Hi, first thanks for all your replies to my previous post. I wanted to know as well if you think this car can be used daily (in traffic, city etc), or if it's not such a good idea. Let me know, Pierre.
gougoul - you should consider filling out some of your profile info. the 550 is immensely capable as a daily driver. it'll cost you more to maintain than other such daily drivers (eg: 996TT) but it's completely capable. doody.
Agree with Doody, it helps people give better replies when they have some info on the poster. The 550 is a truly great car that is a pleasure to drive in any conditions. I miss mine often. I think it depends a lot on where you live and more importantly, where you are going to have to park it. The 550 certainly blends more that many Ferrari's and does not draw the crowd that some models do but it will still bring its fair share of attention and that can be good or bad. Parking unattended, in many areas, seems sketchey to me, but maybe you can get comfortable with it.
Sorry guys, i updated it ! Well, i think many great cars park here outside without sorrows (Miurcelago, AM Vanquish, Ferraris (Maranello, Modena etc.))... Only real exotics/classics seem to spend their nights hidden (Zonda, f50, enzo etc). But i mean, is the 550 reliable ? Does it cope well with speed bumps, parking entrances etc ? Are they easy to park on a road (without wheel dents etc) ? How useable is the clutch ? Thanks, Pierre.
Pierre, In light of your location, the parking issues would seem less risky than some US locations. Since the 550 is really a gt car and not a true sports car in emphasis, its pretty user friendly for all those issues, imo. My experience was shorter than many owners on the board(about 5k miles worth), but if you want a Ferrari, I suspect the 550 is about as friendly as they come. What kind of prices do you see in your area?
it's no less reliable than any other ferrari which is to say that it isn't rock solid, but it'll fare better than many f-cars will. it's a ferrari. i don't believe i ever had a problem with any speed bump or ramp - though i was always careful (my 355 taught me to be careful). well, i've put curb rash on wheels of every car i've ever owned (just a matter of time with the CS). so i don't think this has much to do with the car as opposed to the driver! totally useable, imo. that said though, my understanding is that there's variation between cars. i've only driven two: mine and bobafett's and the clutches were different - not materially different, but different. you'll want to test that with your own left leg, not mine though! doody.
The 550 one of the better F cars for daily use. It has a trunk although it is a little small. The clutch is stiff on my car, although it is not a big deal. The front end is low and extends way forward so you need to be careful with parking. It has tons of torque and if you are lazy you can drive the car with two or three gears to minimize shifting. It sucks gas like a pig but we don't buy these cars for their fuel efficiency. My car is red with shields and draws a lot of attention. I think some of the other colors are a little more low profile and may make parking easier. Good luck and enjoy.
550 is rock solid. I daily drove one until it got crashed into. About 1400 miles / month. The car is dead-reliable. Arguably the most reliable of any modern ferrari. All in all, running costs are pretty minimal (gas aside). I put a bike rack on, drove it in rain and sleet, wherever and whatever. Took it to a lumber mill to get header (because I can). The car will not disappoint. --Dan
Despite it being a GT car, the 550 is LOW. A number of us have ripped out the under-carriage oil sensor- about a 1K repair (I did it on a manhole cover that was sticking up as they were repaving). You do have to worry about driveway entrances as well. It's fine when you expect it-you can angle the car easily to avoid damage. But if one creeps up on you unexpectedly, goodbye spoiler. An easy fix, depnding upon how fast you were going but again, it will cost 1-2k. The car is not much fun in heavy, city type traffic but it is dependable. If you are going to have a lot of stop and go, it can get very frustrating in a car with that much power and torque. On the other hand, if most of your drive is in the country or even suburbia, it's fantastic fun. It's really going to depend on where you drive it each day and if you have places where you really can experience the grunt that the engine can give you.
The "low" issue is a function of soft US spec front springs. I have increased my spring rates considerably and the result is not only a better ride (go figure???), but no more clenching buttocks every time I see high speed dips approaching. Euro spec cars are stiffer standard at the front compared to US/CDN/AUS cars that all share the same sloppy suspension.
I am picking up my 550 later this week. Where did you get the springs from? I would be very interested in that. Price? Thx.
