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599 GTB questions for owners

Discussion in '612/599' started by thebishman, Nov 24, 2010.

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  1. thebishman

    thebishman Rookie

    Sep 18, 2010
    29
    Topeka, KS
    Full Name:
    Dave Bishop
    #1 thebishman, Nov 24, 2010
    Have started looking at a couple of '08 GTBs and wondered if I could get some questions answered, especially since my closest Ferrari dealer is 4 hours away.

    Reliability: does the car require lots of maintenance or as a rule is the 599 GTB very solid mechanically?

    Service: what are the required servicing intervals? Is it primarily an annual fluid change, and is there also a large 3 year service needed like the 360s? (I know the car uses chains instead of cambelts, so hopefully involved and expensive 3 year/30K mile 'belt changes' aren't necessary).

    Options: what are the required options that any car I look at should have; e.g. parking sensors, etc?

    Road Course usage: I love to take my cars to my local road courses and wonder if the 599 GTB does well in that environment. Truthfully I've been looking into an '08/'09 Scud, but am wondering if the 599 might be less of an attention getter on the street; something I would appreciate. Can the 599 deal with the stresses of running in the advanced group of HPDEs, or does it consume tyres and brakes, (expensive CCM brakes at that), far too rapidly to be a good choice for the track. Should I confine myself to looking at Scuds, even though I think I'd enjoy the 599 more on the street in other words? BTW, the car will be 75% street and 25% 'track' used.

    Any help/thoughts appreciated.

    Bish
     
  2. dan360

    dan360 F1 Rookie

    Feb 18, 2003
    2,669
    Boston
    #2 dan360, Nov 24, 2010
    If you are worried about servicing costs, I wouldn't be going down the ferrari road :)

    In general a V12 is still more expensive than a V8 because there's more labor, however servicing is now somewhat sensible compared to a 10-15K major on a Testarossa or 512TR since there's no engine out required any more.

    You've asked questions that have been asked before and the two cars are really very different, 599 is an awesome road car, but is an acquired taste on the track, it has a lack of front end bite if you over drive it, but driven the right way is plenty of fun on the track.

    Scud is surprisingly useable as an everyday car and pretty good on the track.

    Key to CCMs on track with street cars is two things: a) cool them down properly (and don't put your parking brake on) and b) do NOT fit slicks. Braking is of course limited by grip, on a 430 challenge car with essentially the same brakes as a Scud, driven at racing pace, a set of pads lasts 1 day and rotors are lifed by Ferrari at 2500 kilometers. On a street car driven at track day pace, the rotors will last for ages as long as you cool them properly. Pads will last "a few" trackdays, anything from 2-10 depending on your brake application.

    No substitute for driving both, and there is plenty of stock of both in the market, so you shouldn't get much objection to test drives.
     
  3. speed racer

    speed racer Formula 3

    Feb 16, 2008
    1,462
    Burr Ridge IL.
    Full Name:
    PJ
    #3 speed racer, Nov 24, 2010
    I've owned and tracked both. 75% road & 25% track. 599 Hands Down!
    75% track & 25% road. Scud missle ABSOLUTELY!
     
  4. nepola

    nepola Karting

    Apr 21, 2010
    92
    New Jersey, USA
    Full Name:
    John Nepola
    #4 nepola, Nov 24, 2010
    My current 2010 HGTE is much tighter than my old GTB. If you want to track the car, try and find an HGTE. I plan to trade in my HGTE in a few weeks when my GTO arrives, so if you want to spend enough money to get a 2010 HGTE, you can buy mine from Wide World Ferrari. They will only give me a wholesale number which should be around $290K for my car and you may be able to get it at cost. MSRP was $363K and it has 2200 miles.
     

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