F1 vs stick...I used search

Depends on what car.

F1 in a 599.
Manual in a 430 Spider.

 

So.... what did you decide?

For what it's worth, I researched F1 vs. 6-speed for one year on here and made my decision based on that research. After a five minute drive in each type of car, I changed my mind.

 

Let me guess. 6 speed originally, then decided on F1. That's what I did, and so far I think the transmission is my favorite part of the car.

 

+1

 

+2

 

I think you have it backwards.... Mike drives a manual gear box as I recall.

Ray

 

That's funny, I haven't heard of too many people who have driven an F1 tranny and didn't like it. To each his own I guess.

 

The F1 trans gets better with every evolution of it.
The 599 has the latest version, then the F430, then 575, then 360, then the 355. (not sure where the 612 fits in).

The software inside the later versions is much smarter on shift points, how much to rev the engine on downshifts, overall smoothness, and the communications hardware gets faster and faster.

So, depending on the car it is in, you need to test drive that version of the F1 to see if you like it better than the stick shift or not.

I currently have an F430 F1. It is an amazing piece of technology. I had a 360 6-speed before owning the 430 version of the F1.

 

Mine is a 99' 360 which is obviously old as far as F1 technology is concerned and I still love it. I cannot imagine how great the new F1 transmissions are.

 

6 speed

 

Same thing here, wouldn't want to go back to stick...

 

For me, the problem was (and is) that the system is just too slow. If the shift speed at all times was the same as a CS at WOT @ redline, then it would be "acceptable" to me. But I can shift as fast as this with my 6-speed, and I have ridden as a passenger in my car and have seen other people shift a lot faster. I used to think that I was missing out when driving up in the mountains on twisty roads with the manual gearbox, but eventually had the opportunity to drive an F1 on a nice windy road. The trouble is that you can't always be at redline in those situations, and occasionally must short shift. I would flip the paddle and wait.... and wait.... and wait.... then the car would shift. Meanwhile, the computer cuts the fuel. If I would have known that the computer cut the fuel while the car was shifting when I was doing my research on here, I wouldn't have even considered the F1.
Secondly, I can do things with the 6-speed that simply cannot be done with the F1 system, such as: I can be in third gear, maybe 35 MPH or so, at low RPM. If I need to move the car in a hurry, I can push in the clutch, shift the car into first and, while I'm in the act of shifting, I can rap on the throttle a couple of times to get the RPM's up, then drop the clutch. The car "explodes" into acceleration mode because the RPM's are already high by the time the clutch comes out. Sure you can flip the downshift paddle a couple of times, but the computer cuts the fuel while this is happening, so the engine is still at low RPM when the clutch engages, and you end up with a smooth acceleration, not an explosive acceleration. Same for getting the car going from a standing start. It is *my* choice whether I want to take off very slow and smoothly, or just rev the engine, drop the clutch and smoke the tires, or anywhere in between. In the F1 car, I rev the engine to acceptable take off RPM and wait.... and wait...... and wait..... and wait.... and I can hear the poor clutch suffer as the computer slowly lets it out, and the car finally starts to move.
I posted a note on here not too long ago about an episode in a parking lot where some guy in front of me simply put his car into reverse and floored it. I was sitting behind him (we were trying to find parking spaces), idling, in first, with the clutch in. In less than one second, I was able to instinctively throw the shifter into reverse, rap the throttle, dump the clutch, essentially white smoke the tires and rocket backwards to just miss from getting plowed into. It would have been interesting to see how an F1 car would have handled that situation.
I have put 22,000 miles on my car since ownership, and, believe me, I do not baby my car (search on "ferrari modena leisurely drive" on youtube) and my transmission still works perfect, and my clutch feels the same as the day I bought the car. In contrast, if I had a dime for every thread on F1 issues, I could pay off my car. And we won't even go into smoking the clutch on F1 cars while backing up an incline.
After saying all that, I say this: Don't make up your mind until you have a chance to drive a few miles in each one.

 

Which Ferrari you have? 360? F430? I tried to read through what you wrote...maybe I missed it. Can you use more paragraphs next time?

 

Well I do have a picture of the back of my 360 in my avatar as well as a picture of me and my 360 in my profile, but you do have a good point; I should have specified in the post.

That being said, any F1 car (even a real Formula One car) would theoretically have the same limitations, unless it also had a clutch (as some of the real F1 cars do). I've been stating for a long time that I would be the first to own an F1 Ferrari if it also had a clutch pedal (and the computer didn't cut the fuel, of course).

 

I have a manual 360 Spider and I was following a guy in a f1 360 spider yesterday. We stopped at a light at the bottom of a hill. When the light changed we both took off. I could smell the clutch from the car in front of me. The point being that the manual clutch will last a whole lot longer than the f1. I am sure that there are many fans of the f1. I have owned both. For me, it's the manual.

 

I bought an absolutely pristine 01 Spider, 6-speed, shields, daytonas, challenge grills, Silver/Charcoal(black top), 7200 miles, service completely up to date, including belt change, Ferrari certified for extended warranty for $150,900 from Algar Ferrari in Philly. I am sure red/tan is more desireable, so add a couple of thousand. I think $169K is a bit high for a 2001.

 

...If driven without abuse, ie. burnouts, speed shifts and the like!

 

There's no "answer" to this question. It's really a matter of preference. I've had manual cars every since starting to drive and only recently got my first F1 car in my 360. I love the F1 tranny. I know I'm going to blow through my clutch faster, but I don't care. To me the F1 tranny makes my car just that much more exotic which is exactly what I wanted when I decided to buy a Ferrari... an exotic car.

Sure the F1 will cost you more on the price list and cost you more in maintenance, but I didn't buy this car to save money.

Oh, and one last thing... I love that in my F1 car, the sport button does more than just stiffen the ride

Best,

Frank

 

I don't need a button to make my shifts quicker; mine is operated by cerebral remote control...

 

everyone enjoy having a choice right now

Dealerships will not take any more 6 speed orders for new cars

i would be surprised if they even offer 6 speed as an option on the replacement for the 430

from what i have heard .... ferrari is completely moving away from 6 speed and trying to make all cars f1

 

I just placed one and feel very lucky!

 

+1

 

Same here....