Transmission preference

I have manual (stick) shift 355s. Though my ultimate wish list 355 model would be a Fiorano with F1 paddle shift.

 

Umm, did you look at the results of the poll? The market dictates, for whatever reason, that manual shift cars get a slight premium. I'm not saying it's correct or rational, it's just is what it is.

I too really like the 355F1. The way those cars shift is very cool and engaging. Much more than the later and current F1s.

 

Please answer the questions I have asked:

Show me the evidence that a 95 has more power. The F355 challenge conversion manual takes out the new 5.2 system and reverts it back to the 2.7 system. Along with the conversion back, the air ducts are rerouted to the 2.7 configuration, the air filter boxer are restored,....

Show me the evidence that a manual 355 is worth more than an F1. You would not believe it even if I did...

Show me the evidence that a manual 355 is faster around a track than the F1. It is fairly obvious that they are not, the added power is no match for 3 seconds faster shift times.

Show me the evidence that an F1 355 is costlier to maintain than a manual. Well there is that thing with the $9,000.00 pump replacement, the increase in clutch replacements,.....

 

I believe some of the 95 owners are drinking that as well. As we both know these cars are not investments, at least at the present time given the cost of maintenance and parts. Some of my other cars have appreciated significantly over the past year or two so they more than make up for my 355. As far as appreciation and value, it is the time capsule cars with low mileage that usually bring in the most money. The only thing that I regret is not purchasing a Ford GT before my 355. That car is money in the bank. No arguing about future values there. The future is now.

 

Dave, as you yourself stated about the F1 vs Manuel poll, I would think this poll would be too small as well. It might show trends just like this one but hard to derive any conclusive data.

 

I will pull a quote from one of your favorites"

 

I agree.

 

Dave, that was all I was getting at earlier. Some Kool Aid drinkers wouldn't acknowledge that fact. I try to approach these issues just like you do. Present the facts.

 

Statistics: A survey is conducted. The votes are in: 47 to 9 prefers 6 speed gearbox, and would pay more for it. The margin of error for a sample size of 50 is 14%. That means if you take another sample of 50 opinions from the same population, you have 86% chance of getting the same result. It is not going to flip around where 47 prefers F1 over six speed. The samples are taken with owners of 355, and of Ferrari enthusiasts. If your argument is "But I am selling this F1 car to 1000 first time buyers of Ferrari and they don't know any difference and they all prefer F1 over 6-speed" well then, good luck with that.

Economics: If there is more demand for a product option 1, its prices will tend to rise against prices for an option 2 where there is less demand, holding everything else the same. Since there are 5x more demand for 6 speed among people who know Ferrari, those people will tend to pay more for 6 speed than for a F1, everything else being equal.

Real life experience. I have personally touched many F355, only 1 with F1. The F1 car had trouble shifting, flashing F1 light, and almost did not get home, whereas the 6 speed manual gear boxes once adjusted right just glide into gears. That is all I need to know.

Personal preference: The OP car maybe real nice, but for me and the 47 people who voted, I would not buy it at any price. I would not take it, not even free. I have 7 cars, I do not need to look after another one that I don't want.

Anyone got a 95 F355 GTB, red/tan 6 speed, 30,000 miles even with valve guide issues? Let that one slip by once, won't let that happen again.

 

Mitch, you know I have total respect for you but a sample lot so small cannot be extropolated as you have done. We only have 1% of the population at best.

 

Still can't see relevant cientific data proving claims that a manual holds an advantadge (in terms of performance or market value) over the F1. I still think this is a highly speculative debate, with the clear intention of inflating value on manuals by manual owners to counteract higher production numbers.

I still maintain that if desirability would mean higher price tags, Minis and Beetles would be worth a small fortune. They made them by the millions, everybody wanted them, they were a commercial success and they're worth nothing. Few units made and fewer miles on the clock dictate value. 458s will be worth crap and LaFerraris will be worth a fortune. According to the logic of a lot of members, if fewer LaFerraris are built and sold, if they are rarer, is because there isn't a demand for it and so the price should be lower?! No!

Kindest regards,

Nuno.

 

I myself did not like an f1 from the beginning..I had a stick 97 when car was current.. Test drove an f1 didnt think i liked it at all..I thought it was boring at first test drive..I winded up selling my 97 in 99 and bought a Diablo SE30..Which has a great gearbox by the way..Returned to a 355 and bought an f1..Overtime i realized I liked both..and each has an advantage..I sure dont miss the upshifts from 2nd to third..in traffic a stick performs better, but i try to not drive in that type of traffic..bottom line is that I dont think enough people who have the stick spent enough time with f1 if at all..I was a hater when i owned the stick as well and if I never had one would be voting for manual for sure..

 

That's really funny Dave as you were all over interpreting your poll results on relative values of spiders vs. Gts gtb as supporting your contention and the results weren't even close to being as one sided as this poll is.

If there was any doubt what the owners, enthusiasts and would be owners of 355s that participate on fchat think on the topic of manual vs f1 as it pertains to relative values, it has been answered.

 

This poll is also BIASED because of more manual owners out there..more manual cars anyway..

 

As you will see above, Bob - I do believe the same data consisting of fchat members is very small, less than 5%, likely 1%. Therefore, too small to properly evaluate...

 

Your polls were conducted with the same sample pool.

You can't have it both ways.

 

I guess you are having some difficulty reading this evening. Might want to see my post again.

 

I am reading everything just fine and clear Dave.

I am looking at a poll that is conclusive in its results on the topic of how this sample values f1 vs manual transmissions.

If you'd like I'll go find the posts where you were supportive of the results as being meaningful in the polls you created on values of spiders vs Gts gtb.

 

Conclusive by what??..Biased manual owners

 

I specifically said in this sample.

No idea what this sample is made up of owner wise or how biased it is, but in this poll, the results speak for themselves.

 

Im sure very biased.Did you see my post..If i never had an f1 I would be saying manual all the way..

 

I would like to see TRUE poll results on people that actually owned both like myself who has had real time in both..

 

I would actually like to have both!!!!!