550 Maranello article - they'll be £200k before you know it!
Discussion
footsoldier said:
I know the FHP is worth having on the 575, but is it a big step up for 550, or does it make it less comfortable to drive?
I think it was a little harsher over potholes etc and lower so always seemed to catch on speed bumps. I never drove it in anger so cannot really say other than that. I did raise the ride height a little as I was worried it might not get on the ferry! I was always too scared of losing my licence or crashing it to really judge. Supposedly FHP on the 575 was needed but I think on the 550 it wasnt so much of a big deal. Rare perhaps but not sure if it affects the value.Had both, it's too firm on bumpy roads on the 550, you feel everything and it's too jiggly, standard 550 was set up perfectly.
The 575 FHP was very nicely balanced (I never drove a non FHP to compare, I think only early '02/'03 cars made it to the UK without, mine was 2005) but in the context of modern cars I don't think either handles brilliantly on a twisty road due to the weight.
As a long distance GT over fast sweepers still phenomenal but drive a modern supercar over some fast A roads and the limitations become quite apparent in the slow reactions to swift direction changes. You always have to leave a little bit extra space on a tight road.
Not a criticism but remember these are getting on for 20 years old now so any discussion on outright handling ability is somewhat moot unless a car has had a full suspension rebuild (which I doubt many have).
The 575 FHP was very nicely balanced (I never drove a non FHP to compare, I think only early '02/'03 cars made it to the UK without, mine was 2005) but in the context of modern cars I don't think either handles brilliantly on a twisty road due to the weight.
As a long distance GT over fast sweepers still phenomenal but drive a modern supercar over some fast A roads and the limitations become quite apparent in the slow reactions to swift direction changes. You always have to leave a little bit extra space on a tight road.
Not a criticism but remember these are getting on for 20 years old now so any discussion on outright handling ability is somewhat moot unless a car has had a full suspension rebuild (which I doubt many have).
My 550 has the FHP. I'm its second owner. She's 20 years old, I've owned her for 19 of those years. For 18 years she went to the same dealer for servicing, it's well known.
I had thought the FHP was pretty hard and the car very low. But it handled like on rails and so I thought, cool. Speedbumps at 1 mph was a small price to pay.
This year I took her to a new (for me) specialist who had worked on my F50 a few months before beautifully. To my horror/amazement, they told me my 550 had the wrong ride height setting for the FHP. In fact it had virtually no height setting. It was pretty much zero. No wonder she rode hard.
The car was refurbished, the Skyhook technology properly installed, other overlooked important stuff replaced/repaired. She's now like a new car, literally. I've not driven a non FHP 550 but my car drives beautifully.
I had thought the FHP was pretty hard and the car very low. But it handled like on rails and so I thought, cool. Speedbumps at 1 mph was a small price to pay.
This year I took her to a new (for me) specialist who had worked on my F50 a few months before beautifully. To my horror/amazement, they told me my 550 had the wrong ride height setting for the FHP. In fact it had virtually no height setting. It was pretty much zero. No wonder she rode hard.
The car was refurbished, the Skyhook technology properly installed, other overlooked important stuff replaced/repaired. She's now like a new car, literally. I've not driven a non FHP 550 but my car drives beautifully.
Camlet said:
My 550 has the FHP. I'm its second owner. She's 20 years old, I've owned her for 19 of those years. For 18 years she went to the same dealer for servicing, it's well known.
I had thought the FHP was pretty hard and the car very low. But it handled like on rails and so I thought, cool. Speedbumps at 1 mph was a small price to pay.
This year I took her to a new (for me) specialist who had worked on my F50 a few months before beautifully. To my horror/amazement, they told me my 550 had the wrong ride height setting for the FHP. In fact it had virtually no height setting. It was pretty much zero. No wonder she rode hard.
The car was refurbished, the Skyhook technology properly installed, other overlooked important stuff replaced/repaired. She's now like a new car, literally. I've not driven a non FHP 550 but my car drives beautifully.
Interesting! But are you saying you now take speedbumps at more than 1 mph? I wouldn't. Not for fear of what it might do to my spine but rather whether I might do some damage to the fairly lengthy front overhang.I had thought the FHP was pretty hard and the car very low. But it handled like on rails and so I thought, cool. Speedbumps at 1 mph was a small price to pay.
This year I took her to a new (for me) specialist who had worked on my F50 a few months before beautifully. To my horror/amazement, they told me my 550 had the wrong ride height setting for the FHP. In fact it had virtually no height setting. It was pretty much zero. No wonder she rode hard.
The car was refurbished, the Skyhook technology properly installed, other overlooked important stuff replaced/repaired. She's now like a new car, literally. I've not driven a non FHP 550 but my car drives beautifully.
ferrisbueller said:
I don't have the info but was the 575 not a softer proposition at launch, so much so they responded to criticism with the handling pack soon after launch?
I'd have to try to dig out the roads tests to read about the changes.
Yes, that's pretty much the case but the question is whether journalists driving Ferrari's own cars gave a representative view of how they would be driven in the real world and therefore whether the 575 FHP is really necessary or not.I'd have to try to dig out the roads tests to read about the changes.
Sorry if it's a repost, but £55K 550 Maranello for sale at Justin Banks.
The main catch is 99K miles, but looks honest enough in the photos; does make you wonder what is hiding away. Looks like it needs some tidying up in the engine bay and trim at the very least.
http://www.justinbanks.com/1997-ferrari-550-marane...
If I play my cards right next year it will be between a 60-65k V12 Vantage or a bottom end of the market 550 Maranello.
V12 Vantage does seem to offer superb value at the moment, but the 550 was my poster car.
The 550 I had ruled out but this has made me wonder. Just the thought of trying to sell on a 100K+ Ferrari even if it has been well looked after is a bit scary.
Something with 60-80K miles would feel more comfortable, but condition is key...
The main catch is 99K miles, but looks honest enough in the photos; does make you wonder what is hiding away. Looks like it needs some tidying up in the engine bay and trim at the very least.
http://www.justinbanks.com/1997-ferrari-550-marane...
If I play my cards right next year it will be between a 60-65k V12 Vantage or a bottom end of the market 550 Maranello.
V12 Vantage does seem to offer superb value at the moment, but the 550 was my poster car.
The 550 I had ruled out but this has made me wonder. Just the thought of trying to sell on a 100K+ Ferrari even if it has been well looked after is a bit scary.
Something with 60-80K miles would feel more comfortable, but condition is key...
Edited by urquattroGus on Sunday 20th January 17:53
Jonny TVR said:
I think we get too uptight about mileage on ferraris .. loads have been clocked anyway so good to see one that hasn't!
yes, especially the cars from the 90s …. unless they all don't get driven I find it unlikely that the average mileage does not seem to change over a decade (no scientific analysis, just from looking at car adverts way way too much)
footsoldier said:
I know the FHP is worth having on the 575, but is it a big step up for 550, or does it make it less comfortable to drive?
My 550 was plenty firm enough without FHP, it is a GT after all. I would say that the FHP is essential on the 575 (which is softer than the 550 in standard set up) but a negative on the 550 - unless you're primarily driving on smooth flat roads.Gassing Station | Ferrari V12 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff