I am looking to purchase my first ferrari and i am dead set on a 575m f1, black exterior and light (e.g. crema or beige) interior. Unfortunately this colour combination has proven unbeliveably difficult to find. Since i've been looking (since December 07) only two have come on the market nationwide (UK). The first had accumulated 18k miles in 2 years, with two services, both being major. This caused me to hesitate, and in my hesitation, was bought by someone else. A second has come up recently, but does not have the fiorano handling pack. I keep reading that the difference with the handling pack is night and day, but is this really essential for a first time buyer who'll mainly be driving in the city? Can this or any other analagous handling pack be added post production? My fear is having to wait countless months waiting for the right spec to come to market (which id imagine is bearable if you were part exchanging, but not for a 1st time buyer!) Thanks in advance for any responses.
I'm sure you'll get a more definitive answer, but in the mean time.. If it's for city driving I can't imagine a handling pack is neccessary and maybe not even desirable. If you're worried about the occasional jaunt into the country for some fun driving I'm sure that a Ferrari will not dissappoint especially if it is your first. From what I've understood the main reason people like the FHP is that the 550 was much stiffer, and people trading up thought the 575 to be too soft by comparison. Also what I have gathered though is that the 575 had a more "active" suspension thus allowing similar true handling to the 550, but with a more comfortable ride. However the feel and confidence associated with the stiffer suspension may not have carried over. Also, I believe all the neccessary parts to convert to FHP are available.. Ricambi lists the package http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=262237 If you have found one you like, and are having trouble finding others, I'd suggest go for it, and see if you feel you want the FHP, or if you like the way it is. Disclaimer: I don't own, nor have I driven any 575, so don't take what I'm saying as absolute. Just thought I'd offer what I've heard while you're waiting for some other responses from someone who's driven both.
You shouldn't have to wait months for the right spec - FHP is popular and I would say around 50% of them have it. Maybe even more, I believe it was standard for the last two years of production. As bbshriver said, you can retro-fit it but it is expensive. You're better off waiting for the right one. I have also not driven a 575, but consensus on this forum is that it really is a great benefit if you have a bit of a sporty driving style. I've heard that the 575 with FHP is close to a 550 and having driven one of those for 6,000 miles I can say that is a great thing to be close to. The 550's handling is excellent, not too stiff so that it becomes uncomfortable, but stiff enough to give great 'chuckability'. Onno
I have a 2003 575m without fiorano and it feels like a cadillac. It actually handles well it just doesn't "feel" like it will and bounces/rolls a little too much for my taste. Also porpoises on acceleration. basically - it's under sprung. You get used to it if you drive it every day (which I did for a year) but going back and forth between other "sports" cars (and other ferraris) it makes me want the handling package that much more. I've considered adding it several times but the prices are dropping on these cars and dropping another 8K or whatever isn't very appealing to me. short answer to your question - find one that has it.
thanks very much for your responses so far i think i am going to find out the cost of retro fitting it, and if i can cut a good deal on the car, i will probably go that route.
I have an '04 with the fiorano control ecu. not the entire fhp but this is under 2k and tightens up the handling some. the full fhp alos includes better brakes (which are also much louder) and improvement to springs and suspension too. but for under 2k you get some improvement to the handling as well.. anyone else have thoughts on my observation?
Two majors may be cause for more investigation. I can say, I had two majors on a Ferrari within six months of each other due to one 'qualified' mechanic f$$$king up a particular tune.....HAD to do it all over. OK, I lost, and learned. SO, comment being this, my car is/turned out just fine after being redone. Your investigation might find the same. Wouldn't throw it out of the choices for just that, BUT, there are MANY more choices out there...you can always skip to the next example.
I haven't driven a 575 but own a 550. Likewise have heard plenty re the press comments not liking the early 575's, which I think were revamped after about 18months if I recall correctly, or as folks have said and you mention, with the optional Fiorano kit everyone seemed to suggest that this was how the car should be standard. I must admit, from a buying point of view, I would look for a Fiorano car and this may well sway others judgement thereby making resale more difficult for a std car...on a car that doesn't fly out the door anyway judging by how long 550/575's sit in showrooms compared to say 355's this may not be a good thing. So it may be an unfair assesment, but others that do have experience of the 575 std pack have suggested that they do indeed wallow a bit and that was the comment in the press originally, take std and fiorano down an undulating road and the std car often bottoms out etc. That said if you are not fussed I really wouldn't have thought you would need to spend that much to achieve pretty close or there abouts to the Fiorano. For a simple swap some sport springs, either something like Ricambi or I know I looked at other custom one's that were developed for the car and could be had for around £500-600 a set. A set of Pagid yellows or blues (fiorano use blues, I use yellows and were told they were superior and my experience is good), so sub £1000 and you have the major parts. Not sure re the shocks actuator ecu software, Ricambi don't list but I thought there was an upgrade but this was based on others comments. Not sure if the current ecu can simply be flash upgraded? I have a suspicion it may be possible because I seem to recall a fiorano kitted owner telling me he had his upgraded to a later settings pack to resolve issues...may have been hogwash but sounds plausible. I can't see why the ecu would be different between std and fiorano other than possibly parameters. That said I would have thought the spring kits would make the most difference...don't the shocks purely just do two settings via the actuators, i.e. soft and hard, that was my understanding which maybe others can clarify, i.e. nowhere near as slick as the 599 magnetic units which react and change instanstly and variably. 550/575 units merely mechanically rotate at the top of the shock to adjust the valves in the shocks which control the oil movement. All as far as I am aware and if folks could confirm... But it would still possibly come back to resale for me, as when I've looked at 575's, from my experience I seem to have seen about as many non fiorano's as I have stick shifts i.e. not many, 10-15%, as a few grand on a £170k bill wasn't likely to be quibbled over particularly with press comment at the time. This may vary from country to country but that's my understanding of the UK market at least. Hope this helps Jon
