Having owned one of these for 12 years (my best car ever), here are a few observations that may be of use to you. 1. Don't use 2nd from cold. Just don't: you'll prematurely wear the synchro ring. This is a long standing characteristic of Ferrari boxes going back to the Ark. You can go from 1st to 3rd without any issue until the box is warm. 2. In normal mode the chassis is not really adjustable on the throttle due to the traction control. Sport still gives a good measure of protection but the difference in cornering response to the throttle is much better. In the wet, however, Sport is a lot more lary - I once had both wheels spinning up in 4th (yes 4th) when attempting some hard acceleration at 60mph (on d/c, of course). No the tyres weren't bald!!! 3. After the first few months I switched out the rear silencers for a Tubi and never went back. Yes it's a bit of a flat BLAAAAAH at idle, but the aural rewards all the way up to the redline are well worth it. 4. Keep on top of the small jobs before they become big ones, every year, including the interior ones. 5. Check for ally corrosion under the bonnet front lip - a known issue, which can recur as well. 6. Air con - use it! It's from the BMW 5 series and lack of use leads to internal corrosion of pipework. Left mine on Auto and it only struggled on the hottest days. 7. Tyres - not as simple as you'd think. The correct PZeros have a very subtle and particular code that leaves most dealers and tyre fitters confused. Speak directly to a Pirelli Performance Centre (but, bizarrely, don't rely on the Pirelli website for tyre info!). 8. The big question - specialist garage or main dealer? There are cowboys and good ones in both camps. Because mine had an immaculate main dealer history when I bought it, I stuck with 2 specific main dealers. I was able to negotiate same prices from them that specialists were quoting, so don't assume main dealer has to be more expensive. Whatever you decide, see point 4. 9. Join the FOC. You'd be surprised how many "ordinary" people have made the financial sacrifice to own one, and you will learn a lot by comparing notes. Plus you can talk cars all evening post-lockdown without becoming the "oh-no-it's-the-pub-bore-man"..! And finally, as a fantastic car to drive & own, the 550 seems to continually fly under the radar. Really strange considering it won Autocar's Handling Day challenge 2 years on the trot and Harry's old lot at Evo voted it their car of the decade. It really was the proper successor to the Daytona and ought to get more recognition. I say this as someone who no longer owns one, so I'm not trying to talk up the market. Good luck and enjoy your "honeymoon"!!
I’d say you touched on most of things I’d add. Probably add in drive it too. Don’t let them sit too long. Cam shaft seals are being replaced on mine and should be finished and ready for pickup today. This really comes from sitting too long. Hard to avoid that living in the Alps.. Mine is my second Ferrari/ 328 in the garage but equally exciting as the 550. You will love it!
Good points. I owned three 456GT's inc the later M version and did big miles in all of them. These big V!2's do not like a lack of use they need to be driven and as you said the main dealers will match the Indies all day long as long as you ASK. I went to a 599 when my kids grew up and I had no need for the 2+2 plus as they got older I happened to see underneath a few and the rust levels scared me off long term ownership - hence the 599. On the tyres I worked with Pirelli at their high performance tyre factory and you must at minimum fit the proper homologated tyres the same size is not enough also babe very careful of matched date code tyre sets as the car is very sensitive to this. I am not sure if Michelins were homologated later as they would be my choice. The bridge stones are not worth considering as they are garbage and only got the gig because they supplied the F! team at the time.
Congratulations on going for your 'young boy' dream car instead of a McLaren or something. It takes bravery to go against all kinds of rational reasons and take the plunge into the (possible sweet and awesome) unknown. I hope you enjoy it very much and will continue to do so for a long time. Cheers!
I owned one from 2012 till 2016. I traded it for a 458.. I miss the 550, I spent about $10,000 a year the first 3 years. Lots of stuff to do to keep one from breaking down. The engine is bullet Proof, but the bits and pieces add up. Motor Mounts, ECU, Steering Rack, Major Service was $11,000 at dealership.... the dash pulled away, the sticky bits were fixed, the Brakes, Rotors, A/C. But I loved the car, and to this day I miss it. I like it better than the 458 , but the 458 is only $899 a year to run. Mine 550 was Rosso Barchetta from 1998 with only 11 in the world painted in that color. Smooth on the road, handled amazingly. Sometimes it did ferrari stuff, like the door will not open from the outside on the drivers side. Or after a run on the Tail of the Dragon the car would be so hot, it would not take gas for 2 hours, until it cooled down. The dealership never figured that one out, and that is the main reason I sold it. But, when you crank the car and drive it, all is forgiven. Amazing car.
The Austin Healey Bug Eyed or Sprite had similar petrol problems and the solution then was to drill a hole in the petrol cap which seemed to solve the problem. Does this problem extend to long driving in this Ferrari, sounds similar, maybe stick to German cars.
@@joecarretero9404 Just when it gets super hot on the Tail of the Dragon. I sold it because Ferrari dealership could not find out what to do. Ended up with a 458.
Never heard of you before, but discovering you in your dream car makes me very, very happy. Congratulations man ! I hope you will keep on enjoying it for a long time !
@@MrPhlipflop Ah, but of course. The 550M was car of the year for some magazines back then. Always known it as a crisp sounding V12. Acknowledged as possibly the best handling road car in its day. Capable of nearly 200mph on level ground.
@@MrPhlipflop It actually sounds like it's come apart inside - perhaps not surprising on a 24 year old car. I don't recall them sounding anything like that when new. The comment about the temperature gauge made me laugh, I've never owned a 90's Ferrari but I've owned all manner of 90's Japanese sports cars, and without failing they all stuck very closely to the center of the gauge unless something was wrong with the cooling system or I was giving it assholes at the track. I suspect if it's overheating at idle, given it's age it probably needs a radiator flush or some other remedial work.
@@Beer_Dad1975 They definitely didn't sound like that when new, my old boss had one (It was his beater/winter car!!) and this one sure has a knackered exhaust There is an element of truth in the temp gauge though, I have an OBD sender with an app on my phone and it's surprising in most cars how much the true temp can vary while the gauge stays bang on centre, in my car anything between about 90 and 120 shows bang centre on the gauge with no movement at all.
Love it! I have a new appreciation for the 550 Maranello...and the spec you’ve held out for is absolutely Villa d’Este perfect! Buy the dream car YOU want...that’s my takeaway. Proud and very happy for you...love your channel!
So chuffed for you... I remember about 20 years ago driving my 1.1 fiesta looking in my rear view mirror and seeing a black 550 Maranello behind ... it looked so menacing, came by ... and sounded awesome beautiful machine to my eyes
Congratulations on getting your dream car! I fell in love with the 550 Maranello in '97 when I first saw it in Road and Track. Its shape has aged beautifully.
I would say it is because they were the last, and therefore best real, analogue Ferraris. The newer ones come with F1 shifting, different drive modes and al that stuff, but these cars developed in the 90s still came with a manual with an open console, an engine that was gloriously mechanic and they were serious sport cars built to be fun to drive. Today’s it is all about the figures. A 0-60 time in the 5 seconds range is laughed about and a top speed below 300 is ridiculous. With a 550 or a 355 these figures are irrelevant. It’s not what they are about. I like sport cars; I do not understand the appeal of super cars.
I clearly recall the 550 being launched and the first reviews announced it as being so good it was a game changer, that sort of greatness doesn't go away with time.
Always liked the style of the 550 and the rear end is particularly stunning. Only complaint would be that in this day and age the wheels look a little lost in those big Arches but in the mid to late 90s they were probably just right to be fair. Nice to see one for a change instead of a 355. Hope all is well and you're enjoying it.
In these days of stress , discontent and constant disappointment and just outright shock of the the state of the world in which we live arrives a slice of life, 21:15 long, of someone just enjoying themselves with something they’ve truly lusted after, earned and fully appreciate has added some levity to an otherwise miserable midsummer Monday. Thanks James for making my day immeasurably more enjoyable.
I stumbled on this video, Jay, while recovering from a milder Covid issue, and it was a "glorious" time. It made me love life just listening to you loving life ! Watched this after your review of the 355, so it was like a mini-series. Your descriptions are enjoyable but also very informative and with logical conclusions, much similar to the way my brain judges things. I was finishing your thoughts before you said them. Great minds think alike !! thanks again, Jay, you made me laugh with Ferrari joy.
Although I am not a Ferrari fan at all I have watched your recent purchase with great interest. To get 'the car we have always wanted' is such a lovely thing and your enthusiasm and honesty about the car is lovely to see. I enjoy your reviews of more affordable cars, particularly to go at them with an open mind and honest appraisals. Keep them coming!
Lucky you! Congratulations on the new car! This has always been one of my favorite Ferraris. I can remember reading the car magazines back in the day when this came out and lusting after it. I even still have the 1/18 scale die cast model I bought when I was in 10th grade.
As an avid car-review viewer from the States, as well as an English teacher, your delivery and use of precise diction is incredible. Only other person I’ve ever noticed this from is Chris Harris. I appreciate the videos; they definitely helped to push me towards the purchase of my s2000
Wonderfull. I'm really happy for you. I felt the exact same way when I got the Tuscan. We both buy from the heart. Numbers and figures dont add up to feelings. I'm happy to hear your excitement about owning something special. Enjoy
Great car and review. Well done with the 550. Great it's a user too. I did a tour of Scotland in my F355 a few years ago, including Applecross, the rear tyres were down to the canvas when I got home to Dorset. Wonderful. As a Ferrari owner for 12 years now myself, there's no going back. Welcome to the club. It is very special.
Pretty sure I saw you out driving this beauty near Halstead at the weekend. It looked and sounded majestic. And I could hear it well over the sound of my 981 Boxster S ! Congratulations and well deserved. Keep up the great content.
It was us in the Ferrari, we saw you and waved but you looked focused and didn’t respond! James let me drive the car yesterday and it is an event. Saw lots of weekend toys out and about
The shot where you could hear the induction over the exhaust - with a different pipe this is going to sound AMAZING. With the current exhaust it’s a bit raspy. Not that it matters, what matters is congratulating you on buying your dream car and wishing you the very best. You need to take this round Europe, I mean that’s why it was made 👍
I'm not in the habit of subbing to You Tubers but I found myself enjoying the descriptive flow and careful craftsmanship of your videos, much like I did reading Henry N Manney back in the day or Dickens at his best. First rate.
This will sound weird but I appreciate that your shirts are actually tailored to your size, the sleeves fit you perfectly. So many people today have a quarter of their arms showing while driving. You’re sitting there looking like Mr. Dapper himself.
I’m a young guy and the 550 Maranello is my ‘dream car’. A beautiful understated design inside and out, gated manual, in the late 90s/early 00s sweet spot of plenty of power, handling and creature comfort but not the level of technology that’ll cripple it in years to come. Didn’t have handling bred on the Nurburgring, plenty of space inside as well as in the boot, and far from the most expensive of that type of car to upkeep and maintain. For me, it’s the ideal usable exotic car for short drives around town or proper grand touring.
Wow mate you made it 100k subs been here for ages nice to see your dreams come true. BTW the 550 is also my favourite car of all time would love a yellow one.
Congratulations and welcome to the club! I'm 7 years into 550 ownership and I haven't soured on her at all. She's a glorious machine. I will say this - once you change the exhaust out, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner...
Congratulations on the purchase. Easily my favourite post 288GTO Ferrari. Great to see someone truly enjoying the sensations of owning and driving a special car. We are so blaisé these days...Best if luck!
Have to agree with you regarding how nice they are even when you aren’t going fast. I never thought I would enjoy pootling around but you are right. Good to see you have bought a high mileage one so you can enjoy it rather than worrying about putting miles on it. Mine has done 70k miles and barely feels run in. Enjoy and looking forward to some more of your videos.
You sound so pleased with your purchase. Great review, you so did the right thing avoiding Finchingfield. Its been metal there for the past two weeks. Mind there have been some lovely cars making appearances. Keep an eye out for the wide bodied Bentley recently purchased from Silverstone auctions.
Congrats Jay --- I've been watching you since you're Lotus Evora 400... I bought one after your videos....and ironically... I was just searching for a 550... and I "refound you"
"But like many things italian it will eventually switch sides and start to cooperate" I'm italian and i just fell off my chair after hearing this joke.. which is actually true. HAHAAHA
Gli inglesi sono i soliti presuntuosi, dovrebbero solo stare zitti, negli anni hanno perso quasi tutti i loro marchi automobilistici che notoriamente erano pieni di problemi. Vederli fare ironia sugli italiani è surreale. La Brexit non basta, dovrebbero andare su marte a calci in culo
@@ale16_69 è pieno youtube di battute così, continuamente, troppe e fuori luogo.. personalmente mi sono rotto le palle. Perchè tutto nasce da un pregiudizio negativo verso la nazionalità dell'auto, per cui ogni dettaglio è valutato secondo un criterio distorto. Siccome per questi signori l'Italia è una barzelletta allora lo diventa anche un motore 12 cilindri 5litri che deve essere portato a temperatura per funzionare bene! ma comprati un tagliaerba pirla
@@iehen Ma guarda che parlava del cambio.. non del motore... e poi è una battuta riferita alle guerre in cui di solito l'Italia cambiava fazione.. e lo faceva! PS: non so se tu sia a conoscenza del fatto che questa 550M è sua... Questo tipo tra tutte le McLaren, Porsche ECC ECC che ha provato, ha scelto una 550M.... non è che se uno fa una battuta, automaticamente ti disprezza o ti vede in un certo modo. Fai una cosa, contestualizza i riferimenti e vivrai più sereno, fidati.
@@TheLOL4DUDE Si, parlava del cambio ma poco cambia. Conosco bene il suo canale e so bene che questa 550 è sua. So anche che ha criticato fortemente la britannica McLaren in passato. Ma ti confermo che l'idea che qualcosa di italiano sia problematico o precario per natura è diffusissimo nelle recensioni e deriva da un'idea che hanno di noi come popolo; ogni minimo problema viene estremizzato ed è fonte di ironia verso gli italiani, questa battute poi si diffondono e inquinano il dibattito automobilistico, e questo mi dispiace. Il problema ti ripeto è legato alla nazionalità, non tanto al prodotto, e io questo non lo accetto col sorriso. "Fai una cosa, contestualizza i riferimenti e vivrai più sereno, fidati" no guarda lascia perdere.
I have to urge you to look at Clarity Coat, the spray-on alternative to PPF. It has several advantages and you can also check it out in real life as Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez used it on his Murcielago project build for the last SEMA show. It's easily touched up - it can be buffed and polished like any other car - you can use a ceramic coating on top for extra durability if you want - it can be peeled off and redone if too bad - it can even provide a colour change under the right circumstances - all the good features of wrapping and plasti-coating combined! A car like yours deserves a beautiful paint finish but also to be driven regularly. This means that some form of paint protection is obligatory as there's only so much paint/clear coat that you can remove over successive paint corrections over the decades - I'm assuming you plan on keeping it for decades...!
Front mounted V12 engine, rear drive with a long bonnet could so easily have been an XJS, so congratulations for using your car knowledge and passion to pick this beauty.
this was brilliant. really honest review of a v12 ferrari i have also been fond of over the years. i too lust for the 550 over the 575, and even over a 599. sure, this isn't warp speed fast, but it is a true FR V12 Ferrari with a classic 6speed gated shifter that has plenty of pep in its step. congratulations on a beauty mate!
Great content, great cars. Well done, buddy. Keep it up. Massive congratulations for living the dream - life's too short to just dream these things, well done for making it happen. Strong shirt game also.
The best car I have ever owned. In 2010 it sat beside a 2008 599 GTB in my garage. When I moved, one had to go and it was a tough choice but the 550 is so much more engaging and analogue to drive that it was bye bye 599. I still stand by the decision ...
Great review! That's my sort of Ferrari - front engined V12, manual gearbox, red with cream leather. All I need now is to afford one! But I'd need to sell my house, so credit to you for buying such a fantastic car - enjoy.
19:50 "go on my son", haha brilliant. Congrats James, you are a breath of fresh air amongst the majority of RUclips car 'reviewers' who are mostly egotistical, nauseating, self-absorbed toss-pots. You, however, always make the cars the focal point of the video (except your shirts ;). You, Harry Metcalfe, Steve Sutcliffe, Tiff Needell and Chris Harris are my go-to car content. Awesome editing too btw. Thanks
Happy for you, man. Go on, enjoy it all =). And yes, this is much more characterful than a modern Mclaren, even if a Mclaren may be faster and more comfy. There are a million of those already.
seats adjustments broken for a bit - very good mate. Congrats on the purchase - i remember Evo labelling it as one of their favourite ever cars in one of the old issues.
@@JayEmmOnCars Enjoy it mate! Love that feeling when you're just sat staring at it in disbelief! I'm lining up a caterham K series for next year so I'm looking forward to that feeling. Been a long time coming!
Respect for willing to drive the car on track and how it's meant to be driven. Most would see one of these as an investment and leave it beneath a cover locked in a shed
We have gone in opposite directions. Sold the 360 and bought a 220 Elise. So far missing the Ferrari experience but driving fun has doubled without worrying about putting mileage on! However love the 550, very nearly bought one instead of 360. Cheers Martin
I know a few people below have commented on the great sound your car makes, but I am not in agreement. I was actually quite disappointed in its sound for a V12 Ferrari. I hope you put a nice tubi or capristo on it or something to make that car sing properly. It is a beautful car with a gated shift in red and that is something you cannot put a price on. I love that you are living your dream, that-a-boy Jay! I aim to live my Ferrari dream soon too :)
I bought one in 2005 and have used it as my daily drive ever since. Best thing I have ever driven. Won’t ever sell. Will keep and pass it on to my son.
Yes one of the best ferraris ever. I remember back then when it come out. Damn this car is really awsome. And 500hp wooow that waa huge back then. And Schumacher drove one if i remember right. Congratz!!!
You definitely made the right choice Mike, my brother has had 5 Aston Martin Vantages all new all with various mechanical issues some serious, (there is always a reason why a vehicle drops so dramaticly in value on the second hand market ) That aside you sit so low it's a nightmare to judge the road, although he still has a DB9 Volant which he loves and will never sell. He also has had a number of Ferraris and currently has a Portofina, but his all time favourite was the Ferrari 575 not so similar to yours for comfort, ease of use, and upkeep, with a somewhat discreet look to it (well compared to the boy racer Ferrari body types.) Its the only car he ever regretted selling. He won't touch McLaren for the lack of quality control. Ps love your enthusiasm and vids.
550 steering is an absolute delight...possibly its best feature...and feelgood is sky-high too, ESPECIALLY when just ambling around, windows down...sometimes just changing gears for the hell of it! (On any kind of spirited run, 3rd and 4th pretty much suffice). The exhaust note is partly a function of it running as a pair of straight sixes (No mixing), and partly to do with Luca de Montezemelo's
Twenty years ago, I saw a black Ferrari 550 Maranello on the streets. The styling quietly exudes performance, class, and appeal. To this day, it is the most impressive car that I have ever seen in person.
Thank you James you have given me the love for cars back with your reviews. I have just had my car back from my specialist where its been for 3 months because of covid and I’m so happy. And look at it differently now seeing your vids. I’m hoping to see if I can get my Q7 on your channel one day. 👍😊
Congrats on the purchase. Reminds me a little of my porsche 928 s4, big engine out front, leather everywhere and Windows down to listen to exhaust note, they don't make them what they used to!
Man that car's exhaust is hurt. I've heard Subaru's with a more pleasing exhaust note. Once you get it replaced you are going to love how that thing sounds.
@@graemewilson1400 No disrespect, I have two Subi's. but it's a very love it or hate it sound and a Ferrari V12 with a factory correct exhaust is in a completely different universe of good noises.
The car is an incredible spec! Congratulations! I looked up a video of the exhaust note of the 550M it sounds a little bit off. You might want to look into it
There are not many videos online of the car with it's original exhaust. This is probably correct for a 21 year old car - I suspect it has shed some of its packing over time
Nice car Jay and congrats on a new Ferrari ownership. My dream Ferrari is the F488, hopefully one day I will own one. For now I'll just settle with my 997.2. Enjoy your new car!
Congratulations on your beautiful front engine rear drive v12 childhood dream come true. Enjoy every second of it because you deserve it and you earned it!
Having owned one of these for 12 years (my best car ever), here are a few observations that may be of use to you.
1. Don't use 2nd from cold. Just don't: you'll prematurely wear the synchro ring. This is a long standing characteristic of Ferrari boxes going back to the Ark. You can go from 1st to 3rd without any issue until the box is warm.
2. In normal mode the chassis is not really adjustable on the throttle due to the traction control. Sport still gives a good measure of protection but the difference in cornering response to the throttle is much better. In the wet, however, Sport is a lot more lary - I once had both wheels spinning up in 4th (yes 4th) when attempting some hard acceleration at 60mph (on d/c, of course). No the tyres weren't bald!!!
3. After the first few months I switched out the rear silencers for a Tubi and never went back. Yes it's a bit of a flat BLAAAAAH at idle, but the aural rewards all the way up to the redline are well worth it.
4. Keep on top of the small jobs before they become big ones, every year, including the interior ones.
5. Check for ally corrosion under the bonnet front lip - a known issue, which can recur as well.
6. Air con - use it! It's from the BMW 5 series and lack of use leads to internal corrosion of pipework. Left mine on Auto and it only struggled on the hottest days.
7. Tyres - not as simple as you'd think. The correct PZeros have a very subtle and particular code that leaves most dealers and tyre fitters confused. Speak directly to a Pirelli Performance Centre (but, bizarrely, don't rely on the Pirelli website for tyre info!).
8. The big question - specialist garage or main dealer? There are cowboys and good ones in both camps. Because mine had an immaculate main dealer history when I bought it, I stuck with 2 specific main dealers. I was able to negotiate same prices from them that specialists were quoting, so don't assume main dealer has to be more expensive. Whatever you decide, see point 4.
9. Join the FOC. You'd be surprised how many "ordinary" people have made the financial sacrifice to own one, and you will learn a lot by comparing notes. Plus you can talk cars all evening post-lockdown without becoming the "oh-no-it's-the-pub-bore-man"..!
And finally, as a fantastic car to drive & own, the 550 seems to continually fly under the radar. Really strange considering it won Autocar's Handling Day challenge 2 years on the trot and Harry's old lot at Evo voted it their car of the decade. It really was the proper successor to the Daytona and ought to get more recognition. I say this as someone who no longer owns one, so I'm not trying to talk up the market. Good luck and enjoy your "honeymoon"!!
Thanks chap, good advice there. Fortunately I cut my teeth on 90s Ferraris a while back, so I knew to expect some of its oddities!
Wonderful.
want2cLOTS taking a screenshot for when I break the bank and buy me a sweet Italian horse
I’d say you touched on most of things I’d add. Probably add in drive it too. Don’t let them sit too long. Cam shaft seals are being replaced on mine and should be finished and ready for pickup today.
This really comes from sitting too long. Hard to avoid that living in the Alps..
Mine is my second Ferrari/ 328 in the garage but equally exciting as the 550. You will love it!
Good points. I owned three 456GT's inc the later M version and did big miles in all of them. These big V!2's do not like a lack of use they need to be driven and as you said the main dealers will match the Indies all day long as long as you ASK. I went to a 599 when my kids grew up and I had no need for the 2+2 plus as they got older I happened to see underneath a few and the rust levels scared me off long term ownership - hence the 599. On the tyres I worked with Pirelli at their high performance tyre factory and you must at minimum fit the proper homologated tyres the same size is not enough also babe very careful of matched date code tyre sets as the car is very sensitive to this. I am not sure if Michelins were homologated later as they would be my choice. The bridge stones are not worth considering as they are garbage and only got the gig because they supplied the F! team at the time.
Sun in the sky, open B Roads, windows down, Ferrari V12 howling away.... Yep I'd say that's a good day to be alive
A most enjoyable day
in the words of another you-tuber .. best day at work ever
you look Sooo Bloody happy mate I could not be any happier for you.. and on the Classic ford front, I think i might have found my Gem..
Great reply.
xD
Yeah I was about to comment the same thing, seeing him happy makes me happy for him 😊
Yep, and me. Really glad you got your dream car James, well deserved.
What that mate?
Congratulations on going for your 'young boy' dream car instead of a McLaren or something. It takes bravery to go against all kinds of rational reasons and take the plunge into the (possible sweet and awesome) unknown. I hope you enjoy it very much and will continue to do so for a long time. Cheers!
I second that!
Thanks chaps!
@John Mitchell Probably and hopefully ;-)
@@JayEmmOnCars Well done, James - you're clearly delighted.
I'm looking forward to in-depth coverage of the 550 (including that sat-nav).
11:18 "... but like many things Italian it will eventually switch sides and start to cooperate" I see what you did there 😉😁
Very good!!
yeah , i lol'd at that
Very 2020, so spot on.
hahah, yes that really made me laugh. The funny thing was that right before this video i watched one about Italy in WW2.
Italian cars generally become less cooperative over time - usually exponentially.
I owned one from 2012 till 2016. I traded it for a 458.. I miss the 550, I spent about $10,000 a year the first 3 years. Lots of stuff to do to keep one from breaking down. The engine is bullet Proof, but the bits and pieces add up. Motor Mounts, ECU, Steering Rack, Major Service was $11,000 at dealership.... the dash pulled away, the sticky bits were fixed, the Brakes, Rotors, A/C. But I loved the car, and to this day I miss it. I like it better than the 458 , but the 458 is only $899 a year to run. Mine 550 was Rosso Barchetta from 1998 with only 11 in the world painted in that color. Smooth on the road, handled amazingly. Sometimes it did ferrari stuff, like the door will not open from the outside on the drivers side. Or after a run on the Tail of the Dragon the car would be so hot, it would not take gas for 2 hours, until it cooled down. The dealership never figured that one out, and that is the main reason I sold it.
But, when you crank the car and drive it, all is forgiven. Amazing car.
The Austin Healey Bug Eyed or Sprite had similar petrol problems and the solution then was to drill a hole in the petrol cap which seemed to solve the problem. Does this problem extend to long driving in this Ferrari, sounds similar, maybe stick to German cars.
@@joecarretero9404 Just when it gets super hot on the Tail of the Dragon. I sold it because Ferrari dealership could not find out what to do. Ended up with a 458.
@@neptune45 hey the 458 is still a great car, but I understand that a V12 will always be better than a V8
do you know if the 575m manuals are any better to own? Are they any more reliable or not?
Still one of my favourite Ferrari ever!
Never heard of you before, but discovering you in your dream car makes me very, very happy. Congratulations man ! I hope you will keep on enjoying it for a long time !
That's the hope! Welcome to the channel
Something not entirely right with the sound of that exhaust...
Engine falling apart.
Its the baffles in one of the silencers. Awful sounds cheap 😫
@@MrPhlipflop Ah, but of course. The 550M was car of the year for some magazines back then. Always known it as a crisp sounding V12. Acknowledged as possibly the best handling road car in its day. Capable of nearly 200mph on level ground.
@@MrPhlipflop It actually sounds like it's come apart inside - perhaps not surprising on a 24 year old car. I don't recall them sounding anything like that when new. The comment about the temperature gauge made me laugh, I've never owned a 90's Ferrari but I've owned all manner of 90's Japanese sports cars, and without failing they all stuck very closely to the center of the gauge unless something was wrong with the cooling system or I was giving it assholes at the track. I suspect if it's overheating at idle, given it's age it probably needs a radiator flush or some other remedial work.
@@Beer_Dad1975 They definitely didn't sound like that when new, my old boss had one (It was his beater/winter car!!) and this one sure has a knackered exhaust
There is an element of truth in the temp gauge though, I have an OBD sender with an app on my phone and it's surprising in most cars how much the true temp can vary while the gauge stays bang on centre, in my car anything between about 90 and 120 shows bang centre on the gauge with no movement at all.
Love it!
I have a new appreciation for the 550 Maranello...and the spec you’ve held out for is absolutely Villa d’Este perfect!
Buy the dream car YOU want...that’s my takeaway.
Proud and very happy for you...love your channel!
Absolutely adore that raspy exhaust note. Great car you got Jay!
"Those figures might not seem too impressive." Err...in whose world is 485bhp and 420lbs torque ordinary?
A beautifully understated Ferrari.
So chuffed for you... I remember about 20 years ago driving my 1.1 fiesta looking in my rear view mirror and seeing a black 550 Maranello behind ... it looked so menacing, came by ... and sounded awesome
beautiful machine to my eyes
Congratulations on getting your dream car! I fell in love with the 550 Maranello in '97 when I first saw it in Road and Track. Its shape has aged beautifully.
There's something magical about 90's to early 2000's ferraris I can't quite explain
They are elegant. Current Ferrari's were just made for boy racers.
Same here, they are exquisite!
A great blend of design, performance and improved reliability over 80s Ferrari's!
I would say it is because they were the last, and therefore best real, analogue Ferraris.
The newer ones come with F1 shifting, different drive modes and al that stuff, but these cars developed in the 90s still came with a manual with an open console, an engine that was gloriously mechanic and they were serious sport cars built to be fun to drive.
Today’s it is all about the figures. A 0-60 time in the 5 seconds range is laughed about and a top speed below 300 is ridiculous. With a 550 or a 355 these figures are irrelevant. It’s not what they are about.
I like sport cars; I do not understand the appeal of super cars.
I don’t own a house, but I do own a Ferrari 😋 - funniest quote I’ve heard in a while.
100 k subs! congrats well deserved
I clearly recall the 550 being launched and the first reviews announced it as being so good it was a game changer, that sort of greatness doesn't go away with time.
Looks awesome, good to see a RUclipsr who hasn't bought another German generic whip. You bought the car because you like it, that deserves respect.
Always liked the style of the 550 and the rear end is particularly stunning. Only complaint would be that in this day and age the wheels look a little lost in those big Arches but in the mid to late 90s they were probably just right to be fair. Nice to see one for a change instead of a 355. Hope all is well and you're enjoying it.
In these days of stress , discontent and constant disappointment and just outright shock of the the state of the world in which we live arrives a slice of life, 21:15 long, of someone just enjoying themselves with something they’ve truly lusted after, earned and fully appreciate has added some levity to an otherwise miserable midsummer Monday. Thanks James for making my day immeasurably more enjoyable.
Needs an exhaust, sounds like an e46 with a hole in the back box 😂
That’s what I used to drive and I was thinking the same thing
GoPro only capturing half the engine. Naturally, sounds like a straight 6.
Needs Fiammenghi 6-1 headers, cats & center section!
you're not wrong. Hole in the back box and/or needs VANOS seals replaced
Crazy how i thought the same exact thing before i saw this comment😂😂
This is a timless beauty. Never gets old. Just a pure classic. And that Ferrari music that comes out of the exhaust can never get old.
This was my favorite car playing NFS 3 Hot pursuit
Chief Apple Troll Mike Same here....ah, those were the days 😁
Ahhhh! What a game that was!!
Nfs high stakes/road challenge?
I stumbled on this video, Jay, while recovering from a milder Covid issue, and it was a "glorious" time. It made me love life just listening to you loving life ! Watched this after your review of the 355, so it was like a mini-series. Your descriptions are enjoyable but also very informative and with logical conclusions, much similar to the way my brain judges things. I was finishing your thoughts before you said them. Great minds think alike !!
thanks again, Jay, you made me laugh with Ferrari joy.
Glad I could help out even in a small way Dennis
Nice one James glad you like it. Congrats on hitting 100k subs too!
Although I am not a Ferrari fan at all I have watched your recent purchase with great interest. To get 'the car we have always wanted' is such a lovely thing and your enthusiasm and honesty about the car is lovely to see. I enjoy your reviews of more affordable cars, particularly to go at them with an open mind and honest appraisals. Keep them coming!
Lucky you! Congratulations on the new car! This has always been one of my favorite Ferraris. I can remember reading the car magazines back in the day when this came out and lusting after it. I even still have the 1/18 scale die cast model I bought when I was in 10th grade.
As an avid car-review viewer from the States, as well as an English teacher, your delivery and use of precise diction is incredible. Only other person I’ve ever noticed this from is Chris Harris. I appreciate the videos; they definitely helped to push me towards the purchase of my s2000
Wonderfull. I'm really happy for you. I felt the exact same way when I got the Tuscan. We both buy from the heart. Numbers and figures dont add up to feelings. I'm happy to hear your excitement about owning something special. Enjoy
Great car and review. Well done with the 550. Great it's a user too. I did a tour of Scotland in my F355 a few years ago, including Applecross, the rear tyres were down to the canvas when I got home to Dorset. Wonderful. As a Ferrari owner for 12 years now myself, there's no going back. Welcome to the club. It is very special.
Pretty sure I saw you out driving this beauty near Halstead at the weekend. It looked and sounded majestic. And I could hear it well over the sound of my 981 Boxster S ! Congratulations and well deserved. Keep up the great content.
It was us in the Ferrari, we saw you and waved but you looked focused and didn’t respond! James let me drive the car yesterday and it is an event. Saw lots of weekend toys out and about
Yeah that was us
The shot where you could hear the induction over the exhaust - with a different pipe this is going to sound AMAZING. With the current exhaust it’s a bit raspy.
Not that it matters, what matters is congratulating you on buying your dream car and wishing you the very best. You need to take this round Europe, I mean that’s why it was made 👍
I'm not in the habit of subbing to You Tubers but I found myself enjoying the descriptive flow and careful craftsmanship of your videos, much like I did reading Henry N Manney back in the day or Dickens at his best. First rate.
This will sound weird but I appreciate that your shirts are actually tailored to your size, the sleeves fit you perfectly. So many people today have a quarter of their arms showing while driving. You’re sitting there looking like Mr. Dapper himself.
i remember driving behind one (in traffic) many years ago and thinking what a lovely car. It was in blue which really suited it
I’m a young guy and the 550 Maranello is my ‘dream car’. A beautiful understated design inside and out, gated manual, in the late 90s/early 00s sweet spot of plenty of power, handling and creature comfort but not the level of technology that’ll cripple it in years to come. Didn’t have handling bred on the Nurburgring, plenty of space inside as well as in the boot, and far from the most expensive of that type of car to upkeep and maintain. For me, it’s the ideal usable exotic car for short drives around town or proper grand touring.
Wow mate you made it 100k subs been here for ages nice to see your dreams come true. BTW the 550 is also my favourite car of all time would love a yellow one.
Congratulations and welcome to the club! I'm 7 years into 550 ownership and I haven't soured on her at all. She's a glorious machine. I will say this - once you change the exhaust out, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner...
congratulations on the gorgeous car and 100k subs. Both well deserved, you are a man of great taste. The sound of that gated shifter is sublime
Congratulations on the purchase. Easily my favourite post 288GTO Ferrari. Great to see someone truly enjoying the sensations of owning and driving a special car. We are so blaisé these days...Best if luck!
Have to agree with you regarding how nice they are even when you aren’t going fast. I never thought I would enjoy pootling around but you are right. Good to see you have bought a high mileage one so you can enjoy it rather than worrying about putting miles on it. Mine has done 70k miles and barely feels run in. Enjoy and looking forward to some more of your videos.
You sound so pleased with your purchase. Great review, you so did the right thing avoiding Finchingfield. Its been metal there for the past two weeks. Mind there have been some lovely cars making appearances. Keep an eye out for the wide bodied Bentley recently purchased from Silverstone auctions.
Congrats Jay --- I've been watching you since you're Lotus Evora 400... I bought one after your videos....and ironically... I was just searching for a 550... and I "refound you"
"But like many things italian it will eventually switch sides and start to cooperate" I'm italian and i just fell off my chair after hearing this joke.. which is actually true. HAHAAHA
Gli inglesi sono i soliti presuntuosi, dovrebbero solo stare zitti, negli anni hanno perso quasi tutti i loro marchi automobilistici che notoriamente erano pieni di problemi. Vederli fare ironia sugli italiani è surreale. La Brexit non basta, dovrebbero andare su marte a calci in culo
@@iehen Madonna era una battuta oh, siete permalosi, e ve lo dice un ferrarista che va ai gran premi ed eventi privati tutto l anno...
@@ale16_69 è pieno youtube di battute così, continuamente, troppe e fuori luogo.. personalmente mi sono rotto le palle.
Perchè tutto nasce da un pregiudizio negativo verso la nazionalità dell'auto, per cui ogni dettaglio è valutato secondo un criterio distorto. Siccome per questi signori l'Italia è una barzelletta allora lo diventa anche un motore 12 cilindri 5litri che deve essere portato a temperatura per funzionare bene! ma comprati un tagliaerba pirla
@@iehen Ma guarda che parlava del cambio.. non del motore... e poi è una battuta riferita alle guerre in cui di solito l'Italia cambiava fazione.. e lo faceva! PS: non so se tu sia a conoscenza del fatto che questa 550M è sua... Questo tipo tra tutte le McLaren, Porsche ECC ECC che ha provato, ha scelto una 550M.... non è che se uno fa una battuta, automaticamente ti disprezza o ti vede in un certo modo. Fai una cosa, contestualizza i riferimenti e vivrai più sereno, fidati.
@@TheLOL4DUDE Si, parlava del cambio ma poco cambia.
Conosco bene il suo canale e so bene che questa 550 è sua. So anche che ha criticato fortemente la britannica McLaren in passato.
Ma ti confermo che l'idea che qualcosa di italiano sia problematico o precario per natura è diffusissimo nelle recensioni e deriva da un'idea che hanno di noi come popolo; ogni minimo problema viene estremizzato ed è fonte di ironia verso gli italiani, questa battute poi si diffondono e inquinano il dibattito automobilistico, e questo mi dispiace.
Il problema ti ripeto è legato alla nazionalità, non tanto al prodotto, e io questo non lo accetto col sorriso.
"Fai una cosa, contestualizza i riferimenti e vivrai più sereno, fidati" no guarda lascia perdere.
Good lad! Great seeing someone so happy and enjoying the moment. Well done.
Excellent purchase! Lovely car and a great film, you make a lot of sense with your observations and comments so for me please keep the films coming.
I've always loved the 550. In my humble view certainly a candidate for most beautiful car ever made. Congratulations to you sir.
Thanks John
Mmm yes! Love the rear view.....he's a very LUCKY boy!
Nearly , but not as lovely as the Ferrari 250 Lusso , but that would cost you 20! times as much.
One more F550 review I will watch again and again besides the one by Harrys garage) thanks, Jay!
I have to urge you to look at Clarity Coat, the spray-on alternative to PPF. It has several advantages and you can also check it out in real life as Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez used it on his Murcielago project build for the last SEMA show. It's easily touched up - it can be buffed and polished like any other car - you can use a ceramic coating on top for extra durability if you want - it can be peeled off and redone if too bad - it can even provide a colour change under the right circumstances - all the good features of wrapping and plasti-coating combined!
A car like yours deserves a beautiful paint finish but also to be driven regularly. This means that some form of paint protection is obligatory as there's only so much paint/clear coat that you can remove over successive paint corrections over the decades - I'm assuming you plan on keeping it for decades...!
Great review James. Congrats on teaching a very deserved 100k subscribers. Yes please to the text based sat nav video... should be hilarious 😂
Front mounted V12 engine, rear drive with a long bonnet could so easily have been an XJS, so congratulations for using your car knowledge and passion to pick this beauty.
The 550 is special and the color combo is great! Congratulations on crossing 100K too!
this was brilliant. really honest review of a v12 ferrari i have also been fond of over the years. i too lust for the 550 over the 575, and even over a 599. sure, this isn't warp speed fast, but it is a true FR V12 Ferrari with a classic 6speed gated shifter that has plenty of pep in its step. congratulations on a beauty mate!
Great content, great cars. Well done, buddy. Keep it up. Massive congratulations for living the dream - life's too short to just dream these things, well done for making it happen.
Strong shirt game also.
Well deserved mate, keep up the good work!
inching this 550 to better health and looks is going to be great fun to watch.
The best car I have ever owned. In 2010 it sat beside a 2008 599 GTB in my garage. When I moved, one had to go and it was a tough choice but the 550 is so much more engaging and analogue to drive that it was bye bye 599. I still stand by the decision ...
Great review!
That's my sort of Ferrari - front engined V12, manual gearbox, red with cream leather.
All I need now is to afford one!
But I'd need to sell my house, so credit to you for buying such a fantastic car - enjoy.
19:50 "go on my son", haha brilliant. Congrats James, you are a breath of fresh air amongst the majority of RUclips car 'reviewers' who are mostly egotistical, nauseating, self-absorbed toss-pots. You, however, always make the cars the focal point of the video (except your shirts ;). You, Harry Metcalfe, Steve Sutcliffe, Tiff Needell and Chris Harris are my go-to car content. Awesome editing too btw. Thanks
Congrats on 100K!
Well deserved, keep up the great work
Just love seeing someone really happy definitely made me think I should get my dream 911 👍😎
Go for it! I did (911), lost a shed load of money on it, was never happier with anything I’ve ever owned. All the best.
Happy for you, man. Go on, enjoy it all =). And yes, this is much more characterful than a modern Mclaren, even if a Mclaren may be faster and more comfy. There are a million of those already.
Great job, enjoy & thanks for taking us on the journey,
seats adjustments broken for a bit - very good mate. Congrats on the purchase - i remember Evo labelling it as one of their favourite ever cars in one of the old issues.
Mate, I am truly full of awe for you. Congratulations
Indeed the best 550 review on RUclips!
I see it suffers from the sticky buttons. All that rubberised coating starting to decay
Great to see you’ve realised your dream. All the best and enjoy your 550.
It's ace when you see a top bloke get his dream car! What a massive moment it is if you can pull it off!
Still can't believe it
@@JayEmmOnCars Enjoy it mate! Love that feeling when you're just sat staring at it in disbelief! I'm lining up a caterham K series for next year so I'm looking forward to that feeling. Been a long time coming!
Respect for willing to drive the car on track and how it's meant to be driven. Most would see one of these as an investment and leave it beneath a cover locked in a shed
We have gone in opposite directions.
Sold the 360 and bought a 220 Elise.
So far missing the Ferrari experience but driving fun has doubled without worrying about putting mileage on!
However love the 550, very nearly bought one instead of 360.
Cheers Martin
I know a few people below have commented on the great sound your car makes, but I am not in agreement. I was actually quite disappointed in its sound for a V12 Ferrari. I hope you put a nice tubi or capristo on it or something to make that car sing properly. It is a beautful car with a gated shift in red and that is something you cannot put a price on. I love that you are living your dream, that-a-boy Jay! I aim to live my Ferrari dream soon too :)
I bought one in 2005 and have used it as my daily drive ever since. Best thing I have ever driven. Won’t ever sell. Will keep and pass it on to my son.
Yes one of the best ferraris ever. I remember back then when it come out. Damn this car is really awsome. And 500hp wooow that waa huge back then. And Schumacher drove one if i remember right. Congratz!!!
You definitely made the right choice Mike, my brother has had 5 Aston Martin Vantages all new all with various mechanical issues some serious, (there is always a reason why a vehicle drops so dramaticly in value on the second hand market ) That aside you sit so low it's a nightmare to judge the road, although he still has a DB9 Volant which he loves and will never sell. He also has had a number of Ferraris and currently has a Portofina, but his all time favourite was the Ferrari 575 not so similar to yours for comfort, ease of use, and upkeep, with a somewhat discreet look to it (well compared to the boy racer Ferrari body types.) Its the only car he ever regretted selling. He won't touch McLaren for the lack of quality control. Ps love your enthusiasm and vids.
So happy for you! Congrats on a dream fulfilled!
550 steering is an absolute delight...possibly its best feature...and feelgood is sky-high too, ESPECIALLY when just ambling around, windows down...sometimes just changing gears for the hell of it! (On any kind of spirited run, 3rd and 4th pretty much suffice). The exhaust note is partly a function of it running as a pair of straight sixes (No mixing), and partly to do with Luca de Montezemelo's
I love the 550 and look forward to seeing more of your ownership experience!
18mpg on a run! Eeeeeeek! How long before we see JayEmm on Cars in association with Shell? Seriously though, congratulations on realising your dream.
Congratulations. Had a similar feeling when i bought my EVO 6 back in the day ..
One of my all time favourite cars as well. Still after one.
Congratulations on the Ferrari! The description has the model year wrong I think, though, haha.
Love this car Jay, but that exhaust sounds like a bucket of bolts. And that quote "Like most things Italian...." had me howling.
Hope you enjoy many great miles in your dream car J. Looking forward to more content on it.
Right on time for 100k!
Twenty years ago, I saw a black Ferrari 550 Maranello on the streets. The styling quietly exudes performance, class, and appeal. To this day, it is the most impressive car that I have ever seen in person.
Very happy for you! Enjoy in good health!
Lovely car - beautifully designed, superb interior, not too loud and totally devoid of bling. Your a lucky guy, J.
Thank you James you have given me the love for cars back with your reviews. I have just had my car back from my specialist where its been for 3 months because of covid and I’m so happy. And look at it differently now seeing your vids. I’m hoping to see if I can get my Q7 on your channel one day. 👍😊
Congrats on the purchase. Reminds me a little of my porsche 928 s4, big engine out front, leather everywhere and Windows down to listen to exhaust note, they don't make them what they used to!
Man that car's exhaust is hurt. I've heard Subaru's with a more pleasing exhaust note. Once you get it replaced you are going to love how that thing sounds.
I love my Subaru's sound hehehe....... but your right it could sound better but what a car.
@@graemewilson1400 No disrespect, I have two Subi's. but it's a very love it or hate it sound and a Ferrari V12 with a factory correct exhaust is in a completely different universe of good noises.
Hi Mike I have two Subie's as well an Outback & a Liberty RS. Your right theyre never going to sound like a V12 Ferrari and no disrespect taken
The car is an incredible spec! Congratulations! I looked up a video of the exhaust note of the 550M it sounds a little bit off. You might want to look into it
There are not many videos online of the car with it's original exhaust. This is probably correct for a 21 year old car - I suspect it has shed some of its packing over time
JayEmm on Cars well, you know better than me! Enjoy your car, it’s well earned
Nice car Jay and congrats on a new Ferrari ownership. My dream Ferrari is the F488, hopefully one day I will own one. For now I'll just settle with my 997.2. Enjoy your new car!
997.2 is a great car!
Well done mate! For 21 years old and over 100k on the clock it's in great condition
Congratulations on your beautiful front engine rear drive v12 childhood dream come true. Enjoy every second of it because you deserve it and you earned it!
Thankyou very much!
Such a buzz to watch this. The quirks of the gated shifter are really interesting. But that 4th to 5th clack does sound good!
Great to see how happy you are with it!
I am looking actively for a 550 I really enjoy your perspective