Discussion
I know all the magazines think the F1 is not up to scratch. (Compared to the M3 or the Vanquish). Some people even say that you can change gears quicker in the manual than in the F1 version. What do you guys think ?
From My experience the F1 was FAST. Full stop. You can drive it faster and harder into all the corners and deeper into the braking zones than the manual,
The car spends less time in neutral so you don’t have all that front shuffle when you dip the clutch in the manual, as the car goes from full acceleration, to nothing and then back to full acceleration.
You can visibly see other cars stop accelerating as they change gear.
In the F1 bikes, were game… in the manual, you need to work a little harder.
A tubi on an F1 sounds just likes like a Formula 1 accelerating. Shrill, then the tiniest punctuation then that shrill again.
Okay down side is it overheats in traffic and you have to be very careful milling about in first in traffic, plus needing a new clutch after 8 thousand miles. :-0
Why is the Enzo only offered with the F1 box ?.
From My experience the F1 was FAST. Full stop. You can drive it faster and harder into all the corners and deeper into the braking zones than the manual,
The car spends less time in neutral so you don’t have all that front shuffle when you dip the clutch in the manual, as the car goes from full acceleration, to nothing and then back to full acceleration.
You can visibly see other cars stop accelerating as they change gear.
In the F1 bikes, were game… in the manual, you need to work a little harder.
A tubi on an F1 sounds just likes like a Formula 1 accelerating. Shrill, then the tiniest punctuation then that shrill again.
Okay down side is it overheats in traffic and you have to be very careful milling about in first in traffic, plus needing a new clutch after 8 thousand miles. :-0
Why is the Enzo only offered with the F1 box ?.
Depends what you personally prefer...I drove an F1 355 for the weekend and an F1 360 - the 360 was far better F1 than the 355 and I do understand what you are saying about acceleration but in reality there is very little difference between the 2.....I personally chose manual on my 355 because in traffice it is a nightmare (and over here you cannot avoid traffic anywhere it seems) - the clutch stinks in traffic as it slips a lot crawling around at 5mph and it is a pain in the arse having to keep putting your foot on the brake to engage 1st gear....only place I really think it would make a difference is on a track....oh and unless you have very deep pockets I would not fancy a new clutch every 5-8k miles.....IMHO of course....I wanted F1 to start but ended up as said with manual as it is easier to live with...
>> Edited by basher on Friday 1st November 13:21
>> Edited by basher on Friday 1st November 13:21
If you'll forgive me sticking my nose in here, my thoughts are that some cars are destined to have manual boxes, and the Ferrari is one of them.
The F1 box, imho, is an attempt to cash-in on the success of the grand-prix car, unfortunately taking one of the significant elements that has contributed to the fortnightly boredom that is today's grand-prix racing.
The fact that it isn't regarded as the best of these systems is even more reason to avoid it, at least for the time being.
Any Ferrari comes from a long line of sports cars. How can anyone depart from the exposed metal gate? Change your own gears!
Or maybe I'm just a luddite who wants to live in some idealised interpretation of the past...
Anyway, like I said, just sticking my nose in.
Edited to say: If you want the great noise of blips on the downchange (and who doesn't?) then why not try learning h+t? I'll bet they'll sound much better if you know they're coming from what your feet have done rather than just pressing a button.
>> Edited by whatever on Friday 1st November 14:01
The F1 box, imho, is an attempt to cash-in on the success of the grand-prix car, unfortunately taking one of the significant elements that has contributed to the fortnightly boredom that is today's grand-prix racing.
The fact that it isn't regarded as the best of these systems is even more reason to avoid it, at least for the time being.
Any Ferrari comes from a long line of sports cars. How can anyone depart from the exposed metal gate? Change your own gears!
Or maybe I'm just a luddite who wants to live in some idealised interpretation of the past...
Anyway, like I said, just sticking my nose in.
Edited to say: If you want the great noise of blips on the downchange (and who doesn't?) then why not try learning h+t? I'll bet they'll sound much better if you know they're coming from what your feet have done rather than just pressing a button.
>> Edited by whatever on Friday 1st November 14:01
In a 355 or a 360 you can punch through the gears really, really fast as the gearboxes are perfect for high rev changes. They are both fantastically precise and sharp. The F1 at low engine speeds slurs momentarily before engaging fully, and at high revs it does it less but is still noticeable. I'd say this was probably more down to me not being fully conversant with the system due to the limited time I had to drive it.
Its a personal thing in my case really as I totally love the sound of the metal against metal with the manual. I also didn't like the idea of it going mental on me and leave me unable to drive for no apparent reason, which I have heard it can do out of the blue. (that rhymes
sorry how childish). New clutch at 5000-10000 miles, no thank you (if I was being cynical you could say it was a plan by Ferrari to sell more clutches). Although I would say that could be remedied with a more educated and sympathetic driving style, sticking to the rules for the system etc.
Generally, I prefer to have COMPLETE control over my car, which you don't in the F1. One of the reasons I hate Merc SL (even though I love them, if you know what I mean) as they all come as autos, what a waste!
I personally think the difference is negligible in terms of speed of changing up, especially in road use. I doubt well driven 360F1 and 360 manual will have anything in it in a drag race. In fact, try standing start in an F1 (surprisingly, dealer didn't mind me doing that!) Its feels like you are going to damage something and you have only a limited amount of time to get the revs right before it lurches in gear. Again, I think this is due to my inexperience with the system. Downchanges, though, together with blipping are another matter. The F1 system does it very well, and sounds the bollocks too.
Wow what a ramble!!!
regards
>> Edited by ninja_eli on Friday 1st November 14:01
Its a personal thing in my case really as I totally love the sound of the metal against metal with the manual. I also didn't like the idea of it going mental on me and leave me unable to drive for no apparent reason, which I have heard it can do out of the blue. (that rhymes
sorry how childish). New clutch at 5000-10000 miles, no thank you (if I was being cynical you could say it was a plan by Ferrari to sell more clutches). Although I would say that could be remedied with a more educated and sympathetic driving style, sticking to the rules for the system etc. Generally, I prefer to have COMPLETE control over my car, which you don't in the F1. One of the reasons I hate Merc SL (even though I love them, if you know what I mean) as they all come as autos, what a waste!
I personally think the difference is negligible in terms of speed of changing up, especially in road use. I doubt well driven 360F1 and 360 manual will have anything in it in a drag race. In fact, try standing start in an F1 (surprisingly, dealer didn't mind me doing that!) Its feels like you are going to damage something and you have only a limited amount of time to get the revs right before it lurches in gear. Again, I think this is due to my inexperience with the system. Downchanges, though, together with blipping are another matter. The F1 system does it very well, and sounds the bollocks too.
Wow what a ramble!!!
regards
>> Edited by ninja_eli on Friday 1st November 14:01
Hey guys - not sure where I stand on this actually...
On the Enzo, the F1 shift is supposedly VICIOUS and that's fine because it's in keeping with the general character of the car.
I was really impressed the last time I went out in an F1 which was Bernards car actually - it was quick and smooth. However my experience with my cousins car was bad... two clutches in 9 months (no he wasn't an experienced driver) - moreover the time I drove the car, the clutch overheat beep just wouldn't stop and it was really freaking me (and him more importantly) out.
As for speed I'm fairly sure Bernards car wasn't being totally thrashed, (perhaps not in sportiest mode? ) but if you download the first video of our website you can hear Ninja shifting his stock F355 quick enough to stay with the F1 shift - although I think perhaps in the right mode the F1 will walk away from stock.
People experiences differ soo widely on this issue... I would NOT specify this option on the 575M - you just don't need it with that kind of torque to play with.
On the Enzo, the F1 shift is supposedly VICIOUS and that's fine because it's in keeping with the general character of the car.
I was really impressed the last time I went out in an F1 which was Bernards car actually - it was quick and smooth. However my experience with my cousins car was bad... two clutches in 9 months (no he wasn't an experienced driver) - moreover the time I drove the car, the clutch overheat beep just wouldn't stop and it was really freaking me (and him more importantly) out.
As for speed I'm fairly sure Bernards car wasn't being totally thrashed, (perhaps not in sportiest mode? ) but if you download the first video of our website you can hear Ninja shifting his stock F355 quick enough to stay with the F1 shift - although I think perhaps in the right mode the F1 will walk away from stock.
People experiences differ soo widely on this issue... I would NOT specify this option on the 575M - you just don't need it with that kind of torque to play with.
No sorry, don't like the F1 at all. Fair dos to the people who have them, this is my opinion. It isn't a 'driver aids' thing because I'm totally in favour of ABS & traction control. In my experience the changes don't feel quick enough (even slower on the Maser), despite being as fast or faster than a manual change. The difference is that with a manual change you are doing something in that interval and not sitting there twiddling your thumbs. Simply can't be doing with that' no mans land' period while it selects the next gear. And like Ninja I need to know when the power will come in. Manual, until the technology improves and the changes effectively instantaneous
>> Edited by 456mgt on Friday 1st November 14:35
>> Edited by 456mgt on Friday 1st November 14:35
I had the 360 F1 for a year and changed it for the 360M. After four months of manual gear changes I think most cars will have some sort of sequential based system.
I do Heel and toe and have been working to improve my gearshift… The clack as the gears go in is nice… And the take off in the manual is just a peach…. But the F1 from 2nd gear to top was better… as long as you lifted a millimetre on the gas after you pulled the lever on the upshift change.
The F1 needed two clutches about 8 thousand miles a piece , but I have to say I drove it hard.
Seems the F1 shift differs from car to car but if Ferrari / Sach or who ever makes the clutches get it sorted out then will the benefits of the F1 shift…. Stability , speed, accuracy (have missed a gear or two in full flow in the manual) start to outweigh the benefits of the manual shift.
Another slant is a straight sequential gear shift, with or with the clutch. That would off the best of both worlds …
There has to be a reason the Enzo doesn’t come with a normal shift… that was what got me thinking..
I presume you don’t have to keep the engine on the boil all the time with 600 odd bhp on tap any gear will do….
I do Heel and toe and have been working to improve my gearshift… The clack as the gears go in is nice… And the take off in the manual is just a peach…. But the F1 from 2nd gear to top was better… as long as you lifted a millimetre on the gas after you pulled the lever on the upshift change.
The F1 needed two clutches about 8 thousand miles a piece , but I have to say I drove it hard.
Seems the F1 shift differs from car to car but if Ferrari / Sach or who ever makes the clutches get it sorted out then will the benefits of the F1 shift…. Stability , speed, accuracy (have missed a gear or two in full flow in the manual) start to outweigh the benefits of the manual shift.
Another slant is a straight sequential gear shift, with or with the clutch. That would off the best of both worlds …
There has to be a reason the Enzo doesn’t come with a normal shift… that was what got me thinking..
I presume you don’t have to keep the engine on the boil all the time with 600 odd bhp on tap any gear will do….
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