I drove a 599 for a full day, and either FNA gave me one with a bad gearbox, or they're still just as unpleasant as the old 355s. I think the 599 is overpowered for "normal" driving with an f!. On the track or open highway with no police issues, fine. Every shift was a neck snapper. I spent hours trying to modulate the throttle to make smooth shifts at anything less than 90% -- no go. Full auto was worse. My wife refused to stay in the car around town after a while. I got it out on the highway, and the shifts were better, but I just don't buy into the F1 for anything but the track or someone who has steel vertebrae and wants to drive the thing every day in San Francisco and needs help on hill starts. I seriously would not own a 599 with F1 based on a full day's drive. It's an awesome machine, and deserves the 6 speed. Unless you're Lewis Hamilton, I just don't think the F1 adds to the performance, and it certainly takes away from the classic driving experience. Still, I think the car is so detached from the road feel of a classic FCar I don't understand the appeal even so -- that's not to say it doesn't have appeal -- just not to me. I want to feel the road, make my own shifts, and get the joy, not let some chip get it for me. Besides, as I've said before, paddles are for canoes, not cars.
happy to find somone with an M6 and a 599 on the way, i also have an m6 and really respect the car, to the point i'm not sure where the 599 is going to score in comparison? how do you feel about the two cars, how are they the same or different? i love ferrari for the history the passion the v12 up front but the m6 is a perfect machine...... your openion will be of value to me.....
So I'll probably get flamed but I drove the 599 and it didn't do much for me either. The motor is fantastic, don't get me wrong it pulls incredibly hard. The F1 in the car I drove was also fantastic, crisp shifts, no jerking, much improved over earlier versions. That being said, I wouldn't want to own the car. It didn't have any soul, it wasn't inspiring and the only time it felt special was when you stomped the loud pedal. It was just a big land-speed missle to me and I would rather have an Dinan S2 E39 M5. The 599 felt confused to me. It is a huge GT car, refined, quiet, soft, heavy like an Aston or Bentley with the motor and gearbox of a racecar. It just didn't do anything for me and I thought I was going to love it. Got out of the 599 and into a 430 and felt right at home, that car has a purpose. Go figure, I'd still trade any of them for a CS.
LOL!.... "I spent hours trying to modulate the throttle to make smooth shifts" or "every shift a neck snapper" or "still as unpleasant as the old 355s" or "My wife refused to stay in the car around town after a while"? Come on man, this is utterly contrived! What can be experienced from driving a 599, by anyone who has really driven one extensively, is that if nothing else, it's too smooth and too easy to drive fast without fanfare. I know someone who owns a three pedal 599 (he purchased his car from Lake Forest Sports Cars as I did) and he will tell you that his car doesn't drive smooth at all, unlike the F1 counterpart. Tyler Dean, who sold me my F1 599, and who has driven both versions extensively, has observed the same. He would say-- and so would anyone with real world experience, an open mind and no axe to grind --that the manual six speed in the 599 is a "neck snapper", unlike the F1. Both versions are fantastic, but completely different driving experiences.
I did some M6 driving with a friend's car some time ago. Let me tell it this way: compared to the 599GTB the M6 ranks several degrees lower in each and every single category (except trunk size and back seats). I always considered the M6 a bit synthetic (steering, suspension, sound). Also, the SMG box does not quite fit the car's character. Even more important, the M6 just *feels* like a big limousine with a strong engine. This car has nothing to do with a true sports car... In contrast, the 599GTB is a true sportscar. The car has tons of character (sound, design, "feel"). The suspension is a masterpiece (combining comfort and race modes). The F1 gearbox perfectly fits the car. The engine has considerably more torque in low and mid revs than in case of the M6 and explodes at high revs. Amazing. And, BTW, the performance (track and straight line) is of a different dimension compared to the M6. The M6 feels rather "slow" compared to the 599GTB.
You need to drive the 599GTB longer than just a day or so to acknowledge its strengths. When I did my first test drive I was not 100% overwhelmed as well. However, after just owning the car for 2 months I can only say that this car is an excellent achievement. The 599GTB is one of the very best cars out there. I would not want to miss it. The way it combines daily driver/comfort qualities with outstanding track performance is probaly unique. Also, the car's character grows on you the more you drive it. Congrats to Maranello.
Driving that car in the city,with wife in tow , for just one day ,will not tell you anything positive about the "experience". 599 is a very complex car,almost a year into the ownership and driving it in almost any weather ,I still have to learn and appreciate more then 50% of it's capabilities. It seems that the more you drive it, the more it boggles your mind what a terriffic and special car Ferrari made... As far as "paddles",get used to it ,fully manual "stick" is going away,like it or not.
I was told the exact same thing by the service guys at my dealership. They service a manual 599, and their comment was that in the 599 the F1 was really superior, if only because the engine control was obviously optimized for it.
The 599 is an awesome car - period - different than my F430 coupe (and the F430 coupe is different than my F430 spider too) - The 599 has incredible power, sure - but also incredible balance - four wheel drifts are magical ... BUT, you have to know how to balance the car to achieve them - much different than a mid-engined car for sure - If you drive it for just and hour - or do not have the experience or confidence (understandable with little seat time and a car approaching a half million dollars that you do Not own) you won't appreciate the car - Nobody really should expect that they can have an "out of the box" and immediate ability to appreciate a Ferrari - it is not a 997 -- Hey, I presume that If I were to drive Kimi's car, I might have the same perspective as you (too powerful - only great when on loud pedal) etc, but that does not mean that it is not an awesome car - just need time, skills and the opportunity to appreciate its dynamics.
Been driving 599 for a second day now. With each day I love it more and more. Had an hour long trafic jam today. Bumper to bumper. I was surprised how comfortable it was. In open it was also great. Just love this car. F1 gearbox works great. In traffic used auto. Been driving in sport mode. It was very comfortable. I also have 997TT and love it as well. Do not plan to sell it. Its got its own nice things about it - all wheel drive, less visibility and mine is manual. Have a friend with M6. Drove it many times. Did not like it. 599 in my view can not be compared to M6.
