Help needed - 355 vs 550 Twist or Stick ??

they are wildly different cars. get some real 550 seat time before you get too far into your thinking.

i wrote this a while ago - perhaps it'll prove entertaining if not educational. (right click and save-as): http://www.ferrarichat.com/partsandservice/Doody's%20355-vs-550%20Comparison.pdf

doody.

 

Certainly, but ... I kept my GTS F1 too.
I can understand where you're coming from, the 355 and 550 have the same classy, graceful, understated looks. The first time I drove a 550, my dealer lent me the car for a day and a half, and I ended with mixed feelings. Loved the looks, the grunt, the torque, the amazing ability of this big impressive supercar to get you to thrash it in confidence after a few miles, the homogeneity of the package.
Still it was a CAR, not a 380hp go-kart with a howling noise that gives you chills and ridiculous cornering capabilities. Nahh, I told myself and my folks, nice but will never buy one, not for me, blah blah.
I ended up buying a 550 because I found it's the best car to be in when the weather does not allow you to drop the your 355's top off. A totally different experience, from about every angle except the badge on the steering wheel. Complementarity is the word.

If you trade your 355 for a 550, I expect you to miss it. Miss the handling, the noise, the open sky. It's tough to come to terms with a coupe when you've enjoyed an open top car, and the 550 sounds bland when stock (Tubi mandatory). Living in the UK, I guess that you experience many top-on days, and maybe that spoils a bit of the pleasure ?
This said, the 550 is a fab car (EVO sports car of the decade, no less), a very special drive whatever the mood is, cruise or blast, stunningly pretty (in my opinion), tactile, massively fast, a real GT to travel with, a much better every day car than the 355 to my taste.

I am not sure this helps, Doody is certainly right in advising extended seat time, and then ... let it grow on you.

 

The only real answer to your dilemna is to own both. That is what I wish I could do. Here is a tantalizer taken at ferrari club picnic today.
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