Perhaps someone in this forum owns one of these cars. I have for years dreamed about buying one. My 06 997S is my daily driver, and my commute is around 7 miles per day down Space Center Drive to NASA Road One, and then into a covered garage at my hospital.

Is this a crazy idea? Some of you may be informed regarding F1 transmission vs. Manual---at first thought, I would prefer the latter.

Thanks in advance for your informed opinion, and have a great day!

 

my father owns a 2000 550, bought used in 2002 with 500 miles on it. Car is a 6 speed as all 550's are and we have put 49,000 miles on it since 2002. We make sure to keep on top of all routine maintenance and we have never had a problem with the car at all....nothing...it has never not started even in the middle of the winter when it is 10 degrees out. We live in northern NJ and the car has done numerous road trips down to virginia, DC, maryland, boston, and Vermont. We have had less problems with this car than any other new bmw/porsche/MB we have ever owned

 

Not a crazy idea at all. I have heard many good things about the F1 trans. and would go with that if available.

 

F1 trans is lame, it is for people who spend their time in their big S550 MB all year and put 200 miles on their ferrari a year and dont know how to drive stick very well...if you can drive stick and drive it smoothly and often, def get a 6 speed, nothing like the clink sound when shifting through the gate

 

I owned a 04 575 F1, if you go with a 575 make sure it has the FHP option, the suspension and handling suffer without it. Also remember these are GT cars not sports cars, and a V12 Ferrari engine can be costly if something goes wrong. I sold mine before my 430 came in, and then I bought a 07 M6 coupe (moded to around 600hp with suspension mods as well), let the general manager of my local Ferrari dealer drive it, and he was amazed at how fast it was and how well it handled. Not suggesting it as an option, and if you have the Ferrari urge it is hard to overcome. I am also on Ferrarichat.com, you will find lots of get information on there. Oh and if you do want a F1, that would mean only a 575

 

Here is a couple pics of my 04

 

As a physician I have a delicte balance between enjoying a vehicle and maintaining an impression amoung peers and patients alike. When I drive into the surgery center not too infrequently i'll run into one of my pre-ops, I believe they would rather me in a carrera, mb, or BMW somehow intangibly it indicates that you know what your doing and must be successful at it. After surgery when the get the bill they would prefer me in a 6 year old accord. Then there are my peers, as a specialist, referrals tend not to want you to be driving in a "fancy" car as it portrays an image that your doing unnecessary surgery etc. and earning way too much money so you must be cheating the system. In medicine success is good but demonstrating it it is frowned upon, I find it a delicate and difficult balance. People look at Tom Perkins the "successful businessman" with his new 500 million dollar megayacht and perceive this as "good" I doubt they analyze where all that revenue comes from, as they do with physicians.

 

The same is true for attorneys . . .

 

Just to clarify, FHP means Fiorano Handling Package.

Veloce Raptor on the Racing/DE board used to have a 550 that he put some miles on, and he'd be a good person to contact with questions.

 

not true for corporate or tax attys people feel they have some magical paper pushing power that allows them un-fettered income. There is also an exception to the MD rule and that would be the prominent Long Island malpractice plantiff atty (former neurosurgeon)who drives around in the rolls with the MD-JD license plate

 

To the OP - good luck in your search...I've always thought the 550/575 was a fine example of elegant aggression, not so "boy racer" in appearance as the V8 cars but still packing 485-515 HP. I would never consider F1 tranny, though, much prefer the involvement of rowing my own gears.

One fine choice for a weekend car, to be sure!

 

i've always loved this car - another Bad Boy inspired vehicle.

 

If you want one then buy it. Even if your commute is down Pluto Lane to Mickey Mouse Blvd and amounts to 8 miles with parking in a carport and guarded by armadillos you will love the car! Having a C2S and aspiring to move up makes a Ferrari an obvious choice.

 

I, for one, do NOT consider a Ferrari a "move up" from Porsche.

 

I really, really, wanted a Ferari and it was also my dream until I actually drove one...maybe a 599 or a 430 is better but a 550 it's not even close to a 997 P-car...but then again, its a Ferrari