Looking to park a 550 beside my 328

Speaking as the owner of both a 550 (for 6 years) and a 964 (for 18 years), in your position I would be on the horns of a dilemma: I know that if I were to sell my 964, I would regret it for the rest of my life, but that if I did not buy the 550, I would regret that just as much. They are such different cars, each equally addictive in its own way. Can you not keep the 964 and buy the 550?

 

In my opinion, red somehow does not allow the lines the stand out on a 550.....then again i'm biased.
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Although I was looking for a blue one when I bought mine (7 of our 10 cars are blue, 6 dark blue - it's my default colour of choice), I ended up with a red one due to the lack of available good blue ones at the time. No regrets:

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In that case, I think you had best do the swap - at least you will then have owned, and enjoyed, both.

I would certainly advocate the 550 as the number one choice for a front-engined V12. Everything about it is truly wonderful, though from what you say you might find the sound a little disappointing.

 

I have a '82 911 SC & a '95 993. Two years ago I sold my '84 308GTS QV and subsequently bought a '98 550. IMHO the 308 was/is a sports cars (albeit somewhat under powered) and the 550 is a Gran Tourer but with significant power and given the suspension it absolutely loves the corners. It is also a car that would be a joy to take on a long road trip. Similar to the 308 the 911s are sport cars, so if you do the swap you will find a truly different driving experience - not to say better or worse just different. For me I'm glad I have the 911s (and I prefer the pure analog feel of the '82). I have to agree with those who suggest keeping the Porsche and adding the 550. Try the appreciating, close to the last air cooled 911 for justification with your wife. I also used the fact that the cars are life insurance policies - just sell them if I 'check out'!
Good luck

 

I didn’t get on with the 964 but people love them. I have a (red) 550 and it’s an amazing car. For me it’s in another league, with that V12 and handling that goes from laid back when you are, to thrilling when you want to be. And the Ferrari looks and interior - though it’s not a Ferrari for people who want to shout about it, it goes almost unnoticed. And that gated shifting experience.

It also depends on where you drive it. On a tight twisting mountain road in Austria, a 964 which is shorter and (if it’s a C2) more tail-ish would be my choice. But for a mixture of roads the 550 does feel like a car that was more than twice the price when it was new. It just feels classy.

Whether you like the sound in a 550 depends on what you expect. There’s almost no exhaust sound, instead you hear a humming from the engine when you rev. If people expect the modern Ferrari sound, it doesn’t have it, and it’s nothing like my F512M, but actually if you’ve been in a 275 or 250 the sound has plenty of similarities. My gated 575 has Tubi back boxes and it sounds great. Fabio The Banned On This Board does amazing exhausts and he is next door to you in northern Italy.

Happy searching!

 

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Interesting you ask if I was disappointed after I sold the 308, yes I was. While I was aware that the 550 was more GT than Sports Car it took several drives to understand what the 550 is. Now that I am use to the 550 and understand it I am not at all disappointed in my purchase of the 550, it is an incredible car, but I do miss the QV and often consider adding to the fleet. As many on FChat have said the 550 is the next interpretation of the 365GTB and the 275 GTB.
Once again good luck, and if you keep the Porsche and get the 550 you have both driving experiences.

 

Driving a 550 is an intimate experience for the driver.

Was out yesterday and took a quick vid - with a set of mild Fuchs rear boxes, the real audible inside the car comes directly from the symphonic Tipo F133. And what an experience it is.

Just dipping into the throttle a bit, not fully open.

 

Bill, Always love pics of your car in the gleaming California Sun....

 

Jason, welcome to the Maranello world from my side.

As I actually own a 550 Maranello as well as a Porsche 993 I would rate them as completely different kind of sportscars. The 550 is a bit of a GT even considering, that it behaves impeccably well on twisted roads, it shrinks around you. It has a lot of low rev torque as well, not comparable to a 308/328 or a 964/993, the car pulls away strongly, now matter what rev's - another world. A 993/964 is nimble, especially in the alps, a real rivers machine. Have only driven so far a very early carburatted 308, I've been impressed by that car as well, been a car with just one exhaust pipe and the Webers...

The sound of the Maranello is quiet nice, especially above 4.000 rpm, but sure, for some too understated. The question of the color is surely an important issue. Looked quiet a long time for a non red 550 which fit's me perfectly, but that's a personal question.

Hope you'll take the right decision for yourself personally, you can hardly do anything important wrong…. I'm personally in an even more comfortable situation, if I would like to take something raw & loud, I'll take the early De Tomaso Pantera.....


Jürgen

 

haha guilty as charged.

Agreed, it's a special sound. Really feels like it's much more closely connected to the vintage era than anything produced in the last couple of decades. I think the 550 is one of the most special cars of all time. It's an honest, genuine, immensely satisfying car that embodies the culmination of pre-tech Ferrari engineering and unassailable PF design. That said, there are strata of 550. Many have been neglected - look for the best one you can find. Good luck!

 

I'll add, the 550 joins my 996 Turbo. I think 550 guys align closely with true Porsche enthusiasts (aka, not the divas with 991.2 C4S's ).

 

I don’t have a 550, but have a 328 GTB that I bought after I regretted selling a 85 308 QV.

I’ve also had a 89 930 which I sold to get a Dino. Never have regretted selling the 930. I did however regret selling the 308, but I definitely like the 328 better. It has just enough extra power over the 308 to make it more enjoyable.

Keep the 328 and get a 550.

 

Worth watching. That really is a big difference over the standard sound.