End of Ferrari manual transmissions?

They have already discontinued manual transmissions on 612s and 599s - I am told you can no longer order either in manual. The 430 Scuderia is F1 only and I have heard no mention of manual option on the new California. I have not had confirmation from Ferrari but I rather suspect the F430 will be the last car Ferrari offer with a normal manual transmission.

Jonathan

 

I thought you COULD get a 599 with a manual????

I HOPE they do not stop making regular manuals. I for one still prefer the driver involvement of 3 pedals....

 

You could get a 599 6 speed at the beginning, but as the OP has pointed out, they are discontinued.

 

I wonder which transmission type is lighter? As they have already announced, Ferrari is going to move in the direction of much lighter cars with slightly less horspower. So, they're looking to reduce the overall size and weight of every component.
Does a manual 6-speed transmission with clutch pedal + linkage weigh more or less than an F1 transmission with pump and paddle controls? Or is the relative weight of the different components so close it isn't relevant?

It would be wise of them to keep at least one model going that has the option for a manual transmission rather than an F1. Right now, it makes sense for that model to be the F430. (the 612 is targeted at the GT/luxury market, the 599 is the premier 2-seater Grand Touring car, and the new California is more of a convertible cruiser).

 

In all these discussions about Ferrari giving up on stick shifts, I can't help but think that if consumers weren't buying them, Ferrari wouldn't be making them. The owners can also be blamed for giving up on sticks. I know of one 599 owner that got a stick in his and he can't stand it, its nothing like the sticks he has had on all his previous F cars. He'll be ordering an F1 on his next one.

 

6-SP weighs less. F1 has a pump, lines, fluid, fluid reservoir, and an actuator. Small difference, but we know how much that means!!!

 

I doubt this information is accurate - you're quoting a LEXUS dealer about Ferrari production information? C'mon - lets consider the source here.

Paddles have their place, but if I were ordering a new car tomorrow, I'd request a manual six-speed. A significant number of their current customers still do.

 

EVO said you cant order a 612 with a manual..a 612 ! Not really an F1 type car...

 

Well then Lambo & Porsche will steal some future prospects... Lambo cars will provide manualbox for the next few generations. Porsche will always have standard transmission as an option.. Its abit un-Enzo Ferrari like, to do away with manualbox. . . Since the man died 20yrs ago, I suppose changes need to be made for maximum profits as times have changed.

 

Do they? If that were true then they'd keep making them wouldn't they? Ferrari are a business and want to make money. Here are some actual figures.

Ferrari GB figures for 2007 sales:
F430 berlinetta with a manual transmission.....14
F430 berlinetta with F1.............................221

F430 spider figures are similar proportions.

Ferrari GB have only sold one manual 599 and as previously stated you can no longer order a manual on a 599 anyway. As I understand it the UK order manuals in greater proportions than other markets...

It seems to me that actually very few people are ordering manuals. Therefore there is no incentive for Ferrari to continue making them. Personally, I regret that, but Ferrari might reasonably say only 14 UK customers ordered a manual F430 and a proportion of those would have ordered an F1 if the manual wasn't available anyway.

Jonathan

 

I hope not

 

I think this is a result of Ferrari dictating what they will make, more so than what the customer wants.

 

You can't order a manual 612. I know that for a fact. I don't believe you can order a manual 599 any more, but then I don't know anyone who has tried recently.

The only person I know with a manual 599 has decided to replace it with an F1 599! And that person is a die-hard manual guy.

 

I asked our local Ferrari GM about sticks in light of the new 7 speed F1 in the California. He said it was his understanding that you will be able to get a manual 6 speed in it. I think Ferrari makes a lot of money on the F1's even with higher warranty costs. Mitsu can put one in the EVO for very little money. IMO, the days of 3 pedals in Ferraris are numbered. At best, sticks will become special orders for the same price as paddles or even more.

Dave

 

IMO the paddle shift times are getting so fast, it makes shifting almost irrelevant. Like VW's DSG in automatic. Lust one gear to the next.

Although, this does lend itself to the idea we are simply going forward with technology and manual shifting is left as simply an option on most Ferraris.



_J

 

Which makes the sticks much more valuable down the road.
Someone out there keep my stick 599 in their garage please. After all they are meant to be seen, not heard. And no dont let the kido drive it. Your pal; David.

 

I've driven a 430 coupe with paddles and a 430 spider with a true manual. In my opinion the drive in the spider was soooo soo much better. More fun, more engaging. I do not care that I could not shift a few points faster, it made no difference. ITs fast enough. It almost to me felt like 2 different cars. I just loved having the control of the manual. Such a shame if none will be offered in the future and as it is now its hard to find a manual one.

 

Not to get too far off track, but will there be much of a market for gasoline powered road cars of any kind 20 years from now?

 

IMO modern cars work better with F1 Boxes. I was leery of them as well but found after a while I never want a stick in a modern car again.

Vintage cars are a different story and the stick and clutch pedal are part of it as is non syncro in older boxes.

The best F1 box I've encountered so far is the one in the Veyron. Dual Clutch Systems are amazing.

 

I had the same experience, but in 430 Coupes. While the F1 is a superb system, I still prefer the 6SP.

Drove a GT Maser Coupe the other day at FoW and it was a freaking BLAST.

I also love to heel-toe and a F1 car takes that from me, so I guess that (when I can own again...) I know what to look for.

Ferrari will build whatever you want in any available model. There are no "discontinued" options.

 

A manual transmission, is the only way to go on a sports car. I really don't care, if an automatic transmission shifts faster.


A 1/10th of a second better time, means nothing for me.


You have to look at who are the majority of people, driving these cars off of the lot - men 55+ years old.


After driving on a few exotic fun runs, most of these old men are not too interested in hauling ass.

 

I agree with you 100% on the typical road. However, on the track, there is just no comparison to the fun of an F1 transmission compared to the manual stick-shift. The F1 makes my 430 almost like a real-life video game on the track. Wow, what a difference! If you've never experienced it, do a back-to-back comparison on the track.

When I go from 140 mph on the back straight-away into a 90-degree turn at 30 mph at the end of it, the rapid downshifting of the F1 is unbelievable. Also, when one is accelerating out of a series of wider and wider turns, the F1 can react so much faster under time-critical acceleration momentum building.

Granted, I am pretty much a novice on a race track, but it was the experiences I had on track days that convinced me the F1 was the better option to buy for my 430.

Here is a pic of me in my black 430 on the track entering a corner a little too hot to handle:
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