Will Ferrari eventually stop selling manual transmissions? | FerrariChat

Will Ferrari eventually stop selling manual transmissions?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by laxexquis, Oct 16, 2008.

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  1. laxexquis

    laxexquis Karting
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    #1 laxexquis, Oct 16, 2008
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2008
    I think that a huge problem today in the supercar world is how paddle shifters are taking over manual trannys. Almost every sports car manufacturer now makes some kind of paddle shifter gearbox. I respect this kind of gearbox, but I think it is taking over. I do not own a Ferrari, I repeat I do not own a Ferrari, but I have driven my uncles 360 with the F1 gearbox and also driven my fathers manual 911 Carrera S and I liked the manual better, Believe it or not I had more fun driving a Porsche then I did a Ferrari. I just liked the driving experience with the manual so much more, I felt so in control and like I really had to work hard to get the car going fast. Driving the Ferrari was a great experience and I loved the sound of the engine and the tightness of the suspension while making a fast turn, but honestly the F1 gearbox made it boring.

    To sum it up, the F1 gear box makes it easy to drive a car, all you have to do is flip a paddle and you're good, but with a manual you have to work hard to drive, and in my opinion driving a supercar is all about the challenge of driving and the F1 totally ruins that.

    I worry that eventually Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini etc. are going to put an end and end to the manual transmission for good.

    I think the best thing to do is keep it the way Ferrari has it, F1 tranny for track/road cars like the Scuderia and Enzo, and the a choice or manual on the road cars that people buy for enjoyment.

    Whats your opinion? Do you think the supercar brands will toss the manual tranny?

    John
     
  2. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    This has been discussed to death in several massive huge threads. Try a search and you'll have hours of reading. ;)
     
  3. laxexquis

    laxexquis Karting
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    #3 laxexquis, Oct 16, 2008
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2008
    Well F1 vs manual has been, but not exactly a discussion about if ferrari will stop selling manual etc what I was talking about.

    Honestly I am so sick of hearing "this has been discussed, use the search function." When I think about things that I think might have already been posted or discussed I use the search function to find them. I click on the earliest one posted and the first reply is "this has already been posted use the search function." So when I use the "search function, I still get the same reply! Ferrari chat is about talking about cars recently, not going back to read someones post from 2004! I'm so sick of people saying that, why does everyone have a problem with it?
     
  4. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    I doubt it. F factor both into the design. It's not a big deal that they offer it for the purists. On the super cars they'll probably continue with paddles only.
     
  5. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    When new car buyers want stick shifts Ferrari will build them. But when 70+% are ordered as F1 and the only shortage of sticks is in the used market Ferrari will continue to build F1's.

    Do you really believe when people stay away from the showroom in droves and no one is buying cars because they are all F1's Ferrari will demand you buy an F1?


    And yes this topic has been covered to death.
     
  6. vvvmd

    vvvmd F1 Rookie
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    I've been waiting for a 6spd for a long time. Have been offered an F1. Buying a new Ferrari the way I want has been a long time dream and I want a six speed. My order has been forwarded to FNA. Still waiting. If I'd take an F1 I'd have it by now.
     
  7. jsanocki

    jsanocki Formula Junior

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    Ferrari is a performance car, and you can't argue with the fact that the F1 is a higher performance transmission... Yes, they will continue to offer the manual trans in their "lower end" cars but you'll never see it in their Enzo Supercar.

    As for the eventual elimination of the manual....I would think they will offer it as much as buyers request it, which for 430 production was very minimal. Don't know exact numbers, but rumored at less then 10% of production?
     
  8. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #8 Rifledriver, Oct 16, 2008
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2008
    So don't buy either.......They will get the message.

    Toyota will stop building boring appliance like cars when people quit buying boring appliance like cars but so far there is no shortage of people willing to buy the boring Toyota or the F1 Ferrari.

    25 years ago I asked our dealer sales manager why all the cars we got were red/tan. He told me if he had black and someone wanted red it was no sale. If he had red and someone wanted black he could always talk the guy into red.

    If people quit getting talked into it it just won't happen. Ferrari will build what the dealers order but the dealers KNOW they can sell F1's.
     
  9. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 PAP 348, Oct 16, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017

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  10. zippyslug31

    zippyslug31 Formula 3

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    Probably because most of us don't want to rehash the same old topic, time after time after time after time..........
     
  11. cig1

    cig1 F1 Rookie

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    You almost answered your own question

    G
     
  12. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    Ya got -so- sick of that in just one month? Must be that teenage attention span. Read more, type less...
     
  13. Meister

    Meister F1 Veteran
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    IMO, manual shifting of the gears is a part of the experiance of driving a car, Ferrari or otherwise.....

    Paddle... while "cool" does not connect you with the car and is IMO akin to playing a video game.

    Mark my words.....35-40 years from now all fly-by-wire cars will be junked to support the manual trans cars......
     
  14. jsanocki

    jsanocki Formula Junior

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    I have to agree with the original post in regards to the immediate "use search function" response.... He is opening a thought for discussion, if you don't want to reply, don't...it will die and be forgotten about.
     
  15. mousecatcher

    mousecatcher Formula 3

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    Yes, I hear 10% but that is not because only 10% of folks wanted them, it's because Ferrari would only allocate 10% of production towards them. We don't know the true desire for a 6 speed.

    I believe Ferrari will eventually offer only a paddle shifter (not F1 though; they will likely move to DSG type gearbox), not because of consumer demand but because it adds to their bottom line. Just like they did with the carbon brakes on the 430.
     
  16. jsanocki

    jsanocki Formula Junior

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    Most new Ferrari's are ordered to customer specs.... if the buyer wanted a 6 speed they would have ordered it. The fact that they didn't, means they didn't want it (or are concerned about resale?)

    The F1 isn't a huge money maker for Ferrari...the carbon brakes are, and clearly people were not ordering them, and in order to get rid of inventory, they made them standard...thats a good way to screw the customer! Then again, Chevy offers an auto/manual trans on the Vette at the same price...so they are making more money clearing selling one model versus another-
     
  17. mousecatcher

    mousecatcher Formula 3

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    #17 mousecatcher, Oct 17, 2008
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2008
    Actually, all new Ferrari's are ordered to customer specs.

    Except that 6-speed and F1 allocations are separate and a customer cannot just order a 6-speed. They have to wait for their dealer (their local dealer, mind you) to get a 6 speed allocation from Ferrari SpA.
     
  18. mousecatcher

    mousecatcher Formula 3

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    My guess, uneducated and from the sidelines, is that indeed Ferrari makes as much on the carbon brakes as the F1. The carbon brakes are mostly outsourced pieces whereas isn't the F1 mostly in-house?
     
  19. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    How on earth does it add to the bottom line? They could easily write off the F1, offer the cheaper manual at the same price as the F1 and be money ahead.

    You and every other F1 conspiracy theorist is suffering from a serious case of paranoia.

    Ferrari will build what people will buy and right now that is the F1 equipped car.

    Relax the world is not coming to an end.
     
  20. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    F1 is made and owned by Magnetti Marelli.

    None of it is in house.
     
  21. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #21 Rifledriver, Oct 17, 2008
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2008
    There is considerable lead time in the product planning and subcontractors need to be told far in advance how many units are going to be needed. It is based on previous years sales, feed back from dealers and distributors on anticipated orders and guess work. If they plan in advance for a 20/80 split on information available that is pretty much what they are stuck with building.

    Expensive components are not bought in excess of anticipated production needs so there is very little flexibility in making changes once orders for subcontracted parts are made. That means allocations.
     
  22. CChung

    CChung Formula Junior

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    I have a 6-spd manual '08 430. Do you now who makes the manual transmission for Ferrari? Thanks, and it's great to have you back on the forum.

    As far as answering the original poster's question, I think no one knows for sure if Ferrari is going to stop making manual trannys for their cars. I hope they continue because obviously I like shifting gears myself, although the shifter is not as smooth or easy as my previous manual transmission cars. All I know is that with the dual clutch trannys coming out in the California, it will soon render the F1 obsolete. I simply feel if you're not going to track the car a manual tranny will be more fun to drive around town, but the F1 is surely more advantageous on the racetrack.
     
  23. DonJuan348

    DonJuan348 F1 Rookie
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    Americans dont like manual trannys unlike our European counterparts so since America is Ferraris largest market ie more F1s...same happened to Porsche when they introduced the auto...it opened the market to more potential customers...

    Second, manuals will disaapear period in the near future because F1 style trannys are the best of both world: more efficient plus lower maintainence cost with the use of a clutch...Now that this style tranny is in big trucks, the end is coming very fast...

    one day we will talk about manual trannys like we do with column shifters, Model T front engine handle cranks or 8 track players
     
  24. zippyslug31

    zippyslug31 Formula 3

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    Really? My passport and my car beg to differ.

    You might be right about this one though. Will be a sad day and guess I'll look to move to a Euro country then.
     
  25. Giallo

    Giallo Karting

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    This was covered in another thread. :D
     

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