HI, I have spent hours reading this and other forums but can't quite find what I need. I have been looking for a 550 or 575 for years but not many come up for sale in the northeast. I tested a nice 2002 model yesterday and I REALLY like the car. It fits me like a glove, it's like driving a car I have owned for decades... ... except the F1 trans. The front of the car bobs too much and it just feels really bad when it upshifts in lower gears at normal speeds. I was told this was normal but I can't believe they are normally this bad. I have read about ecu upgrades but there are too many acronyms so I don't understand. Is there a reasonable ecu upgrade, will it really help this problem? Could the shocks be worn out or would that show an error code? Some people are upgrading springs, is this considered a good fix? Any info appreciated!!!!
You are not driving the car as prescribed. Neither my 360 nor my current 575 act like that. Steady pressure on the accelerator on upshift changes, foot off on down shift. Not difficult.
When I first got the 575 it behaved very similarly - you can't really treat the F1 like an automatic; it still requires some user intervention. If you're not familiar with these transmissions you will eventually learn (with driving) how it works and the most efficient/comfortable way of using it. Part of the reason for the bobbing is that the clutch engagement is linked with the throttle input and I found when starting out (and it took me a while to realize this so you may not have at this point) that my foot would move in tandem with the engagement and actually make the situation worse and the car would feel very uncomfortable changing gears. So what I'm saying is Yes, it can be normal but as an aside, you should always get a PPI from a qualified/reputable servicer. Where in CT?
Thanks for the replies. I did have my foot steady on the gas, and the car was anything but steady on the 1-2 (especially) and 2-3 shifts. Maybe I am super sensitive as I am an occasional pro race driver (I won an IMSA race a few years ago) so anything out of the ordinary that most people might not notice, waves a huge flag for me. Maybe I could learn to control it a bit while shifting manually, but I find it odd that this would need to be done on such a car. I'm in the Danbury, CT area. The dealer is one of the biggest, oldest Ferrari dealers and have serviced it religiously since new and they say it's working normally. If an ECU or spring upgrade could help stabilize the car it would be more attractive. Thanks for any more ideas!!! Image Unavailable, Please Login
you need to get some seat time driving the 575 f1 there imo is a learning curve but the knock on f1 is cars without fhp (fiorano handling package) are too soft and tend to 'porpoise' with shifting. imo...some of that is the f1...some of it is inexperience with proper shifting. believe the fhp package included different shock ecu/brake pads/rear sway bar i have logged over 10k miles in each of the last three years on my '04 575 w fhp....and i love the f1.
Ah "fhp" is the Fiorano handling package! The car I drove is supposed to have that, it has hard plastic tubes running to the top of the shocks (maybe they all do). Could the shocks be shot at 25,000 miles? How long do they normally last?
Mine was like that but my driving technique seems to have changed. Now much more smooth and no porpoise. I keep it in sport. Take off and shifts much smoother. Its a GT car. Cross continents comfortably,quickly in style. Yeah you can stiffen this and that,lower etc. Have done this on other cars and then ended up with regrets. Its a long range comfortable cruiser. Do you really want to ruin the pavement eating,continent crossing ride?
I lied. I would change 1 suspension part. If available I would get a rear sway bar 2mm thicker not that there is much push but a little less would be nice for more neutrality. GTS Bruce
Novitech suspension. Transforms the car into the Ferrari it should have been.( not that its bad..I love them). This is the singal best upgrade for the car. Bar none.
Too much reading and not enough driving. Takes time to be smooth with F1, like any new skill. Until you have enough seat time, the difference between stock, FHP, and various shock ECUs is hard to feel.
that is correct. the non FHP/HGTC cars porpoise like fat pigs............ your choices are to 1) find a FHP/HGTC car. 2) buy the (now hard to find) factory parts and retrofit. 3) engineer something yourself 4) buy the KW/novitec suspension kit
Of course, it's 183960... I just learned what fhp is so that doesn't help a lot. But google told me it's the shock ecu so I will check the assembly # as I found some good info : http://www.***********.com/forums/attachments/modern-v12s-456-550/33295d1314073771-575m-superamerica-technical-thread-575m-shock-absorber-ecus.doc Assy no is 47203 As you can see from the picture the calipers are silver, not red, how can I be sure this car has the FHP?
Put a caliper on the rear sway (stabilizer) bar, accessible from behind the rear tire if car is on the ground. An illustration of the rear bar can be found on Ricambi Americas website in the 550 or 575 parts book regarding "rear suspension". 21mm = FHP, 17mm = standard. Bill FL #26 in illustration http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=FE&P=&V=diag&I=1113
I think the car needs springs. I am on my third set. It is so much better than stock it is not funny. ARB will do nothing for the f-r weight shift ("porpoising"). Philip
Now they actually checked it and say its 21mm so I guess it has the FHP after all. Not sure why the calipers are silver though. I'm busy racing my old 911 at the Lime Rock historics this weekend so it will have to wait till after Labor Day.
