575 F1 Gearbox: how to enjoy it.

Enjoy in good health and share a photo when you can.

 

IMHO most of the early 2000 automated manuals got bad comments for the very same reason you wrote. They are not automatic gearboxes and they need some basic skills. My 550 has a lovely gearbox, and I adore the good manuals, but in my Alfa Romeo 147 GTA I have the very same "2 robots" F1-Cambiocorsa-Selespeed arrangment of 575, that's a real delight when driving slowly, and is waaaay faster than what I manage to do with 550 when I'm little more hurry...
At over 70% throttle and over 5500 rpm, ECU selects the faster possible shift, and man, that's really fast! I drove both the manual and the Selespeeed befor buying it and for me there has been no contest, being the command of the former so utilitarian.

Not a single magazine test drove the Selespeed GTA ever, but magically in all the today "youngtimer" reviews, all the "I know better" writers put a line "Selespeed version, slow gearchanges" when listing the defects of the car. They probably refers to the basic "single robot" automated gearbox that Fiat group used on lesser Alfa Romeo models (and Abarths...) which offer a really poor driving experience, or more possibly they simply believe the typical popular tale.
It's sad to see how badly written reviews can influence the way we consider some cars.

The shifts of the 296 are imperceptible, so perfect that your brain is not busy with any gearbox concern, but, call me mad, I prefer the mechanical feeling of the maligned automated manuals that keeps you in the game instead of play for you.

 

Absolutely correct! The key to enjoying it is learning what it likes and acting accordingly. Like most Ferraris of the mid-2000s and before…you have to accept that it will be driven on IT’S terms, and you’ll be a lot happier once you do! Anything else is missing the experience and leads to one becoming the grump on Corvette Forum talking about how a given Ferrari was the “worst car” he ever owned

Check out 360Trev’s tune as well.

 

They’re all that way, haha! I don’t think I’ve ever driven a manual Ferrari that is smooth right off the bat and that does not occasionally throw a tantrum for no apparent reason. I will say that my OEM conversion 575 is pretty darn compliant for an exotic gated manual.

 

Ciao Albert-LP,

I have owned my F1 2005 575M since August 2010 - a little over 14.5 years with about 19,000 miles on it presently.
Grigio Titanio w/charcoal interior/Daytona seats, and HGTC package.
I too was nervous when I first drove it home to NJ from the Ferrari dealership in CT.
It took some time for me to gain confidence and drive it as it is intended.
I drive it exactly as you described above because YES - it is a manual F1transmission; and especially selecting neutral when approaching an intersection or stop light before stopping or slowing down.
I have it serviced regularly regardless of whether minor or major service is necessary.
Having been driving and appreciating its capabilities, strengths, beauty and characteristics for over 14 years, I never considered departing with it nor would I.
575s are rare to see at least where I live on the US east coast.
Glad to read you're driving your Maranello as intended and enjoying it too.

Ciao, Sassicaia.

 

"I own also a 308, manual, of course: when the oil is cold, selecting the second gear is as easy as cutting a tree with a knife...."
****
When cold, I always shift my 575 1st to 3rd; I always wondered if there was potential for damage when F1 does a 1st to 2nd shift when cold.

 

Stephen- No, if you could shift like F1 does with 8-900 psi of hydraulic pressure, there would be no problem on yours, either. No graunching on mine at all. That is why they went to triple synchronizers on the lower gears on the 575 vs the 550's twin synchro rings.

 

I have a Mondial QV with 125k km. Shifting into 2nd from cold has never been an issue