Hi everybody, I am looking at different 550s now, and have found out that the 575s are not much more expencive. The question is which one is the best car. For me, it is important that there are as few problems as possible. I like the design of the 550 better. However, the 575 seem to have more modern features. I have noticed the following: Please correct me if I am wrong! 1) The 575 have electronic throttle body actuators while the 550 is mechanic. What does this do for throttle response? And are the electric bodies something that use to require replacement? 2) The 575 have valved exhaust and more straight through mufflers (in the open position). Does the original system work so good that it is worth paying extra for? 3) The 575 has a bigger displacement engine with more power. Is it so that this is very noticable? Is the sound any different? 4) What about the "feel" of the car behind the wheel? What will I notice as differences????? 5) Are spares availible for both cars or is one of them easier to find spares for? 6) Are 575 F1 clutches prone to cause problems? What is a normal life for a clutch and what does it cost to replace it? Thanks for all inputs! I really apprechiate it. Erik
Frequent thread - try a search on '550 575 differences' - for example http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=333851
Hello Erik I have both in stick shifts... And I drove more than 40K miles each... Here is my opinion: 1. Throattle control is a big difference here... 550 runs on mechanical cable which feels a lot like the 456MGT with a bit better and quicker response and very direct feel... 575 on the other hand runs by electronic throattle in which your right foot controls the computer, than the computer tells the steping motor to opens the throattle.... The 550's power feels very direct and straight forward with a very liquidty smooth delivery while the 575 feels very explosive and the torque feel is very strong... The 575 is a very noticebly quicker straight line accelaration over the 550M especially when gets to 150 plus mph.... My opinion here, I love how 550 throattle feels, and I love the speed and power punch feel from the 575... 2. Both stock mufflers are quiet and both are very restrictive... I got both on tubis and center X-pipes... work excellent...!!! My one more 550M track car has open straight pipes which sounds excellent, but loud... Not recommended for street and home uses... Neighbours get crazy... 3. The 575 has a bigger motor than the 550 with very similar and or the same engine block and or construction... But the engine management is night and day difference, 575 runs on individual 12 coils per cylinder while 550 runs on two coils for 6 cylinders each bank... 575 has bigger air take from the hood nose to the air filter boxes than the 550... Yet 575 runs on 4 groups of pre cats headers which is very different from those in the 550M... My opinion here, 550 engine has the best mechanical noise in which I like a lot... 575 on the other hand seems to quiet down a bit from the 550 engines.... both engines look very similar from outside, but runs very different inside.... 4. Both 550 and 575 feel very different in driving... On power wise, 550 is silk smooth with a very nice mechanical noise... 575 is very explosive on torque feel and high end power... The rpms gets to redline in 575 is a lot quicker than the 550 does... The steering feel is another night and day feel here... 550 has a nice solid tight power steer feel, and it feels really really awesomely good... meanwhile and unfortunately my 575 is a 2003 model... for those 2002 and 2003 earlier 575s, the steering feel light... it's a good feel, but light, and it does not firms up as speed gets high like the 2004 and 2005 later 575s... I test drove my friends 575 GTC many times... that has one awesome steering feel... way better than the earlier 575s... My opinion here, I love the 550 feels and the later model 575s steering feel... not so much on the 02' and 03's... I have tried to upgrade my 03' 575 steering to the later types... it seems to require a lot of work from steering ECU, to steering rack and whole bunch of all kinds of stuff... so I gave up.... TAZ has more detail info on this issue... 5. I have no problem in finding any spares for both 550 and 575... 6. My is a stick,... so I can't tell you much here... Alex Lin
THANK YOU ALEX!! This is just what kind of input I was hoping for. This message board is just phenomenal. Even my Ferrari delaer would not be as knowledgeable as you Fchat guys! I must say that I have actually decided to go for a manual non F1 car what ever it ends with.. I learned to drive tractors with cluch pedal as a 9 year old boy, so to drive my dream car is something I would apprechiate to be most possible entertaining. Finding a 575 with manual is not easy, but possible. three years ago, I had a Maserati 3200 GT with "drive by wire" system like the 575. It was fun, but not really practical. The engine rev'ed in its own way when starting off in a steep hill etc. And since I never use these cars for track days etc, the "racing" way of shifting is not really something I need. The interior of the 550 is in my opinion better to look at, although I don't know which one I would be most satisfied with... The feel of a newer car usually is worth extra money. Exhaust wise, I am considdering to put on sports cats, X-pipe and the original switchable mufflers. I like the option to close the exhaust. Especially in parking garages and around my neighbourhood.These engines make no noise (good sound) at a 60 mph cruising without opening up the exhaust. But then again, it is a bit too loud for coming home at 1 AM in the night. I am not planning on having a 550 or 575 without using it a lot. Therefor, the smoother power delivery of the 550 would suit me more I guess.. Question: Is the 550 delivered with xenon lights from the factory? I guess this is original on the 575? It makes the car look alot newer! Thanks for the input!!
The Xenon HID headlight is standard on the 575, not on the 550M... But the other 550M (Titan color) which I track came with aftermarket Xenon HID headlights works great from the previous owner... For 3 pedals stick Maranellos, the transmission is identical for both 550 and 575... The clutch pedal feels the same, shifting feels the same and works the same... As for the interior, I like both, but I am biased and favored to the 575MM... Instrument clusters and gauges, I like 575MM more, and steering wheel (a bit thicker than 550, better grip feel) also favor to the 575MM... Air conditioning wise, 575 works better, but that could only be cause the 575MM is 4 years younger... Exterior look, very similar, but different... I have always liked the way 550 bumpers look with two fog lights and bigger smile front grill.... but after some 7 years past, I have also grown to like the 575 more round smoother bumper look now. Probly a bit more than the 550M... Headlights look, for me 575 definitely looks better and more stylish... Lastly for the rear exterior look, the 575 has one straight through line, meanwhile the 550M has little lowered line for trunk lid open in which I don't care at all... No comment here... One more thing, the 575 came standard with TPMS and it bothers me a lot after years when the wheel sensors died, and the orange warning light came on all the time... I have the dealer to shut it off for me... Now is ok... Good luck in finding a Maranello works for you. Alex Lin
With due respect to Erik, the OP, my intent is not to hijack your thread, but I've started compiling a table of technical differences between the 550 and 575, and would appreciate everyone's input. The goal here is to document what was actually changed/upgraded from the 550 to the 575, versus Erik's interest, which appears to be more in the look & feel differences from a prospective buyer's standpoint. Brian Crall's opinion, after having attended Ferrari's schools on both models, is that there are so many things that were changed, it would be easier to document what stayed the same, but being a glutton for punishment, I thought I'd take a stab at this anyway. Here is a table I've compiled so far, and I'd be grateful for any additions. As you can see, the body and interior sections are thin to nonexistant, so additions in those areas would really be appreciated. I'll post up the original Excel spreadsheet once it's further along. TIA Image Unavailable, Please Login
As a new parent one thing I noticed was the ability to turn off the passenger airbag in the 575 but didn't see this in the 550. Either car is a masterpiece and sure to be a future classic. Get thread!
Thanks in advance for your help on this. As I am shopping for either a super clean/concours potential blk/blk 550 or 575, I noticed the 2004's have chrome front grilles and trunk badges. I like these extra details. Are there other technical improvements that you know about: exhaust, suspension, etc. ? I am sure that this was covered before, but using the search button I couldn't not bring up anything. Thanks for kindly letting me know. If you know of any car worth it, i will be happy to fly anywhere to see it. Much appreciated. Looking forward to rejoining the forum with a shiny car I am in Bellevue, WA. Thanks again. Matthew
Searching 'updates' in 575 section suggests a few options - for example http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245394 http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=306391
The 575M fuel pups are spring retained and have no rubber to disintegrate. The filters are at the base of the pumps still in tank.
Hi there, My 575 is MY2003 and in comparison to my buddy friend's 2004 and 2005 and final year 2005 GTC version, there are several technical upgrades... The 2004/05 have the chrome lines in the front grill and the rear carries a small badge of 575M vs the 2002/03 cars... The power steering is a big upgrade from the 2002/03 to the 2004/05... The 2002/03 model year 575s feel significantly lighter and when speed goes up, it only firms up a bit, not very noticeble... while the 2004/05 power steering feels tighter at low speed, and firms up more noticebly when speed picks up... And the final 575 GTC cars firms up even more... very excellent tight firm steering feel... Unfortunately my 575 is the early 2003 built, after years and 40K more miles driven, I get use to the light feel and accomodate myself to it... But everytime when my buddies ask me to test drive their 2004/05 575s, immidiately the light vs firm steering feel comparison and judgement comes back to my head, and wished I can upgrade my 2003 575 to the later firm steering feel... TAZ once mentioned in this forum particularly about the power steering upgrade from 02/03 to the 04/05... that Ferrari added some sensor to monitor the power steering and changes the power steer feel. And of course the GTC cars upgraded the suspension, 19" modular wheels, CCMB, mufflers which made the 575 even more fun to drive and desireble to own... Alex
