Hello, I am a long time lurker and first time poster on Ferrarichat and I have a question regarding the size of the parcel shelf in the 550/575. I have already searched the archives so as to avoid the inevitable admonition to begin all new inquiries there, but my search revealed nothing along the lines of my specific question. I hope to begin the search for a nice example of the 550 in the next few months, but I am curious as to how usable the cargo space is in the car. My wife and I plan to use the vehicle for weekend getaways to a vacation home, B&Bs, etc. (and to break-up the tedium of my all too regular trips into the office on Saturdays), and it is important to us that the car be truly "usable" in the sense that it can accomodate two adults, a weekend's worth of luggage and (my real question) . . . our two mini-Schnauzers in their soft-sided travel crates, each of which measures 12"(w) x 12"(h) x 20"(l). Will our little guys fit behind the passenger seats on the 550's parcel shelf? Please keep in mind that neither I nor my wife is very tall, so we may be able to buy the pups a couple inches by moving the driver and passenger seats forward by a couple inches. Ideally, I would maintain my rear view out of the back glass, but I can surely make do with my side mirrors alone if necessary. Thank you so much in advance for your help. I cannot wait to join the ranks of F-car ownership. The rosso corsa just keeps calling my name!
You are hereby disqualified from 550 ownership. My shelf easily holds a large helmet bag and a clothes duffle . so your dog cages should fit just fine,
My leather shelf has a flat usable area is 42"(wide) x 18" (front to back) with a lip at the front which would not allow the carriers to sit level if the were to extend beyond the shelf. The minimum height at the rear of the flat area is 14". In other words, I don't think the two carriers will fit longitudinally with the dog's breath on your neck. They will need to either face each other, or out the side windows. You have no profile, so I have no idea where you live......in Arizona that shelf is an oven. Good luck and pat the dogs for me.
With those kind of space requirements perhaps look into 456's and 456M's, while I'd caution against Rosso Corsa on the car it is 85%+ of the car for 65% of the money with classic, elegant looks and a back seat for each of your dogs. Best of luck.
...although I did have a custom carrier fabricated for 2 cats; the size was OK but the temps were too much under that big sheet of glass..... 456 is the answer for you 4 ! james
My wife and I travel with our 15lb. dog everywhere. There's no way I would put him on that shelf for 2 reasons: 1) the green-house effect from the large rear window and 2) it's safe for neither you nor the animal; stop short and you have a live projectile. Solution: Spring for the Ferrari fitted luggage and put the pups on the passenger side floor.
