2000 Ferrari 550 Maranello - Oppo Review

"t_s" (t_s) 11/10/2015 at 08:34 • Filed to: None

77

100

Before I get started, let me set something out. I’m Italian, educated (ha!) in the UK, I’m going to use words and spelling that will probably irritate you a great deal, please accept my apologies to begin with.

Right, now that I’ve got that out of the way let me get started. Launched in 1996 the Ferrari 550 Maranello was Ferrari’s return to a front/mid-engined V12 2 seat sportscar/gran turismo, a type of car which had been absent from the model lineup since the Daytona had made way for the 365BB some 23 years earlier. Sure the 456 had a similar layout but that was a four-seater, designed for old men who have to wake up lots of times in the middle of the night. The Maranello was aimed at an altogether younger clientele. The car hails from a simpler time, when the Prancing Horse wasn’t a byword for racing domination or branded crap or an internet whipping boy. That simplicity is something that will later become more evident.

( Full disclosure, my father wanted me to drive his Maranello so much he hid it behind three other cars, put one of them up on a lift and left the keys on a different planet. Actually no, that’s not true, but it was an absolute bastard to lever the damn thing out of the garage. )

Let’s get started then shall we.

Exterior 7/10
At its launch the Maranello was either lauded for its restrained styling after the Kardashian butt and side strakes of the Testarossa/512TR family or damned with faint praise for being a bit too staid. One curly-haired British automotive hack, later to become known for his amateur pugilism, compared it unfavourably to the contemporary Toyota Supra. In Blu Tour de France it doesn’t exactly scream thoroughbred supercar. It’s quite a restrained affair, and to be honest it’s got a couple of quite suspect angles, the rear three-quarter view in particular is a bit, erm, square.

However I happen to think that the profile and the front view are delightful and if Sunday’s drive is anything to go by, when people see it appear in their rear view mirror, they get out of the way, sharpish. Other things I like include the two side vents behind the front wheel and the vast expanses of no branding (this car was ordered without Scuderia shields and they’re a scrotum-shrivellingly expensive after-purchase option). If I’m being honest I like it a lot, but at the same time I don’t think it’s aged particularly well if compared with the slightly older 456.

Interior 4/10
Oh dear, things start getting a little bit more complicated here. Back in the mid nineties Ferrari had no qualms about raiding the corporate parts bin. Unfortunately at the time, the corporate parts bin included wiper and indicator stalks from a mid nineties Alfa Romeo, seat back flip handles from a Fiat Tipo and quality control from, erm, nowhere.

Things haven’t aged well in here, at all. Both airbag panels have more bumps that a 13 year-old’s face, some of the plastic switchgear (the rear demist switch in particular) looks to be melting, the panel with the HVAC is, if I’m being polite, mottled. This car is fifteen years old, but most of the switches feel at least ten years older, and that’s just not cool.

If there’s one area where Ferrari have really improved in the past ten years it’s in their interiors. Get out of a 458 and into a 550 and you’ll either start laughing or get back out. Considering that the interior is where you’ll be spending most of your time (unless of course you believe the internet, in which case you’ll be spending most your time standing next to it waiting for the recovery truck) this is utterly rubbish. There are however a couple of redeeming features, the seats are utterly amazing, supportive, well-designed, comfortable and gorgeous, the Daytona-esque centre stitching being particularly attractive, the leather is also magnificent. The seats get 10/10, the rest though is utterly dismal, which is a shame because it’s not a particularly bad design for an interior, simple, driver-focused, but the materials are just dire.

Acceleration 9/10
In a universe of Hellcats, C7 Corvettes and family station wagons that can show it a clean tailgate from zero to 100km/h the Maranello’s 4.2 seconds on the same interval and subsequent romp to 100mph in 9.6 seconds might not sound rapid. However I’m here to tell you that on Italian roads, populated by diesel Fiat Puntos which in 9.6 seconds are barely moving it’s bloody rapid. It’s also embarrassingly easy to launch the big bastard, get it off the line without too many revs (those tyres and that clutch cost an absolute fortune) and then ride the ocean of torque through the range until the numbers are scarily big. Overtaking the average Italian Sunday driver is also disarmingly simple, don’t shift down, just slam the pedal to the floor and the V12 takes care of business, no matter the gear.

Braking 7/10
13 inches up front, 11 out back, comfortingly massive callipers. The ingredients are all there, but for all its alloy bodywork, this is still a 1700kg (3700lb) uber tourer with 485bhp on tap, it’s going to need a fair bit of heft to get the thing stopped. There’s no issue with the braking power, it’s all there, but the pedal’s quite long on travel and I think the ABS calls time a bit too early and it’s very intrusive. Plus this definitely isn’t a car I’d take on a trackday with the standard set up, ten minutes of spirited (wife giggling nervously) driving had the pedal getting even longer, not something I would like approaching a corner at Mugello at ‘oh dear God someone help me’ per hour.

Ride 9/10
Supple. There is no other word to describe it. This thing just floats over imperfections, it’s utterly uncanny. Leave the chassis in the standard mode and we’re way into luxury car levels of refinement. This is one of the first Ferrari experiments with adaptable chassis setting and by hell if they didn’t get it right first time out. You’re aware of bumps, pot holes and ruts (yes, Italian roads are utterly dismal), but that’s it, all you get is awareness, not discomfort, there’s little to no roll. Stick the chassis in Sport mode and things get appreciably stiffer, bumps will have your CDs (remember them?) skipping, but the level of precision and feedback is much higher. I cannot for the life of me understand how a company can make a chassis so magnificent and an interior so utterly rubbish.

Handling 9/10
Four and a half meters of 1.7 tonne super coupe doesn’t sound like the recipe for a great-handling car does it? Well I’m afraid you’re wrong, this thing is brilliant. Imagine a V12 MX-5 (fine, Miata), adjustable on the throttle, little to no understeer, perfect weight balance, it’s all there. You can throw this car around more than you really should on tight European roads. To abuse an oft-cited cliché, the Maranello shrinks around you as you drive. The steering is a particular delight. It’s not until you experience a properly weighted hydraulic helm that you come to appreciate how far backwards we’ve gone with electric steering. Minute inputs are met with similarly precise outputs at the front wheels, you’re left with no doubt as to what’s going on. This is a delightful car to hustle. Unfortunately it shows its age in one very big area. The ASR stability/traction control is utterly brutal in its intervention. When the car is in standard mode even the slightest prod of the accelerator in a corner will be met with an initial surge of acceleration, followed by a brick wall as the somewhat rudimentary software cuts fueling. Putting it in sport mode allows for a bit more funny business with the back end, but again, when the computer calls time it’s like slamming into a brick wall. Disengaging ASR altogether would allow for shenanigans to your heart’s content, but bending this thing would be somewhat detrimental to my bank account and a sideways Maranello would take up most of central Italy.

Gearbox 4/10

(wife’s handbag not included)

Gated manual!!! The last bastion of driving purity!!! The only thing a car needs to make it perfect!!!

So says everyone on the internet, how many of those have actually driven one? I think that after a drive in a transaxle transmission manual Ferrari they would be somewhat disappointed, not to mention nursing a sore wrist and left leg. The mid-engine stuff is much better but let’s get it out of the way boys and girls, in this application, it’s not very good. The throw is long, the clutch is heavy and the action is stiff, bordering on recalcitrant. Fifth gear is a particular hurdle to overcome, shifting down to fourth requires an odd mix of brute force to get the bastard out of gear, dexterity and coordination to time the heel and toe perfectly and deftness of touch to slot it in the right gate. Sure, I hear you say, mastering the gearbox is part of the charm, no, it isn’t. Mastering my 911s notoriously fickle 915 transmission is a challenge and part of the charm. This is just stiff and uncooperative. And that’s when the oil has warmed through, when things are cold, leave it in first and hope to hell you don’t have to reverse too much. Yes the clickety-click noises associated with each shift are delightful, but that’s about it. Luckily the massive reserves of torque mean you can put it in third and forget about it for most non-highway driving. Would this car be better with a proper automatic? Probably not, however I doubt it would be appreciably worse. I realize that after that statement most readers will leave the page and I could spend the rest of this review talking about which Teletubby would win in an MMA competition (my money’s on Laa-Laa, girl looks like she could mess you up), but I stand by my opinion.

Toys 5/10 in 2015, 8/10 in 1996

Ferrari-branded Becker Mexico stereo with cassette player and 6 CD changer in the back (remember those?), a thoroughly brilliant automatic climate control system, electric seats (no memory function though) and that’s about your lot.

Not exactly a laundry list of equipment, but at the time of the car’s launch it was all that you needed, plus when ground is covered at this rate, the less you have to distract you the better.

Sound 10/10
The aforementioned Ferrari-branded Becker setup does a very good job of piping high quality sounds into the car. The system is 15 years old, but it is very good. However it pales into insignificance when compared with the noises the car can make. Large capacity Italian V12 which can rev to 8000rpm, that alone should be enough to explain it. But if it isn’t allow me to elaborate, when you fire it up you get a deep rumble, a statement of intent but nothing too loud or obnoxious. Anywhere between idle and about 4500rpm and you get a nice melodic note, you can sense that there’s a lot of power under there, but again, it’s never intrusive. It’s when you get into the upper reaches of the rev counter that it really starts to scream, there’s a valve in the exhaust which opens up and you get a bit more noise and what a bloody noise it is. This is what big power engines should sound like, cultured, layered and brimming with latent fury, but never shouty or unnecessarily loud. There’s no fake popping and farting on the overrun, no unnecessary revving when you fire it up, just twelve glorious pistons, going about their business. If the hairs on the back of your neck don’t stand up when you nail this thing in second gear, you’re dead inside.

Value 7/10
This is where things become a lot more complicated. The values of manual Ferraris have skyrocketed in recent times. This car was purchased in 2008, when the market was strong, but not insane, at that time its purchase price would have acquired a last-of-the-line Porsche 996 Turbo or even a very early 997 Turbo, fairly similar performance, slightly less eye-watering in terms of costs, so not bad. Then Italy became very communist and symbols of wealth went the way of economic security and trust in elected officials, the value of the Maranello plummeted and around 2012 a similar condition car could be bought for the price of a lightly used Cayman, bargain (Tavarish would have soiled himself with the headlines). In the last 18 months the world has gone completely insane and good, well-maintained examples with full Ferrari Service history are changing hands deep into six figure euros. Madness? Possibly, but if you got in before things went batshit, better than any investment plan! Do I think the upwards trajectory will continue? No, not at this insane level, but at the same time I don’t think they’ll be coming down any time soon.

This is an entertainingly annoying car. That’s the only way I can describe it, Ferrari got so many things wrong with this car it’s scarcely believable, but they got that engine and the handling so damn right that when you’re in there you forget about almost everything else. Nothing puts a smile on your face like feeling this car dance between corners. The shoddy plastics disappear, the recalcitrant shift pales into insignificance, everything gels into one big wave of enjoyment. Ferrari owners come in for a lot of grief on the internet and in real life, but I’m yet to find one who’s terribly affected by it. Now I understand why, because at the end of the day, they’re the ones driving the Ferrari.

Total: 71/100

Engine: 5.5L naturally aspirated V12

Power & Torque: 485bhp at 7000rpm & 568nm (419lb/ft) at 5000rpm

Transmission: Crap (sorry!) 6 speed manual

Drivetrain: RWD transaxle

Weight: 1690kg (3726lb)

Seating: 2

MPG: Hideous

MSRP: It’s going to take more googling that I can be bothered with to find that out.

If I’ve left anything out please feel free to berate me and call me names, but I beg your indulgence, this is the first time I’ve written a proper review of a car and it’s also one of the first times I post on Oppo.

Party-vi > t_s 11/10/2015 at 09:12

30

I wish I could complain about how hard it was to get the Ferrari out of the garage.

You lucky bastard.

Cé hé sin > t_s 11/10/2015 at 09:31

2

“...but for all its alloy bodywork, this is still a 1700kg (3700lb) uber tourer...”

Time was when 1700kg was porky, but now a Mondeo isn’t much less.

JR1 > t_s 11/10/2015 at 09:32

5

Probably one of my favorite modern Ferraris. I could care less about the interior. Just sitting behind something with a Ferrari badge of the steering wheel would be enough for me.

I am disappointed the gearbox is so lackluster. I always imagined gated shifters were the best of the best.

NJAnon > t_s 11/10/2015 at 09:36

0

A retro review?

Well, you have to account for a car that is over a decade old and wasn’t sitting in a hermitically sealed vault (like all the Ferrari Enzo’s) :P

jjhats > t_s 11/10/2015 at 09:40

32

I love these cars. im tempted to write a review on my dads c2 corvette but am afraid of all the backlash ill get for being brutally honest about how poorly it drives. props for speaking the truth

LongbowMkII > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:11

1

crappy plastics? I’m ok with that. <3 the 550

t_s > jjhats 11/10/2015 at 10:15

15

No harm in telling it like it is. A while ago I told the world how much I disliked the E30 M3...

James May is my spirit animal > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:19

0

James May is my spirit animal > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:21

1

Too much mold release when casting these leading to degradation?

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:21

3

I actually think that compared to other offerings of the era, the 550’s interior is closer to a 9. How hard would it be to print out a new A/C panel sticker? Or to condition the leather? Or to get rid of the airbag bumps by way of a fuse release, a Pin, and a hair dryer? Or better yet, just replace them with 3D printed examples?

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the car at all. One of my dream cars in fact.

Were I to own one, I would daily it, even in the snow, just as Nic Cage did in “The Family Man”.

Titan-E34 > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:21

0

“ Exterior 7/10 ”

Bye.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:24

2

It’s strange to think that a high-end GT car like this doesn’t come with more attention to the interior. The ride, handling, and power are there, and for a GT car like this I think an automatic would be acceptable given that the manual is difficult to use.

I liked reading the review, I hope you can write some more in the future, even if they aren’t about Ferraris.

On a side note, of the V12 GT Ferraris, my favourite is still the 456.

KSEGGFTW > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:25

0

I forgot cars used to have these. Analog odometer, wowza!

KSEGGFTW > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:25

0

Why is this here. Ferrari owners use turn signals?

Wheelerguy > JR1 11/10/2015 at 10:25

2

I am disappointed the gearbox is so lackluster. I always imagined gated shifters were the best of the best.

So do I. All this time, we’ve been lauding and praising and glorifying the Gates and, lo and behold, it’s meh on this example.

WhiskeyGolf > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:26

0

Great review. And as a Canadian, I didn’t notice spelling differences at all!

cazzyodo > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:27

0

Great write up! I am jealous of DAT V12 DOE

Justin Hughes > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:28

1

It’s not until you experience a properly weighted hydraulic helm that you come to appreciate how far backwards we’ve gone with electric steering.

So true! My BRZ’s electric steering is considered one of the best systems currently available. And it is quite good. I don’t complain about it (not like a Hyundai Elantra, which gives me less feedback than my Logitech wheel and iRacing - scary because the Elantra is an actual car). But when I get into my crappy beater 2002 Focus, I can’t help thinking that I want the BRZ’s steering to feel like that instead.

jjhats > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:28

0

link? I love e30 m3 but have never driven one. what didn’t you like about it?

dataPOG > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:28

1

MPG: Hideous

Who cares, it’s a Ferrari. Definitely would daily drive it, because California Drought.

Garrett Davis > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:28

3

Jesus, can’t believe they used such low quality stuff here. My 1990 Cherokee held up far better than this.

Seaking > jjhats 11/10/2015 at 10:28

1

Beast090 > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:28

0

Don’t worry everybody, I googled it for y’all:

Next time, just use “uncooperative” in lieu of “recalcitrant”.

JohnnyWasASchoolBoy > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:30

1

So pretty.

David Komendanchik > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:30

0

(this car was ordered without Scuderia shields and they’re a scrotum-shrivellingly expensive after-purchase option).

Hilarious.

Wheelerguy > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:30

4

Nothing puts a smile on your face like feeling this car dance between corners. The shoddy plastics disappear, the recalcitrant shift pales into insignificance, everything gels into one big wave of enjoyment.

There are those cars, no? Imperfect, with stuff that don’t seem to work, don’t look like they work, don’t feel like they work, but the moment you drive it, everything works . LFA, Bangle M5, those come to mind.

Also, have you seen the race car version of the 550?

I mean, dude, that thing needs to be in Forza. Like, two games ago.

BILL-LONGDICK-CLINTON > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:31

0

It still looks great. Never realized how distant and archaic 90s interiors look now.

UncleWalty > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:31

1

Cool article, but actually the 456 GT (1992-1997) that preceded the 550 was a V12 Grand Tourer and was the model that picked up where the Daytona left off.

t_s > jjhats 11/10/2015 at 10:31

0

Here you go... http://oppositelock.kinja.com/i-dont-like-th…

Clemsie McKenzie > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:32

0

Great write-up! Love the 550. One of my childhood’s dream cars.

UncleWalty > Party-vi 11/10/2015 at 10:32

3

All depends on who your Daddy is, apparently.

Schraderbrau > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:32

0

So this is where Cadillac got the idea ....

Garrett Davis > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:33

2

Still a timeless look, I’d say this has aged better than the 456 for sure.

Struts MacPherson > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:34

0

JohnnyWasASchoolBoy > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:35

0

I want to love this car. I really do. I love the rear-quarter. I like the profile. I love the V12 and the subsequent noise and performance. But lord help me, I just can’t get over that horrible front end and hood scoop.

In black, it’s better. It’s one of the few Ferraris where Rosso Corsa isn’t the best colour for it. In black this is a great looking car. In any other colour, it’s just underwhelming.

langadamd > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:35

1

There’s just something about a 550 in a dark color that makes it so much cooler than in red.

OdinThe1337 > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:37

0

As a Ferrari fan, I enjoyed reading this. Wel written fair review of a very nice car. That center console looks terrible, even for it´s day. My Jag and even the bloody Skoda I have from that era look better than that. But even if you would combine both those V6s you wouldn´t get the same excitement you get from those 12 jolly dronken Itallian leprechauns.
Thanks for taking the time to write this, cool car!

BigGatorChris > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:37

0

One of, if not the best writeup I’ve seen on oppo.

jbm0866 > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:38

0

Love the look and sound of these things, (stereo system is irrelevant) but that center stack switch gear is very disappointing. I seriously looks like it could have come from any mass produced car from the 90’s.

Voice of C. Montgomery Burns > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:38

2

The 550 Maranello was one of my favorites from the 90s but all-in-all it has not aged well in looks as I grow older. Especially with those very bland stock wheels.

Earl Junior > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:39

0

Brothers from another mother!

Party-vi > UncleWalty 11/10/2015 at 10:39

8

I’m sure if your daddy had a Ferrari you could get the keys to you wouldn’t mind.

bob and john > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:40

5

gated shifter = 100/100 automatically.

MoparMap > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:41

0

Ugh, why would you have to post this? This is still probably my favorite looking Ferrari and now I want one again. Hearing that I missed my chance at them being within reach and that they might never be back at that level saddens me to no end.

As Long as There is Beer I'm There. > jjhats 11/10/2015 at 10:41

2

Do it.

Backlash < Delight from Readers.

I love nothing more than reading reviews from folks about cars I’ll never drive. I’d like to write one about my car but people are tired of hearing about panther platforms and dodge neons.

Vin > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:41

0

If you had something negative to say about this car my eyes completely glossed over it. Don’t even care lol.

Sweet ride, man!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:42

1

The Gates of Heaven.

Garrett Davis > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:42

1

Damn good review, and an entertaining read! You may be Italian born, but the Brit is strong in your writing. If you don’t do something in writing already, you might want to consider this as a hobby.

Garrett Davis > UncleWalty 11/10/2015 at 10:42

12

These grapes taste fine to me, maybe you got some sour ones?

Rock Bottom > jjhats 11/10/2015 at 10:42

1

I’m with ya. I’ve spent an awful lot of time behind the wheels of original Cobras (both small block and big block cars) and am always delightfully terrified by the lumber-cart driving behavior of these things. I understand contemporary Corvettes were better, but probably not much. Awkward shifter placement, interesting braking behavior, and a chassis that does something completely different every time you lift mid-corner!

Alex87f > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL 11/10/2015 at 10:43

2

The problem with those cars is that parts are stupidly expensive from the factory (when they’re available at all), and once they’re discontinued, used prices skyrocket too.

Any part out of the corporate bin can be sourced for cheap if you’re willing to spend some time figuring out where it came from. Any specific part will cost you a small fortune. E.G.:

Ashtray: $300
Headlight: $1300
Hood: $4300
Dashboard panel: $1400

Printing out an A/C sticker may not be that hard if you have access to the hardware and are willing to spend a couple of hours on it. Pay someone to do the job and you’ll be looking at $4-500 at least.
Same for 3D printing: good luck creating a part with the same color, looks & feel as the original, that will withstand sunlight, temperature and humidity variations without aging, for cheaper than a used part.

MonkeePuzzle > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:43

2

wow, a melting button, the wrinkling plastic, and that hopelessly cheap looking stereo, the interior truly is a monumental let down!

It’s ok, I prefer the old man 456 anyway :P

jjhats > Rock Bottom 11/10/2015 at 10:44

1

i really would like to drive one new in 65 because my dads is a bit tired from age. I still think its laughable they thought steering racks should be that sloppy and steering wheels that big and thin

xenocyclus > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:45

0

This is a pristine example of why I continue to read the articles posted here. Well done!

Garrett Davis > Wheelerguy 11/10/2015 at 10:45

0

What the hell is this?

Looks fantastic, though.

J-K-Kar > Wheelerguy 11/10/2015 at 10:46

1

That vid was utterly fantastic. Thank you.

Garrett Davis > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL 11/10/2015 at 10:47

2

I’ve owned several cars 10-25 years old, Japanese, American, German, none of them had that kind of panel or switch gear degradation, and these were not garage queens. That’s pretty damn terrible.

That said, I would probably give both of my left nuts for one of these.

James May is my spirit animal > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:47

0

Where we’re going, we don’t need MPH!

I hoon, therefore I am > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:48

0

From my (limited) experience driving Doug’s 360, I was astonished at how modest the interior was. And that gated shifter... while since that moment I’ve been scheming on ways to incorporate that clackity-clack into every manual car I may ever own, I have to admit that the stick in my Mazdaspeed6 had a better feel. But all those quibbles were put to rest the minute that V8 announced its presence from behind the seats. And a flat-plane crankshaft dancing in the upper revs is truly a divine experience.

rosslitman > Wheelerguy 11/10/2015 at 10:48

2

That’s why the 575M was quickly introduced - the 550 wasn’t particularly loved at launch. Was criticized for being too soft and not agile enough, plus the finicky gear change.

James May is my spirit animal > Garrett Davis 11/10/2015 at 10:48

1

Reminds me of my 1991 SNES turning yellow by 1998. UV stabilizers caused the plastic to dry rot. One day I tossed the remote by the console, and it chipped the corner.

Garrett Davis > bob and john 11/10/2015 at 10:49

1

Did you read his thoughts on that shifter, though?

Patrick George > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:49

2

Awesome review, shared to the front page. Can you star a different image? The long shot takes up too much page real estate. Thanks!

Also I’m jealous, so there’s that.

n54 & s38 > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:49

1

Awesome review. Very honest about the flaws and faults of the car too. I have to say that I’m surprised about the switchgear and interior quality. My 1990 M5 looks like it’s held up better inside. I need to do one of these oppo reviews for that car.

Wheelerguy > Garrett Davis 11/10/2015 at 10:50

1

Hell if I know.

Doesn’t matter, won the FIA GT Championship in 2003.

QCGoose > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:51

0

Fantastic review of one of my favorite Ferraris!

Also, your writing style is excellent and entertaining. You should see if Jalopnik is hiring...

Nisman > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:51

0

Don't mind the haters they're just jealous. Good write up.

Ry-bones, FiST pilot > Garrett Davis 11/10/2015 at 10:51

2

Pitot tube?

UncleWalty > Party-vi 11/10/2015 at 10:52

0

Most definitely, but wouldn’t write an article about it.

Austintatious > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:52

0

I found one other part that isn’t “utterly dismal”.

UncleWalty > Garrett Davis 11/10/2015 at 10:52

0

Nope, mine taste just fine. Thanks for your concern though!

Garrett Davis > Ry-bones, FiST pilot 11/10/2015 at 10:54

0

On a car?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > UncleWalty 11/10/2015 at 10:54

9

So you're annoyed he took the time to relay his experience of a well liked car not many get to drive?

Larry > t_s 11/10/2015 at 10:57

8

This is what they’re going for these days...

http://www.vast.com/cars/make-Ferr… That’s just insane

bob and john > Garrett Davis 11/10/2015 at 10:57

1

yep. to me, the gate and that snick-snick beats it all day ery day

Garrett Davis > bob and john 11/10/2015 at 10:58

0

Normally I’d agree with you, but I have a feeling that would wear off after driving it for a while.

UncleWalty > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 11/10/2015 at 10:58

0

I’m not really annoyed at all, guys....it was just a observation. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.

Garrett Davis > UncleWalty 11/10/2015 at 10:58

2

That’s probably for the better.

RyanFrew > UncleWalty 11/10/2015 at 11:00

3

Why? I enjoyed the article.

Ry-bones, FiST pilot > Garrett Davis 11/10/2015 at 11:01

1

I would have no idea why but it looks like the type used to measure air velocities in an air duct.

irisfailsafe5000 > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:02

0

There is a company in Florida that recreates all the interior pieces in Ferraris and instead of cheap metal covered with a paint that melts they laser cut everything and use a special paint that will maintain quality and color forever. For example the airbag bubbles come from the foam that is between the metal skeleton and the leather dissolves, so they remove the leather and mold the piece with a very resistant foam.

Garrett Davis > Ry-bones, FiST pilot 11/10/2015 at 11:03

0

Yep, it sure does. Interesting.

Alternative theory. It’s a smaller, sleaker version of the big arm they used in Back to the Future to hit the telephone wire just as the lightning struck it. This was probably how they won the championship in 2003. Time travel.

rhobere > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL 11/10/2015 at 11:04

1

“Just 3D print it" is my favorite response to things. Getting even a half-descent surface finish with a 3D printer requires A) a really good (read: expensive) machine and B) a lot of post processing using an acetone vapor and some patience. Not to mention, you're really limited on material options even with some of the more expensive machines. Generally, you're looking at using ABS which tends fade really bad in sunlight and also becomes brittle after experiencing some hot/cold cycling.

DodgeyRammer > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:05

0

To be honest im rarely bothered to read reviews of new cars but i love ones like this! Perfect morning coffee drinking material. You need to more man.

BigBlock440 > Garrett Davis 11/10/2015 at 11:06

1

I don’t believe you. Everybody knows Chrysler interiors are the worst...

probablyshoulduseafakename > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:06

0

Italian here, too. Is that Blue Metallic or Tour the France?

BigBlock440 > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:07

0

Weight: 1690kg (3726lb)

Wow, what a porker. That’s Camaro and Challenger territory there.

STEVOH > Alex87f 11/10/2015 at 11:07

1

a new Lincoln MKX headlight runs pretty close from the dealer...

Jeb_Hoge > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:10

1

This was one of the funnier and better-written reviews I’ve read in a long while. Well done.

Eric > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:11

0

I thoroughly enjoyed your combination of serious review and comedy.

t_s > UncleWalty 11/10/2015 at 11:11

2

Why not?

Treemendous > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:12

0

Great write up. Well done. Also, f*** you (not really, just jealous) for owning a Porsche with the 915 box.

The Perp > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:12

0

Yummiest looking garbage can EVAR!!

Garrett Davis > BigBlock440 11/10/2015 at 11:13

0

Not when they were designed by AMC ;)

t_s > Patrick George 11/10/2015 at 11:15

0

Hi Patrick, it wasn’t the original opening image. I’m not entirely sure how to star an image but I’ll give it a shot.

Fuzzy86 > Wheelerguy 11/10/2015 at 11:15

0

If I remember correctly they were in the first two Forza games. I'm not sure about 3 but I know they haven't been there since 4.

Wolc *grammar nazis go f*** yourselves* > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:17

6

Po

TJ996 > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:23

0

I think the styling of this car has aged very well. Too bad about the cheap interior parts. It’s a car I’d really like to drive for myself. Good article.

Riley Schultz > t_s 11/10/2015 at 11:24

11

This badge doesn’t appear to be parallel to the CD player below.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Wheelerguy 11/10/2015 at 11:24

0

It was in one of them if I’m remembering correctly. Forza 2 I think?