550 Maranello for a week can't wait

[kippax]

Next week i'll be fulfilling a life long dream as I have a 550 Maranello booked for a week in Scotland. Anyone with experience of these cars please tell me how much i'm going to love it!
I'll be staying in Portpatrick so any info on must see roads in the area much appreciated.
My only fear is that I really won't want to give it back.
Always said i'd own a Ferrari before I was 40 unfortunately this is the closest i've come (other than owning a TVR Tuscan for a few years) so I really can't wait.

H

[a7see]

Fantastic and comfy GT tourer. Better handling than a 575M without the firano handling pack IMO. Big boot space for your weeks luggage. If you are putting on big miles during the week, get ready to be surprise on how much the 5.5 V12 drinks. Unless it had a tubi, the original exhaust is pretty mild.....with a tubi on...YES!!!!!!!!! and u'll probably pay even more for fuel just to hear the exhaust note....but trust me....it's worth every single litre!!!

Enjoy and tell us how you feel after the weeks holiday.....

[Anjum]

kippax said:

Next week i'll be fulfilling a life long dream as I have a 550 Maranello booked for a week in Scotland. Anyone with experience of these cars please tell me how much i'm going to love it!
I'll be staying in Portpatrick so any info on must see roads in the area much appreciated.
My only fear is that I really won't want to give it back.
Always said i'd own a Ferrari before I was 40 unfortunately this is the closest i've come (other than owning a TVR Tuscan for a few years) so I really can't wait.

H

You'll love it. Honest!

[Burba]

i loved teh tdf blue one i owned - it's a lovely cruiser and absolutely eats long straights and curves up!

[andy rob]

drinks fuel, drinks fuel, but worth every penny, ultimate grand tourer

[MogulBoy]

Is the car coming from a car hire outfit or a car club? Sounds interesting...

P.S. Portpatrick is a bit far south but as you have a week, check out Steve Carter's site for some interesting roads further north..

http://www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm

[kippax]

MogulBoy said:

Is the car coming from a car hire outfit or a car club? Sounds interesting...

P.S. Portpatrick is a bit far south but as you have a week, check out Steve Carter's site for some interesting roads further north..

http://www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm

Coming from classic car club Scotland joined for my 40th birthday present. Next time it'll be the DB9 vantage or 911 turbo.

H

[Kickstart]

It will take a few hours to "get it" but I think it is an epic GT car - sometimes it is fun to use the torque and others to rev out the V12.

I would check the tyre pressures as it is not so sweet to drive if they are a few lbs out.

If the weather allows I like to keep the drivers window open so as to remind myself how fast I am actually going plus the engine sounds is fantastic.

Don't panic if the bonnet open badge comes on at speed it just means the censor has been lifted slightly - although I am told that it tends to come on beyond about 130mph (I could not possibly comment)

Have fun

[andy rob]

& the wipers or crap @ over 80 & if if you wind window up @ well over 100 it whistles & you have to slow down to do it again AND the traction control is over enthusiastic in 1st & 2nd, so need to be switched off before engageing 1 st gear..................or is this just my car ?

[Burba]

never had the traction out on mine - but didn't do many full bore starts, more rolled on the power so to speak.

whistling is a design fault as i understand and mine did it better than a kettle on the boil!

[BillyWhiz]

You will find yourself smiling a lot, as will most people who you drive past

[Banjo47]

Take the road from Stranraer to Ayr along the coast. Fabulous run with stunning views of Ailsa Craig, and Arran. Turnberry golf course is on route - good for a coffee and browse in the golf shop. Not suggesting you are a golfer by the choice of car by the way! Stop for a picturesque walk round Culzean Castle - stunning and then dont forget the Electric Brae just past Croy. Even the 440 will slow down going uphill!!! Weird but try it it really works!
Have fun!

[Banjo47]

Meant to say 550 - hit the wrong button sorry!

[BillyWhiz]

You will find yourself smiling a lot, as will most people who you drive past

[kippax]

a7see said:

Fantastic and comfy GT tourer. Better handling than a 575M without the firano handling pack IMO. Big boot space for your weeks luggage. If you are putting on big miles during the week, get ready to be surprise on how much the 5.5 V12 drinks. Unless it had a tubi, the original exhaust is pretty mild.....with a tubi on...YES!!!!!!!!! and u'll probably pay even more for fuel just to hear the exhaust note....but trust me....it's worth every single litre!!!
Enjoy and tell us how you feel after the weeks holiday.....

Well it was good but not as fantastic as I anticipated. It looks fantastic & the torque is epic but it just didn't have the drama for me & too many annoying niggles.(Including 2 x AA call outs in a week 1 more than in 5 years of TVR ownership)

Good points
1/.Looks Fantastic
2/. The Torque from the engine is fantastic & it is a seriously quick car but doesn't always feel it
3/. Reasonable luggage space
4/. Did I mention it looks fantastic?

Bad Points
1/. Far too quiet with standard exhaust (can't hear even with window down)
2/. Fragile - 2 AA call outs in 4 days 1 when part of undertray was scraping on road & needed cutting off & 1 when coolant hose blew off resulting in 160 mile tow truck back to Edinburgh as couldn't get access to refit (luckily on last day)
3/. Terrible hand brake design - this either took the skin off the back of my hand by rubbing it against the door or knocked the electric seat switches pushing me towards windscreen!
4/. Interior too bland for a car of this status (preferred my Tuscan interior)
5/. Only way to open the boot was via a switch inside car which is a pain when loading / unloading (This may be due to aftermarket alarm i'm not sure?)
6/. Terrible clearance under car meaning any road with slight adverse camber has to be avoided so no B road fun.

All in all not the experience I was hoping for hopefully the 911 Turbo or DB7 will be more me.

This isn't a post against Ferrari's as despite all the above they would still top my lottery win list (Just for the looks if nothing else)just an honest reflection on my week with one. (It would have to have a Tubi though)


H

[MogulBoy]

Interesting feedback!

[a7see]

kippax said:

Well it was good but not as fantastic as I anticipated. It looks fantastic & the torque is epic but it just didn't have the drama for me & too many annoying niggles.(Including 2 x AA call outs in a week 1 more than in 5 years of TVR ownership)

Good points
1/.Looks Fantastic
2/. The Torque from the engine is fantastic & it is a seriously quick car but doesn't always feel it
3/. Reasonable luggage space
4/. Did I mention it looks fantastic?

Bad Points
1/. Far too quiet with standard exhaust (can't hear even with window down)
2/. Fragile - 2 AA call outs in 4 days 1 when part of undertray was scraping on road & needed cutting off & 1 when coolant hose blew off resulting in 160 mile tow truck back to Edinburgh as couldn't get access to refit (luckily on last day)
3/. Terrible hand brake design - this either took the skin off the back of my hand by rubbing it against the door or knocked the electric seat switches pushing me towards windscreen!
4/. Interior too bland for a car of this status (preferred my Tuscan interior)
5/. Only way to open the boot was via a switch inside car which is a pain when loading / unloading (This may be due to aftermarket alarm i'm not sure?)
6/. Terrible clearance under car meaning any road with slight adverse camber has to be avoided so no B road fun.

All in all not the experience I was hoping for hopefully the 911 Turbo or DB7 will be more me.

This isn't a post against Ferrari's as despite all the above they would still top my lottery win list (Just for the looks if nothing else)just an honest reflection on my week with one. (It would have to have a Tubi though)


H

Sorry to hear about your AA callouts....it is indeed a wee bitty unfortunate least to say but I think it might just be a stroke of bad luck there. And to a certain extend, I do agree with the bad points you mentioned, especially the one about the quietness of the car without a Tubi....but u have been warned... Seriously, the tubi does makes a LOT of difference....if u r up this way, give me a shout and u can have a drive in mine to see the difference. And true, the interior is bland for F-cars round about that generation. Have the same opinion on the 456GT i used to own. The 575M has got a slightly improved interior tho. The handbrake and boot button does not bother me now but yes, the handbrake did took me a while to get used to as it's on wrong side, just like the 348, Testarossa and 456GT. The only F-car I owned with the normal handbrake is the 360....and yes, nothing beats the old fashion manual handle to open the boot....

However, I hope you had enjoyed your weeks companioship with the 550. she will always be a different kettle of fish compared to porkers, Tiv's, lotus etc etc. Try a 360 or 430 next time round and u'll notice the difference in them....and OH.....make sure there's a TUBI on them!

[kippax]

a7see said:

kippax said:

Well it was good but not as fantastic as I anticipated. It looks fantastic & the torque is epic but it just didn't have the drama for me & too many annoying niggles.(Including 2 x AA call outs in a week 1 more than in 5 years of TVR ownership)

Good points
1/.Looks Fantastic
2/. The Torque from the engine is fantastic & it is a seriously quick car but doesn't always feel it
3/. Reasonable luggage space
4/. Did I mention it looks fantastic?

Bad Points
1/. Far too quiet with standard exhaust (can't hear even with window down)
2/. Fragile - 2 AA call outs in 4 days 1 when part of undertray was scraping on road & needed cutting off & 1 when coolant hose blew off resulting in 160 mile tow truck back to Edinburgh as couldn't get access to refit (luckily on last day)
3/. Terrible hand brake design - this either took the skin off the back of my hand by rubbing it against the door or knocked the electric seat switches pushing me towards windscreen!
4/. Interior too bland for a car of this status (preferred my Tuscan interior)
5/. Only way to open the boot was via a switch inside car which is a pain when loading / unloading (This may be due to aftermarket alarm i'm not sure?)
6/. Terrible clearance under car meaning any road with slight adverse camber has to be avoided so no B road fun.

All in all not the experience I was hoping for hopefully the 911 Turbo or DB7 will be more me.

This isn't a post against Ferrari's as despite all the above they would still top my lottery win list (Just for the looks if nothing else)just an honest reflection on my week with one. (It would have to have a Tubi though)


H

Sorry to hear about your AA callouts....it is indeed a wee bitty unfortunate least to say but I think it might just be a stroke of bad luck there. And to a certain extend, I do agree with the bad points you mentioned, especially the one about the quietness of the car without a Tubi....but u have been warned... Seriously, the tubi does makes a LOT of difference....if u r up this way, give me a shout and u can have a drive in mine to see the difference. And true, the interior is bland for F-cars round about that generation. Have the same opinion on the 456GT i used to own. The 575M has got a slightly improved interior tho. The handbrake and boot button does not bother me now but yes, the handbrake did took me a while to get used to as it's on wrong side, just like the 348, Testarossa and 456GT. The only F-car I owned with the normal handbrake is the 360....and yes, nothing beats the old fashion manual handle to open the boot....

However, I hope you had enjoyed your weeks companioship with the 550. she will always be a different kettle of fish compared to porkers, Tiv's, lotus etc etc. Try a 360 or 430 next time round and u'll notice the difference in them....and OH.....make sure there's a TUBI on them!

Thanks for the offer as the car club is in Edinburgh I will be back in Scotland at some time in the not too distant future so may take you up on that even if only to drool over the Lambo while i'm there .

Thanks
H

[F355GTS]

That boot switch used to drive me mad too!, much better on the 575 as it moved to the floor just inside the door, even better on the 599 as it's on the Key

As others have said the Tubi transforms it

[kippax]

F355GTS said:

That boot switch used to drive me mad too!, much better on the 575 as it moved to the floor just inside the door, even better on the 599 as it's on the Key

As others have said the Tubi transforms it

How did you find the ground clearance? was this worse than other models or par for the course? I found any B roads with even the slightest camber would result in the under tray scraping the floor! This I think was what stopped me enjoying the car the most as on several roads I could have been overtaken by a milk float!

H