anyone own a Ferrari 550?
- Thread starter Ken275
- Start date
B O N Y
MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
I don't own one, have driven one all of Italy, and England. No comparison, front engined gran touring car to a rear engine sports car. No luggage space on the GT. In any comparison the GT will be quicker. Better comparison would be a 360 or 430...
Neilda
GT Owner
DBP
Member
I have owned a 550 and the GT is a very very different car. The 550 is more of a grand touring type of car and the GT is more of a sports car like bony stated. The feel of the cars are worlds apart. The GT is in a class of it's own. I currently own a 360 and can't even compare the GT to that car. You really have to drive one to see what I mean. If you are looking for the "feel" of a 550 in the GT you will be very disapointed.
Empty Pockets
ex-GT Owner
'Never owned one ( they never "pulled my chain" enough to lay out the $$$), but 'have driven two. While they're very, very sweet cars in all areas, they (predictably) just can't DO what a GT can in the driving/power/performance/handling/"feel" areas. They were designed for luxury touring, not pavement ripping & canyon carving...at least to anywhere near the degree.
Pbly the biggest diff you'll notice IMMEDIATELY is: the GT has 500 ft. lbs. of torque available instantly at the slightest tap of your right foot. You don't have to "wait for it" to show up! While the Ferrari has a smooooth, predictable(?) H.P. increase as the RPM's build - the GT's power is right now anywhere in the RPM band. There's no 'building to it' involved!
The GT's steering response is quicker too. By the time you form the thought, "I'm gunna change lanes now" - the GT has already DONE it.
You're going to see a bigggggggg difference.
(The only thing you'll miss about the "F" car is the storage space. The Ferrari is a Suburban by comparison in THAT area...)
Pbly the biggest diff you'll notice IMMEDIATELY is: the GT has 500 ft. lbs. of torque available instantly at the slightest tap of your right foot. You don't have to "wait for it" to show up! While the Ferrari has a smooooth, predictable(?) H.P. increase as the RPM's build - the GT's power is right now anywhere in the RPM band. There's no 'building to it' involved!
The GT's steering response is quicker too. By the time you form the thought, "I'm gunna change lanes now" - the GT has already DONE it.
You're going to see a bigggggggg difference.
(The only thing you'll miss about the "F" car is the storage space. The Ferrari is a Suburban by comparison in THAT area...)
The GT would make a great addition to a 550. A cruiser and a racer.:thumbsup
The compliment each other vey well, but are 2 completely different beasts.
I wont waste any time repeating what was already said, so I will close this by saying I would take my GT over 2 550's anyday of the week.:banana
The compliment each other vey well, but are 2 completely different beasts.
I wont waste any time repeating what was already said, so I will close this by saying I would take my GT over 2 550's anyday of the week.:banana
B O N Y
MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
550's have all crashed like rocks in value, you can buy them right, make great touring machines. I am stuck in the 60's and 70's, so disco down!:biggrin
Empty Pockets
ex-GT Owner
If he were - I'm SURE he'd have mentioned it!!!!!!!:rofl :rofl :rofl
(Izzunt that a 550 GTS? I've not heard of the 550 GT"B" ...but THAT means nuthun!)
(I know there's a 599 GTB? Is that it?)
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timcantwell
Le Mans 2010 Sponsor * Moderator
I have owned two Ferrari 550's. Both were very nice cars. No real comparison to the Ford GT, other than both have prodigious torque curves. The Maranello is a very "practical" car, nice on long trips with lots of luggage space. No luggage space in the GT however. The Ford is definitely faster, and offers more "zoom" factor as it is a repli-racer. I often got comments like.."Nice Vette" when driving the 550. I never get comments like that when driving the 550. I also own a 360 F1, and would have to compare the Ford GT more closely with that car, however, the F360 again, is much more user-friendly and practical as it offers lots of trunk space. Again the Ford is faster than my 360. Like anything you need to clearly define the "mission" for your chosen ride, and select wisely.
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gtjoey
Keep Smiling - GT Owner
- Oct 14, 2005
- 3,454
DBP, IS CORRECT, THE 550 WHICH WAS THE T#TS IS A BEAUTIFUL TOURING CAR, I DIDNT SAY THIS BUT ONCE THE GT CAME OUT , THE 550 WAS VERY DATED. AT OUR RALLY ONE OF OUR FRIENDS BROUGHT ONE, JUST PUT A PICTURE OF EACH NEXT TO EACH OTHER YOU WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN. I LOVED THE 550 ,RED, ECT. THE GT IS MORE AMERICANA THATS MAYBE IT, ALSO HAFTSHAFTS COST 300 TO REPAIR, REGULAR SPARK PLUG TUNE UPS ON THE 550 WAS 6,OOO :eek CIAO , CIAO ,SUM IT UP I WILL ALWAYS HAVE A LOVE FOR THE 550, THE GT IS JUST IN ANOTHER LEAGUE , AMERICANA LEAGUE...GTJOEY 1314 KIDS GOING TO COLLEGE OR I WOULD STILL HAVE THE 550 :biggrin
Ferrari Beater
Well-known member
If you want a more sporty car like the GT, then get the 575. You can get the sport package with stiffer suspension and lightweight wheels. It is a lot faster around the track than the 550. If you want a convertible, them get the 550 Barchetta or a 575 Superamerica. Those are both very expensive and rare. FYI most 575s are with the F1 gearbox but the stick was still availible.
If you want a less expensive car go for the 550 M. There is one at Cauley Ferrari in Michigan for $119,000. Less then half the MSRP.
http://www.dealer.ferrari.com/cauley/
--Bill
If you want a less expensive car go for the 550 M. There is one at Cauley Ferrari in Michigan for $119,000. Less then half the MSRP.
http://www.dealer.ferrari.com/cauley/
--Bill
Gierkink
GT Owner
I drove a friend's 575 Superamerica last summer with my friend in the passenger seat. When we got the car out on the highway (Motorway… we were in England) he encouraged me to put my foot to the floor so I obliged. I then waited, and waited and waited for the car to take off... it just eased its way forward when compared to my GT. He looked at me and smiled waiting for me to comment on how fast the car was. I didn’t have the heart to tell him my GT would spank that thing silly. It’s a wonderful car but, when it comes to snap-your-head-back hold-on tight acceleration, it is in a different league to the GT.
Rob
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Another opinion. I was, incidently, the one with the red 550 at the Rally last year. "No, Sir, you can't park with the GT's. You have to park over there next to the Port-A-John's.":lol
Two very different cars. I think it is important to remember that 2001 was the last year the 550 was constructed. What Ford did, and they did it WELL!, was build a race car for the street. IMO, the Ford GT is not a Grand Touring car, for all the reasons we know. The 550 was designed to be a true GT car as well as one you could drive on the track. The Pro Drive folks had a lot of success with it. The 550 is not as fast as the GT in a straight line accelleration, but it is not a whole lot slower, even carrying an additional 650 pounds of weight. When I bought my 550 new in 2001, I had the Fiorano handling package included. I tracked the car extensively, and it was a lot of fun. Lots of understeer due to the front engine and weight, patience to let the car hookup after turning into corners before getting back on the gas, excellent balance with very little body roll etc. I have to disagree with the statement that a 575 will kick a 550's butt on the track. The only differences between the two cars are ~ 15 more horsepower in the 575 due to the 5.75 liter engine vs the 550's 5.5 liter engine, and the availability of the "paddle shifter" in the 575. I have had the pleasure of driving with several 575's which also had the Fiorano package on the track and things were pretty even.
The visibility in the 550 all around is much better than the GT. The steering feel/response is quite good in the 550, but I think it may be better in the GT. I have only had the GT on a track for 2 days, so my experience is limited vs the 550. The stock brakes in the GT are superb-BUT-I think this is one car which must be dead straight under heavy breaking. The weight and balance configuration of the GT lends itself to rapid oversteer if one is not careful. The 550, on the other hand, is more difficult to slide the rear end out.
There has been a lot said about Ferrari maintenance costs. My 550 has over 38,000 miles and has had all the required service work done. Normal 5000 interval service has run from $600 to $700. The exception was the 30,000 mile service which was $8200, primarily due to the timing belts being changed. An oil change for the 550 costs less than the oil change I had done at 2500 miles for the GT.
That being said, I find myself reaching for thr GT keys when the weather turns nice here in Virginia. The GT is simply one of the most beautiful cars, IMO, ever designed and built by an American automobile manufacturer. The Corvette Stingray starting in 1963 may be a close second. As nice as a Tubi on a 550 sounds when all 12 cyls are working hard, it is not the same as that supercharger bellowing behind your head when you nail it, the "now I will push you back in the seat and hold you there until you let up" feel, the beauty of the car[midnight blue] in a lighted parking lot at night........ Yup, it's a Ford and not a Ferrari-but what a Ford!!!:thumbsup
Two very different cars. I think it is important to remember that 2001 was the last year the 550 was constructed. What Ford did, and they did it WELL!, was build a race car for the street. IMO, the Ford GT is not a Grand Touring car, for all the reasons we know. The 550 was designed to be a true GT car as well as one you could drive on the track. The Pro Drive folks had a lot of success with it. The 550 is not as fast as the GT in a straight line accelleration, but it is not a whole lot slower, even carrying an additional 650 pounds of weight. When I bought my 550 new in 2001, I had the Fiorano handling package included. I tracked the car extensively, and it was a lot of fun. Lots of understeer due to the front engine and weight, patience to let the car hookup after turning into corners before getting back on the gas, excellent balance with very little body roll etc. I have to disagree with the statement that a 575 will kick a 550's butt on the track. The only differences between the two cars are ~ 15 more horsepower in the 575 due to the 5.75 liter engine vs the 550's 5.5 liter engine, and the availability of the "paddle shifter" in the 575. I have had the pleasure of driving with several 575's which also had the Fiorano package on the track and things were pretty even.
The visibility in the 550 all around is much better than the GT. The steering feel/response is quite good in the 550, but I think it may be better in the GT. I have only had the GT on a track for 2 days, so my experience is limited vs the 550. The stock brakes in the GT are superb-BUT-I think this is one car which must be dead straight under heavy breaking. The weight and balance configuration of the GT lends itself to rapid oversteer if one is not careful. The 550, on the other hand, is more difficult to slide the rear end out.
There has been a lot said about Ferrari maintenance costs. My 550 has over 38,000 miles and has had all the required service work done. Normal 5000 interval service has run from $600 to $700. The exception was the 30,000 mile service which was $8200, primarily due to the timing belts being changed. An oil change for the 550 costs less than the oil change I had done at 2500 miles for the GT.
That being said, I find myself reaching for thr GT keys when the weather turns nice here in Virginia. The GT is simply one of the most beautiful cars, IMO, ever designed and built by an American automobile manufacturer. The Corvette Stingray starting in 1963 may be a close second. As nice as a Tubi on a 550 sounds when all 12 cyls are working hard, it is not the same as that supercharger bellowing behind your head when you nail it, the "now I will push you back in the seat and hold you there until you let up" feel, the beauty of the car[midnight blue] in a lighted parking lot at night........ Yup, it's a Ford and not a Ferrari-but what a Ford!!!:thumbsup
Thanks for all the response to my question, I already have the 550 Im not deciding between the two, but I would have to sell the 550 to get the GT mostly because of too many cars. I have driven the GT, and not to complain but I had to duck or take the top of my head off, no storage, and huge blind spots behind me. Thats what I noticed going from one car to the other. I sure love the look of the GTX1. If you find a car for 150-155 and add the GTX package your up over 200, makes my "slow" 550 not sound so bad. Again thanks for all the thoughful responses.
timcantwell
Le Mans 2010 Sponsor * Moderator
Thanks for your viewpoint Steve! As a side note, I only paid $2600 for belts and major service on one of my 550's! I guess my dealer gave me a deal! Hope to see you in your Ford GT at the next get-together. As GT Joey says, "Keep Smilin' Baby!":cheers
Ferrari Beater
Well-known member
The car has very little low end torque compared to the GT. The engine cylinder strokes are tiny compared to any american V8 because the displacement is spread between 12 cylinders. The 599 GTB which replaces the 550/575 is way faster but is still a nicer car then the GT and less racy.