add would not have been needed.

    And to Tim, my F1 is no gimmick and it's not clunky in anyway. It shifts deadly fast and smooth as silk. Way faster and way smoother than anyone could do with a manual.
     
  5. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
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    Bump, in case anyone missed this.
     
  6. driveitdaily

    driveitdaily Formula 3

    Jul 20, 2013
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    I believe the 400i automatics actually used a general motors th400 trans . LOL
     
  7. F1moving

    F1moving Formula Junior
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    Yep, so the voting can close now all 50!have voted. They have their 50 sampling of millions of people. LOL
     
  8. jimmym

    jimmym Formula 3

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    You don't have to save me any trouble. Here it is. Taken from Ferrari Life Buyers Portfolio. "The 1995 model year F355s, produces an extra 5-10 bhp. The 1995 model is the fastest of the F355s and also the loudest(95 models are rated 380 bhp, 96-98 are rated at 375 bhp)."
    As others have stated the Challenge cars still used the 95 intake system.

    "The F1 was first used in the F355 it has had more reliability issues than the version later fitted to the 360 Modena, 430 and 575M". Another quote taken from the Ferrari Life Buyers Portfolio.

    As I stated earlier 5 hp is insignificant and would not change performance.
     
  9. Steve355F1

    Steve355F1 F1 World Champ
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    Yeah, the 458 Speciale I had a ride in last week was a real cup holding GT automatic.
    I'm sure it would have been faster and more "sporty" with a ludicrous silver prong poking three feet out of the centre console...

    *shakes head*

    Please answer the questions I have asked:

    Show me the evidence that a 95 has more power.
    Show me the evidence that a manual 355 is worth more than an F1.
    Show me the evidence that a manual 355 is faster around a track than the F1.
    Show me the evidence that an F1 355 is costlier to maintain than a manual.

    Oh. You don't have any?
    What a surprise.
     
  10. jimmym

    jimmym Formula 3

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    Luke, don't confuse the issue with facts.:) Let them believe what they want to believe.
     
  11. 355dreamer

    355dreamer F1 World Champ
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    No, at the time I might have said I wouldn't sell it for $125k. Times changed. So what...

    What's your point anyway?
     
  12. F1moving

    F1moving Formula Junior
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  13. Steve355F1

    Steve355F1 F1 World Champ
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    With respect, that is an utter crock of ****.

    Show me the dyno graphs which prove that claim.

    There aren't any.

    Mechanics who have worked on these cars since they first came out have said repeatedly that they have seen no difference in dyno results between the year models, and in fact several of them have said that the highest numbers have often been produced by the later model cars.

    The variables are such that THERE IS NO REAL DIFFERENCE.

    What is certain though, is that the 355F1 went around Fiorano faster than the manual car did.
     
  14. F1moving

    F1moving Formula Junior
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    Point is you just lost 40k!!! That may be AS dumb as buying a F1!
     
  15. jimmym

    jimmym Formula 3

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    I have provided you with quotes on power stated from a 355 buyers guide as well as the article stating that F1's are more problematic. Buy the book, if you don't believe me. You stated that there is no literature that has this information. I provided you with it and you still ask the same question. THIS WAS TAKEN FROM THE FERRARI LIFE BUYERS PORTFOLIO.

    It is kind of like saying 355 header and valve guides issues don't exist just because you haven't seen them for youself.:rolleyes:
     
  16. F1moving

    F1moving Formula Junior
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    That is a crock! I would bet most cars of the same year of any make have a 5hp variance between them off the showroom floor. That's not even considering if they were dynoed in the same climate! 5hp....meh! I could buy a turbo fan for my intake off of Ebay for 5hp.....right.
     
  17. jimmym

    jimmym Formula 3

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    You stated that I wouldn't find any literature that stated that there was a difference. I did. You can not prove that there isn't. Show some of your mechanics dyno results that you are talking about. As STATED the article only claimed 5-10 hp. It is insignificant.
    The 96 challenge cars used the 95 intake system. There must be some reason for this.
     
  18. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

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    I think several people have missed the point here. I doubt many people are buying one over the other because it's slightly faster or one may be more maintenance than the other.
    Some people like to drive a manual car and some people like to drive an automatic. They are all great cars and as the prices rise, there probably won't be a whole lot of difference between the models.
    I would guess the GTS would probably bring the most 20 years from now. Of those 80 percent are manual.
     
  19. jimmym

    jimmym Formula 3

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    #44 jimmym, Sep 27, 2014
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2014
    Here is one F1 owners problem. Check out Post 138.
    He doesn't seem to have had good luck with his F1.

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-discussion-not-model-specific-sponsored-algar-ferrari/452527-sad-day-7.html

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/462274-f1-power-unit.html

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/321340-f355-f1-pump-using-360-pump-ricambi.html
     
  20. JG333SP

    JG333SP Formula 3

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    I went out of my way to get a 3 series BMW with a stick, and the 308 GT4 only came as a stick. I dig 'heel/toe' driving but it would be tough to lay down all the cash for any new Fcar and not get one with the latest F1 trans. Truth is, the new units shift flipping fast and are crazy durable through yrs of development so if you're buying any new exotic car that is part of what you are paying for.

    All that said, the clutch on the bimmer is light as a feather and it's a blast to drive so if you really want a manual there are some advantages to the newer ones also
     
  21. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
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    Feb 18, 2008
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    I bought my f1 because I wanted the latest and best technology I could afford at the time and I am glad I did. I already had a stick and although I liked it I had driven one the novelty had wore off.

    I think most new owners of ferrari would lean towards a stick just because of the history and it does not surprise me the way the poll shows.

    Faster , less trouble, blah blah blah, I think a lot of problems with both a more related to owners abuse than anything. That being said the more technology anything has the more problems. I would think that is good common sense.

    One thing is for sure I think f1 owners for the most part are as passionate about our f1 or even more so that our stick brothers.
     
  22. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
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    Yes the f1 car did go quicker, because they changed the track in 96 making it 1.5s faster. The exact time difference between the manual and f1 car, not coincidentally.
     
  23. AlfistaPortoghese

    AlfistaPortoghese Moderator
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    Mar 18, 2014
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    #48 AlfistaPortoghese, Sep 27, 2014
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2014
    x3. Dave does rock.

    Do I detect a hint of unfounded, unproven speculation in favor of manual gearboxes? :)

    By speculation I mean exactly that: speculation like in stocks, derivatives, futures. Inflating the price, trying to build a hype around what I own, in an attempt to make it more valuable. It does work for a brief period of time I'll give you that, but the market always catches up to you in the end. There'll never be a definitive answer to this debate "F1 vs manual". It may work on a specific market (lets say the US because a stick isn't as common as in Europe), but a definitive and valid conclusion that fits all markets, all people and all cars will never be drawn.

    Gearboxes aren't the issue regarding value. We're barking at the wrong tree. Which would you take? A battered manual or a mint, fully serviced and documented F1 which has been proven troublefree? Service history and miles drive prices, in my humble opinion. Not the transmission type, electric windows, radios or exhausts.

    Bottom line: we all love the 355 and there are more things uniting us than separating us. I still feel that a manual or a F1 are two equal ways of enjoying what is perhaps the greatest sports car ever. Oh, and it seems I was the only one so far to vote for "Prefer F1 but would consider either depending on price". I favor automatic gearboxes. My Mondial is already manual so this time I went for the F1 because, *PERSONALLY* I get more car control out of it.

    Cheers,

    Nuno.
     
  24. echo220

    echo220 Karting

    Apr 19, 2011
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    Vancouver, BC
    #49 echo220, Sep 27, 2014
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2014
    I am specifically looking for a manual 355 berlinetta. Here are the reasons from first hand:

    I do believe not many SUPERB and I mean SUPERB drivers could shift a manual as fast as an auto/manual or F1 and auto/manual gear boxes are the way of the future. So in terms of performance, it is hard to argue against an F1 unit. But earlier F1's were developments that were improved upon continuously to get us to where we are today.

    I personally still own a 05 430 Berlinetta with an F1 transmission and E-Diff and I love driving that car. But even as refined as the 430 F1 units were, early production pre November 05 production F430 with the F1's were problematic and the pump itself was subsequently made larger post Nov 05 production and then further improvements were made again in 07. I know this first hand because it took the dealer almost a year and cost me a total of almost $50K to finally have the problem fixed and a new larger post Nov 05 F1 pump unit was installed in the car and a new updated F1 ECU had to be installed with it. Not had any problems since.

    If any of you had ever owned an F1 car and have been stuck in the middle of an intersection because your F1 unit throws the car into Neutral and limp mode, you would probably say to yourself with embarrassment I wish I had a manual.

    In my opinion Ferrari probably makes the best auto/manual gear boxes out there. I'm talking before the newer dual clutch untis. I have owned an Aston V8 Vantage with and auto/manual and it is clunky and slow. I also own an 06 Gallardo stick because the earlier generation Lambo auto/manual transmissions were not the greatest either. An my daily driver is a 2012 C4S PDK and I personally prefer the F430 F1 over my PDK.

    So the reason I am in favor of manual transmission on earlier model cars because there is just less to go wrong and because the earlier model F1 transmissions weren't as refined and developed as later model cars. Not much has changed in manual gear boxes in the last 20 years but there sure was hell of a lot of improvements in the auto/manual gear boxes over that same period of time. Keep in mind I am talking before dual clutch erra. Just look at the last F car to have the F1 transmission the F430. Even that car received at least 3 upgrades and improvements in the F1 transmission unit between 2005 and 2007 that I know of. I know, someone is going to correct me because technically I think the 599 was the last production F car with the F1 transmission.

    We all have our opinion but at the end of the day, it's a Ferrari and it's a great driver's car regardless of which transmission you prefer.
     
  25. jimmym

    jimmym Formula 3

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    Thanks Echo 220 for that post. Well stated. And as most know the F430 is two models after the F355 with all subsequent upgrades. I am not knocking the F355 F1 transmission or saying these cars are any less desirable, but some owners are either clueless or have their heads buried in the sand if they don't think these transmissions have the potential to be more problematic than a manual box.

    It is the same thing when owners try and deny what inherent issues the F355 has. It is some of this type of denial that can give these cars a bad reputation.
     

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