You could argue that no Ferrari has ever had it easier than the 599. Arriving in dealerships in 2006, it was a replacement for the soft and stodgy 575M Maranello, which set rather a low bar for any future front-engined V12 grand tourers to come out of Maranello.
That’s a big part of the reason 599 prices are doing so well today. Impressive to drive at the time and still competitive against modern equivalents, the predecessor to the thunderous F12 Berlinetta commands, on average, around £120,000 for a well-kept example.
Under that mile-long bonnet is a (very slightly) downtuned version of the hallowed naturally aspirated F140 6.0-litre V12 that powered the Enzo hypercar. It sends – even in its most lowly form – a good deal more than 600bhp to the rear wheels by way of, more commonly, the enticingly named F1 Superfast automated manual gearbox. It’s a truly awesome powerplant, and nestled within a lightweight, bespoke aluminium chassis, it was strong enough to shunt this luxury missile from 0-62mph in an astounding 3.5sec – let’s not forget the 599 tips the scales at nearly 1.8 tonnes – and beyond the 200mph mark.
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Unlike the 575M, however, the 599 doesn’t baulk at the idea of carving the odd canyon. It was one of the first production cars to offer carbon-ceramic brakes as an option, and its Delphi Magneride suspension system – which uses complex magnetic technology to vary the viscosity of the fluid in the dampers – is instrumental in the 599’s famed adaptability and all-round competency, even if it is its Achilles’ heel in reliability terms.
The HGTE package (that’s Handling Gran Turismo Evoluzione) arrived in 2009, bringing a stiffer, lower suspension set-up, softer tyres and wider wheels with the aim of offering a sharper drive. It was a popular option from new, and many of the more expensive 599s in the classifieds are so equipped, but be prepared for the tyres to need replacing more often and for speed bumps to quickly become your worst enemy.
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Hmm also
Hmmm....
...not Ferrari's finest hour stylistically imo.
Bland in the extreme - as was the 612 Scaglietti (550/575 far prettier).
It may have been a good drive (I havent driven this model), but for me a Ferrari needs to look good too - hence tha Mondial always struggled to find favour.
1500 quid service
Id be interested to know what that entails. Oil, plugs and what else