Should i go with a F1 or 6-speed manual. Please help
Translating for Jay: "Try using the search function. I'm sure you will find a wealth of discussion/opinions on this topic." Or, (easier) just take my advice and go with the manual transmission.
I went with the 6-speed since I enjoy the feel of the gated shifter. The 6-speed has lower maintenace cost since you are not dealing with alot of extra electronics and parts that are very expensive to replace as in the F1. The clutch has been noted to wear alot faster in the F1 mainly in stop-and-go traffic. The F1 is more comfotable to drive in traffic and has an automated manual mode if you just want to cruise. It does shift much faster than a human can. It all depends on what you are interested in and how much cost you are willing to absorb when there are issues.
Just my opinion of course but the gated shifter is a must! It is a rite-of-passage when you first row through that metal maze. The clinks and clanks between the rise and fall of the exhaust note is unparalleled. Aside from the cost/maintenance issues the F1 would bore me after a few weeks, it's like playing a video game. Also it may affect resale, I for one dismissed any F355 that wasn't an F355 (355F1) when I was looking for my baby. Rob
I would not consider anything besides an F1. Fantastic improvement that got better with time. Proof is they only offer F1 now on any car. I know " I love my stick shift" but when your in some Traffic or snuck out of the office and have to field a phone call there is nothing better. As to shifting .....human beings pale in speed compared with an F1. In terms of safety....both hands on the wheel. My only downside of F1, my wife cannot drive a stick shift.
they only boffer the F1 now on new cars because ferrari makes more money when the clutch fails. Every Ferrari with an F1 gear box will always say it has 50 % left. That 50% gets used up very very quickly even if you drive like me I would say ill get 80k from my clutch in my 348.
I prefer the gated manual. I enjoy the interaction and can shift pretty damn fast if need be. If I was worried about a few hundreths of a second on shift times I probably wouldn't have a 355 at all.
From what I've read/hear, including my mechanic, I would be very careful with the F1 purchase. It can be gruesomely expensive to fix.
Not quite true, the new dual clutches in the California etc are not only superb they are also bullet proof, Ferrari are near to offering a life time guarantee on the things! in the 355 it was ok but manual always prevailed on track same for the 360, although i still think the fly by wire throttle caused problems, certainly for me. The 430 clawed some of that back but we still saw owners changing back to manual for competition use on the hillclimbs. It always astonished me to see auto cars beaten off the line by manual Ferraris some 30 years older! only the 430 scud changed that.
F1 is a BLAST!!! Ferrari is synonymous with Formula 1...and I wanted F1 technology in my car. Certainly I appreciate 3 pedals, but NOTHING beats flat foot, WOT paddle shifting in the 355. Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDEeoYwt3Qc Overall the F1 tranny has proven to be extremely reliable, and now IF there is a problem like a failed pump (still rare) there is a way to use the 360 F1 pump which is a fraction of the cost. Make no mistake, F1 is no automatic...there is no torque converter, and you do 'feel' each shift.
