996TT v 550

[ballast]

Hi - I currently drive a 996TT, which is awesome. Has anybody had any experience of driving (& ownership) of both the 996TT and Ferrari 550? Is the 550 as much fun; as capable? I'm assuming it should be 'better'? Any views?

[Agent Orange]

As long as ur prepared for the bills, totally different in every sense except seamless straightline power will feel familiar...................the bills just terrifying!

[996tt_stevo]

Tell me your not thinking of switching to a 550!

[barry_j]

ballast said:

I'm assuming it should be 'better'?

Why? (genuine question)

[ballast]

Don't know why really; I guess that's the crux of and the reason for my question. I've only ever had Porsches and have not ever driven/experienced a Ferrari. Just wondering what the differences are and if it's a progressive 'next step'. I'm lucky in that I don't have to drive it every day and therefore won't be piling mileage on. Maybe I should repeat the string on the Ferrari forum; presumably the response will be 'do it'!! Just interested if anyone has driven or ideally owned both for comparison.

[exboxster]

Try and dig out the EVO copies where they were running one as a longtermer- rather one of their guys bought one (Metcalf?) The bills were indeed huge and frequent.

[ballast]

Funnily enough it was Evo that fuelled my thoughts on it; the bills were significant, but not too scary. In the past, I have always been put off by the high running costs and comparitive poor return on driving experience. The Evo article seemed to disprove this theory.

[barry_j]

exboxster said:

Try and dig out the EVO copies where they were running one as a longtermer- rather one of their guys bought one (Metcalf?) The bills were indeed huge and frequent.

Yes, Evo's editor, Harry Metcalf was running one over the past 12mths so it would be worth digging out some old copies. I borrowed a F360 for a couple of weeks and after the initial novelity value (looks and noise) had worn off and I got back into my 996tt, I realised that the 996tt was the better car. I've driven a 550 once so can't really give an experienced view but again, I prefered the 996tt. Ferrari is definitely not a "next step". Its just a different step. There's more sense of occasion driving a Ferrari but in terms of all round capability Porsche wins without question.

Edited by barry_j on Friday 18th August 10:06

[verysideways]

Lots of info about the 550 on the EVO website, find the "fast fleet" section and go back month by month.

550 build quality is dreadful compared to the 996, and the running costs are not a percentage different but an order of magnitude different.

550 needs a sports exhaust to sound right, and drives beautifully, but is not a B-road car (unlike the 996tt which can do it all).

[996tt_stevo]

My best friends dad has one, along with a collection of other exotics!

Let's say it's nowhere near the drive of the 996Turbo, plus it looks mmmmmmm!

Anyway, don't want to stir any ____ up with Ferrari owners as I would kill for a 360 Stradale or a 430, yes please!

[rumplestiltskin]

The 550 in EVO covered huge (in Ferrari terms) mileage while in the Fast Fleet.
But they are still expensive to run, any V12 Ferrari will be.
Jump over to the Ferrari Pistonheads board & search/ask the question, lots of people happy to help over there.

R.

[superlightr]

rumplestiltskin said:

The 550 in EVO covered huge (in Ferrari terms) mileage while in the Fast Fleet.
But they are still expensive to run, any V12 Ferrari will be.
Jump over to the Ferrari Pistonheads board & search/ask the question, lots of people happy to help over there.

R.

The Dark Side........

a search and rescue team will be sent if you dont gome back after 3 days!!

[Framps]

When I got my C4S I looked at Ferraris as an alternative choice.. I stuck with Porsche because..

1. More reliable
2. Every cop in the land will be after you
3. People will think you play football professionally
4. Servicing cost and frequency - every 4000 mls and cam belt changes required often too. So looking at £2000 for a major service!

on the plus side..

1. Looks
2. Performance
3. People will think you play football professionally

[968csreading]

A friend of mine went to look at a 360 from a MD and found that there was not much room in the foot well and he only has size 10s.

The salesmans reply was that many customer drive in slippers WTF!!!!!

[ballast]

Thanks for the comments guys especially the reasons for/against! Not sure if I'm any further forward!

[Yex]

I've not owned either but if I was looking to change from a TT to a Fezzer I would find a dealer willing to give me a decent test drive, ie: at least 60 minutes on various roads types. I'd then drive my car round the general area of the dealer to get an idea of feel of the roads and potential locations for test routes. The test drive would have to include some decent in gear acceleration tests ( at least 2-3-4th gear), a few quick corners and a few slow ones to get a feel for acceleration out of them. I would also try to get a drive through a town in traffic to see how the Fezzer behaves when in and out of first gear for a while as everyone on here says the TT is a superb car at all speeds. I'd then try to follow the test route in my own car to see how I felt they compare.

I'd like to be in a position to have this potential choice but if I was I'd certainly go and drive the Fezzer just to get an idea/put my mind at rest.

Best of luck on the wallet front,

Yex

[testarossa]

I have nearly the same dilemma.

The 550 is understated and ostensibly rarer.

The running costs will be higher, but it will cease to be the daily driver, so not a problem.

I will look and feel less like a boy racer.

I will own a FERRARI!

The bad news;

I will not enjoy the driving as much.

I will worry more.

My loved ones will feel neglected!

When it sits on the side of the road awaiting assistance, I will rue the day I gave my Porsche away.............

But still............

I want a FERRARI

I still love you Porsche, but can we go on a "break"?

[ballast]

"Look less like a boy racer"?? I'm not so sure... My TT is black and is fairly understated; wouldn't a 550 have to be red, particularly as it would be my first Ferrari?

[scruffy101]

A customer of mine bought a 550,he wrote it off quite quickly(he thought red lights were for slower cars,no joke!!I saw him do it and asked him later!).Anyway the insurance paid out £93000, so he lost £17000 within 3 months then when his next premium came up it was £13000! Bargain.

[DJC]

I cant think of a single good reason to give up a 996tt for a 550.
You couldnt even claim you were doing it for a better interior as the 550 has an equally naff one as the 996 !! Ive never quite got my head round how both Ferrari and Porsche both managed to go through the same era producing such woeful interiors! At least Ferrari has bucked its ideas up with the 430, 599 and 612, Porsche alas hasnt Id be far happier with Porsche if they ditched the whole pseudo classy/high tech/fiddly button interiors and went back to less is more.

Either way, dont buy the 550! If you to do the FERRARI thing and the 12 cylinder wafting GT thing, why not keep the 996 and go Ferrari retro. £35k, 365GT2+2, job done. Your bills will be the same as a 550, it looks in a different league, has more class and style than a modern Fezza could ever dream of and you should/might be able to afford to keep the 996tt.