Farewell Ferrari | FerrariChat

Farewell Ferrari

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by Bluebottle, Feb 8, 2021.

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  1. Bluebottle

    Bluebottle F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 15, 2012
    7,698
    Newbury, Berkshire, England
    Full Name:
    John
    After 8 years of happy ownership, I am about to say goodbye: I sold my Dino last year, and now the Maranello is about to go, too, to fund another purchase more appropriate to my circumstances.

    There is no other Ferrari that I want to own (apart from ones I cannot afford, and they all come with manual gearboxes and two seats anyway), so, for the time being at least, that's the end as far as Ferraris are concerned.

    I have loved owning and driving my 550, but the plain fact is that it is not getting the use it needs. I find that I frequently have to leave it in the garage and take another car, either because two seats are not enough, or because it has a manual gearbox, or both: that means that I can't take my wife and daughter along, and even if she is not with us, I can't ask my wife, who is not into manual gearboxes, to drive home after lunch / dinner if I have imbibed more than Plod will allow, which I find rather restricting.

    So now it is time to bid Ferrari ownership goodbye and move on, complete with many happy memories of owning and driving two of the most wonderful cars anyone has ever made - they don't come much better than the last manual-only front-engined 2-seater V12, and the first of Ferrari's mid-engined road cars.

    Details at https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/550-maranello-rhd.636666/ if anyone is interested.
     
    Il Tifoso, ralfabco, TheMayor and 3 others like this.
  2. ronc52

    ronc52 Karting

    Aug 25, 2010
    132
    Full Name:
    Ron
    Best of luck!!
     
    Bluebottle likes this.
  3. Bluebottle

    Bluebottle F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 15, 2012
    7,698
    Newbury, Berkshire, England
    Full Name:
    John
    Thankyou.:)
     
  4. Fennicus

    Fennicus Formula Junior

    Apr 10, 2015
    592
    Helsinki, Finland
    Full Name:
    Pekka T.
    Awww, that's a bit sad. :(

    That's one of the reasons our first E-type was a Series 1 2+2 (kids) and why I was looking for a GT/E and in the end bought the 456GT.

    Ok, ok, our 24 old daughter DOES complain that the clutch and the steering are heavy, but she still drives if asked kindly. :)

    Oddly enough, my wife rather drives the 1950 Jaguar Mark V Drophead than the 456 GT, I think it's mostly because she thinks it would be difficult, when it fact it's not. It's a very comfortable car, very similar to the 550M, just a bit bigger.

    I wish you pleasant miles whatever you choose to drive.

    Cheerio!
     
    Bluebottle likes this.
  5. marce

    marce Formula Junior

    Jan 30, 2014
    432
    Australia
    Full Name:
    Marcel
    have enjoyed your level headed posts John, keep well.
    cheers
    m
     
    Bluebottle likes this.
  6. Themaven

    Themaven F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2014
    4,252
    Eastdown
    Full Name:
    Darius
    John, we will really miss you here. Your reasoning is impeccable. But we will still miss you.

    I barely drive my 575 for similar reasons. I may follow you..but not yet.
     
    Bluebottle likes this.
  7. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    37,986
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    John- I have enjoyed you here and am really sad to hear you go. We need nice, competent, knowledgeable guys like you to make up for the likes of me. Good luck and let us know what you end up driving for fun.
     
    Bluebottle likes this.
  8. DZ-96

    DZ-96 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 7, 2010
    1,775
    South Germany
    Full Name:
    Daniel
    Hi John

    Sad to hear that.
    I want to say thank you for your courtesy in the past, have a good (and healthy) time.

    Kind regards, Daniel
     
    Bluebottle likes this.
  9. Bluebottle

    Bluebottle F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 15, 2012
    7,698
    Newbury, Berkshire, England
    Full Name:
    John
    ifeelfree0 likes this.
  10. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    37,986
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    John- Very pretty and with a UK favorite cream interior.
     
    Bluebottle likes this.
  11. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 26, 2001
    29,386
    E ' ' '/ F
    Full Name:
    Trailer Swift
    Sounds like you need a 612.
     
    Nembo1777 and Bluebottle like this.
  12. poljav

    poljav F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 2, 2014
    8,465
    SF Bay Area
    Full Name:
    Pol J.
    Sorry you're losing her and that she finds a good home. Cheers.
     
    Bluebottle likes this.
  13. Mirek

    Mirek Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 20, 2019
    1,244
    Los Angeles, CA
    Full Name:
    Mirek
    Man you ticked off all of the exact reasons that we had to get a 456M vs a 550/575.
    The wife needed an auto and we generally roll with our 6yr old Daughter. The width of these LA streets (and our driveway) was the reason we could not go 612. I wanted a V12.

    The 2003 456M was our ONLY option....and we certainly overpaid for it but whatever it checked every single box. That said, whenever I see a good priced 550 or 575 (auto) I always have to remind myself “Four seats, you need 4 seats.” It is funny that they were building 456M’s along side of the 575’s.
     
    Bluebottle likes this.
  14. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

    Mar 24, 2008
    41,300
    ESP
    Full Name:
    Bas
    Sad to see you go but hope you'll be back when you realize you miss the V12 too much! A 456, 612 or FF in the future maybe?
     
    Bluebottle likes this.
  15. papou

    papou Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 18, 2012
    1,567
    plantation Fla
    Full Name:
    daniel ross
    Bluebottle likes this.
  16. greg246

    greg246 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 2, 2004
    25,479
    Sydney,Australia
    Full Name:
    Greg
    Bluebottle likes this.
  17. haroonok

    haroonok Formula 3

    Sep 5, 2007
    1,152
    england
    Full Name:
    haroon
    Well i have just replaced my dear departed 550 with an FF and am very happy with the prospect of taking out the family in it.
     
    Mirek and Bluebottle like this.
  18. Bluebottle

    Bluebottle F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 15, 2012
    7,698
    Newbury, Berkshire, England
    Full Name:
    John
    None of them have ever quite floated my boat, I am afraid.:(
     
    Bas likes this.

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