The 599 Manual Transmission Myth

Hey Mike congrats. Looks beautiful. I finally sold the gated 6 speed 430 last week, this post makes me sad and want one again.

 

Why don't you take a ride in a PS3 or a notable simulator instead of dealing with real cars? Your reasoning on that probably parallels the thinking behind people's love of manuals.

This is a subjective choice. There's really no right or wrong answer.

 

That is like saying that nice watches are only about time.
It is just another opinion.

 

More important question: what did your car go for, and how did that compare, do you think, with a comparable car with an F1 transmission?

 

fortunately manual transmissions will be a thing of the past very soon. already pretty much are.

driving is not about shifting. it detracts from the experience. think about it that way and open your enjoyment level. look, if you want to sit there and double clutch away...enjoy yourself. what ever happened to the manual crank starter anyway, that's how i feel about manual shifting.

and Ferrari sticks are atrocious anyway. Porsche has the perfect manual shifter. those clunky, squeaky F-car sticks with the obligatory crunch into 2nd gear are so bad and slow.

 

Why is this development such a fortunate one? You don't want people to have access to products they want?

I understand that you see it this way as you've made this point twice. But it's perfectly clear that (i) others don't see it this way, (ii), many aren't distracted by manuals (heck, might as well claim that paddles are dangerous because they suck so much life out of the experience, they put all but the most boring people to sleep.)

Hope springs eternal, my friend.

Honda's S2000 is the gold standard of shifters. The R8's is great, too. The 981's dash is so crowded that one has to be careful not to press any buttons or turn any knobs accidentally (clearly, the interior was designed with PDK in mind, with the manual as an almost afterthought.)

Good chat!

 

This is satire, right? Or is this your genuine opinion concerning Ferrari manuals and manuals in general.

 

What is the definition of "the driving experience"?

I understand that a manual gearbox can be distracting if you have difficulties using it. It needs experience. But once you get the hang of it..... For me THAT is the driving experience.
But there is absolutely nothing wrong with an automated gearbox if that is what you like.

I like to wind my watch. Others buy batteries. Both are good watches.

 

Some people like digital watches some like analog.

Is one better than the other?

Kai

 

trust me i can heel and toe blindfolded without a second thought. my point is exactly that: once its a second thought its nothing more than a distraction. if you're trying to prove something to yourself i guess i can understand that....i spent many years racing where a missed shift or a missed 'blip' can cause an accident and so you PAY attention.

and yes, every f-car i had with a manual, 355,360,550, was awful. clunky, noisy and crunchy. i actually double clutched all of them as standard operating procedure.

Porsche, on the other hand, has a perfect clutch/shifter system( 997 type gt2/3)

but who cares because the new double clutch systems are flawless and much more fun.

 

I owned a 512BB and 328GTB before acquiring our 2007 F430 manual. I was amazed at how much better the later tranny is. It is fast, smooth, and crisp -- all the balkiness of the old units is gone. And pedal placement is perfect for heel and toe -- better than my 997 GT3. It is just a ball to drive.

 

Not for people that want a manual. Again: there's no right or wrong on such issues, there's only what any one person prefers.

 

i would agree with that.

 

so happy to hear this about the gated 599, because this is my next Ferrari since they are not making any more ferrari 6spd...smh

 

I don't understand how you can say this. I LOVE my gated shifter. Those metallic clanks are glorious. The porsche shifter is butter smooth, but has no feel for me. I like feeling the notches in the gears.

 

gorgeous car!!

and long live the 6-speed!

 

Wow. I love that 599. All business with the three pedals, and all fun too.

Enjoy it in good health!

Cheers,

George

 

Maybe I didn't read this thread carefully enough, but some posters have suggested that the gated 6 speed's ratios are not suited for the engine and final drive ratio of the 599, making what should be an enjoyable experience (for those who generally like or prefer three pedal manuals) a less than fun one. What I want to know is whether that's true or whether those posts were by people who either never drove a gated 599 or were poor three pedal drivers in the first place, and driving a gated 599 is actually fun.

 

I love mine

The debate can get rather emotional. Those who do love the 3-pedal 599 driving experience, may (unjustly) criticize those who don't, as being unable to drive a stick shift well. Those who don't love driving the 3-pedal 599, may (unjustly) criticize the machine itself as mechanically flawed.

It's a matter of opinion, and taste and no small amount of debate on Fchat!

My recommendation : give more "weight" to the opinion of those who have actually driven one, of course ... and of utmost importance (naturally), test drive before you buy!

 

And even more "weight" to those that have driven both. Further additional "weight" to those that have owned both, as the OP says in his first post. He previously owned a 599 F1.

 

Same transmission/ratios for both applications, per factory engineer.

 

Uh huh.
My 360 is as smooth as my Porsche. Noisy? The F1 and gated shifter have the same transmission. I find a properly maintained car functions pretty well try changing the tranny fluid once in a while. Porsches are smooth but not perfect. Mine misses 4th occasionally. Some of us enjoy shifting the car and prefer it. When this gets to be too much for me I'll probably turn down the hearing aid, take my arthritis pill and hop into my Lexus or Infinity with my wrap around sunglasses.

 

LOL!
Well said.

 

so how many manual 599's are there?

my dealer is pushing one towards me, and i might be interested, but how rare are they?