Over the past few weeks, I’ve had my eye on a particular car, this amazing LP550-2 Tricolore.

At its heart lies the familiar 5.2 V10 engine but with drive only going to the rear wheels with a deficit of 10PS (hence the 550 monicker), alluding to the ethos Lamborghini is trying to preach about less being more. I’ve read a lot about the Balboni and how it’s the best drivers V10 Lamborghini make and I could quite believe it. As incredible as the LP560-4 is, you really do notice the 4WD system, especially on tight bends on track – you feel a slight hovering on the front and a disconnect that punishes any communication you had with the front wheels.

The Tricolore comes fully loaded with every option you’d need on a Gallardo and also comes with carbon wing mirrors and side skirts together with that very cool Italian stripe both across the whole car and also across the drivers seat.

This all being moot, of course, as I’m simply fulfilling some perverted fetish to satisfy a craving for supercars that has left me utterly malnourished over the past 12 months.

Unfortunately, the car wasn’t at London, having being shipped out to Manchester for some showroom sharing – with Ferrari taking valuable floor space whilst their own dealership is having a massive renovation, Lambo London have scant spots to keep these cars.

Instead, they had some other top line V10 cars. First thing to catch your eye in the showroom is the stunning LP570-4 Superleggera, looking fantastic in white. This car really does look best in either black or white, with the carbon exterior trim and dark wheels complementing the car beautifully. Even amongst a company of Lamborghini’s, the SL looks expensive.

Tucked away at the far corner of the showroom was yet another special edition Gallardo. The big difference between this, though, is a significant amount of engineering change. It’s the £225,000, big breath, Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Special Edition. It’s basically a road version of the Super Trofeo race series Gallardo. Boasting even more weight saving courtesy of a carbon fibre diet, the car improves it’s power to weight without any engine changes. Personally, I thought the spoiler looked a little ridiculous for a road car and felt the changes removed the purity of the standard shape.

Finally, a Performante. “What’s this? Another limited edition?”. Well, kind of. It’s a convertible version of the Superleggera basically. Aesthetically, it just doesn’t look right. Appreciate it’s Lamborghini’s response to Ferrari’s 16M, but the spoilers, deep front skirts and horrific stickers across the car, combined with the plastic looking engine cover, make this one of the least desirable V10’s for me. No doubt it’s incredible to drive, but this isn’t something I’d be proud to see in the reflections of shop windows as I drive past. What, I’m the only person that does that?

A short walk around the back to where Ferrari have taken up temporary residence and I’m immediately taken back by the surreal presence of the 458. As the dealer went to great pains to explain, Ferrari don’t evolve their cars, they totally reinvent them – and I can totally believe that.

With a 430 Spyder parked next to a 458, the leaps and bounds achieved in the newer model really does put the ageing car into the shade. I can only describe it as a mini Enzo and even parked it was capable of giving me a little shiver.

However, with prices starting at £200k for used examples, it’s only a matter of time before the bottom falls out of these cars. Incredibly, these cars now come with 7 years free servicing and with Lamborghini now giving 4 years factory warranty to all new cars, it’s about time Porsche took note. Each dealer was also full of encouragement with track usage, citing no warranty dangers as such.

Have a test drive booked in a 458 next week. It’s an incredible car with the most fantastic, driver focused interior I’ve ever seen. I honestly believe it represents the very pinnacle of automotive engineering with so much high tech F1 know how crammed into the car, it presents a very different proposition to the slightly ‘agricultural’ feel of the Gallardo’s. The dealer was very happy to remind me that the V10 Gallardo’s were now based on 10 year chassis technology. It’s a huge fact that’s worth considering when buying these cars.

When talking Ferrari’s, it’s clear you’re buying into a club, more so in fact than Lamborghini. The Red car dealer doesn’t want to sell you a car, he wants to sell you 10 cars over 10 years. As you take delivery of your car, he’s determined to take your deposit down for the next one. This is pretty typical of an average Ferrari owner frankly, demonstrating that he’s more interested in owning the next best car, rather than a subjective decision based on individual merit. Even as Louis Walsh walked in, newspaper in hand, I was for a split moment completely ignored mid-conversation as the dealer walked over to him instead.

We eventually concluded that everybody loves a Lamborghini, but Ferrari’s are either loved or hated, despite their obvious game changing car, the 458. It’s clearly a massive step forward and is no doubt a better car dynamically than the V10.

Couldn’t help feel though that as impressive as the soundtrack on the new V8 was, it sounded quite artificial and I wondered if in doing so, some spark in its soul was lost? Just can’t beat that V10 sound really.

Contrary to popular belief, owning a Ferrari wasn’t a life long dream of mine. I appreciate and understand the reasons others may aspire to own a Ferrari; social standing, aspiration, flaunting of success – I simply bought mine because at the time, it fitted both my criteria for a car and my available budget.

It was also Evo Magazine fever pitch. The 550 had just been voted the best drivers car for the past decade. Some accolade! Furthermore, Evo MD Metcalfe had just bought himself a Rosso 550 and commended the car in both his buyers guide and his northern group test.

It was a recipe for delight. Not only could I sample a front engine V12 exotic GT, there was also a good chance it would retain its value, as long as I got myself a good deal somewhere.

Now, for those without any Ferrari inside knowledge, buying a Ferrari is a WHOLE new ball game.

My first 550 viewing was based on the promise of an immaculate example that had been garaged its whole life and had never been out in the rain. A photo was sent and soon after, I was on a train 100 miles north to view this car. My 18 year old Honda Civic was in better condition – and I enjoy hitting walls in that. Sickened by a journey so wasteful, I made a stubborn decision to buy from a main dealer. I realised that the financial risks of a Ferrari were way beyond anything I’d ever experienced before, so an official Ferrari warranty was necessary.

Graypaul Ferrari is a hypnotic place. It’s the largest Ferrari dealership in Europe for a start and it’s also a brand new development with impressive architecture and content. The unit itself cost £6million to build. So when you step in, Peter Pan suddenly becomes your best friend, reality takes 5.

When a showroom is filled wall to wall with some of the shiniest and most expensive cars in the world, it’s often difficult to string together a set of coherent words with the slick salesman, who incidentally all come equipped with their Patek Philippe watches and immaculately ironed Savile Row shirts with custom cuff-links. I was like the fly in Bugs Life “It’s so beautiful….” *zzap*

Still, it’s very important to maintain composure – these people are lions and you are in a jungle. They sniff you out the moment you come in, based on the watch youâ??re wearing, the way you walk and the amount of perspiration on your forehead. Lose any of your control on the situation and they’ll have you signing a finance agreement you never needed.

Buying a Ferrari from an approved dealer is one of the best experiences in my life. They went into every detail and ensured that I was treated with the importance of someone handing over 4 times the national average wage for a car.

The car arrived at my house a couple of weeks later on the back of a Ferrari delivery lorry. The ramps were extended, the car started up and reversed out, like a bar of Toblerone sliding out of the gift wrapping. The exhaust note was interesting enough to lure all neighbours to shuffle behind silently shifting curtains. I was standing with wife and a friend, a violent Chelsea smile appearing from ear to ear. The feeling of utter embarrassment was overshadowed by my absolute joy – I was having my own Ferrari delivered to my door.

Again, the salesman (who had travelled 300 miles to deliver) spent until 8pm at my home going through documents – he even asked me to take him out in it to ensure I knew all the tools, finally ending up at a petrol station to have him fill up the (£100!) tank of fuel.

The service didn’t end here though. A few weeks into my ownership, an invitation arrived for a silver service dinner and ball, black tie gala event at the dealership. It was the launch of both the dealership, but also an opportunity to show the one and only Ferrari 430 and Maserati MC12 in the UK.

The company on our dinner table were simply otherworldly. Aside from the numerous football and rugby players in the floor, the room was dominated by those who quite simply had lost the concept of money a long time ago. The chap sitting beside me boasted to all how at one point he had 7 XJ220’s in his possession as he thought “they were a good buy”. He later laughed at how he lost £100k on each one.
My other side was entertained by a man who couldn’t decide whether to take the Enzo or the F1 to the race circuit.

I boasted about how once I spent £45 for sushi at lunch.

It was precisely 1 month into my ownership, about a day after this event that I realised owning a Ferrari is not about owning a fine piece of motoring. It’s all about the lifestyle. I noted, the night I went to the Ferrari star studded evening, with 300 guests, I was one of only a handful who actually drove a Ferrari to the event. The rest turned up in their Phantoms and Continentals. Truly a staggering statement.

I’d understand this more and more later on, especially when it was time to sell the car. A painful time for me, as you are treated not as a human being who is looking to secure a mutual deal where two parties celebrate some benefit, but more of a bitch.

It seems that most people looking to buy Ferraris are relatively successful in their field of expertise and as a result, they seek to turn a friendly discussion about buying a car into one of hostile takeover and a level of aggressive negotiating that would be more appropriate in a cold war treaty. I’ve had spoilt brats, self-important businessman, aspiring owners with delusions of grandeur – where on earth are the nice people?

I didn’t see one!

Well, the car is finally sold – and not without grit teeth. It cost a lot to own, run and maintain. Every spirited drive would have me thinking what I’d just broken. A gentle track day cost me over £3000 in consumables. It cost £100 to fill up the tank and it would only last 200 miles. It wouldn’t fit in my garage, so huge it was. But most importantly, it led everyone else to somehow believe that since I drove a Ferrari, I had suddenly become a w4nker.

I’ve just worked this out, the car cost me £4 a mile to run in the 4000 miles I had it.

However….

This is without doubt the most beautiful car I’ve ever owned. Jaw dropping beautiful. It also made me feel Hollywood every time I drove it, a massive, shark shaped, Pininfarina designed ego massage.
It also was ferociously fast and very usable. All in all, it made you feel great driving it.

So my final summary? Ferrari don’t make great drivers cars. But they make very expensive, very beautiful ornaments.

I won’t be buying a Ferrari again. Well, at least not until next time.

Performance on circuit…hmm.
As many of you have already commented, this car wasn’t built for track work. I’ve never driven a car before that’s been so sensitive to changes in tyre pressure and temperature. Initial experimentation on circuit saw the thing understeer like crazy. Combination of both high tyre pressures, slight traction control and a MASSIVE V12 lump in the front meant the rears weren’t getting any priority so the fronts were suffering.
Back to the pits, deflated the tyres considerably, traction control totally off and out again. Boy what a difference. My GT3RS was a LOT more competent on circuit. In fact, I doubt there’s a better production track tool out there (and no, I’m not counting those 4 wheeled motorbikes they pass off as production cars). However, as compotent the RS was, the 550 was SO much more fun.

Heavy nose meant having to rely on some clever weight distribution mid bend and also some balanced right foot application, coming in with a trailing throttle and then burying it on the exit for some glorious power oversteer. Real neutral handling and very adjustable. If you went in expecting the front to grip, then you’ll end up in the tyre wall. Need to make sure you enter that bend with consideration, it really is a slow in, fast out car.

But, it IS heavy and you can feel it. Any abrupt movement in the balance of the car, especially mid-bend, meant some heavy weight transfer that may end up messy. But in control, it’s beautifully progressive and has no snappy tendencies.

Track work is very expensive though. That 1.8 tonne of weight means tyre scrub and HOT brakes. I think I’ve pretty much destroyed a set of tyres (strangely, the fronts go but I think thats a combination of both incorrect tyre pressures and my own inexperience) so there’s £1000 there, and I reckon my pads will need to be changed. Got a strange feeling discs are OK. Still, amazingly, front pads and discs are only £600 – for a V12 Ferrari that’s very cheap.

This car isn’t intended for the track. Although the massive power means you can use the monstrous low down torque to great effect. You could do the whole of Silverstone in 5th – effectively – just by relying on the huge grunt provided by the 5.5 V12. Redline is never reached on any gears, you simply don’t need to because it runs out of steam top end. But, for all it’s failings, it’s one of the greatest cars I’ve ever driven. Just huge, hooligan fun.

Just drove back from mums house and the roads are large, 3 lane dual carriageways. Oh god this car is so fast. I switched off traction control and to be honest, the rear is so provocative, begging you to let it slide.
Yesterday, at an undisclosed location, my traction control warning light came on at 160MPH.

And that noise!! It sounds absolutely FANTASTIC. I’ve got some video, but waiting for the right firewire cable to arrive, then I’ll host it.

GT3RS is fast becoming a distant memory.
My V-Spec 2 Nur pulls strings of regret – that car was special.
But for now, 550 is my king.

And no Ferrari gala event is complete without a resident Enzo.

Anyway, here are some first impressions.

It’s been raining for 2 days solid which has really annoyed me, so driving with this car with anything more than 50% throttle and you just get insane wheelspin. On the motorway, I floored it at 100MPH in 4th gear, traction control light went crazy. I guess it’s good as it gives me time to get acustomed to the car. It’s a brute of a car with planet pulling power. This thing has it’s own gravitational field. It’s not the fastest thing I’ve driven, but it certainly gives you the sense of immense power.

In this weather, anything up to 4th gear, forget it. ASR light goes crazy, just wants to let go. Otherwise, it’s progressive power but does hit a little boost at 4-5k rpm. Low RPM limit, but this V12 is a torque car. Stick it in any gear and there’s no grumbling, regardless of speed.

Ride is exceptional. Relatively firm suspension but soaks up all but the worst pot holes (nothing like the RS, but we’re talking chalk and cheese). Handling is sublime – absolutely no body roll, but without the harshness that normally accompanies zero pitch cars. Going around corners is fantastic, very direct and an attitude that defies its 1.8 tonne weight – needs to be experienced to be believed.

I found the 575 a bit pointy on the nose when accelerating. It would point to the sky under hard acceleration which put me right off. The 550 doesn’t do this to the same extent, but you can’t stop that massive bonnet with hidden V12 from moving a little.

Steering is light, but a little on the vague side. In comparison to the RS (which has IMHO the most incredibly focused and communicative steering I’ve ever experienced), it’s responsive and accurate, but not as intricate.

Jury’s out on the Tubi. It sounds loud but doesn’t have enough vocal characteristic. It’s plenty on the volume front, but I prefer quality of the decibel, not quantity. Best part about them is starting the engine. That high pitched starter motor is chased by an incredible explosion from the exhaust. It’s shamefully OTT in its announcement, but satisfyingly reasuring. [Edit - I'm starting to like it! =)]

Looks wise, it hits the spot – truly is a stunner in my opinion and that’s from any angle. I find myself getting out of the car and circling it round and around.

Will take some better photos soon!

I did just that today and accepted a blast in a Ferrari 360m and came away a little confused. Allow me to explain:

It retails in the uk for £103,068, boasts 400bhp and 275lb/ft. It reeks quality and drips character. Now for 28 years of my life, i have believed that this car is sacred. This car is religion. This car is the mechanical (organic?) Embodiment of motoring passion. But I came away slightly miffed. For a car that costs 5 times the average uk salary, you expect some course of sensory overload. But i didn’t get it. By get it, i mean i didn’t understand it, the penny didn’t drop. Yes, it had visual and aural drama. It looked great, although its blue colour did nothing to flatter its curves. It sounded fine (not great) and i have been brought up to believe that it is the best sounding production engine in existence (TVR can do better in my opinion) so what went wrong?

I don’t know. I left in a dazed state, walking away thinking ‘was that it?’. Perhaps 20 odd years of journalists can do a lot to a rev-head, we are a volatile and vulnerable bunch at the same time and what a car magazine says is gospel. I expected to be in awe, hypnotised and addicted by the charms of the Ferrari, but it didn’t happen. The performance didn’t blow me away (I have more torque in my evo, a car that costs a quarter of its price). Although responsive, it felt a little flat. Have we grown accustomed to the shove of a turbo charger? My car certainly felt more brutal. Please forgive if I am coming across as someone who is comparing the two cars. I’m not, but if a car is going to make me believe that it is the be all end all of motoring nirvana and cost 4 times the amount i would currently consider spending on a car, it had better be damn good.

I thought the interior was a study in design excellence though. A more fantastic combination of materials used in a modern piece of art i have yet to see. Brushed aluminium, cream and black leather (hand stitched) made stunning internal scenery. Also made me think of strawberry shortcake from the cabbage patch kids (!?)

What about the drive? Well, it felt very taut, which is a good thing (?) and very together. But i did sense some instability and it really wanted to throw its tail out. Snappy too. But very responsive and direct. Yes, more good things. Its a car that needs to be driven at at least 8/10ths to truly enjoy it, but with its inherent rwd, mid engined set up, that isn’t a wise thing to do in the uk, weather being as friendly as it is. I would imagine it to be a ferocious track car, with strong brakes and excellent on limit feel on what would be smooth tarmac. Its ride isn’t bone jarring at all, in fact it was firm without being harsh, dampening out all but the most extreme changes in surface. In order to really appreciate this car, you need to be michael schumacher. The rest of us are mere mortals, we are just resigned to posing in them. Have you ever seen a Ferrari nail it on public roads?

I’ve heard a 355 sounds better, does it? I have toyed with the idea of a lhd 355 for a while, but i have been warned of its atrocious reliability problems. To put into the words of Iain Litchfield of litchfield imports, if you are considering buying a Ferrari, make sure you can afford 3 of them, because your heart will be broken on many occasions.

Between you and me, I don’t think it has sunk in yet. Give me some time, I’ll come round.

Thanks to Iain Litchfield for the ride.