it was the "Sport" button that did it...........

[Flying Trotter]

after looking long and hard at a couple of 550 Maranellos I realised that truth be told I'm a Porc man.............the Fezza is beautiful with awesome road presence but it wasn't right for me

and so.............on Wed I take delivery of a 997C2S

its good to be back in the fold.........I can't wait for the 2nd Sept and the start of the Eurohoon...........it is going to fun........

[roshambo]

Interested to hear about your thoughts on the 550 as I am thinking about one myself.

Ro.

[aliged]

roshambo said:

Interested to hear about your thoughts on the 550 as I am thinking about one myself. Ro.

Well....I test drove a 5 year old 550 recently (selling for 60K) and without doubt it was a fabulous experience. On the same day I drove a 355 Spyder. My daily drive is a Boxster S MY2001 and I expected both Fezzas to blow me away. They didn't!! Both had dreadful build quality by comparison to the Porsche and while it all sounded faster there wasn't honestly much in it unfortunately. My mate came with me in his GT3 and he offered me a drive in that immmediately afterwards and my jaw dropped.......the GT3 is the car you MUST have! Performance,brakes,unburstabilty,value,parkability,practicality....
and it still has a soul to boot!

I've wanted a Fezza since I could say 'Car' but the Porsche experience is the way I'll always go probably. (at least until I drive a 430/Gallardo anyway!)

Al

[roshambo]

Yeh its kinda what I am thinking. I have never driven a 550 but have been tempted by one or a 360, both of which are around the £60k mark now (actually get a 550 for less than this)
I feel I should drive them but just know that my 996 TT will be the better car.
Likewise - I am waiting for Gallardo prices to drop a little.....

Ro.

[spenny_b]

A mate of mine is now on his 5th 996 (C2, then C4, then TT, then TT with X50), he keeps getting tempted by other marques including a 360 and latterly a Gallardo (from new), but has now gone back to a GT3 after only a couple of months...havent seen him recently, but my Brother says he just wasn't that taken by the Lambo, mainly the build quality I think (plus I'm sure the rear light cluster is straight off of an MR2!! )

[turbobloke]

roshambo said:

... a 550...but just know that my 996 TT will be the better car.

Me too, even though it's your car

roshambo said:

I am waiting for Gallardo prices to drop a little....

Me too, but I'm not getting expectations up too high (of the car not the price drop)

Having test driven a 575 - maybe the 550 was better - the two lasting impressions are 'expensive' and 'slow'. Could expand on these and add a few positives but it's each to their own as always.

[cyrus1971]

I developed a similarly low opinion of the Ferrari 550 at the time of buying my 996TT. Did not meet expectations. What amazed me was there was no room for my feet on the peddles, I kept snagging my shoes. Daytona seats in the 550 were exquisite however. 550 was good but the 996TT is the best all round super car (for the moment) IMHO

[MOD500]

Blowdog is your man for an informed view of 550 ownership.

[silver993tt]

Was on vacation last week and whilst on the Autobahn south of Munich came across a Testarossa and a 550 Maranello. All 3 of us gave it some and I was surprised to cruise passed the Testarrossa and keep up with the 550 Maranello. I wasn't gaining but also wasn't losing. Testarossa guy was a bit perplexed

They both only had driver in the car while I had girlfriend and completely full front trunk of luggage and some on the rear seats.

I was a bit surprised to say the least

>> Edited by silver993tt on Monday 15th August 13:06

[turbobloke]

MOD500 said:

Blowdog is your man for an informed view of 550 ownership.

I say, cyrus, d'ya think Martyn is telling us we're uninformed while owners are unbiased

silver993tt said:

kept up with a 550 Maranello...I was a bit surprised to say the least

Probably light on fuel and modified or both, but I think the main problem was the block of ply your g/f stuck under the gas pedal when you weren't looking

[simonharrod911]

Based on the title of this thread :

Does anyone have a 997 with Sport Chrono and EVER not have it in Sport mode?

[silver993tt]

turbobloke said:

silver993tt said: kept up with a 550 Maranello...I was a bit surprised to say the least Probably light on fuel and modified or both, but I think the main problem was the block of ply your g/f stuck under the gas pedal when you weren't looking

Well, while we were blatting along, she was sewing hand made flowers onto part of her friends wedding dress at the time

[johnfm]

I am a pretty diehard Porsche man - hell, I've sold my bloody car to start the magazine!! - but I was recently in some Italian hardware that really floated my boat - if you're going to go Italian, I would suggest at least 5 litres, 12 cylinders and carburettors - the sound and feel of the Countach was brilliant. While photographing one of flamespitters cars, a Ferrari 512 fired up in the underground car park. 5 litre flat 12 - beautiful sound.