Finally Picked Up the 550 this Weekend

I finally picked up my 550 which was delivered to my buddies house in Ohio nearly a month ago, where I had stored my 348SS for the winter that I traded. This is the 1999 black/ green Ex-Michael Mann car. I drove it around Ohio all weekend and then back to New Jersey last night. This is my 4th F-car, and having previously owned a 328GTS, 348SS, and a 355 Spyder, so I thought I would give a few reactions:

1. The car is incredibly solid, very different from any of my previous ones - feels much more modern.

2. Incredible power - breaks traction quite easily, especially with the slightest wet or bumpy road - I can't help but think the upgrade to larger tires alone improved the times on the 575. Adding 305s on the rear onto my Cargraphic 19s should do the trick!

3. In particular, the torque in 6th gear on the highway was truly amazing (i.e. how effortlessly it passes cars with the slightest press of the right foot)

4. This was the easiest shifting Ferrari I have had by far - no fight going into second on start-up, unlike the other 3

5. Very comfortable, didn't break my back after the seven hour drive like the others (and my GT-2)

6. I was stunned how quiet it was - almost no noise, unless letting off the gas over 5k rpm. Adding Hyperflow cats/ X-pipe and Claudios 1st gen Tubis to change this - will post my reactions. Hopefully, I don't go too far the other direction! My previous F-cars all had Tubis, but even their stock systems had some back-pressure rumble, so this was the big surprise

7. Reaction from others - I didn't know what to expect here, as I have read posts about it being less noticed than some exotics. While it didn't command the unecessary attention of a Lambo, it clearly gets noticed - people gathered around it at every gas station/ rest area/ restaurant. Also had every jacka$s in a camaro with stripes, rustang, etc. between OH and NJ wanted to race. So probably a bit more than I expected.

8. In sum, loving it! I took it in this morning for a 2nd major service and to have the exhaust system and wheels/ tires put on. When I get it back I will post pictures and a YouTube vid of the exhaust for comparison! I can't wait - I miss it already!

-SE

 

Nice, congrats!

Your experiences mirror my own, except that I didn't have much Ferrari experience to compare with. The torque is what this car is all about - it's just a massive locomotive.

The stock exhaust is too quiet, I agree. But as you say - don't go too far. It is a comfortable GT and the exhaust should still make life on the highway liveable. I have a standard Tubi and that fits perfect for me. It's fairly quiet at 3000 - 4000 rpm so it makes it easy to travel long distances at 100 mph (you can do that legally in Germany).

FWIW - the 575 did not have wider tyres than the 550.

Enjoy it in good health!



Onno

 

I wondered who got that- I made an offer after it moved from Park Place but was told it had just sold- well done! The green leather is intriguing- how does it look it person?

 

Black/Green? Dont believe I am familar with this car, let alone have heard of a Ferrari with Green interior. Congratulations on the purchase, sounds like your having fun with her already. The 550 Maranello is a beautiful GT. Have fun with her!

Now that this color combo has me intriqued, where can I find pictures of it? Or is it supposed to be Green exterior with Black interior?

 

congrats !! here's your interior

i dig the color and would love to see it with pozzi ...
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Wow! It is Green! You can't possibly imagine how many heads your 550 will turn.

Chris

 

Onno- The optional 19" wheels on the 575M had 305/30 19 rear tires.

Ed- Congratulaitions. Cannot wait to see some photos. The green interior looks very attractive, I think. But then I had a Daytona with a green interior, so maybe I am prejudiced.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

It is black paint with green leather and that photo is unquestionably it!!! In certain light from the outside, it is a bit harder to notice, but in sunlight, especially when you're in it, it is clearly GREEN, and while it is fairly dark, it has just a touch of "mint" mixed into it. I am a big fan, but growing up, my dad had a '74 Cadillac Coupe de Ville with green leather, so maybe some of that wore off on me (actually come to think of it, I had a matching green pleather child's seat)! Most people seem to really like it (at least that's what they tell me), but there is a large camp that doesn't know what to make of it, and a minority of people who think I was color blind.

I think the coolest part is with all of the gauge back lighting being green, it creates a very cool effect. The only other Black/ Green modern Ferrari I am aware of is J.K.'s Enzo. I do not know whether it was true or not, but I had heard that Michael Mann's 550 was the inspiration for it.

Taz - what color was the Daytona exterior?

-SE

 

Ed- It was originally white with dark green, but we painted it yellow and left the dark green interior because it looked very good in those colors. Here she is, not even polished after driving her from Houston to Clovis, NM:

Taz
Terry Phillips
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Congratulations from one 550 owner to another. Mine is silver w/ blck interior, and I get the same treatment out on the road from mustangs, vettes, and even loud pickup trucks....when I drive in town. Since I am in the country, I usually drive out where there is very little traffic to use it like it was intended. I love the 550 with Tubi exhaust and have never even turned on the radio. Great with the windows down on a nice curvy road...we have a lot of sweeping turns in my part of TX and the car is wonderful to drive through those. It does break traction in 1st and 2nd at will, though.....and the TC is pretty abrupt on my 97'. I would love to have a smoother TC system, for sure.....

 

Axe- The ASR is much smoother on the 575M. At some point consider upgrading.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Thanks, Taz...I'll look into that....definitely needs 'fixing'.

 

Learn something every day!


Onno

 

Congrats!
Post pics when you have them. I have logged 5K miles so far on mine and loving it
I do miss the rumble of the Tubis but at least I no longer have the noise from inside the cabin... you know... that annoying "it's too loud" ... "it's too loud"... "it's too loud"... (usually followed by "slow down", "why can't we stop and ask for directions?" and "why do you have to drive so fast?".... )
Claudio

 

Ed!
Yours is one of the most 'famous' 550's around.
Often dissed by the tradition-bound for the interior; I've always thought it was a great choice, and I'm happy to see that it's found an admirer. Any 550 that's not-red/tan and not-silver/black is a better car (IMVHO of course ;-) and apologies in advance to the aforementioned owners too!)

Now go get the green Venice wagon to round out the stable.......

Enjoy!
Tritone
TdF/Cuoio '01

pix of the new wheels please.....

 

James- Mine is red with charcoal and red stitching, so outside of red/tan, also.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Terry- not seen that.....
makes me think we should establish a 'sticky' of 456/550/575 color combinations here....I'll start....just as soon as I can find my missing data traveler.........


Tritone

 

LOL. Yes, I often get "why don't you ever wear the shirt I bought you"..followed soon by: "I need to pee"

ketel

 

Terry - is that a difficult/expensive upgrade for a 550? Is it just an ECU swap? I figured that since the 575 has drive by wire throttle and the 550 is mechanical that the two systems would be incompatible?

 

Bump because I would like to hear Taz's answer also

 

Ed,

Congrats on joining the 550 Club!

I just meet Frank, the owner of the dealership that you bought your car from, at an exotic car show
in the Seattle area yesterday. He was driving a silver 348 GTS that he just took in on a trade. He seems like a really nice guy.

He told me your 550 was the first Ferrari he had even bought/sold. Guess he's hooked now.

 

That's funny - that was my Argento 348SS that I traded. They are good guys there - I dealt with Pat Wiseman. I have to say seeing listing/ pictures of my 348 on Autotrader, really made me sad - starting to miss it a great deal (not the 550 isn't awesome), but had a thing for my 348. If I had more garage space, I would have kept...

-SE

 

Thanks. The funny thing is this winter I was eating dinner with 2 buddies and their wives from the Porsche club and we were talking about various cars (ok NOTHING but cars) and both JK's Black/ Green Enzo and Michael Manns 550 came up, along with some of the other usual suspects like the Bad Boys' 3.6 911 Turbo (little did I know I would own it 4 months later.) I wouldn't want it for an everyday vehicle, but I do like it - nothing subtle about Ferraris anyways (and agreed, the green Venice wagon would be a nice addition!) They started on the major last week, ordered by cats and X-pipe and my new tires come in on Wednesday, so it should be done in around 2 more weeks. Will post many pics of the car, interior and rims - will also post a sound-bit of the exhaust system and give my impressions!

-SE

 

I am sure that Taz meant "upgrade to a 575"....

I think "upgrading" for some software system that should be switched off anyway is a bit silly...


Onno

 

Going to a 575 is an "upgrade" ??? I tested a 575 F1 before I bought the 550. no thanks. I just preferred the 550 looks and feel