550 Maranello v 612 Scaglietti

Lavazza

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I'm interested in both the 550 and 612. Never owned a Ferrari before.
Prefer manual, but content with F1. Any thoughts welcome.
Currently have Granturismo S MC and small collection.
Thanks.
 

allandwf

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They are both around the same price bracket these days, and possibly have a small way to fall yet. I prefer the look of the 550 over 612, but that is a personal thing. I wouldn't say no to either if in the market for a "proper" front engined Ferrari.
 

Lavazza

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Interesting comment about some way to fall.
Would be a replacement for my GTS MC and Fulvia (feel free to shout if interested in either).
 

JonW

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550 for me.... it’s a proper 2 seater, it’s got a little bit of race pedigree, and it won the 2004 EVO Greatest Driver’s Car.
 

rivarama

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I have gone through the same dilemma a couple of months ago - and ended up ruling out the 612 despite many positives about the car (mainly the 4 seats).
Ferrari 2+2s have never done well overtime and I don’t think it’ll probably never be a classic in the way the 550 will (is). All personal preference. For the money (I’d say a good £20k off 550 money like for like), I think they offer incredible value even if they have probably more to lose.
I am now searching for a 550 myself, knowing that time is on our side as we are heading for winter and Brexit. Totally a buyer’s market.
 

iainw

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I am confused. The only 550s I can see are 90k+ on auto trader. Would you really spend the best part of 100k on one?
 

allandwf

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I am confused. The only 550s I can see are 90k+ on auto trader. Would you really spend the best part of 100k on one?
Continent prices are comparable, both start around 55k There are always anomalies for UK rhd.
 

Nayf

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One thing to note about the 550/575 market is that there are a lot of them at dealers and private sellers. That’s one thing, but a lot more are about to go through auction over the next few weeks: Silverstone/Bonhams MPH.
Too much for an already slumped market, particularly in the £50k+ market? If I owned one, I’d find every way I could to hold on to it for the time being
 

MrPea

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If I had an F-car there's only one that stirs me that's potentially achievable and that's the 612. I think it's the understated Ferrari.
I am aware that you'd want to check the suspension as the car is a bit heavy if it hasn't been maintained.
 

Nayf

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As for the two, they’re very different cars. The 612 Scaglietti is a car that you could use daily. It has four usable seats with decent luggage space, and is probably the most complete, useable GT I’ve driven, that also happens to handle.
The 550 Maranello is a weekend car. It has very little luggage space, two seats and only comes alive at speed. Around town it’s a bit of a sod, but at speed it feels a little bit more magic, largely down to the manual box.

The 550 is an event car, in the Ferrari mould. It’s a lot more subdued than a mid-engined Ferrari, though.
The 612 feels very much like a Maserati - it’s no less exciting but so much more useable, so perhaps less of an event simply due to how competent it is.
 

Nayf

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If I had an F-car there's only one that stirs me that's potentially achievable and that's the 612. I think it's the understated Ferrari.
I am aware that you'd want to check the suspension as the car is a bit heavy if it hasn't been maintained.
Carbon discs refurb replacement would spoil even a plutocrats’ dinner.
 

Lavazza

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I am confused. The only 550s I can see are 90k+ on auto trader. Would you really spend the best part of 100k on one?
From £60k from what I can see, and lots in the £70k range judging from a quick search on Pistonheads.

...personally, I'd steer clear of carbon ceramics.
 

Phil H

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I'd take either given the right colour combination and spec, but I think the 550 will be the one that buyers seek out in years to come.

PH
 

safrane

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Both will make Maser bills seem like loose change.

Ask Phil abd Enzo about service costs, esp to keep them sellable (ie by MD or Emblem etc)
 

Ewan

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The 550 is mechanically bullet proof. Unlike the 612, which has all sorts of more modern tech to go wrong, expensively. I’d also say the 550 is more fun to drive and a better investment. And easily as useable every day as any other 2 seat car.

Of course, if you need 4 seats, it must be the 612. But if you don’t, the 550 is the one to choose.
 

philw696

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25,114
Both will make Maser bills seem like loose change.

Ask Phil abd Enzo about service costs, esp to keep them sellable (ie by MD or Emblem etc)
Even with a full Ferrari Service history back in 2014 selling my 360 was hard work before going to NZ.
The easiest one I sold was my 456 which Tim Walker bought over the phone the weekend I put a classified add up on Ebay.
 

Nayf

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From £60k from what I can see, and lots in the £70k range judging from a quick search on Pistonheads.

...personally, I'd steer clear of carbon ceramics.
Not all 612s have CC but most of the later cars do; the OTO cars (Ferrari stopped building ‘stock’ 612s in 07) are the best of breed imo but they do mostly have CCs. I guess if you can afford the car you can afford the brakes...
 
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Sorry I must be in the minority here.
I don't like either and the marque in general to me comes across as vulgar.
No offence just my opinion
 

zagatoes30

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20,759
I prefer front engined Ferraris to mid engined ones with the odd exception. I would have either if the chancellor would allow it but my preference would be the 550