Farewell Ferrari

After 8 years of happy ownership, I am about to say goodbye: I sold my Dino last year, and now the Maranello is about to go, too, to fund another purchase more appropriate to my circumstances.

There is no other Ferrari that I want to own (apart from ones I cannot afford, and they all come with manual gearboxes and two seats anyway), so, for the time being at least, that's the end as far as Ferraris are concerned.

I have loved owning and driving my 550, but the plain fact is that it is not getting the use it needs. I find that I frequently have to leave it in the garage and take another car, either because two seats are not enough, or because it has a manual gearbox, or both: that means that I can't take my wife and daughter along, and even if she is not with us, I can't ask my wife, who is not into manual gearboxes, to drive home after lunch / dinner if I have imbibed more than Plod will allow, which I find rather restricting.

So now it is time to bid Ferrari ownership goodbye and move on, complete with many happy memories of owning and driving two of the most wonderful cars anyone has ever made - they don't come much better than the last manual-only front-engined 2-seater V12, and the first of Ferrari's mid-engined road cars.

Details at https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/550-maranello-rhd.636666/ if anyone is interested.

 

Best of luck!!

 

Thankyou.

 

Awww, that's a bit sad.

That's one of the reasons our first E-type was a Series 1 2+2 (kids) and why I was looking for a GT/E and in the end bought the 456GT.

Ok, ok, our 24 old daughter DOES complain that the clutch and the steering are heavy, but she still drives if asked kindly.

Oddly enough, my wife rather drives the 1950 Jaguar Mark V Drophead than the 456 GT, I think it's mostly because she thinks it would be difficult, when it fact it's not. It's a very comfortable car, very similar to the 550M, just a bit bigger.

I wish you pleasant miles whatever you choose to drive.

Cheerio!

 

have enjoyed your level headed posts John, keep well.
cheers
m

 

John, we will really miss you here. Your reasoning is impeccable. But we will still miss you.

I barely drive my 575 for similar reasons. I may follow you..but not yet.

 

John- I have enjoyed you here and am really sad to hear you go. We need nice, competent, knowledgeable guys like you to make up for the likes of me. Good luck and let us know what you end up driving for fun.

 

Hi John

Sad to hear that.
I want to say thank you for your courtesy in the past, have a good (and healthy) time.

Kind regards, Daniel

 

This is the new acquisition: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/finally-bought-one-of-my-bucket-list-cars-rolls-royce-corniche.574275/page-10

I shall also still have the E-type, the car that first sparked my interest in exotic motorcars at the age of 8.

 

John- Very pretty and with a UK favorite cream interior.

 

Sounds like you need a 612.

 

Sorry you're losing her and that she finds a good home. Cheers.

 

Man you ticked off all of the exact reasons that we had to get a 456M vs a 550/575.
The wife needed an auto and we generally roll with our 6yr old Daughter. The width of these LA streets (and our driveway) was the reason we could not go 612. I wanted a V12.

The 2003 456M was our ONLY option....and we certainly overpaid for it but whatever it checked every single box. That said, whenever I see a good priced 550 or 575 (auto) I always have to remind myself “Four seats, you need 4 seats.” It is funny that they were building 456M’s along side of the 575’s.

 

Sad to see you go but hope you'll be back when you realize you miss the V12 too much! A 456, 612 or FF in the future maybe?

 

Absolutely stunning enjoy as much as we have enjoyed reading your posts..

 

Very cool. I think the rounded edges on the radiator grille look better than the RR version

 

Well i have just replaced my dear departed 550 with an FF and am very happy with the prospect of taking out the family in it.

 

None of them have ever quite floated my boat, I am afraid.