RE: PH Fleet: Ferrari 599

[carinaman]

Wolands Advocate said:

carinaman said:

Thanks crusoe, it does look a bit like a key for a 156.

? Pretty certain my 156 GTA had a fold-away blade like a VAG key and looked considerably less like a novelty souvenir than that.

I've only briefly held a similar key for a 156 V6 back in 2000, and I remember a similar looking key at a car rental place. I can't honestly remember if they folded or not. Not dissing Alfas or Ferraris, I've previously owned Fiats.

My main point was that a photo would have helped illustrate the point Monkey was making. It's great to have a LTT type piece on a car like this.

[Chris Harris]

Bad photo of bad key

[carinaman]

Thank you Chris.

[Cactussed]

I can't comment on 599 ownership but I've had my 355 for about 4 years now.
I love the noise and the looks and the handling.

Things that annoy me however include (but are not limited to) the following:
The key (which makes the 599 one look like a Rodin sculpture) is utterly rubbish.
The rubberised plastic trim which turns to goo
The wipers are awful. They work, but make a hell of a racket. I sympathise as I rebuilt them last night with some home made bushings which has helped a lot but they are still nowhere near the 5 series. I'm going to try the flat aero wipers and see if they help...
The sodding air con which has no manual override and comes on automatically. Fine when you want cold air. When its raining and your wife turns the heating on, you can literally go from clear to zero visibility in the space of 50 yards. Stupid.
A handbrake that wouldn't hold the car on anything more than a flat road.
A battery that always goes flat over a period of about 2 weeks. I can leave the 5 series for 2 months and its fine. 2 weeks and the ferrari is dead. Did they fix the problem? No. they built an isolator switch in instead, which is why so many owners heep the car on trickle charge.
No accessory position on the ignition barrel. Just on and off, so the stereo has to be hard wired into the power supply.
Magnesium wheels which are apparently lighter but so porous that mose companies wont touch them for refurbishment.
I could go on...

[PhilJames]

Nice article Chris

Root Ginger said:

Rain X is so 90's. Just stick a set of PIAA Silicone Wipers on it. The wipers leave a trace of silicone on the screen as they wipe so you get the Rain X effect without ever applying it. They last for years too. Currently have a set on the wife's Golf that have been on for 4 years at around 12K miles a year and are still as good as the day I got them.

I've been so impressed that all our cars have them fitted front and rear (where applicable) and is the first thing I change when I get a new car.

Nice one! Thanks for the tip.

[tony993]

Another vote for PIAA wipers from me. I have these on all my cars. They're wonderfully quiet. If you have an older car with a pitted, greasy windscreen that you can't see through when it rains, these blades give you perfect clear vision.

[leeson660]

garycat said:

Wasn't it the wipers on a 612 that drove Clarkson crazy on one of those cross-Europe Top Gear races. They made a constant buzzing noise IIRC.

I think your right I was thinking exactly the same.

The bit about the 612 buttons being assigned to the wrong function made me laugh

I think the lack of quality + niggles would really bug me spending that sort of money no matter how amazing the engine is. That said I've never been in a 599

[errek72]

Seriously? That is all that is wrong with it? I had no idea they were that good.

[tjlees]

Chris Harris said:

One unexpected bonus of running carbon ceramic discs is the lack of corrosion if you leave the car outside for a few days. The mild steel discs on a 575 used to oxidise in a few hours and get nasty after a few days. These are fur-free.

This Is why I like ceramics, and no brake dust after a spirited run. I am hoping this option will save a £2ishK on changing brakes every two years due to corrosion. My last car ate brakes for a passion - and I didn't really use it! Which is the systemic problem.

Given the single figure mpg, you won't be doing a 50k long term test then. Probably a good job otherwise more bits will break off, not work etc ... I'm only very jealous so ignore me.

[decadence]

Chris Harris said:

Bad photo of bad key

Is that not an after market key fob? I know its only a key but i'd expect a Ferrari logo on it at least!!

[CHIEF]

What a stonkingly lovely car, No doubt driven how it should be driven unlike most 599's I would imagine.

[r1ch]

Interesting to hear the little details that you don't ordinarily hear about. The key is surprisingly naff.

[NGK210]

tony993 said:

Another vote for PIAA wipers from me. I have these on all my cars. They're wonderfully quiet. If you have an older car with a pitted, greasy windscreen that you can't see through when it rains, these blades give you perfect clear vision.

Is the Si-Tech Flat version also blessed with the tricksy screen-clearing silicon gubbins? Ta.

[Hooley]

Message to monkey

You'll need one of these to convert the charger for your iPhone
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CableJive-dockStubz-Conver...

Good luck
J

[Chris Harris]

Hooley said:

Message to monkey

You'll need one of these to convert the charger for your iPhone
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CableJive-dockStubz-Conver...

Good luck
J

Thanks, will sort it

[DS240]

My heart bleeds thinking of you having to put up with these damn issues as you use the 599!

And some people dare moan about where they'll find a spare £20 to fill up their 900cc fiat panda, whose heater has packed up years ago and sills are rusting away..... They don't know their born.

Kidding... And can't really talk, though not wealthy or in 599 league, I am fortunate to have had nice cars. It is nice to hear of these things on supercars and see what the reality is like owning them.

[wemorgan]

You have to know the R&D budget for a supercar to quickly realise why the quality of so many parts is below expectation.
IMHO if you want a well rounded performance car you need to stick to the major OEM.
The above of course doesn't stop me wanting a Ferrari.

[Chris_VRS]

Chris, as someone has already mentioned get some Aero wipers bought, these along with a rain repellant on the screen (duxback found on ebay very good) will see an end to your wiper woes!

I can help you with the latter, not so the former.

[Urban Sports]

garycat said:

Wasn't it the wipers on a 612 that drove Clarkson crazy on one of those cross-Europe Top Gear races. They made a constant buzzing noise IIRC.

Only because a Ferrari technician had leant on them and damaged them IIRC.

[anonymous-user]

similar comment on key on the maser Granturismo - really bad

but Fiat can make decent keys, the key I had for my 1998 Coupe 20v turbo was a splendid metal bodied affair