my question is , are there any ff owners who had a 599? i understand the technological difference is large but the 599 is still a nice car and sportier looking than an FF.. since they are almost the same price point i was thinking of buying one of them i believe the 599 will hold value better , but i do intend on using this car ,, any thoughts from people who have a good grasp of both cars ? thank you
Had a 599 for a while Amazing hot rod front engine V12. Even in it's more "developed" state (HGTE) it's now a few steps behind an FF, let alone an F12, in technical advances and performance. Having said that, the 599 is great at being what it is....I refer to it as a hot rod. 599 is a big delta from an F12 in every dimension. FF would be the pick for us for 1) long distance/high speed GT use 2) usability and 3) ability to effectively use in poor conditions. Last, we find plenty of opportunities to drive the FF, the 599 was a bit more limited - some real (eg. only 2 seats) some perceived (it's a high profile car) 599 is great, the cars are very different, so it's more about what car strikes you more. FWIW, our FF feels like it handles, brakes and goes "better" than a 599. 599 is also a large car..... (I'm obviously not including the GTO in these comments). Both are great. If you go 599, take your time finding a good example and get a full PPI on any car.
I had both and I think Entropy makes a good assessment. The issue I had with the FF was feeling the 4RM come on and off at times I didn't like how it felt. A lot of this will come down to where you live and how you want to use the car. The 599 is a great highway sports car/GT. The FF could be a great all around companion. Its just that I can't really use a Ferrari in some of my daily situations. I think any Ferrari is a high profile car. Sure, some are more high profile than others. I could also never get over the FF's styling, and when I did try to use it in my daily life, I kept thinking aside from the power and sound, other cars are better fitted to the application for me. Also the transmission in the FF feels like its programmed to be more GT, and it ended up feeling like I was manually shifting an automatic transmission. Though it did get better if I really got on it. But when I did, I found myself wishing I didn't have the 4RM nor the extra mass/ size of the FF. I found myself wishing I was driving another Ferrari and not this one. I just didn't really care for it. BUT many really love this car, so I am just doing this to provide you an alternate view. The 599 just has a lot of trouble putting that power down. Switching tires to Michelin Pilot Supersports will help. It does drive a bit big, but I thought the FF felt big also. There is a lot of body roll to both cars- the 599 might exhibit maybe a little more. Once you push through it, you can really get the car to settle down on its chassis. You should realize the FF is basically the current generation V12 tier of their GT lineup; whereas the 599 is one generation old of their extreme V12 sports car lineup. And the difference in build quality between these generations is pretty substantial. The FF feels better made. And the 599s can exhibit rattles. I still loved mine but it was an annoyance. And I really tried to tame the rattles. Objectively, you get more content with the FF, especially if the price is very close between the cars. But, at least for me, a Ferrari is about what connects on an emotional, artistic level. The 599 did, the FF didn't. But that is just one man's opinion. I think you should test drive both cars. I think you will find you gravitate towards one of them. I will agree they are both great cars based on others enjoyment of the FF even though it didn't work for me.
I just went thru the 599 vs FF thing. To sum it up is very easy for me. Driving: FF is better in every possible way. Yeah, every! You can name anything, FF will beat the **** out of 599. Interior: better finish, better quality leather when the FF got the right spec. The LCD screens in FF is a immediate outdated but 599 is worse anyways. After sitting in the FF, you will feel like you step 10 years back in the 599. The only reason I didn't get the FF because of the look. I do value the overall design on cars more than anything. If you like the FF hatch thing, look no further. As a car, FF is way better than 599.
Of course FF is a "better" car than 599 performance wise. If its a car you'd like to hold on to for a while the decision is clear, 599. At a car meet or anywhere for that matter the single most important topic is looks. Both are titans but the "hot rod" wildness in character (ala Carrera GT) make the 599 the drivers car of the pair. IMHO it is by far the better looking on and my personal favorite front engine RWD V12. It will age very well and years down the road will still be a head turner with the clasic lines and awesome flying butresses. The front end is prettier/smoother than F12 or any newer Ferrari design which now favor aggression. If possible, definitely get the HGTE version (LOVE the factory wheel design). A 599 HGTE with a drop and spacers (Novitec) to make those beautiful wheels more flush with the body work and 6spd manual (conversion using factory Ferrari parts being developed) will be in my garage soon God willing.
All well said, I had 599's for 8 Years and loved them but the FF is on another level, I've just completed 1,000 miles in the FF including a 2 day blast to France and back for New year, I'd have never used my 599's in -2 weather and slippy roads, the FF is just so useable by comparison
You are correct, the 599 will hold much better value and will be very collectable like the 250 GTO in years to come. It was given the name because only 599 of them were made. The FF is also much cheaper and hasn't got the 'WOW' factor of the 599.
thanks for the great opinions.. i have identified a perfect 599 with 3k miles that i can pick up from a close friend who never uses it,, i still have not driven the FF i will go test drive an FF next week.. i like the visual of the 599 but i understand that the FF tch is more suitable for the northeast climate i live in ,, i have a few cars ,all of which cannot be driven most of the year!! which is why FF makes sense ,, whatever i buy i intend on driving and keeping for a good while ... Grazie
BTW some one mentioned a gated conversion to a 599,, any idea what are the costs involved?(more or less)
I can only imagine the cost and I would think you might be opening yourself up to a world of hurt in terms of possible electronic headaches. I think it comes down to whether or not you are willing to take on a true project. One other thing I would address is what lsmkr01 says about being like the CGT. I really can't say the 599 is like the CGT. The CGT is on edge all the time and is constantly whispering in your ear "I'll kill". I'm totally serious. The 599 is saying- lets have fun! Unless you are driving around 9/10s and beyond and you are then overzealous and the rear end will bite.
Let's try to keep to facts here, please. The "599GTB" moniker was derived from engine displacement (5.99l), GTB obviously since it was a GT Berlinetta There were (allegedly) only 599 examples of the GTO model. The 599GTB was produced in much higher volumes. While a great car, it will be no more or no less collectible than any other Ferrari front engine GT. One of the production tracking gurus on here can confirm, but I believe the 599 production was well over 2,500 cars (again, someone please correct me). 612 is a great point. 599 with rear seats and a classic design. Wow, I would have never compared a CGT with a 599, totally apples and oranges. The 599 does have a massive engine, but is relatively docile to drive quickly (one of it's charms) and a bit heavy/soft for aggressive track use. It can and will bite for sure. As for the 6-speed, how many people who say they want a 6 speed have driven one? I did - on one hand, it was almost religious, driving the last Ferrari manual gearbox car, hearing the click-clack. It is just a better car with the F1, and believe me it's engaging enough even without a clutch pedal. IF you drive primarily to shift gears, the 355 is a much better pick. On the other hand, this chassis/engine do not match well with the manual gearbox. The recent "manual gearbox mania" (which started with one way out of whack auction result" seems to have calmed down with everyone except the dealers who are still playing the manual gearbox premium.
Agreed. I was a little disappointed when I drove the 599 stick shift many years ago. I felt the F1 suited the total package better. I love to drive a stick car, but each car has its own personality. It felt a little like they took the stick transmission off the 575 and just put it in the 599. I'm sure they did more than that, but that's how it felt to me at the time.
599 you can drive 10% of the time of the FF. It's a muscle car basically. The FF tech and build are advanced. Feels like more than one gen forward.
That's absurd - easily 70 percent of the time - Jan thru march it stays inside or you gets snows for it
Production of the 599 likely between 4000 and 5000 during ~6 years of production. In 2011 alone, there were 247 599s and 599 GTOs imported into the US.
The 599 is twitchy and the shifting is terrible when compares to the FF. For the transmission alone the FF is 10x the car
599 in the rain? No. How much rain in NY? A lot. Snows on the FF vs the 599? huge difference Cold weather, like 43, needs snows. 599 tires get hard. And it spins EVEN EASIER ! You just want to argue with me. Pathetic.
F12 can hold the road far better than the 599. It's not a great GT, more of a muscle car toy for the weekend.
You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Roma also drove his 550 maranello for 100k miles commuting to NYC 365. What's ur response to that?
