Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Coupes & Convertibles Ferrari Ferrari 600-The best Ferrari ever?
41 messages, Last post on Aug 15, 2007 at 12:17 PM
You are in the Ferrari Forum. Your Host is claires
|
|
|---|---|
| I do not know if this is the best Ferrari ever but ever since I was a kid in the 70's I loved this car. I think the Ferrari 600 is stunning, and I would buy this car in an instant if I had the resources. | |
| You can get more info about the Ferrari 600 in our Future Vehicles section of InsideLine.com. | |
|
I hope the proportions aren't ruined that front-mid engine placement like on the 612 Scagletti. M |
|
|
but I've been a tifosi even longer than you, I was a kid in the 50s and 60s and IMO any car that can be considered the "Best Ferrari Ever" has a tall order to fill. I have no doubt that the 600 will be really fast but it won't be faster than an Enzo, an FXX or even an F40. I'm not even sure it'll be that good looking, at least based on the spy shots that are kicking around. To get some historical perspective, see the new magazine Motor Trend Classics (Sept 2005). They had a panel of real experts including people like Luca diMontezemolo, Dan Gurney, Chuck Jordan and Mario Andretti nominate the "10 Best Ferraris". I won't spoil the surprise by telling you which Ferrari won out but it wasn't a current car and it's doubtful that Ferrari or anyone else will ever make one that's better. Merc, I'm fine with the proportions of the 612, I think it looks great even if it's a bit big for a Ferrari.
|
|
|
It's tough to really judge those lines in the spy shots and I think it would be tough to beat the Maranello in looks. Like Andy, and I know I'm a minority, I like the 612. Sure, it's bigger, it's a plus 2, actually, it appears to have as much room as 456. Actually, I saw one the other day parked next to a 360 and a Maserati Quattroporte and the size was less of an issue. Bigger, but not dwarfing the 360 and looking small beside the Maser. Anyway, any new Ferrari is looked forward to by me! |
|
|
|
|
When I first glanced at the spy shots, I thought I was looking at a Corvette from the side. I know these are spy shots so hopefully the Ferrari 600 will be more distinguished when it is truly revealed. Take a look and compare - the silhouettes are very, very similar in character. The proportions are extremely close. Are those C4 wheels on a Ferrari? What happened to the larger Mid-engine cars like the Testarossa and 512's? As far as I am concerned, the Testarossa and evolutionary 512's were the height of Ferrari's design esthetic balancing passion, sport, and elegance. Nothing looked like them then or now. They are iconic cars, even for Ferrari’s standards. To me the F430 and 360 capture a fair amount of that lineage from those great cars with styling cues from the F40 and F50, but the Testarossa series just had more style and panache. Why can’t Ferrari build another 12 cylinder mid-engine vehicle? Leave the GT’s to Aston Martin, Mercedes, and yeah, Chevrolet or Dodge. Best Ferrari ever – on paper maybe. On the blend of style, substance, and prestige: it looks like a Vette from the side, it is guaranteed to perform and hall #$%, and it still is a Ferrari even if looks like something else.
|
|
|
|
|
For all intents and purposes, the 600 IS the new Testarossa. I think with the performance they get from the mid-engined V-8s, Ferrari realized a 12-cylinder model would be redundant considering they have an Enzo in that niche, albeit way more expensive than the last Testarossas offered. They made the switch to the front-mid-engine layout with the Maranellos to emulate the classic Daytona and appeal to the nostalgic, dual-purpose, gentleman-racer-type buyers from their golden age who demand 12 cylinders from a "proper" Ferrari. Moving the engine back to the front solves a lot of packaging problems as well, like storage space, cooling and visibility. The 600 takes that a step further by offering a modern Testa Rossa (as in the original front-engined racers from the 50's and 60's). With hp from their V-8 pushing 500, a rear-mid-engined 12-cylinder would need an Enzo-like 600+ hp to justify its existence, and it's hard to imagine there is a need for that AND an Enzo-type halo car. They now have a great lineup that appeals to almost every potential owner: A relatively affordable entry-level model that offers world-class track-like performance and classic mid-engined Pinninfarina styling; A blazingly fast yet refined 2 + 2; A front-engined V-12 that promises extremely high performance limits; and a halo supercar that offers an experience as close to a Formula 1 ride as possible while meeting the demands of a street car. The only thing I'm looking for is a return to more sensuous styling (instead of the semi-agro, Lambo-like sharp lines of the current lineup) and a V-6 entry-level Dino and Mondial. One more note about the styling of the 600, it needs to be more aggressive than the 612. The 612 is elegant and relatively sporty compared to, say, a Bentley GT or CL Mercedes. It is handsome but the long, bulbous nose and plump rump keep it from being sexy, like, say, an Aston Martin. Same thing could have been said about the 456, although the nose was far less offensive. The current Maranellos look like a Mako Shark and the 600 needs to have that same kind of visceral appeal to the senses to win my heart.
|
|
|
Replying to: wrinklemash (Sep 19, 2005 11:19 pm) I think the previous poster did a good job of explaining how the Enzo fills that niche in the current lineup. I'll just point out that yours is a minority opinion, most Ferrari buffs prefer the classic front-engined V-12s although there's always a lively debate between proponents of the Daytona, the 275 GTB/4 and the 250GT. Testarossas, 512TRs and even Boxer Berlinettas have fared poorly in the marketplace compared to the values of the aforementioned.
|
|
|
|
| I have loved Ferrari's since the days in the early 70's when my father bought and still owns a Pantera GTS 74 and a few of his friends brought theirs over - there are many I love, the title of this thread was just to invoke comments. | |
|
Replying to: clarencehollow (Sep 27, 2005 10:08 am) That worked out well didn't it? 
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Coupes & Convertibles Ferrari Ferrari 600-The best Ferrari ever?
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2009 Ferrari 599
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
