I've had both, but never driven the earliest F1 I'm not looking to make this another F1 vs. stick thread, and we all know sticks are the hott ticket right now for many Ferrari models What I'd really like to know is: Does Ferrari's first shot at F1 have any idiosyncrasies that I should be aware of, or could I compare it purely to a stick on an even playing field when shopping for a 355 without any extra reservations? And does the 355 lend itself more to one or the other, or is it purely personal preference? Thank you in advance for any advice...
I really liked the way the F1 system worked in the 355. In later versions they tried to make it more like an automatic and to simplify it. 2 downsides to me about the F1 355. Many components that are not shared with other models so long term it may get more complicated and expensive to repair than later versions. Also the actuator is very low to the ground and I have seen quite a few damaged as a result. Otherwise it comes down to which you like to drive best.
Don't like it? Go buy it somewhere else. When you are the only supplier you get to use phone numbers on your price tags. And they look you straight in the eye doing it.
never liked looking into a Fcar and seeing no clutch pedal and shifter. IMO stick is the only option I choose.
In 2004 the F1 pump failure repair was $20,000 becuase Ferrari did not sell just the pump. You had to buy the entire valve assembly from the mother ship in Italy. Now you can buy the pump / motor for a 360 for $600 and a conversion kit for $450 from Ricambi. Done. The same will happen with the actuator...someone will find a rebuild option and all will be well. Just hope I am not the guy blazing the trail The gearbox in an F1 and a 6 speed are the same. Changing an F1 to a 6 speed has been done before. There are more parts on an F1 and Ferrari parts are expensive. An SD computer is needed form time to time to calibrate the F1. If you want easy and what everyone else has, get the 6 speed. If you want to be different and like a challenge, get the F1.
Great post by Watson. This is pretty much what you need to know. I couldn't put it better myself. Kind regards, Nuno.
When shopping for my 355 I didnt have a preference other than it had to be a GTS. I bought a 98'( production Nov 97') F1 because it was well sorted and had 16000 miles. The early version F1 transmission versus say a modern f1 trans is night and day. The first gen f1 is a screaming v8 experience that demands you pay attention when you want to have fun. When you want to drive in traffic with a cup of coffee you can press the Auto mode button and let her do her thing. When your done with your coffee you can switch her back and take control of the RPMs. With respect to being different, I don't think the scarcity of the f1s versus the 6 speed will ever matter in my lifetime.
I miss f1 I owned one for two years. Gated 6 speed gives you an authentic immersed driving experience that paddles just don't do but wow the f1 in sport mode is perfection mine broke the tail loose in the first two gear changes it was awesome
It is so much easier to drive (a sick car) home with a clutch or transmission problem with the manual.
I had a 3 pedal 95 and now a 99F1 I have 3 pedals in my 77 308GTB so the F1 in the 355 is a nice switch. Plus it performs flawlessly.
Moe, You've been around long enough to know that with a choice of two transmissions, you get three answers. ;>) When I started looking for a 355, I "leaned toward" an F1. Then I thought: First generation, Italian engineering, what can go wrong? I bought a standard tranny car. However it does seem that the great majority of the F1 cars are trouble-free. FWIW, when I started driving home after buying the car, I got stuck in LA commute traffic for an hour and a half. The clutch/tranny were light and flawless, (and the A/C worked pretty well too.)
The F1 system is actually very refined and user-friendly for what it was, and especially for a 1st-generation Italian anything. It takes some skill to drive smoothly, and I like that I still do my own downshift throttle blip.
The best and most enjoyable aspect of this 1st generation paddle shift car, and the major thing that sets it apart from the later generations, is the fact that the throttle is controlled by you with the same cable as in the manual stick version of the car. The later generations all have fly-by-wire type throttles that are controlled via computer. While that does represent a step forward in technology, and allows the computer to perfectly match revs on downshifts, etc. it also loses the "manual" throttle control that is so much fun to master on the 355F1. In a similar way that manual shift proponents lament the loss of control over the whole shifting process, future generations will lament the loss of throttle control in later generations of paddle shift cars. This one aspect will, over time, in my opinion become a very much sought after trait once it becomes more generally known how much fun it really is.
All the individual experiences shared here have indicated to me more than I imagined. I have driven both stick & F1, and I was leaning toward stick actually because I had misgivings about early F1. I'm so Glad to learn about the less techy nature of the original F1- It actually makes it more Attractive to me. And the fact that something first generation and Italian is actually sufficiently reliable, is Awesome. Hearing all the individual statements herein actually leads me to believe that in the end, it will be less about the gearbox than I first thought, and more about the merits of the rest of the car meeting other criteria for which I'd be looking. I'm thinking I'd not only not be lacking in any way, but I'd be more than sufficiently content with either transmission. Thank you all sincerely for spending a lil time to fill in some of the blanks for me, much appreciated. No matter how much time you spend around these cars, you never know as much as the guys who live any particular model. Thanks again, -Moe D
This is actually the key statement. Unless you have a clear preference, you should buy on condition and various other factors, NOT gearbox. You will not be disappointed, either way.
The fun is in the STICK!!!! And in the end Common Sense dictates that it will always be worth more$$$$ than the F1 And that's that. That being said everyone should buy what they like
You've obviously never driven an F1 in anger. The fun with the F1 is in driving what feels and sounds like a genuine late '90s F1 car. Having said that, anyone who tries to twist a buyer's arm in either direction is only showing their own bias. As I said before, if you don't really care going in, just buy the best car you can find. In terms of perceived value, don't confuse "FChat World", with "Real World". They are two VERY different things.
I almost bit on an F1, and while it might work well, I am much happier to be driving a 6 speed 3 pedal car... I put it down to personal preference.
I almost bit on a manual, and while it may be better for those who always wanted a manual car, I am much happier driving a 6 speed F1 car... I put it down to personal preference.
Who can resist another F1 vs. 3 pedal thread?? 3 pedals are fun, I enjoy that in my STI...but as said above, there's nothing like driving the F1 in anger! Find a nice tunnel and paddle shift through it starting in 2nd, you'll feel like Schumacher racing through Monaco. I have over 50k on my F1, no issues besides the usual leaking actuator. To Brian's point it does sit low, my fiberglass shield was torn off...so I made a new one out of carbon fiber
I think a steel skid plate would have been better. For you guys who don't know what an actuator is or where it is look under a 355F1 car. See that lowest piece sticking down under the car? That's the lower mount.
