RE: POTW: Maranello temptress

RE: POTW: Maranello temptress

Author
Discussion

paul0843

1,914 posts

206 months

Saturday 3rd November 2012
quotequote all
My furst ferrari.. Had it for 4 years.. A couple of trips to south of france and back will
always remain very memorable..
Only issue i had apart from routine servicing was a couple of blown hoses and
a pair of shocks..
Rosso/crema..was absolutely gorgeous..

gaters

1,356 posts

196 months

Saturday 3rd November 2012
quotequote all






I think the 550 is a great looking car!! I bought this one 18 months ago and plan to keep it for a very very long time. The car drives beautifully and looks amazing (I think anyway)smile

Camlet

1,132 posts

148 months

Saturday 3rd November 2012
quotequote all
Gazzab said:
I drove one, quite liked it. Its not a sports car. Quite lethargic and heavy. Nice and flat in the corners but not very quick. imho.
It's an awesome GT, not a sports car in the TVR mould. And on a recent drive with some of the latest hardware it easily kept up. Lethargic it wasn't. My 550 has the Fiorano handling pack so perhaps it makes for faster progress. But whatever the case, the 550 is a magnificent (and increasingly beautiful) machine combining old world analogue charm with modern grunt.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Saturday 3rd November 2012
quotequote all
What are the realistic annual costs (depreciation and maintenance) on one of these?

Jaged

3,598 posts

193 months

Saturday 3rd November 2012
quotequote all
gaters said:






I think the 550 is a great looking car!! I bought this one 18 months ago and plan to keep it for a very very long time. The car drives beautifully and looks amazing (I think anyway)smile
WOW! The is just beautiful!

I have always loved the 550 and the one Ferrari I would like to own myself.

Earleir this year a friend went out to Italy and came back with a LHD 550 (his 3rd Ferrari now!) and I have to say it is "that" good, but yours in Barchetta form must just be perfection.

It is a Barchetta not a Spyder??

Stingercut

217 posts

166 months

Saturday 3rd November 2012
quotequote all
gaters said:






I think the 550 is a great looking car!! I bought this one 18 months ago and plan to keep it for a very very long time. The car drives beautifully and looks amazing (I think anyway)smile
Wow!!! Absolutely Stunning !! Love the front of these especially.

Unfortunately my fumbling iphone thumbs pressed 'rate it' before I had a change to flip the dial to a 10.

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Saturday 3rd November 2012
quotequote all
I drove a friends 550 a few years ago, stunning machine loved every minute of it.

Amusing that someone posted it isn't fast, only on PH would you find someone describing a 200mph V12 Ferrari as not very quick.

Trevor M

57 posts

144 months

Saturday 3rd November 2012
quotequote all
The 550 will never appreciate in value like a Daytona or a 275 GTB because it is different than those cars -- it is plain and uninspired in styling and quite dull. In a big Ferrari show, they fade into the background and don't get a second look. And that is half the determining value in Ferrari values. As all history and evidence shows. In fact, the 550 and 575 are about in the same league as the 365 GTC/4 which is only worth a fraction of the Daytona. Put in perspective, the 550 came out as an anti-Testarossa -- one of the most garish and ultimately ugly Ferraris. And they went too far and made it too plain.

So, ultimately, the 550 and 575 are Ferraris for people who don't care about being seen driving a Ferrari. The minority. Values reflect this and always will. Period.

Edited by Trevor M on Saturday 3rd November 17:54

f328nvl

507 posts

217 months

Saturday 3rd November 2012
quotequote all
It was mine that didn't bankrupt or kill me. The full story warts and all is here (sorry you have to register to read it, no idea why, but it is about cars!). It runs into the 355 story I wrote about on here last week, hence the heading.

http://www.clubscuderia.co.uk/forum/showthread.php...

gaters

1,356 posts

196 months

Sunday 4th November 2012
quotequote all
[quote=Trevor

So, ultimately, the 550 and 575 are Ferraris for people who don't care about being seen driving a Ferrari. The minority. Values reflect this and always will. Period.

Edited by Trevor M on Saturday 3rd November 17:54

[/quote]

You obviously feel strongly about this, but can you explain the bit above? If you dont care about being seen in a Ferrari, why buy one? I am intrigued

80085

160 posts

143 months

Sunday 4th November 2012
quotequote all
Trev is on his period, and hence is talking out his ass, "PERIOD!!!"

Camlet

1,132 posts

148 months

Sunday 4th November 2012
quotequote all
80085 said:
Trev is on his period, and hence is talking out his ass, "PERIOD!!!"
biglaugh Reminds me of the you can have your own opinions but not your own facts quote. Trev clearly hasn't owned a 550 otherwise he'd understand their attraction and avoid bizarre comments. Far from invisible, from my experience the 550 solicits affection in much the same way an 04 Vanquish might. Except a 550 is massively more competent and currently cheaper than the Aston.

Schermerhorn

4,342 posts

188 months

Monday 5th November 2012
quotequote all
This, in my opinion, is where 'modern' Ferraris started taking over from the Testarossa based F512M generation with improved reliability and touring ability all around.

They are also mighty quick and as quick as an E60 M5; a car almost 10 years its junior.

scotty_917

1,034 posts

221 months

Monday 5th November 2012
quotequote all
Beautifully understated...which Michael helped to hone & sign off (Fiorano handling pack), when he was first at Ferrari!

I'm of similar opinion that these are undervalued at the moment...watching prices over the last 12 months...

...just need to convince the girlfriend of the 'investment potential' too!

jkhamler

21 posts

161 months

Monday 5th November 2012
quotequote all
The 550 has always been one of my favourite Ferraris. Understated class and elegant proportions.

NicoG

640 posts

207 months

Monday 5th November 2012
quotequote all
365daytonafan said:
The older models offer a very different driving experience to the 550/575 (or any other modern car for that matter). I suspect after a couple more generations of Ferrari Berlinetta the 550/575 will come into their own for people seeking a different driving experience to whatever modern hydrid gas turbine quadruple clutch (joke) car is then on sale.
^ Word.