355 F1 or 6 Speed?

Hit the dealers mate and hit em up for a drive of both.

If you have to put some money down, then so be it. Who cares!!

Drive them both, decide which one is best for you and your wife (mainly you ) and then go from there brother!!

All the best with it mate. Looking forward to seeing pics of it here one day.

 

39k miles and this hasn't happened to me yet, nor has the whole pump thingie. Guess I got one of the good ones

-R

 

6 speed no doubt

 

I hate to sound cynical but this comes up every few months. Those that don't have an F1 (but actually own a Ferrari) think they are gimmicky, unreliable and would never switch. There are those that don't own either but still give an opinion without any basis and THEN there are those that truly know (because they own an F1) and know they are fun and pretty darn reliable. There are only two known stories of someone paying for a new F1 pump yet there are all these rumors about the legendary $16,000 pump. It just isn't true. What is true, is that they take a little to get the hang of. It is true that they shift FAR faster than any person could and it is true that they are different than a manual 6 speed. To each his own.

Bottom line, either way is a good choice just get one that YOU like, drive it and enjoy it. It doesn't matter which one it is, they are both very good.

 

6-Speed. Click Click Click...

 

Yes, this does happen if you don't know how to drive an F1. I'll agree, if you are afraid to learn how to drive an advanced electro-mechanical system, the F1 is not for you. The F1 is a proper 6-spd with a Formula 1 derived electro-hydraulic clutch. If you want to drive an automatic as described above, this is not your car.

On the other hand, if you are a true Tifosi and live for the F1 race every other Sunday morning in the summer months and want to shift like Raikkonen or Massa, then this is the system for you.

 

Now that you mention it, I think they should change F1 back to allow only traditional gearboxes with a clutch!!! .....

 

Me too, 6 speeds - "CLICK,CLACK,CLUCK"

 

+1!!

 

It's like deja vu all over again ) I knew somebody should've suggested using the search function!

 

I like the 6 speed. Try them both, then decide.
BT

 

No 6 speed vs F1 discussion is complete without the cost of the F1 pump being thrown into the debate. Trained on and servicing the cars since they were new, I have only had to replace one pump and that was because an owner thought they could make it better than the manufacturer.

The reliabilty on these systems has been wonderful and it simply boils down to personal preferance in my opinion.

Jumps into "N" at a stop light? Adjust the brake switch and everything is golden.

Really a fairly simple system that has proven itself to be well designed from the get go. There was a time when there were some that stated it was "jerky" but simply teaching those folks the fine points of driving the system cured those complaints. Rev matching down shifts provide the interaction that some were missing and it is just a learned technique that enhances the fun factor.

Dave

 

Hi Guys.

Must admit, I've just joined this forum manily because I'm currently in the proccess of finding myself a Red Ferrari 355 with creme interior, and I'm specifically looking for the 6 speed box, which I've test drove and was fine, never actually drove the F1, but got taken out in in for a test drive, but I've got to amit, the main reason for wanting the 6 speed chrome gated box, is strickly the look, I've always dreamt of owning a ferrari, and one of the main reasons is for that very distinctive chrome gear leaver and chrome gate, that speaks Ferrari to me.....

Michael.

 

+1000
...and this comes from a true expert who has worked on more cars than many of us can hope to see. All I ask is that people stop bashing the F1 as unreliable and expensive. It simply isn't true. Ferrari broke new ground with this system and set the pace that every other manufacturer has tried to follow. Try it, you just might like it.

 

My choice for a street driven f-car, a manual 6-speed is it!!!! On the track an f1 might be considered.... .

 

I have a 355 F1 and enjoy the hell out of it. The F1 system is awesome and I've NEVER had a single problem with it. I wouldn't ever go back to a 6-speed after enjoying the F1 experience. You need to drive both to decide what you like.

Listen to Dave before you read all the BS regarding the 355 F1 pump, problems, etc.

 

No one has even mentioned the sounds that the F1 cars make. When you shift, either up or down, and you still have the throttle open (it doesn't have to be wide open), the car will pull timing to control the revs. It makes these awesome gurgling, popping, and crackling sounds throught the exhaust. You take the normal, incredible 355 soundtrack, and then add to it even more awesome formula one type sounds.

I do have Tubi & decat, which will make the sounds more pronounced.

Also, as mentioned before, you still heel toe to match the revs on downshifts and you still need to work the throttle to be smooth. You really don't lose much, if any, driver involvement. The sounds and the speed of the shifts more than make up for it.

 

can you put the car in nuetral at any speed for quick rev?

 

Yes you can, not sure why you would want to though?

 

This thread deserves a read. http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85500

Get what you like.

If you want to manually shift the car old school, then get the six speed.
If you want to shift paddle style then get the F1.

Just keep this in mind. All Ferrari's are expensive to maintain. But, just because Ferrari issues a price to something doesn't mean that's what it actually costs. That is just what it costs from Ferrari.

 

No worries Tal.

What will make things a bit easier for you is using the search function. You will be surprised the amount of things that have been covered in the past.

 

It's perfect for when you pass a group of 4 college girls in a convertible Mustang

 

Genuine question - How do you do the heel toe without a clutch?

Or do you meant the computer blips the throttle automatically on downshift.

Never tried the F1 system (I own a 6 speed spider). Definately a manual man, but would be keen to have a go on the F1 system!!

 

Same as with the 3 peddle system except one has to time the flip of the paddle and not the clutch peddle. When done correctly it is crisp and smooth and takes away all of the roughness I have read folks talk about.

The only down side to the F1 system is its programming regarding slippage in reverse. This is simply a saftey feature to protect the driver. Once folks have been taught about it and how to use the "pulse and coast" type driving while in reverse, all related problems went away. The techs all knew about it but cars were delivered without the owners being taught. Had this all been on the table when the cars were new there would never have been so many clutch life issues early on.

These systems require maintaince that I am now seeing bypassed. As with any system on the car, ignore it and sooner or later it will prove a problem. Changing the fluid, bleeding the system and an occational software check up and adjust all takes time and costs money but in the long run is money well spent.

Personally I am dead even on which I prefer but agree with Goth on the race track (or spirited canyon run) advantage going to the F1 hands down. Only complaint there is 1st gear is locked out by the computer until a lower RPM will be seen on clutch engaugement and this again is the system protecting the driver from possible wheel lockup given slippery conditions. Durning the course of my day I drive plenty of 6 spds and enjoy a relaxing warm up period drive with a F1 system car usually in Auto mode. Once warm it is time to pay attention, shift out of Auto and get back to business....