Does this 550 spec exist ? | FerrariChat

Does this 550 spec exist ?

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by Skippr1999, Jul 15, 2021.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Skippr1999

    Skippr1999 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 22, 2009
    4,209
    Argento neurburgring

    creama w/ black Daytona inserts and black dash

    Black carpet

    Fiorano Handling pack

    Modular wheels

    15k miles
     
    F456M likes this.
  2. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    37,984
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    Probably not, but who knows? FHP is very rare on 550s and not really needed with the steering position sensor fitted to all 550s.

    Get the best silver one you can find and build her yourself. For a 550, likely the nicest update would be the FHP steering ECU.
     
    Bas likes this.
  3. Skippr1999

    Skippr1999 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 22, 2009
    4,209
    Thanks for the insight. I’ve been looking at them for years and now I’m of the age where it’s time for a Gentlemans Ferrari
     
    F456M likes this.
  4. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    26,288
    socal
    I think fhp and steering ecu are over rated. I think the 550 needs totally different springs. I have switchable steering ecu and leave it on soft 99% of the time.
     
    Bas and Skippr1999 like this.
  5. Skippr1999

    Skippr1999 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 22, 2009
    4,209
    Is that switchable steering ecu the standard setup ?
     
  6. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    26,288
    socal
    No. Maranello Skunkworks made about a dozen units with cloned FHP steering ECU and designed a board to work off the sport switch to go stock or FHP. It tightens up the steering but steering changes don't make a car faster....I'm a club racer and actually like light steering so I can drive the car with the least force and feel the car the most...on track.
     
    F456M, Bas and Skippr1999 like this.
  7. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    37,984
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    FBB- I have FHP and love the steering, but then I learned to drive on a 61 Corvette with no power steering (neither did my 63 or 67) and none of my other three Ferraris had power steering.
     
    carguyjohn350 likes this.
  8. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    26,288
    socal
    We all loves the cars regardless of all the warts.
     
  9. Themaven

    Themaven F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2014
    4,252
    Eastdown
    Full Name:
    Darius
    I am not remotely a racer, but can see why the lighter steering works best on track. Modern Ferraris have super light and fast geared steering.

    My 575 with FHP has the best steering for me for road use of any modern front engined two seat V12 Ferrari. 550, 575, 599, F12, 812. All the others are too light for me. The F12 TDF I drove combined that with maniacal turn in and rock hard Corsas, the front was above the road half the time.

    conversely my F512M was too low geared and slow, with no assistance. Older V12s I have driven were similar, maybe great on a perfect road but lacking agility.

    Maybe the 575 with FHP has the best steering of any V12 Ferrari.

    midengine V8s are different because of less weight on the nose and different weight balance (the flat V12 was mounted high, even though they ownered it in the F512M and 512TR and lightened the engine in the F512M). 348 has amazing unpowered steering. I think my 430 is also a sweet spot for steering, early 2000s seemed to be when Ferrari got it just right, then went onto the hyper fast, no feel racks of the modern cars, which work best on track.
     
  10. root

    root Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 28, 2012
    472
    Bay Area, Ca
    #10 root, Jul 20, 2021
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2021
    Out of all the road cars with power steering that I've driven old and modern the BMW e24 have the best steering feel of all. Only one that comes close is the e38 which gets even closer when the variable assist module stops working. Don't know why they stopped making steering feel like they used to 40 years ago.
     
  11. Skippr1999

    Skippr1999 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 22, 2009
    4,209
    My CS steering is perfect. 355, too slow.
     
    Bas and vroom like this.
  12. Themaven

    Themaven F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2014
    4,252
    Eastdown
    Full Name:
    Darius
    Interesting and that's probably true for 348 too now. Is CS steering better than Scuderia and 575 FHP? I haven't driven a CS. It's from the golden era of steering..
     
  13. Skippr1999

    Skippr1999 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 22, 2009
    4,209
    Not sure. I haven’t driven a Scud or 575. The CS is super quick and you need to pay attention. Small inputs.
     
  14. ShineKen

    ShineKen F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 3, 2007
    16,405
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Nostradamus
    355 does have FHP option although rare. That package came with a quicker steering rack. I’ve never tried it but would love to. Also, 355 OE steering wheel too bulky. 350mm steering wheel noticeably improves response.


    Scud steering is pretty quick. Feels on point and near perfect to me. Hard to imagine the CS would feel much better, but if it is, then more power to the CS!
     
  15. Skippr1999

    Skippr1999 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 22, 2009
    4,209
    I imagine the CS and Scud steering similar and I would love to have the FHP or challenge steering rack on my 355. I hear it’s a biatch to I stall.
     
    ShineKen likes this.
  16. Themaven

    Themaven F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2014
    4,252
    Eastdown
    Full Name:
    Darius
    I believe the Scuderia steering differs from the standard 430 in terms of geometry, rather than any changes to the rack.

    I asked my (very good) service shop, the Ferrari Centre in Kent, to set the steering of my 575 (gated, FHP) up to the owner’s Fast Road setting, in terms of geometry, with my major service earlier this year. It made a real difference.

    Not transformational, as the steering was pretty good already, but from 8.5/10 to 9/10. I need to find out exactly what he did.

    steering on 430 is excellent, unencumbered also by having a V12 on top of it.
     
    Skippr1999 and ShineKen like this.
  17. ShineKen

    ShineKen F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 3, 2007
    16,405
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Nostradamus

    So if the 575 is now 9/10, what is your rating for the Scud?

    *348 has a 350mm steering wheel, but no power steering. Never driven one, but just thought I'd throw that out there.
     
  18. Themaven

    Themaven F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2014
    4,252
    Eastdown
    Full Name:
    Darius
    Well yes, I think you have me there about the 348. I drove it more than 15 years ago and on reflection shouldn't have thrown it in here. Having owned a F512M now I know what no PAS and low gearing do to the practicality of fast driving, even if the feel is perfect.

    There's a bigger point also that people are making about how light and fast (and no feel at normal road speeds) equals better on a track, which I respect. It's where steering and handling overlap...every current Ferrari I have driven/reviewed has zero steering feel, but brilliant handling.

    Anyway, I would give the 575 with the new settings 9, and the 430 on standard settings 9.2.
     
    ShineKen likes this.

Share This Page