Discussion
Sure it's been discussed brfroe but 'Search' function not working.
Considering purchase of a 550/575.
550 prices appear to be catching up with 575. Is this a similar scenario to 996 GT3 MK1 & 2's ie Mk1 has more of a 'following' after the chap from Evo bought one and talked them up? Or are they really 'better'?
Have 575 prices firmed in last 6 months?
Crystal ball I know but will 575 depreciate more than 550 from here or will they both stabilse here?
I plan to drive both but assuming both manual and Fiorino option on 575 is the drive pretty similar?
Is the F1 box up to the job on 575 ie more like that on 430 than 360?
To be honest on paper I'm drawn to 575 but interested to hear views of those who;ve experienced them both.
Thanks!
Considering purchase of a 550/575.
550 prices appear to be catching up with 575. Is this a similar scenario to 996 GT3 MK1 & 2's ie Mk1 has more of a 'following' after the chap from Evo bought one and talked them up? Or are they really 'better'?
Have 575 prices firmed in last 6 months?
Crystal ball I know but will 575 depreciate more than 550 from here or will they both stabilse here?
I plan to drive both but assuming both manual and Fiorino option on 575 is the drive pretty similar?
Is the F1 box up to the job on 575 ie more like that on 430 than 360?
To be honest on paper I'm drawn to 575 but interested to hear views of those who;ve experienced them both.
Thanks!
Lovely cars
I prefer the design of the front spoiler on the 550 than the 575 - rather more elegant proportions
Also, does the 575 have more complex gadgets / monitoring devices on it above those on the 550?
I was chatting with Ben Cartwright some time ago about the possibility of adding a 550 or 575. Ben had been preparing a 575 at the time and had spent a lot of time sorting out the tyre pressure monitors etc on it, and recall that the 550 was his preference a being somewhat simpler to maintain (understandable for both owners and dealers!)
I prefer the design of the front spoiler on the 550 than the 575 - rather more elegant proportions
Also, does the 575 have more complex gadgets / monitoring devices on it above those on the 550?
I was chatting with Ben Cartwright some time ago about the possibility of adding a 550 or 575. Ben had been preparing a 575 at the time and had spent a lot of time sorting out the tyre pressure monitors etc on it, and recall that the 550 was his preference a being somewhat simpler to maintain (understandable for both owners and dealers!)
Mart-1 said:
I was chatting with Ben Cartwright some time ago about the possibility of adding a 550 or 575. Ben had been preparing a 575 at the time and had spent a lot of time sorting out the tyre pressure monitors etc on it, and recall that the 550 was his preference a being somewhat simpler to maintain (understandable for both owners and dealers!)
I was chatting with him yesterday and I could have sworn he said it's the 550 TPMS ststem which is a nightmare! loljohnnyreggae said:
birdcage said:
you need to get FHP which adds to the cost.
Are you sure ? Its not really a track car in the first place and with the state of UK roads it doesn't need to be any firmer
Camlet said:
I have a 550 and love it to bits, so very happily biased. Ferrari goofed with the 575 when it first appeared. Compared to the sublime handling balance of the 550, the 575 felt awful. Hence the rapid introduction of FHP on 575's. FHP first appeared as a cost option on the 550. My specialist dealer is currently giving my 550 a gentle makeover. It's done 24K and remains an awesome driving machine; it's looking more beautiful with age too. Add in their likely move upwards for good examples, and it's a no brainer. 550 every time
Do you know if 575 with FHP is similar in handling balance etc to 550?roygarth said:
Do you know if 575 with FHP is similar in handling balance etc to 550?
Yes very similar, the 575 non FHP is not that bad as a GT it's just a bit soft, the FHP cured that and made it into a faster, better built 550. I changed from my 550 to a 575 to get the F1 box, the 550 gearchange and clutch is pretty heavy and I found there was a tendency to stay in high gears to avoid the effort, not an issue with the torque mind. IMHO the F1 change brings the car alive, it's so easy to drop two gears and exploit the power making it feel significant'y quicker than the 30BHP upgrade suggests, add to that a more modern feel and better built cockpit it all adds up to the 575 being a better car by some margin (IMHO )F355GTS said:
Yes very similar, the 575 non FHP is not that bad as a GT it's just a bit soft, the FHP cured that and made it into a faster, better built 550. I changed from my 550 to a 575 to get the F1 box, the 550 gearchange and clutch is pretty heavy and I found there was a tendency to stay in high gears to avoid the effort, not an issue with the torque mind. IMHO the F1 change brings the car alive, it's so easy to drop two gears and exploit the power making it feel significant'y quicker than the 30BHP upgrade suggests, add to that a more modern feel and better built cockpit it all adds up to the 575 being a better car by some margin (IMHO )
Thanks, I was hoping somebody would say something like this as the newer, better built aspect of the 575 appeals. If driving experience of 575 is equal or better than 550 and as they are now similar money, perhaps 575 is the way forward. )roygarth said:
F355GTS said:
Yes very similar, the 575 non FHP is not that bad as a GT it's just a bit soft, the FHP cured that and made it into a faster, better built 550. I changed from my 550 to a 575 to get the F1 box, the 550 gearchange and clutch is pretty heavy and I found there was a tendency to stay in high gears to avoid the effort, not an issue with the torque mind. IMHO the F1 change brings the car alive, it's so easy to drop two gears and exploit the power making it feel significant'y quicker than the 30BHP upgrade suggests, add to that a more modern feel and better built cockpit it all adds up to the 575 being a better car by some margin (IMHO )
Thanks, I was hoping somebody would say something like this as the newer, better built aspect of the 575 appeals. If driving experience of 575 is equal or better than 550 and as they are now similar money, perhaps 575 is the way forward. )Camlet said:
As for your pricing observation, ask yourself why the 550 and 575 delta is closing fast.
Thats pretty much the reason for my original post. What else, apart from being easier to find with a manual box (and whats his name at Evo talking them up) is pushing prices of 550 up to 575 prices?As a matter of interest, how would you rate a 550 with manual box V 575 with manual box?
Thanks.
johnnyreggae said:
Arguably proof that the 575 is a better car is the large premium for a manual 575 over the equivalent 550 - F1 575 between the two
It's not proof of anything other than the rarity of the 575 manual. They are simply hen's teeth.Honest assessment of the 575 from a 550 owner's perspective:
- F1 gearbox. Slow by modern standards but not bad. Personally do not think it fits the character of the car and would never have one. Also, any semi-automatic has a serious risk of developing very expensive repairs as the mileage gets higher - a semi-auto doesn't treat the synchros gently if they don't completely line up. But there are also lots of people out there that love the F1 and have to have one.
- Engine. Slightly more powerful, always nice to have.
- Styling. Definitely swings in the 550's favour in my eyes.
- Interior upgrades. Looks a bit more akward and less classic to me. Electronics upgrades (LCD etc) were a big improvement at the time but now seem to age the car more. I like the fact that the 550 has hardly any displays.
- Handling. I. for one think the floppiness of the 575 is greatly exaggerated, even without FHP.
All in all the differences are small, subjective, and any Maranello is a great car.
Onno
Onno
johnnyreggae said:
Arguably proof that the 575 is a better car is the large premium for a manual 575 over the equivalent 550 - F1 575 between the two
It's not proof of anything other than the rarity of the 575 manual. They are simply hen's teeth.Honest assessment of the 575 from a 550 owner's perspective:
- F1 gearbox. Slow by modern standards but not bad. Personally do not think it fits the character of the car and would never have one. Also, any semi-automatic has a serious risk of developing very expensive repairs as the mileage gets higher - a semi-auto doesn't treat the synchros gently if they don't completely line up. But there are also lots of people out there that love the F1 and have to have one.
- Engine. Slightly more powerful, always nice to have.
- Styling. Definitely swings in the 550's favour in my eyes.
- Interior upgrades. Looks a bit more akward and less classic to me. Electronics upgrades (LCD etc) were a big improvement at the time but now seem to age the car more. I like the fact that the 550 has hardly any displays.
- Handling. I. for one think the floppiness of the 575 is greatly exaggerated, even without FHP.
All in all the differences are small, subjective, and any Maranello is a great car.
Onno
I've recently been through just this decision-making process, and ended up with a 550.
My choice was made easier by the fact that I wanted a manual 'box, and as others have said manual 575s are rare. But there have been a couple for sale, and so my decision was based on:
- preferring the looks and the simpler wheel design of the 550
- preferring the interior design, with the extended dash and the three analogue gauges
- the fact that I found a really well preserved 550 which also had the FHP fitted only recently.
All very much personal preference; I think the 575 is a lovely car and in non-F1 form might actually be a better longer term value proposition given its rarity, but as it is I am delighted with my 550 (Verde and tan leather). I've done just over 1,000 miles now and am loving the sense of occasion, the incredibly elastic engine and the superb (astonishing even) handling for such a big car. It's my first Ferrari, and I am beginning to feel the dangerous allure of Maranello over the cars from Stuttgart!
Cheers
My choice was made easier by the fact that I wanted a manual 'box, and as others have said manual 575s are rare. But there have been a couple for sale, and so my decision was based on:
- preferring the looks and the simpler wheel design of the 550
- preferring the interior design, with the extended dash and the three analogue gauges
- the fact that I found a really well preserved 550 which also had the FHP fitted only recently.
All very much personal preference; I think the 575 is a lovely car and in non-F1 form might actually be a better longer term value proposition given its rarity, but as it is I am delighted with my 550 (Verde and tan leather). I've done just over 1,000 miles now and am loving the sense of occasion, the incredibly elastic engine and the superb (astonishing even) handling for such a big car. It's my first Ferrari, and I am beginning to feel the dangerous allure of Maranello over the cars from Stuttgart!
Cheers
The paddles on my 575 werent that great. even after changing the clutch it would sometimes miss gears on fast upshifts and at oevr 2k for the clutch it seemed to chew its way through it.
Very important to get someone to check the clutch wear when you're buying one.
Also, I didn't have the FHP ( bought at a price to reflect this) and I found it noticeable, as when pressing on through bendy A roads, you could feel it wallow, even to the point where mine bottomed out on a couple of occasions. I was quoted circa £10k IIRC for the FHP to be retro fitted.
Hope this helps.
Very important to get someone to check the clutch wear when you're buying one.
Also, I didn't have the FHP ( bought at a price to reflect this) and I found it noticeable, as when pressing on through bendy A roads, you could feel it wallow, even to the point where mine bottomed out on a couple of occasions. I was quoted circa £10k IIRC for the FHP to be retro fitted.
Hope this helps.
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