[maurodev]

Hi all,
I joined FL a few days ago. A few words about myself. I turned 50 a few weeks ago. I am Italian and live in Bergamo, about 50 Kms from Milano.
For all my life I have been driving Alfa Romeo, I mean real Alfas, pre-FIAT ones, and still own 5 splendid vintage Alfas, the 'younger' being a fast and nimble Montreal.

However, as nearly every Italian, I have always admired Ferraris, but I never bought one. Now that I am getting older, I would like to concede to myself the pleasure to own and to drive one of those myths on wheels.

I would like to buy one of the early '60s gems, but they are ways out of reach for my pockets ! So I have bought and read carefully the Buyers Guide, which was very helpful in chosing the right model on which to focus. I think that the 550 Maranello is the right car for me.

I have a couple of 550s under observation in the Milano's Official Ferrari Dealer 'Rossocorsa', which is selling a 1996 red one (88,000 Kms) for 47k Euro and a 2000 silver one (100,000 Kms) for 52k Euro. Another Official Ferrari Dealer in Perugia is selling a 1999 blue 550 (57,000 Kms) for 55k Euro. Official Ferrari Dealers in Italy sell used Ferraris under a 2 years partial warranty.

The only thing I would like to know better, and here I ask for your informed advices, is the yearly maintenance costs of a 550.

I was scared by some 'horror stories' regarding the model saying that, on average, a 550 requires 1k Euro (around 1400 USD) a month in maintenance (including insurance), which is really a lot of money.

Thank you.
ciao
Mauro

[tazandjan]

Mauro- Welcome to Ferrari Life. In general, the 550s (and 575M) have been very reliable and most of the problems they have had are pretty well sorted by now. I have no idea what you are talking about with insurance, but maintenance costs are probably closer to $1000-1500 per year, with a more expensive service to change cambelts every 3-5 years. Three years if you listen to Ferrari, and 5 years if you listen to others. That will run $3000-5000, depending on what you have done (new tensioner bearings/pulleys, water pump rebuild, etc).

There is more information in the modern V12 section above.

[Barry]

Welcome to Ferrari Life Mauro. I can't add anything to Terry's good advice above other than to wish you well in your search and make sure you let us know how you get on....

[Boxer]

Suggest you take a look at the 550 Buyers Guide:

Ferrari Buyer's Guides - Ferrari Life

[champagne612]

Mauro

Welcome to FLife

I am also turning 50 and felt the need to buy myself a present - good luck on the search for a 550

[BarchettaGuy]

Mauro, welcome to F-Life!

I think you will be very happy with your choice of looking at the 550, some of us on here are biased towards the V-12 cars....

I am curious as to your costs for registration and insurance in Bergamo?
If I am not mistaken, is cost of registration based on engine displacement and number of cylinders?

That would probably be more of an expense than the maintenance as Terry has explained.

Keep us posted in your search for your 550.....that is half of the fun!

[maurodev]

Thanks to everybody for the welcome and the advices. Much appreciated!
To Barchettaguy: in Italy you pay both insurance and tax base on the power of the engine in Kws (which is a variant of the bhps). For sure, those costs will 2-3 times the mentioned maintenance cost.
To Champagne612: my best wishes for your next half-century!
To Boxer: I'll do. Is it different from the 550-575 section on the Buyers' Guide book?
To Taz: thanks a lot for the information! The insurance is the cost to buy a policy to cover the cost of car incidents, the car being damaged or stolen.
I will post my progress in looking for 'my' 550 and ask again for your advice and support.
Thanks again to everybody.
Ciao
Mauro

[tazandjan]

Mauro- Good luck. The 550 has 357 KW and 5.5 liters, so that puts it towards the top of the bad actor list. Insurance here is not so bad, around $100 per month of so, sometimes less, for a Maranello. US insurers take into account how powerful a car is, but not like EU nations' insurance rates and taxes. Registration and road taxes here do not generally depend on how powerful your car is.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by maurodev

To Boxer: I'll do. Is it different from the 550-575 section on the Buyers' Guide book?

Not sure, but it should be very close.

[desertfox330]

Mauro,

550 sounds like a nice choice and hoe to purchase one soon too. I was just in Bergamo last month. Such a nice place...

Ciao

Markus

[maurodev]

Hi everybody,

to Taz: the road tax in Lombardia, my Region, should be around 1360 Euro a year
to BarchettaGuy: insurance costs depend on the Company, but to insure the car against incidents, damage and the risk it being stolen the cost is around 2000 Euro a year for me
to Markus: are you coming to Bergamo again ? In that case, please let me know and we could meet in person.

I should be able to visit Rossocorsa at the end of the week, to have a look at the two 550s it has on sale. I will let you know.

ciao
Mauro

[JazzyO]

Buongiorno Mauro,

I passed Bergamo in my 550 2 days ago - what a shame I had not seen your thread!

The 550 is indeed very reliable. I have now put 47,000kms on mine in 4 years, total is 70,000kms. Only problems have been a failed computer (EUR1.5k) and a clutch pressure group (EUR3k). Otherwise the car has been perfect.

It is still a wonderful machine. The only downside is that the cabin is getting a bit old - it's a bit noisy for modern standards especially at over 220 km/h, and it is hard to find an up-to-date Sat Nav system that fits into the 1-din slot. (If anyone knows of any, let me know!)

Other than that, it's a great car, and I enjoyed the 700km drive through Germany yesterday regularly cruising at 240km/h on fairly empty roads. What a car!


Onno

[maurodev]

Buongiorno Onno, a pity indeed ! I would have been delighted to meet you and talk a little bit of your direct experience with the 550 in front of a fair portion of Casoncelli (the local ravioli variant) and a glass of red wine. Maybe next time, if you will come again in this area of Italy.

Thank you for your comments. From what I am reading, it seems that the 550 is a reliable car, with some 'unlucky cars' here and there, and that's very good because I wish to drive it and not to have it playing the 'garage queen' role.

ciao
Mauro

[JazzyO]

One more slight annoyance: the side windows go out of kilter every 18 months or so (depending on how much you use the car). They then need re-adjusting (about a 10min job per door) if you don't want the rain or wind to come in!

I can also recommend getting an aftermarket rear-view camera. In parking garages and such it is very useful.

Senza dubbio I will be back in Italy again soon, perhaps we'll have a chance to meet then!

Ciao,


Onno

[desertfox330]

Mauro,

Look forward to it and will let you know when I am in the area again. Would be great to see you Montreal too

Markus

[maurodev]

Hi Markus and Onno, yes please let me know when you will be in Lombardia next time and we will arrange a meeting. About the Alfa Romeo Montreal, it is not a Ferrari of course, but it is a nice and fun car with its V8 and 230 BHPs.

ciao
Mauro

[Vitalone]

Originally Posted by maurodev

About the Alfa Romeo Montreal, it is not a Ferrari of course, but it is a nice and fun car with its V8 and 230 BHPs.

ciao
Mauro

Beautiful in bianco! A friend in Johannesburg has just restored one, also bianco, to Autodelta spec. The Montreal is a beautiful car, exuding seventies chic. Must sound good too with that quad cam V8 and Spica (mechanical?) fuel injection...

[maurodev]

Hi David, thanks. The color is close to Bianco. It is Grigio Escoli, a very light grey, close to white. Yes the Spica is mechanical. It was a little 'overworked', so maintenance has to be constant to keep it perfectly operational. That's the reason why some Montreal owners opted for a conversion to carbs: less maintenance issues and around 30 BHPs extra. I didn't, because I prefer originality in my cars.

ciao
Mauro

[tazandjan]

Mauro- Very pretty Montreal. I actually owned one in the late 70s. Never did get any photos. Fun car to drive.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by maurodev

Hi David, thanks. The color is close to Bianco. It is Grigio Escoli, a very light grey, close to white. Yes the Spica is mechanical. It was a little 'overworked', so maintenance has to be constant to keep it perfectly operational. That's the reason why some Montreal owners opted for a conversion to carbs: less maintenance issues and around 30 BHPs extra. I didn't, because I prefer originality in my cars.

ciao
Mauro

Is this the same Spica system used on the Alfa Spider 1750s?