Ferrari F50

[igor@af]

oh man! that IS sweet!!!!
I see 2 300ZXs behind the F40...
I didn't think they would be in the same class...

[MBTN]

You either love it or hate it. I think it's great, but it wasn't an improvement over the F40. If Ferrari wanted to compete with McLaren, they should have made a 6 liter, instead of making 1 car less then McLaren projected.

[V12]

The F50 is a car that splits people up more than many other cars do. No one can disagree with the fact that it's a high speed racer with amazing f1 technology in it, but everyone dos not have an equal opinion about the design. Some like it and some don't, I'm in the category that don't like it so much. IMO also the f40 looks much better. But I'm not saying that the f50 is ugly, there is just something not right about the design.

[ThunderFish911]

I don't really like F50s. I think they're somewhat underpowered and overrated for their tremendous price - fast, they are, but a Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 can come very close to an F50's performance for more than $100,000 less. A Porsche 911 Turbo comes very close also, for more than a third of a million dollars less. Plus, in my opinion, these cars are about as pretty as a 70-year-old cripple's soiled Depends, with its unsuccessful attempt to combine bull-nosed wedge styling with delicate, understated Ferrari looks and over-abundance of scoops and aero "holes". Blah blah blah, people always come up with crap like racing heritage, notoriety, status, etc., when I try to challenge this car. Well, let me tell you something - badge notoriety and social status never won any races, nor is it likely to in the future.

[Lizard King]

I can't stand the styling. Thats all I'll say about this.

[V12]

Sorry if my question is dumb, but what car exactly is that on your sig winston........err, sorry, Lizard King?

[CraigFL]

Looks like a 63 split window coupe to me.... (Corvette)

[ThunderFish911]

Originally posted by V12
Sorry if my question is dumb, but what car exactly is that on your sig winston........err, sorry, Lizard King?

That's a Bloopy ZX 3.2 277.

[Lizard King]

Yes indeed. Craig is right. IMO the best looking car ever - beautiful.

[Heep]

The F40 was met with tremendous success when it arrived. IMO, the F50 was the result of Ferrari trying to create that same result to an even bigger audience. They seemed to have placed too much emphasis on styling rather than making it a true drivers car.

The F40 was functional, and, while beautiful, it was styled to be aerodynamic and what not. F50's are amazing, but, IMO they look worse, they go only 1 MPH than the F40 stock, and accelerate about the same if not slower.

I've never driven either, but I've read that the F40 is also better handling. So, given the choice, I'd take an F40 over an F50 anyday.




Function over Form.

[Z06Lover]

Originally posted by carmaster
What do ya'll think of it?? Do you love it, Hate it??
I personally think its the best car ever made.

mclaren...bmw m power...can't beat it....wup some f50 booty!!

[Z06Lover]

Originally posted by texan
well here's my perspective...

The F50 is no match for the pure race worthiness of the F40. Case in point; my first siting of an F40. This was back in '89 (I think) at Laguna Seca raceway, where I was watching the GTO/GTU class cars compete. For those who are not familiar with that series, it contained purpose built road race cars, and Audi's Quattro racers were usually the fastest. At this race there was a surprise entry; a brand new, bone stock F40. The only modifications made to the car were slicks, other than that it was factory fresh with less than 200 miles on the odometer. It was really a joke among the racers and announcers, who quickly pronounced the owners idiots for bringing a new road car to a real race.

Stunned drivers and announcers simply marveled at the car as it was allowed to compete, and compete it did. With a very good professional driver at the helm (can't remember his name), he took the lead right off and contuinued to run away from the other cars. For over 90% of the race, the stock F40 led the way, with the Audi's only gaining ground as it lost tire adhesion due to excessive wear (remember, the suspension setup hadn't even been tweaked for this type of duty). The car ended up coming in 3rd behind the two Audi's if I remember right, and after the race it's all anyone was talking about. Every driver interviewed spoke of his amazement at the speed of this "street" car, and how he wasn't looking forward to when it got sorted out as a racer (as though it wasn't sorted out when it left the factory).

I've never heard or seen anything like that from the F50. The F40 is capable of over 600hp with aftermarket support, something the NA F50 can't lay claim to. The F40 is also (arguably) a more beautiful and timeless design, being shaped by an artist's hands as much as the wind tunnel. Ask Michael Shumacher, Nigell Mansell, or anyone who had the priveledge to hussle it around a race track which was the best supercar ever, and I bet they'll blurt out F40 without even thinking on it. Without taking anything away from the F50, it will never truly match up to the original Ferrari supercar, the unbeatable F40. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong .

Pic of an F40 GTE waiting around for track time...


Is anyone going to argue about which is better looking now?

nice story, but a Turbo car over a N/A car of the same speed...no way. Over 600 HP..tuned..woo hoo..go talk to carmac about his 1100 HP F50!!

[Jay!]

My vote goes to "Like it, but like F40 better." Just because.

[DVSNCYNIKL]

To be honest, I like them both. While for traditional reasons I like the F40, I just like the more up to date style of the F50. But I'd have to say that the F40 is more of a racer than the F50.

[S Brake]

I personally love the F50 and have never heard a single bad comment about it until i found this topic. although i also love the F40 because it was the first ferrari model car i bought, and now i have over 20. but if i had to choose one i would wait and get the ferrari F60 which comes out in 2003. of course its going to cost a butt-load but come on, 0-60 in 3 flat, wow. i'll post pictures of the 3 so you can decide which is your fav, also go to www.rapidcars.com and go to the video section to check out an F50 going around the track.