It looks like i will be able to keep the 355, i am very excited. I will have to post of pictures of the new baby!
You are now in an ideal situation...having your cake and eating it too! These two cars can greatly compliment eachother, and if you end up using one to the exclusion of the other, you can sell it without regrets....good move! Pics are a must....
Please post your initial impressions while still fresh in your mind. This post has made me want a 550/575. Also, did you get a chance to test drive a 575 to see if there is a real difference? I'll check the past posts on this as well. thanks.
I Disagree completely with that statement, The 355 is a good car, and does have some nice styling cues but has zero historic or retro features...The 550 is, on the other hand, a front engined V12, Long Bonnet, (Hood for our US cousins), and several retro touches, i.e., Slash vents behind front wheel arches, Kamm Tail, Bonnet Bulge/Intake etc All V8's were an after thought, a mass production starter car, not a real Ferrari. Don't get me wrong, I love V8's too, (I've had 3), But when you do move up to a V12, You'll never go back! As for prices, The 550M bottomed out a year ago, the 575M did have an impact on 550 prices, but I don't beleive the 599 will have any effect on 550 prices, Different matter for 575M owners, who are the most likely candidates for new 599 buyers - I think there wil be a glut of 575M on the market very shortly - I may be searching for 575M's HGTC to trade upto, who knows ? Argento
You guys are killing me..been watching the market now for a year almost and am seriously in need of a 550/575. Please send information my way on any available. I am however concerned that the 599 will put strong downward pressure on the 575 which will cause it and the 550 to drop accordingly. Am I thinking right? One problem is that there were 7,000 plus Maranellos made. If, for example, a 2004 575 is then say $175k, then a 2003 575 will be at least $20k less, a 2002 575 some $40k less, a 2001 550 some $60k less, 2000 550 maybe $80k less, a 1999,550 could be at least $100k less. At some point the 550 should not fall below $75k. (high mileage and rough cars excepted) I say this only because the historical value of the other desireable 12's such as the Daytona have not been this low since the early 80's. Help me here. However, if the 599 is difficult to get, then a premium will result, which should help stem the freefall.
I believe the 575M will be viewed as a completely separate car from the 599. I think the 575 will be viewed as last of the Maranellos like the 512M was for the Testarossa. That said, I believe the 575 has more to depreciate.
Whenever an F355 fanatic like Chaa says he would trade his F355 for a 550 when the time is right, that should tell you alot.
jeez, after a few weeks i finally managed to get up a few pictures of the 550...here they are... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Congrats also from Texas. I love my 550. It is beautiful and sooooo powerful. It continues to hold its own against anything else I bring home. An Icon.