1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello from UK and Ireland - Comments

Outside temperature gauge failed.

Minor seat wear on driver's side outer edge.

Water leaking into the foot-well due to blocked air con pipe outflow.

Superb car to drive, the V12 engine provides effortless performance in any gear.

The clutch and gearbox were easy to use, although the clutch felt like it needed replacing soon when I sold it at 20K miles.

Changed the standard rear silencers for some Tubi Sport tubes, the standard exhausts are too quiet in my opinion, with the Tubi's you could hear the V12 much better!

Fuel consumption was approx 15mpg, although up to 20 mpg was possible if driving sensibly, oil consumption was negligible.

Servicing costs were high, but not unexpected, I had one service at a cost of £1750 at a main agent. Tyre wear was excessive, I did 3 pairs of rears and a pair of fronts in 6000 miles! No track days, but quite a few swift getaways!

The car seemed very well built, it never let me down and the paintwork was superb. Depreciation was OK, I paid £60K for it and sold it for £55K 18 months later. The first owner parted with £160k for it though.

Disappointments were the aforementioned standard exhaust, the stereo had poor sound although hardly high priority on a car like this, and the general abuse from other drivers when driving a Ferrari, something I've never encountered driving Maseratis.

You did what!!??? you sold it!!!

Uhhhghhh I was envying you until I read that you SOLD IT!

Excellent review. I share the same disapointment as you on the only negative part of Ferrari ownership, which is the way the car is recieved by a samll part of the public. I own a F355 and although most of the reactions I get about the car are positive I once came back to my car to find a very deep scratch running the entire length of the passenger side after parking it outside a family members house. It seems to me that people think because you own a ferrari you can afford to pay for the damage and not batter an eyelid, and that's not the way it is!

<<It seems to me that people think because you own a ferrari you can afford to pay for the damage and not batter an eyelid, and that's not the way it is!>>

While your point is well taken, the fact is if you own and can properly maintain a Ferrari, you certainly have the means to fix any damage done to it.

But there is karma in this world and the vandal will get his/hers.

The fact of the matter is, in my opinion, that whether or not you own a Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati or any car for that matter, the reason these vandals damage our property is simple... pure and utter jelousy that you have something they don't and can't have and they think " why should he have a Ferarri when I can't " ssccrraaatttcchhh!

It is interesting what you have said about other drives reactions. I have driven two Aston Martin DB7's from new since 1996 as my main car on a daily basis. I have never had an adverse reaction to the car and n most cases people just let me out into the traffic. I presume that it must be a brand thing and not just the the Ferrari is expensive.

BTW the V12 DB7 is costly to maintain, around £10k per year including tyres based on 18k miles.

I'm currently researching the topic of genuine Ferrari owners who have had the same socially negative experiences mentioned in this forum especially in the UK, but also from anywhere in the world.

I would love to hear from the UK owners who have posted here on this forum in particular.

Please get in touch at the following email address. ferraridoco*at*hotmail.co.uk Thanks.

I don't think many Ferrari owners would ever consider leaving a large scratch alone, but it might be the thing to do. I have an idea for all UK Ferrari owners: you should protest your foul treatment by defacing your own car. This doesn't mean you should randomly ding, scratch and mar the exterior. Find an artist who can thoughtfully destroy your paint. Desire a little pop subversion??? Scratch something like "Can You Afford This?" or "Free The Chrome Horses!"

I'm 18 and drive a golf. but my dream car is a 550 maranello, in black with Crema Hide Piped Black with Black Stitching. I know that its the most beautifull car that I will ever see. and if I had 60k spare I know where I would spend it. sheer beauty and I have fallen in love with her.

I am 45 and also have recently bought a used 550. I mainly get it out on weekends and try to avoid slow downtown driving with it.

I get a lot of idiots trying to challenge me with their (normal) cars by tailgating and doing all sorts of dumb things like overtaking real close and stuff like that, I guess to catch "the Ferrari's" attention. It's a pity though, because before owning it, you'd never think that people would react so aggressively. Yet it is a car enthusiast's ambition. But when the traffic allows, and it's time to step on it, it really flies away from the dumb crowd... even on the original exhausts