Finally picked up my 456M GT today. Notice significant differences between 456M and 550. Torque is still more than the 360 More torque on 550, better handling, more responsive 456 is a very comfortable quiet car, more roomy and good as a daily driver. Good ground clearance on the 456 far more superior than the 550.
Shelbee Let me know if you need a car "walker" I'd be glad to take them out and make sure each one gets excerised very week. j/k
I wonder how people like Ron Tonkin with 38 Ferraris, John Shirley with multiple F cars, or even Steve T keep all their cars running??
Um, they hire Brian and me to drive them regularly to keep them up! For a special introductory offer, Brian and I will drive all your Ferraris for 1 week free of charge! Ha! ;-}
The big collectors have full time staffs to keep their cars in great shape. However, the Tonkin's collection we saw just sat around most of the time. A few of us noticed that quite a few cars there had flat tires (totally flat) and one of the staff admitted that he didn't know much about some of the cars let alone drive them.
Flat tires? That's embarrassing! Being a car maintenance specialist for the Union 76 Company 20 or so years ago I assure you any and all cars under my care would be in top form and the engines carbon free.
How would you compare the acceleration between the two? Do they have similar torque curves..i.e does the power come on at about the same point in the RPM range?
I notice a significant difference in acceleration in two. 550 is a way much more responsive than then 456M GT. I noticed when the gear is in higher gear, ie: 5th or 6th. The handling is much better on the 550, perhaps due to wider and larger wheel rim. I had "ASR active" on the 456M twice now during the turn. 550 no doubt is a much quicker car. Lighter and a better car. But 456 is good enough for most daily driver
Went down to see John and Naoma's beautiful concorse win 1989 328 GTS with only 14,000 miles. It is amazing how they kept it so clean. You guys will see my 456M on Friday I am replacing the newly placed Interstate battery (2 month old) with Optima battery
no shields shelbee? your neighbor, "shelbee" was telling me there is a a shop in Calif. that does "factory" installation of the shields, they're recessed and all.
I think it looks great without shields - clean and smooth. Especially if you want to use it as a daily driver and not attract too much attention. Andrew, peace bro, I'm not trying to start an argument. The racy, bright colored cars look good with shields.
I agree I think it looks better with no shields to show nice continuos lines I made a decision without shields this time. Not too flashy for "daily driver". I DO NOT like the aftermarket shields. The right way of doing it is to buy a new carbon fiber hood with indented locations for factory SHIELDS. The shields on the 456s are located on the engine hood instead of on the fenders. One thing I would do is to get the EURO front signal lens put on so they don't look to Orange.
Now that sounds cool - a carbon fiber hood with shields! You could use the after-market hood for track days or on long drives to save your stock hood from rock chips or other damage.
For earlier 456s, the hood comes in aluminum and an attempt is made to make the car lighter with carbon fiber hood on the 456M
