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FERRARI 599 - The Best Ferrari Ever?
clarencehollow
Member Posts: 60
I do not know if this is the best Ferrari ever but ever since I was a kid in the 70's I loved this car. I think the Ferrari 600 is stunning, and I would buy this car in an instant if I had the resources.
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I have no doubt that the 600 will be really fast but it won't be faster than an Enzo, an FXX or even an F40. I'm not even sure it'll be that good looking, at least based on the spy shots that are kicking around.
To get some historical perspective, see the new magazine Motor Trend Classics (Sept 2005). They had a panel of real experts including people like Luca diMontezemolo, Dan Gurney, Chuck Jordan and Mario Andretti nominate the "10 Best Ferraris".
I won't spoil the surprise by telling you which Ferrari won out but it wasn't a current car
and it's doubtful that Ferrari or anyone else will ever make one that's better.
Merc, I'm fine with the proportions of the 612, I think it looks great even if it's a bit big for a Ferrari.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Anyway, any new Ferrari is looked forward to by me!
What happened to the larger Mid-engine cars like the Testarossa and 512's? As far as I am concerned, the Testarossa and evolutionary 512's were the height of Ferrari's design esthetic balancing passion, sport, and elegance. Nothing looked like them then or now. They are iconic cars, even for Ferrari’s standards. To me the F430 and 360 capture a fair amount of that lineage from those great cars with styling cues from the F40 and F50, but the Testarossa series just had more style and panache.
Why can’t Ferrari build another 12 cylinder mid-engine vehicle? Leave the GT’s to Aston Martin, Mercedes, and yeah, Chevrolet or Dodge.
Best Ferrari ever – on paper maybe. On the blend of style, substance, and prestige: it looks like a Vette from the side, it is guaranteed to perform and hall #$%, and it still is a Ferrari even if looks like something else.
With hp from their V-8 pushing 500, a rear-mid-engined 12-cylinder would need an Enzo-like 600+ hp to justify its existence, and it's hard to imagine there is a need for that AND an Enzo-type halo car. They now have a great lineup that appeals to almost every potential owner: A relatively affordable entry-level model that offers world-class track-like performance and classic mid-engined Pinninfarina styling; A blazingly fast yet refined 2 + 2; A front-engined V-12 that promises extremely high performance limits; and a halo supercar that offers an experience as close to a Formula 1 ride as possible while meeting the demands of a street car. The only thing I'm looking for is a return to more sensuous styling (instead of the semi-agro, Lambo-like sharp lines of the current lineup) and a V-6 entry-level Dino and Mondial.
One more note about the styling of the 600, it needs to be more aggressive than the 612. The 612 is elegant and relatively sporty compared to, say, a Bentley GT or CL Mercedes. It is handsome but the long, bulbous nose and plump rump keep it from being sexy, like, say, an Aston Martin. Same thing could have been said about the 456, although the nose was far less offensive. The current Maranellos look like a Mako Shark and the 600 needs to have that same kind of visceral appeal to the senses to win my heart.
I think the previous poster did a good job of explaining how the Enzo fills that niche in the current lineup. I'll just point out that yours is a minority opinion, most Ferrari buffs prefer the classic front-engined V-12s although there's always a lively debate between proponents of the Daytona, the 275 GTB/4 and the 250GT.
Testarossas, 512TRs and even Boxer Berlinettas have fared poorly in the marketplace compared to the values of the aforementioned.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
That worked out well didn't it?
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
That leads us to the question of whether Ferrari should make a new Dino,a less exclusive and more affordable Ferrari. Personally I'm in favor, though I doubt they could recapture the voluptuous curves and sporty demeanor of the 246GT/GTS.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
That leads us to the question of whether Ferrari should make a new Dino,a less exclusive and more affordable Ferrari. Personally I'm in favor, though I doubt they could recapture the voluptuous curves and sporty demeanor of the 246GT/GTS.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
The 575 is an attractive car that has the styling cues I personally associate with a Ferrari. The 456 less so, and I think the 612 is just - well its ugly. The 430 looks like a Ferrari. This is not to say that a front engine Ferrari cannot be beautiful - the 275 GTB/4 and Daytona are fantastic designs. I personally like the 365 too. However, of all Ferrari's designs, I think the straked sides and rear engine layout of the Testarossa series is simply more pronounced and recognizable as a model than some of the other designs. The F40, F50, and Enzo are also pronounced but over the top as well. "Halo cars."
My opinion might also be a factor of my age. I'm 33 and Testarossa posters decorated my bedroom walls in 1987. It was the "if money was no object" dream car of the mid to late 1980s. As far as how they have faired in terms of value in the marketplace, a 512TR might just be one hell of a deal right now. As my generation continues to mature and grows in economic stature it will demand collectibles associated with its adolescence. This is a common and cyclical phenomenon in the collectibles market. Of course, Ferrari's can be highly collectible - especially the best ones of an era. The Testarossa series was by far and away the best of its era.
Back to the discussion of the 600. When I look at those spy shots, they must have tried to camouflage it as a Corvette. The proportions are just so close. For Ferrari's sake, I sure hope it is a good optical illusion.
http://www.barchetta.cc/All.Ferraris/images/1809/05monterey-j-1125.jpg
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
A new Dino? Nice thought, but price point would never be under $100,000 I think. It's still a high ticket car price whether it's a Shelby, Viper or NSX, a 100 G's is a lot to spend on a set of wheels. But I don't know if I want Ferrari's mass produced. Last time I checked, I think there were like 55,000 Ferrari's in the world.
600 still looks rather mean and potent to me. I forgot to add that I think the absolute coolest Ferrari ever is definately the F-50.
Well if you want to talk about coolest Ferrari ever, IMO it's the blue car (#7) in this painting=>
Stirling Moss won the 1960 Goodwood Tourist Trophy race in Rob Walker's Ferrari 250GT SWB. After lapping the field twice Moss decided he could relax a little bit and finished the race listening to the car radio. :P
How cool is that?
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Grand Prix Legends has an autographed Sterling Moss print of the winning car!
Na! Your not in trouble and it isn't that tough. The great thing about Ferrari's and their heritage is that there is something for virtually anyone. There are so many great cars you can make an argument for as the best.
Incidently, I did some research on the prices of the Testarossa on the FerrariUSA website and edmunds. A Testarossa ranges from $40K to $75K, a 512TR is $95K to $110K, and the F512 M is a stout $160K. Each successive model year was (in general) produced in smaller numbers. The 512TR is more scarce than the Testarossa, and the F512 M is very rare. I think I read that only 75 were built for one year. So yes, depending on your price point, this particular dream car is within reach for many buyers/collectors.
Also, the 600 does look athletic.......like a Corvette. I hope that's just the camouflage.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
The power of suggestion:
F600 Testarossa
M
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Just some pics I pulled from another forum. Not sure if they're official, but the way they are shot say classic Ferrari press release. Is this newest Ferrari supposed to debut at Detroit next week? If so these could be the real thing.
M
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Previously, I had been complaining that the car in the spy photos looked like the most recent generation of corvettes. I think the Ferrari 599 definitely sets itself apart. However, in its overall proportions it does have some similarities. What if those headlight clusters were arranged horizontally and front fenders were less distinct?
I like the turned up wing in the back but what happened the multiple taillights? I'm not real crazy about those single taillights.
As far as the best Ferrari ever? I bet this thing blows the doors off the 575, 550, or Testarossa series which are the fair comparisons.
In the looks department - overall better looking than the new 2+2. Definitely more aggressive and high in pinnache. Its better looking than the outgoing 575m. Sorry, I still think the Testarossa series looks better and hey that 288 is a bad [non-permissible content removed] machine too.
Given the choice between the Ferrari and an Aston Martin - since styling is so important to me - its the Aston hands down.
M
Automobile shows the version above and says the car will be named 599GTB and have around 600HP from 6 liters while the new CAR(UK) shows a less aggressive but more attractive car similar to the 612 Scaglietti and tells us to expect 575 HP from the 6 liter V12 and says it'll be called the F600 Imola.
They can't both be right :confuse:, but they could both be wrong :sick:
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Ferrari is a high-revving Sports car with an almost ethereal driving experience. Ferrari's design is in its engine, its steering, its suspension. Aston's design is in its skin.
Besides aston has made sedans in the past and will make them in future too. Ferrari on the other hand is pure 2-door car-maker, the last of its kind, expesially since porsche changed its course 3 years ago.
In F1, Ferrari: 15 wins Aston: 0.
LeMans Ferrari: 9 wins Aston: 1
Comparing Ferrari and Aston is like comparing a stallion with Pamela Anderson, not a good idea.
M
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Yessss ... I could see myself in the 599 too!
EVO(UK) and I must say the new Ferrari GTB looks smashing. I wasn't sure about the "flying buttresses" aft of the cockpit but they're starting to look good to me.
Thirty and some years ago I had to get used to the glass nose on early Euro model Daytonas but now I think that's the way to have your 365 GTB/4 (if only...
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Personally I am a little discouraged by the Mitsubishi Eclipse look. The dinky door handles and the overall lines, especially at the front.
For a huge front engine Halo GT car, there's the McMerc SLR, which costs $455,000, while the GTB costs about $250,000 - $300,000. It's also faster.
If you wanted that engine in an Enzo, you pay about a million, but in the GTB, less than $300,000.
What about other 600 horsepower cars? Carrera GT was $444,000 and was a beast to handel.
The styling? I think it looks brilliant. The agressive front end with the powerfull bonnett. The flying buttresses and the rear diffuser are fabulous. The interior is bespoke, and there's a big boot. I wish it had 4 rear tail lights, but thats just my personal ferrari thing.
I LOVE that car, its my dream car.
The 599 does look a bit like the Eclipse, but heavier in the back. But IMO it doesn't serve much purpose, and it looks nondescript. There's an article in a current magazine featuring the new Maserati, and the designer (who did the 599 as well), admits that while the "599 is a bit challenging, the (new Maserati) is a classic beauty."
I miss the Boxer, actually. What an animal.
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