Fact or Fiction on the F1 Transmission

F1 transmission on 360 is much improve as it automatically blips to match the engine rev when downshifting. I would not say it was perfected as the transmissions on CS or 430 are better versions (technology will never stand still).

The transmission on 355 are not as good so try it for some distance before purchase.

 

the Ferrari F1 tranny is only getting better over time, model to model and year to year.

when i bought my 99 F355, i stayed away from the F1 trannies. even if it was great, i just didn't want something that relatively new - i knew the 6 speed wouldn't break arbitrarily on me .

my advice, fwiw is to skip the F1 on the 355. if you're at all concerned, which you seem to be, then why take the risk?

doody.

 

Actually, it's good that the F1 tranny still has a few glitches. That way, owners can feel like they've mastered something. And not just feel like chimpanzees pulling levers for jellybeans.

 

The only myth is that they perfected the F1 when the 360 Modena came out.

 

Well I have a 99 355F1... I bought it 6 months ago with 11k miles on it, and it's now up to 20k miles. The last 8k of those have involved me beating on it, always in sport mode. I had it in for new tires last week and they checked the clutch wear and said it still has 77% of its life in it. So I'd have to say the big myth of the F1 system eating clutches is bs. As for the technical glitches, I haven't experienced any. The shifts are smooth, and it will actually rev match on downshifts if you dip into the throttle while shifting. I know the newer systems are better, but IMO they did a great job the first time around.

-R

 

My point was that since the 360, the driver no longer needs to blip the throttle as this is done automatically with more precision.

 

Joe,

I have a '99 355 F1 Spider and I have had no problems with the F1. It adds to my enjoyment......

 

Robin can I buy your car when your done beating on it?

 

"Stop talking about these damn cars and go buy one already!" - Mrs. JD Tage

LOL.

 

I drove a SMG M3 for 2 yrs.
Then I test drove a '99 F355 F1, absolutely HATED it.
Then I drove a 360 F1, it was better.
Now I have a CS, I am satisfied.
So I will say Ferrari definitely improved their F1 system over the years.

 

I have a 99' 355 F1 Spider. The F1 works perfect. I could not be happier! I also do not have console bubbling, dash shrinkage or bolster wear (after 19,000 miles)...I must be one of the lucky ones. Tim

 

the F1 needs a day to get used to
once you are done with that, it will be very smooth and really adds to the fun

just remember, drive it in Sport mode

 

I had a '99 355 F1 and i did not need to blip the throttle.

I was told when i upgraded to a '02 360 F1 (both spiders) how the F1 was so vastly improved.

My opinion is it is the exact same transmission. I could not tell any difference. Technically there might be a difference, but I wouldnt know it.

The only thing I could tell is in my 355 I could actually get the tires to consistently break loose shifting from 1-2. Cant do it on the 360. Dont know if the shift is faster on the 355 or if the 360 grips better (i assumed the latter, but suspect it might be the former).

I put 30k miles of pure reliability on that car. I sometimes wish I hadnt gotten rid of it

 

I have a '97 355 6-speed spider and deiliberatly, intentionally and decisevely rejected the F1.

First off....IT'S THE SAME TRANSMISSION...gears, box, etc. The F1 technology merely operates the shifting of the tranny. Transmissions on the 355 are regarded as near bulletproof. The real issue is not the tranny, but how the tranny gets shifted....

On the track, jamming through tight canyons and for techno-bling, the F1 wins hands down. When I'm coming into a turn and working through it...I'm carefully trying to determine the maximum speed I can go without losing traction, the line, the surface conditions, when to open-up on the gas, etc, etc, etc....I would LOVE to eliminate the need to remove one hand from the steering wheel to operate the shifter AND a foot to work the clutch. Oh...no doubt; speed racer needs the F1.

Does it eat-up the tranny: NO
Does it eat-up the clutch: It can if driven even modestly hard...

Oh yes it does, a buddy who need not be named blitzed through his clutch in less then 8,000 miles. Granted he's borderline abusive...but still. I believe the "launch mode" should be re-named "reduce clutch-pad thickness mode".

What I've noticed is that if you drive it nice & mellow or just marginally "sporty"...then the shifts are reasonably pleasant: comfort & clutch-wear will be similar to 6-speed. But there is one thing I can say for absolute sure: when my buddy lets the rpm's soar: EVERY SHIFT IS A HEAD JARR. The F1 in the 355 is RAW...this is widely known and regarded as fact.

I frankly found it annoying, every shift was a jilt. It's NOT smooth, it's a definite smack into the next gear if you are even modestly on the gas. Course, my friend never takes it off sport-mode. But if you like to move along quicker and in a brisk manner....expect the shift-jilt.

There are people who have gone F1 and say they won't go back to 6-speed....but there are many more people who went F1 and hated it: they'd only consider an F1 for a track car. For fun and feeling part of the car...nothing beats the "drama of the gate". Other will add that if this is your first Ferrari, you should get a 6-speed as well.

But make no mistake, either way it's a Ferrari and you'll LOVE the car and the fun you have in it!!!!!

 

If your friend would take it off sport mode, then I dont think you would find the F1 so annoying. I personally would keep it on sport mode because I like the sportier shift (hey, its a Ferrari, right??). But if I had a headache or the road was getting rough, out of sport mode it would come.

I know some people still feel that a "pure" Ferrari is the 6 speed manual (even though Ferrari pioneered the F1).

I have not heard of anyone who actually bought an F1 Ferrari complain about it and wish it was a 6 speed. No human can shift as fast as the F1 and you can downshift and upshift at FULL THROTTLE without any risk of overrevving the engine (on the downshift). It is truly amazing. What is wrong with it?

Yes, if you want to go slow and shift very smooth all the time, then don't bother with an F1. Save the extra money it will cost. But if you want to pound the engine & tranny to the limits, screech the rear wheels when you shift, and have an experience you will not find in other cars, then you must opt for it.

I agree, you lose the experience of using the shifter all the time, but you still have the paddles. instead of moving your hands to the shifter, you hit the paddles. The "mental" game of knowing the best times to shift is still there.

 

It'll never be for sale, so I have no qualms about beating on it

-R

 

Seymour...all good points

But I've gotta tell ya, I've met a LOT of people who went F1 and stearnly went back to 6-speed. It's apples & oranges, but the 360 has a sweeter orange. The F1 in the 355 marked the first generation of F1 technology for Ferrari. I've been told that they've innovated the F1 technology 4-5 times already since.

Uh, if you don't mind me asking.....which model Ferrari is it that you own?