599 on Fifth Gear

I uploaded the segment on the 599 from tonights Fifth Gear episode. Enjoy!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4199840240244454659

 

Great vid, thanks for sharing!

He made the wrong conclution, though...

 

Incredible video. The car sounded amazing!

Surprised by the conclusion as well.....

I want a GTS version!

 

hehe, that`s Tiff

ALWAYS has something negativ to say about F cars,and always having the dumbest comments.

When every journalist in the world that spent a few hours with the 599 praised the car for it`s undisputed qualities, making the 599 the benchmark in it`s class , I was sure that Tiff was going to say something really stupid.

 

What if Tiff is right? A high speed exotic 'cruiser' sits right with the target clientel.

 

cruiser ?

2 secs slower than Enzo around Fiorano, a super technical track

When it comes to Ferrari there are other british journalists to listen

 

thanks that was a great video...i like 5th gear.

imo - too much time on the appearance of the car (italian gucci meets corvette = very passable beauty or timeless classic? jurys out) and not enough discussion of the mechanicals and the dynamic control attributes vs. mid engined F430. not detailed enough - do you guys know of a car tv show that is more technical for us engineers?

why is the fact that a mid engined car with better weight distribution handles better than a nose heavy understeering car the wrong conclusion? i think tiff might have a point.

ill take tiff over clarkson (aka 'chav de luxe w/ sour mayo') any day. he has opinions not based on racial attributes of the cars maker or something equally irrelevant.

 

Sorry but he has never said anything bad or stupid for the F430..

 

Nor the F40! He was like a kid in a candystore the episode he drove the F40!

 

Great video, only wish it was a little longer.

Mark

 

do you guys know of a car tv show that is more technical for us engineers?

 

He had it understeering like a pig...everone else, including AMS has it hanging tail mercilessly. Obviously had it in non race mode, or is a puss with the throttle. Even that stupid french video hung the tail more than he did.
Need to see someone else drive it harder. Or remind him of the manettino.

 

Thanks for the video it was excellent. Tiff has never really been hard on the Ferrari's, he always has said great things about them. I think he just prefers the Mid Engine cars to the Front Engine Cars.

 

Agreed! Plenty of good has been piled on this car in many a magazine and just because he doesn't think its up to the pre launch hype doesn't make him bias.

But, I think Tiff might just have something here--he's tapped into the same deep seated fear I have, ie, irrespective of how Ferrari is positioning the 599, its NOT a "sport performance car" but actually a world class, wonderful, take no prisoners "GT" car.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that--its what made the 550 such a fantastic new comer when it hit the scene and what makes Ferrari, Ferrari--performance GTs with no match.

But, unlike the 550's classic, simplistic, Ferrari styling, I'm still not convinced by the 599--the exterior remains very suspect, and what's with the video game dash board and cheap looking carbon fiber on the interior?

Anyway, there is NO denying the sound of that Enzo sourced 600 hp 12 cyl. One tickover and you KNOW its for real. IMO, it will be the "hammer" of its class, far outdistancing Aston, MB or any other big GT on the market.

As for the 2 year wait, I'd venture its pent up fever because as good as this engine is, my guess is that in 3 or 4 years, the prices will have dropped hard and picking one up at 1/2 price will yet another Ferrari 12 cyl sob story.

That's when I may get in line .

 

C'mon Paul, you didn't pick up your shark for half price after 2 1/2 years
I agree shark is prettier, but 620bhp and truly integrated tech, rather than the added on stuff in the 575 is the way it should be.
And since FXX gets 800, probably some tuning room. Now if Steve would just hurry up

 

Many thanks for the link.

As we all know, Tiff wants to drive F1 so it shouldn't be too surprising that he prefers the true mid-engine 430.

It is interesting that he says the Vette is more fun around the track. Perhaps his conclusion was hasty given the time he had to play with the 599.

It does say a great deal about the Vette however.

I wonder if Tiff ever drove/tested a CGT for Fifth Gear? Does anyone know if they did and if so what the verdict was?

The car sounds glorious, better than the Enzo in some ways. I'll have one with Tubi and one with stock.

And it's gorgeous. Sharp and aggressive yet sculpted, fluid- a very difficult combination to pull off. And it definitely looks better in Monza than in Rosso Corsa. I think Argento may be the best.


Forza,


Cavallini

 

I don't think prices for this will drop anywhere near like those of the 550/575.

In fact, I don't think they'll really drop until the convertible debuts.



Forza,



Cavallini

 

Actually Tiff did drive in F1 unsuccessfully for Shadow (I think or possibly Ensign) in the seventies. I think he is a very talented driver but a terrible journalist/ road tester. He told us virtually nothing about the car other than it was very fast, and not quite as exciting on the limit as a 430. I think everyone could probably figure those out for themselves. I get the impression he did not get as much time as he wanted in the car because of the F1 testing and was negative about it as a result.

BTW slight hijack sorry has anyone on the site who has ordered a 599 been told that they HAVE to have the CCM brakes if they want delivery before this christmas?

 

No problem for the link guys. And I think the review was alright. I wish there had been more of it, but he does seem to really enjoy the car when he's taking it around the track. While his review may have been slightly harsh, it's not all that bad..he'd rather have the F430 which is still a phenominal car.

 

Well, not 1/2 price and it was nearly 4 years old, but it wasn't too a bad deal either ... and so right you are on looks, at least as far as I can tell without seeing the 599 in the flesh, our sharks are much prettier.

 

I didnt know the 500 has the same engine as the enzo! I learn something new every day I guess!

 

Like Sfumato said, someone should have shown him the CST off postion on the manettino. The reason why he had more fun in the Vette was because he was sideways for most of the time!

If he wants to have fun, he needs to get the car on a private racetrack without Ferrari staff around shouting "NO DRIFTING!!"

 

the thing is that the 599 is faster around Fiorano than than the 430.
In the video he was out to show it's an understeerer, which frankly may not be the case. I guess you have to drive this car differently to the 430 to get the best out of it. Afterall, it is faster than the 430 around that track, it can't be that bad.

 

Link is now dead

 

Google nixed the video. I reuploaded it to YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TPBcqvePus