Gang, Former Ferrari owner looking to dip my feet back into the pool after the last decade playing with the German stuff. I am looking seriously at 550s and 575s, but I really don't care for the paddle shifters in most of the 575s I see. What was the proportion of 575s made with the manual shifters versus the paddles? How hard are they to find? Also, if you are in the mood to answer, what is the common thinking around 550s vs. 575s in terms of performance? Is stepping up to the 575 really going to reward me for the price differential? (I am seeing some pretty amazing deals in 550s right now)? Finally, the other 4REs I see in the same price category don't seem to come close to the 550/575s in terms or performance and everday tractability-- i.e the 512BBis, 512TRs, etc. Am I wrong here? Thanks all. ketel
I am in a similar situation. I have a 550 PFB and am looking to "upgrade" to a SA. Mine is a manual shift (I think all Barchettas are manual shift). The only 575s and SAs I have driven are paddle. I actually like the paddle shift quite a lot, but I am 46 years old, so I prefer the clutch--force of habit, I guess. Both cars 550 and 575 are beastly in power. I had a 355 which was fun, but could not compare with the 550. My 360 CS was basically a street race car, and lacked many of the niceties of the Barchetta (and 355 for that matter). You really can't compare the 550/575 to 512TRs and those older cars. Just sit in one and you will see. I am 6'2'' and I do not fit in the TR or any other version of it. Even if I were 5'10'', I think I would prefer the more modern and more advanced feel of the newer cars. The deals on 550s are really sweet right now. Compare it to any other car--Lambo, Porsche, etc and you see real value for the dollar in the 550. Having said that, and I know I will catch a lot of grief from my fellow 550 owners on this thread, when I get into a 575, I can't help but get the feeling that my 550 is "dated." Not that it is "old," but rather that it just lacks something that the 575 has. When I get out of the 575, I feel like I want that car instead of the one I have. It is just that the price on SAs is unrealistic--in my opinion. And, I do not want to give up the "open top" car. So I stick with the 550 PFB (which now has 33,000 miles), and I love every minute of it when I am driving it. Think of it this way . . . you are married to Giselle. You then have a night with Stacy Keibler and she takes you to Mars. You then have to come to Giselle, but it is still freaking Giselle, for Pete's sake. Not a bad thing to have at home.
IMO the 550 is the best exotic car bargain on the planet, especially if you are looking for a stick shifted tranny. I have an SA and I had a 575 paddle car. I prefer the paddles in a modern car and enjoy the stick in my older vintage cars, The 575 and SA are spectacular performers, but unless you are driving the car at the limit, the 550 is as capable. Depending purely on your likes, if you want a stick buy a 550. If you want a paddle get a 575.
I felt the same way, being something of a dinosaur from the muscle car era. I drove an F-1 360, got used to it and learned to enjoy it. I now have an F-1 575 and would not consider trading it for a 6-speed.
Bravo. And like 410SA said, if you want a manual go with a 550. It's a great car and it offers a fantastic driving experience.
I think Drive550PFB has a point - the interior on the 575 has been updated and looks fresher (after all, it's 6 years younger). So even if I'm a 550 owner you won't get flack from me for that. However, for the performance difference it is not worth buying the 575. The difference is less than 6% in bhp. At the moment, the 575 is depreciating faster than the 550 which may or may not be a contributing factor to your decision making (it was for me). Finally, if you want your car to be sporty you need at least the Fiorano pack on the 575, or the HGTC (which is more recent and therefore more expensive). Combined with a manual this may be a bit tricky to find, but if you take your time I'm sure one will pop up. With so many cheap (and good!) 550's around at the moment, I would opt for the 550. Well, I have - I just bought mine 3 months ago and I did consider the 575 but dismissed it on the grounds above. In Holland a 575 is at least 40% more expensive and I didn't think the difference justified that. 512s (whether BBs or TRs) are definitely less userfriendly than the 550, but they have their own appeal. The 550 is a really easy car to drive or to potter around in or cruise long distances in. The 512s on the other hand are much more for short adrenalin-filled drives, and certainly attract more attention (the 550 is a bit incognito for a Ferrari - something you may or may not like). I think they are less reliable as well, but I have no personal experience there. I hope you find yours soon! Have fun deciding. Onno
I forgot to address one thing . . . Because the 550 is mine, I do not hesitate to push it hard. The 575s and SAs I have driven were not mine and I felt like I should respect the owner--not hit the rev limiter, not try to spin the tires, etc. Because of this, I was not able to appreciate any power differences. In fact, my "broken in" 550 is very responsive, quick and very balanced. Since most of our driving is done within reasonable legal limits, I think you will love the 550. You know how boxing announcers say things like "Pound for Pound, he is the best fighter in the world--as a way to compensate for differences in weight classes?" Well, in my opinion, dollar for dollar, the 550 is the best value going right now. And, again, it's my opinion, the 550 has a very slight, but noticeable "raw" look, compared to the refined 575. Some people like refinement. I like it raw--but you can't go wrong either way. (After all, I did reference Giselle in my last post.)
