Just got back from Phoenix where we had sales training on the 599. Impressions on seeing it for the 1st time in the flesh; Stunning! The car is beautiful from any angle. There was a Rosso Corsa/black and a Grigio Silverstone/beige. I will post pictures soon. Driving impressions; Un-f@#$%-ing believeable! (excuse the language, but it is the only way to emphasize just how awesome the car was.) I really wasn't sure what I would rather have between a 430 Spider and a 599 prior to driving it..............now, there is no doubt in my mind - 599 all the way! This thing has absolute gobs of power, right off the line. Even though it has an 8,400RPM redline, it makes it's power right out of the gate, and never lets up. Shifting is silly-fast, accomplishing shifts in 100 milliseconds (the 430 does it in 150, an F1 car does it in 50). The F1-Trac system really makes the power so useable - you would have to be a complete idiot to get one out of shape. I drove the car through a slalom course at some pretty silly speeds, and it just kept you on the line intended. I first tried it in "sport", where it required very little work to keep the car on it's path. Then, in "race", you had to work a little harder, but it still kept you in check. If you dare turn off the CST, you had better know what you are doing! The balance of the car is superb. Unlike a Maranello, with it's 50/50 weight distribution, the 599 has a rearward weight-bias, and 80% of it's weight is between the front and rear wheel lines. It felt like you could turn it on it's own axis - very predictable, and very tossable. You don't expect that from a larger car, but it does it about as easily as a 430 does. It just takes getting used to the longer hood. I then got to be a passenger on a couple of hot laps with a pro driving. Oh My G*D!!!! An experience I will never forget. I did record it with my camera, so I will try to post the video. I have to have a 599!!!!!!!!!
Great thread. It sounds as if Ferrari keeps making the F1 transmission better and better. Maybe they won't need to go the dual clutch route in the future. So were both cars equipped with challenge wheels? If not, did the standard wheels look better in person? Also did either of the cars have the carbon fiber steering wheel with light indicators? How was that? Was it useful or is it unnecessary? It sounds as if the 599 GTB Fiorano might be one of the best all around driving cars ever produced from everything I have read. Your thread does nothing to suggest anything other than that. Now I just wish I made enough money to buy one. I doubt used 599's will depreciate as quickly as Maranello's have in the past. I don't think there will be deals to be found on 599's for many many years.
Dan, you lucky son of a gun...! Sounds like the 599 is exactly what the world can expect from the greatest automobile manufacturer ever... I'm not surprised; I just can't wait to see one in person...!
tfazio, I've always wondered about that... Those lights came standard with each Enzo, but through the computer, you can turn them off if you want... I've always wondered if they'd be useful or a distracting annoyance... I mean, you can hear when you're getting close to redline and wouldn't it be just as easy to look at the tach as it is the top of the steering wheel...? I would love to get some first-hand impressions of this feature from Enzo and 599 owners...
"this feature from Enzo and 599 owners.." Carbon, as you probably know, shift lights have been on race cars for years. If they change color as the shift point approaches, they are useful as your can catch them in your peripheral vision. Now, I ordered them for my 599 because they look zoomy ....
The red car had the Challenge wheels, while the Grigio Silverstone had the standard wheels. The standard wheels definitely look better in real life, but I still prefer the Challenge wheels. The Silverstone car was the only one I drove, and it did not have the lights on the steering wheel. The red car may have had them - I didn't really look for them. When I drove an Enzo, I found the lights to be helpful. You don't have to look as far down to see where you are at on the tach. Also, with the colored lights, there's no mistaking where you are on the tach, and you only need a quick glance.
HAHA just messing around KizDan I was trying to figure out if you were who I thought you were. No worries mate!
I had a question now that you have seen the 599,f430 and enzo i person. Did the 599 look better than the f430? or did it look better than the Enzo? I would appreciate it if you answer my question.thanks.
That is a very tough question. Nothing looks better than a 430, it just looks different, but equally as nice. Same goes for the Enzo.
I've seen them all in person as well. My order goes as follows from best to least best: F430, Enzo, 599. Btw, if anyone is interested the s/n on the rosso car described above (more than likely) is 146260.
LOL...!!! Yes, I know racecars have had them for years, but I was wondering if it would really make a difference on a road car - especially a road car whose tachometer is already quite large... Dan seems to think in the affirmative, so that works for me...
The person that I spoke to at the event had, in addition to a similar experience of kizdan: - Temps were 100+ deg and being driven hard on the track -- yet the engine had no overheating issues, and the AC kept the cabin cool - Fade was noticable on the car with steel brakes - Interior details and quality were exceptional - Told to "mash the throttle" on a tight corner in race mode; F1 Trac just digs in imperceptibly while letting the tail hang out just enough for "fun".
There are folks that are getting steel brakes because they dont think they need them and dont want to spend the extra $$$. They will pay the price in the end once everyone realizes the car wont stop without them. I predict in 5 years the bargain 599s will be the ones with the steel brakes.
Dad I am jelous. I think the 599 is one of the best F-Cars to come around in a long time. I second the pic and vid posting!
Thanks for sharing, Dan. I hope this means that the Ferarri V-12 will re-take it's rightful place at the top of the heap. I have to admit that I was one of those who thought the 599 was ugly. The styling has grown on me and I can't wait to see it in person. I still think the vent behind the front wheels looks like an add-on but it sure beats the clothes dryer vent on the Jag XK.
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u must have had hell of a time Dan. i must admit, when Ferrari launched the 599 here in Malaysia, back in july, the looks just so beautiful in person. it looks horrible in photos tho. mine was that silver colour with Stradale wheels. i don;t have much pics, but there's one here :
Apparently Silverstone is now the second most popular color after Rosso Corsa. I was thinking about getting my spider in that color, but hate to get a "me too" color LOL. Dan: Try uploading the video to youtube. Or if you can get it to me I will host a hi-res version for you -- at least for a few days (until my 50GB of bandwidth is used up for the month heh heh).
