[355dreamer]

I am currently listing my 355 for sale, and I am curious about the actual trading prices of 550s/575s in 6 speed configuration.

I'd prefer a 575, but what is the spread between the two models? Does anyone have any recent transaction data?

[BarchettaGuy]

Originally Posted by 355dreamer

I am currently listing my 355 for sale, and I am curious about the actual trading prices of 550s/575s in 6 speed configuration.

I'd prefer a 575, but what is the spread between the two models? Does anyone have any recent transaction data?

Did you see this one for sale?

I can tell you that in April of 2010, I purchased an 04 575M 3 pedal car for 90K. It was an amazing price at the time. It did require a major, water pump and new tires. I sold it last fall and I regretted that.

I replaced it with a heavily optioned 05 575 F1 in May of this year. I paid 120K plus the shipping and all duties and taxes into Canada for 137K.

I also own a 550 Barchetta and with the V12 ownership that I have had, I would recommend buying the 575 over the 550. There really is not much difference in price between a quality 550 vs a 575. I would say that there may be a 20-30K price difference, worst case. There are a lot of 575's now in 550 price territory......I am not sure why that would be.

I think the 575 is one of the best value Ferrari's at the moment for what the car has in terms of quality build, looks and performance.

I know others on here will chime in with their thoughts.

2002 Ferrari 575 M Maranello, $89,900 - Cars.com

[tazandjan]

LC- The top of the 550 market is overlapping with the bottom of the 575M market at around $75-85K. I know one person who recently paid $130K for an extremely low mileage, loaded 575M and another who bought a nice one that had been in a minor accident for $70K. 550s have been going for $55K-85K, and I know of two owners who traded their cars against 599s for ~$50K, but both of those cars had some problems.

It really depends on the individual car. There seems to be more nice 575s available right now than nice 550s, even though there were 50% more 550s built (3083 vs 2064). Being newer helps, I guess. Only ~12% of the 575Ms were three pedal, so fairly hard to find. There is a black one on E-Bay right now for $89.9K BIN.

Nice thing is both are pretty much bulletproof and we know the problems and fixes for either.

Taz
Terry Phillips

[Granucci]

Taz, can you list the major, differences between the 550 and 575 [or provide a link to such]. I would love the SA [I feel confident about the top issues], but out of my current range. I have no big pref on looks for the 550 vs 575 as I do on the 456GT vs M series [M's are better in many regards, but I wanted the older], so, either would be more a factor in terms of mechanics and issues sorted.

rik

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Granucci

Taz, can you list the major, differences between the 550 and 575 [or provide a link to such]. I would love the SA [I feel confident about the top issues], but out of my current range. I have no big pref on looks for the 550 vs 575 as I do on the 456GT vs M series [M's are better in many regards, but I wanted the older], so, either would be more a factor in terms of mechanics and issues sorted.

rik

We may have covered some of this in the Buyer's Guide as well. Probably not as detailed as Taz is able to provide, but I know we'd have touched on the issue as this would be a common question for buyers trying to decide between the two.

[tazandjan]

Rik, Andrew- Give me a little time and I will post something that may be helpful.

Incidentally, Andrew, there are some mistakes in the 550/575M buyers' guide. Let me know if you would like me to update it for you. The twin fuel tanks bit must have been copied from some other Ferrari's info. The Maranellos only have one big tank. If you want it updated with real data to supplement the impressions, let me know. Might give me an excuse to go through the 550 and Barchetta parts catalogs like I have the 575M's.

Taz
Terry Phillips

[RDM]

L.C., I know of a recent 2001, very low milage, most options, 550 sale in the mid-$80s. Car had a ton of recent service including plastic redone by Stickynomore. I think this was a good price. I know of another 2001, likewise very nice bought at the depth of the recession for $80. 1998-1999s with higher milage have sold in the $65-$75 range.

Like many people, I would find the best car and pay up.

FYI, without a red FOB or alarm PIN, a new alarm ECU and key set costs $3,000. Often a major service, cam, aux belts, a few hoses and tires, often typical of a pre-sale service by a Ferrari dealer can run $7,000-$9,000. sticky parts refurbishment $1,500-$3,000.

Several 2002 575s sold in the $100 range, don't know how well sorted. I know of a 2002, 9K miles 575, FHP three peddles that sold for, I was told, $115...very good deal for a rare car.

So I think the 575 premium (and 2-4 years newer) is about $30k.

There are a good number of 575s for sale, not as many 550s, but I think a good time to be a buyer. Best of luck, RDM

[Andrew]

Taz,

If we have inaccurate info I certainly want to fix that. Since they are in PDF form, I can republish and updated version from the original pretty quickly.

[tazandjan]

Rik- Here are some comments on the 550 and 575M that may help, leaving out all the obvious facts like the larger engine and availability of F1. First similarities. Brakes are just about identical with 330 x 32 mm F and 310 x 28 mm rear rotors with 4 piston Brembo calipers F&R. One of the rear pistons on the 550 is smaller, but that is the only difference. Transaxles are virtually identical with triple cone synchros on 1st and 2nd and double cone on the rest. Clutches were identical. Steering racks are the same. All 550s (and the 456/M) had a steering position sensor that improved handling feel, and only 575Ms built in ~Dec 03 or later have one. Both were available with the Fiorano Handling Package, but the 550 only late in production.

The 575M has a larger intake opening and improved front brake ducting, but the bodies are very similar with all aluminum panels, except for steel doors, over a steel space frame. The biggest difference in the engine, besides size, is the Motronic 7.1.1 ECUs on the 575M (5.2 on the 550) that provide coil on plug ignition and very precise fuel metering. COP is a big advantage because it eliminates all the high voltage passing through the spark plug wires from the 550's two coils. The Denso COP coil packs have caused very few problems, unlike the early Beru coil packs fitted to BMWs and other cars. COP ignition and more precise fuel metering have allowed the idle on the 575M to be reduced to ~750 rpm from the 550's 1000 rpm.

The more sophisticated 7.1.1 DME (also fitted to the 360, F430 and 612) has allowed a much more sophisticated exhaust bypass schedule, open at idle, closed at 1000 rpm, and reopened at 2720 rpm and 64% throttle vs the 550s wide open throtle at unknown rpm. The camshafts on the 575M are a little more agressive than the 550's, and peak power is produced at 7250 rpm vs 7000 rpm and peak torque at 5250 rpm vs 5000 rpm. Both hp and torque, however, are superior to the 550 at all rpms.

The 575M has a higher flow water pump than the 550 and also radiator fans that move more air at lower rpm. This has kept the 575M from having very many cooling problems so far.

The wheels and tires on the 550 and 575M are identical at 8.5Jx18" F with 255/40 18 tires and 10.5Jx18" R with 295/35 18 tires. The standard 575M wheels are lighter weight, however, and 19" wheels were optionally available. The 575M was the first car fitted with a Beru TPMS system, which has been reliable except for the short life (3-5 years) of the sensors mounted to the valve stems on the inside of the wheel.

The interior of the 575M shares an instrument cluster design with the 360 and F430, with detail differences vs the 550's mix of centrally located and center dash instruments. Not much to choose between the two. The driver's seat on the 575M is fitted with standard memory.

The ABS system on the 575M is a generation newer than that on the 550 and, combined with the digital throttle on the 575, provides a far smoother and less intrusive ASR system.

The Bilstein shocks and the shock actuators on the 550 (and 456/M) were replaced with nearly bullet-proof Mannesmann-Sachs shocks which will probably outlive the owner. A huge improvement in reliability.

The 575M was partially fitted with silicone water hoses for longevity and with much improved motor mounts, but nearly all 550s have been upgraded to the 575M parts. The 575M has far superior and far cheaper fuel pumps that are less affected by ethanol in fuel.

There is an old wive's tale that the 575M is more electronic than the 550 when, in fact, some 550 ECUs, like the fuel cooling and ASR exclusion ECUs, were eliminated on the 575M. Neither car, however, has had many problems with the ECUs, so the point is moot.

Hopefully this will give you some idea of the main differences. There were 3083 550s built, all with three pedals, and 2064 575Ms, 246 of which (~12%) were three pedal cars. The transmissions on the F1 and three pedal cars are identical, as are the clutches. Only the T/O bearings and shifter mechanisms were different, plus the addition of a clutch position sensor and one additional angular speed sensor for F1.

Taz
Terry Phillips

[tazandjan]

Andrew- Sorry I missed your post. We were writing at the same time, I guess. If you like, I can go through the buyer's guides and update the information to reflect what we have learned over the last few years. We can include option lists, production numbers and other details that might prove valuable. We have recently imported quite a few V12 experts here in FerrariLife, and they can proofread and correct drafts we produce.

As an example, here are the first 50 Scaglietti options for the 575M. Will finish in the next thread.

Taz
Terry Phillips

[tazandjan]

Andrew- Finishing the Scaglietti option document. Documents get much more accurate when you use primary source documents.

Taz
Terry Phillips

[JazzyO]

Funny - I think the 575 still looks so modern, until you see that SatNav system!


Onno

[tazandjan]

Onno- Affirmative, that one was a waste of money. My 575M is more like a 550 with very few options except for leather color, FHP and the fire extinguisher. Still goes like stink and I am slowly adding in capability, like the HGTC exhaust, Superamerica instrument panel, and ceramic brakes. Plus a few carbon fiber parts. Your basic 202 mph car.

Incidentally, since the 550 has the exact same gearing and tire sizes, there is no reason for any difference in top speeds between the two except for marketing.

Taz
Terry Phillips