The 599 was my last favourite "modern" Ferrari silhouette- absolutely mesmerizing. The GTO is an all-time, money-no-object, dream car. Gosh, I adore that era so much.
@@Psych0technic LaF was nice, sure, but 458 never did anything for me personally. I still maintain the 599 was my personal last favourite modern stallion!
After this Ferrari really got into the "look at me!" styling. Their grand tourer cars used to be classy and just subtle enough, now they're going after the "look at my Ferrari!" crowd.
Douglas you've been crushing it this week. the E46 and now the 599 6MT videos both show you're authentic love, enthusiasm, and passion for what you're doing and it's a joy to see someone doing what they love.
The shot of Doug taking off from a stop and seeing that silver Ford pickup truck(or one of their similarly sized suvs, it's difficult to tell) immediately disappear from the rear view is a thing of absolute beauty.
Flying buttresses look so amazing when executed well. The Ford GT looks like an alien spaceship with just how narrow the actual cabin and engine bay get compared to the exterior dimensions, but the flying buttresses give it that incredible silhouette from both the side and rear profiles. Both are simply iconic IMO.
Great to see one of my favorite cars growing up has aged so well! Haven't looked closely at one in a while and it strikes me how much you can see Ferraris past and future in this model - its incredible. You can see back to the 612 and 575 but also forwards in some ways as far as the 812 which I think is so cool.
I have always loved driving manual transmission cars and trucks. My current car is a 2016 VW GTI S. Absolutely love it! And the thrill also extends to the engine revving and exhaust sounds. It doesn't matter to me if I am losing precious seconds by shifting myself versus a DCT. A Stage 1 tune is enough for me on the street. One day, I hope to get behind the wheel of Ferrari with a gated shifter...
I know the feeling too. A dual-clutch may be faster but if I'm driving a sports car, I want the engagement of rowing my own. I want to feel the connection between the engine and the wheels. Flipping a paddle on the back of the wheel isn't the same as coordinating all of your limbs to change and not stall the engine or dump the clutch (unless you want to dump the clutch).
Agreed. I've got a 2013 civic si with a 6 speed. She's not the fastest, but she always brings a smile to my face when I drive her. Going through all of the gears, blipping the throttle to rev-match the down-shift, all of it still makes me smile. I will always own a manual. The fact that 95% of people in the States aren't able to drive a manual makes it even better.
I had a friend who was a Ferrari mechanic for 20 years. He finally got out of the business altogether because it was so frustrating. He said only about one out of five Ferrari owners maintains their cars adequately, and very few maintain them optimally. His observation was that many guys covet Ferraris for years, then when they get to a certain age they finally stretch to a purchase, but then they can't afford the maintenance. So he was always being asked to do minimal work to keep costs down, bring non-operating cars back to operating status but nothing more, apply band-aids without fixing deeper problems, and cut corners wherever possible. He got so sick of it he changed to another business altogether, quit being a mechanic. Just FYI.
@@777jones Yeah I second that. I know a gentleman in my town who run multiple Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant chains and daily drives an old volvo estate. He's definitely a low key wealthy guy.
I think it's important to note the SA Aperta is not "just" a standard 599 convertible model. It was ultra limited, to only 80 units, and they are essentially a 599 GTO (yes GTO drivetrain), and a Targa Top, that requires a good amount of manual removal/disassembly.
I’ve seen 1 Aperta in Blue with the B pillar in silver. It’s so beautiful in person. It been like 10 years ago since I’ve seen it but I won’t forget. Saw here in Redmond, WA (Microsoft HQ is located) There is a car show called Exotics@RTC (Redmond Town Center) on every Saturdays 9am-11am from Spring to early fall and only cancels when it rains. They have special days like Bugatti Day, Ferrari Day and Lamborghini Day etc. I even got to see 3 Alfa Romeo 8Cs at once and 3 Ford GTX. It’s a crazy show. Should check their website. It’s crazy
As I got older I started appreciatting the front engine RWD Ferraris more and more instead of the standard V8 mid engine sporty cars, and I feel I'm not the only one. The 812 Superfast and Competizione are my all time favourite Ferraris now.
Same, the 812 is the only car in Ferraris current line up that interests me. The 458/speciale are the only V8 mid engine ferraris since the F40 that interest me these days. I used to lust after any ferrari but with time I become more discerning in my tastes.
I love living vicariously through Doug as a car enthusiast. Our dude is seriously one of the best and most well-earned CZcamsrs of all time. Thank you for all the great content Doug!!
The last time I saw a 599 manual was at the old CNC when they were in the original warehouse, long before all the kerfuffle. They had two, one red, one black and they both sold for over 500K. One of them belonged to Nicholas Cage I'm pretty sure. Awesome cars.
These 599 GTBs are really really low in Price right now. Definitely underrated and i've been checkig them out here in Germany/Europe since a while. Amazing Car and very overlooked Prost & Cheers from the Bavarian Alps
This car is probably the most beautiful car I've ever seen, instant fan. Everything about it works, I wouldn't change a single detail, even the wacky dashboard dials.
There is a thread on Ferrarichat where someone has listed chassis numbers of all known 599's with an original manual gearbox and the total number is somewhere between 50 and 60.
Doug’s face while he was pulling hard while going into gear, “…this is SOO COOOL!!!!…” I feel like that’s the moment in Doug’s head where he’s seriously contemplating to join in on a bidding war in the auction haha.
I really don't like the whole "manual rarity = more value" direction that the market is going. You buy a manual transmission today because you are an enthusiast, and you want to drive, not because you want to stick the car in a garage, brag about how its 1 of 30, and how it has under 2000 miles.
Doug, almost all the parts for that conversion are NOT factory parts. EAG manufactures almost everything for that conversion as factory parts are basically unobtanium. Look at the Normal Guy Supercar channel to see specifics.
My dream car, perfect styling and awesome engine. I used to waste hours a day at community college trying to justify a way to finance one lol. These days with a finance degree and a career I’d be happy with a Miata 😂
I've loved the 599 ever since it came out. Even though many successors have come after it, the 599 (especially the GTO variant) is still my fav V12 Ferrari grand tourer
Shift cables are easier and the owner sought out shift rods? That's not exactly true. The owner did shift rods because that's all that existed at the time. Shift cables for the 599 are only just now becoming available.
@@joelspaulding5964 OK. So you don't get it, because you actually don't want to get it. Would this GTB be yours, would you like someone (try taking Doug out of the picture, please) to just elbow it and lie over it?
Doug is the type of guy who goes to Boston to see a Kansas concert and Kansas to see a Boston concet. His favorite song is "More than a feeling is just dust in the wind".
@@careunit6939 I think what he meant was close to ''Ferrari got this wrong, let me get it right''. If you get the money out of your perspective, then maybe you'll understand better. It's all focused on the desire. The idea of getting the joy of the manual back.
@@Melanie16040 not seeing your point. It's still 90,000$ for a conversion. If you think this is chump change then you're delusional/ loaded with a disgusting amount of money.
@Blunt What the hell are you on about? M5 and M6 were only available with a manual in the US, and the last manual sportscars are still american. Camaros, Mustangs and not so long ago the Viper and the C7 Corvette.
@Blunt No, that's not really the case. It's a catch-22. I am a European living in the US now and the ratio of manuals available here is really small. I have never owned anything but a manual, 4 and counting (2 used, 2 new). I bought 2 new manual ones (2018 Accord then traded for 2019 Bullitt). The catch is, manufacturers offer manuals only in sport cars or strip-down lowest trims, for the most part. So lot of times if you want heated seats, forget about manuals. And then manufacturers say "see, nobody wanted a manual." No, nobody wants cheap plastic interior without features, for the most part. That's why the Accord was awesome, pretty loaded 6spd. Used market obviously is the way, but that supply will run out eventually. And importing less than 25yo car from europe is extremely impractical.
@Blunt people buy them depending on the car. No one wants a manual Kia. Anyways, the reason we don’t use them here in America is simple. Our cities are large and the distances we travel are farther than that of other countries. We are also more advanced than countries like South America where long travel is still required. Living in Europe for a year showed me that Europeans are willing to use more environmentally and economically sound options when compared to America. People are lazy here sadly
This week has been one of the best for iconic review on the channel Doug E46 and a manual 599 in the same week with the same superb raw production quality is why we stay loyal Doug. Happy New Year Brother.
10:08 I saw the carbon fibre when Doug was discussing the trans swap but it's highlighted even further with the lock/unlock buttons: the finish on the carbon fibre SUCKS badly.....you can see it really bad at 10:09 too. It's completely pebbled.....they needed to add another 2 dozen coats of lacquer with vigorous sanding in between. That surface should be baby butt smooth. I've made lacquered bathroom vanities smoother than that for about 1/100th the price.
@@Tomislav_B. edit: (it's not from the factory) that's from the factory like that....they don't refinish the carbon fibre on the console....they just replace the F1 shifter with the manual.
@@muskokamike127 Nope that's an aftermarket piece that fits terribly. The factory automatic piece is completely different, and even the factory manual cars look nothing like this
@@vipergtsr I don't know that the factory ones look nothing like this, but you are correct: the conversion kit from eag says it includes a custom console.....I stand corrected.
The carbon fiber they used to build the trans center console looks terrible. They didn’t use enough resin or clear when making it and it looks bumpy as hell. Doesn’t look anywhere close to the carbon fiber used in the rest of the trim.
Wow. Unbelievable Doug. Nobody gets the opportunity to drive a 599 6 speed V12. Sounds sick. I was waiting for you to let it out bro. Beautiful styling and everything. Cool.🔥🔥♥♥♥😎😃
Automotive journalist Ezra Dyer once said that whenever any of his relatives or friends asks him for car-buying advice, they never take his advice. So, now, no matter what their needs or budget, he always suggests a Ferrari 599.
What you need to understand is that this is one of the first 599 cars EAG did many years ago. They are very different now and they now also use a cable system rather than the shitty rod link shift system. This is a bit of a prototype so to speak and not at all indicative of what EAG do now and have done for a quite a few years now.
I had the pleasure of driving a 599 GTB on a closed course back in 2012. They just told us to put it in 1st gear and go. I swear I got into super legal speeds without shifting, and my main comment afterwards was that I could never own one because I'd never be able to get it out of 2nd gear without getting a ticket.
You got into super legal speeds? What? You can't get it out of 2nd gear without getting a ticket? How about you take it out of 2nd gear and put it into 1st? Or just keep the revs low and drive it in 4th gear...
@@pistonburner6448 Duh! The comment was meant to say that you couldn't really enjoy it on US roads because you would be going way too fast to actually enjoy the performance of the car on the streets of St Louis. Seriously, if you were doing 100mph in 2nd gear on a regular basis (which is what I'd do if i had that ability I'd do at every stop light) I'd be ridiculous to own the car. On the other hand, the interior, like Doug mentioned, was fantastic. The seats were incredibly comfortable and the quality of the leather on every surface was beyond any other vehicle I've ever been in.
2007 Toyota Avalon Limited came with proximity key and adaptive cruise control! back in 07! wish mine was in better condition to submit to doug to review in my opinion they are absolute bargains.
Also heard that Ferrari didn’t make different tachometers/rev counter for the manuals and F1 trannies. So the gear indicator in the tach is just blank/deactivated for manual transmission versions. So it looks weird but this IS how Ferrari did it originally OEM (left the factory). A quirk for Doug to add! :)
Two things honestly suprise me here. 1. Ferrari did not attempt to sue Doug over his negative comments. 2. Ferrari did not attempt to repossess this car after the owner changed the transmission. Guarantee there both on the 'Do not sell too' Ferrari list.
one of the legendary Ferraris which was tested from Legend Michael Schumacher!! p.s. like Enzo, FXX, F1355, Maserati Quatroporte,etc... Michael has contributed so much to this legendary models... Thanks legend and hopefully one day we can see him
How can a 16+ year old GT car only have 1300 miles (a bit over 2000 km)? That's just sad. I drove that in the last two weeks alone just visiting some cities across Europe. Imagine you have a beautiful car like this and it's just sitting somewhere in a garage for more than 16 years. Some people really have more money than brains.
Flying Buttress is a term that's been around for decades. Usually reserved for mid engined cars where the rear window was perpendicular to the engine cover. It wasn't exclusive to mod engined cars though, Jaguar had them on the XJS as, at one point during the design phase, the car was to be mid engined. They kept the butresses as it looked cool.
Go through the process and price of converting to a manual and only drive it 1300 miles in 15 years. Shame shame. That “carbon” around the shifter looks terrible
I guess it would be much cheaper and easier just to buy a 550 or 575 if you want a manual transmission. Yep, it is older and has less power, but it still has V12 and quite fast
More of a Porsche guy myself, but I can't deny: this is one of the handful of Ferrari's I would consider in lieu. Fabulous machine, made worth it with the addition of a proper transmission 🤤
That was a GREAT move by the owner to have the transmission changed into a 6-speed manual. People still love a gear lever: it gives you fuller control of the vehicle
That conversion looks terrible. Looks really really cheap - you see a huge difference in the carbon fibre from the factory vs that weird stuck on bit in the middle with the gear shifter.
I really like its design. Even more now, than back when it came out. Today, where all sportscars look like they were designed by a specialist for Honda civic bodykits, this one stands out from the masses with its pure elegancy.
It's one of the last subtle and refined Ferraris. Ferrari's grand tourers used to be classy and just subtle enough, now they're catering to the "look at me! Look at my Ferrari!" crowd.
I remembered for years people were saying, "Bring the manuals back." It seems to be a reality now. I like manual transmission on a fun car. On a daily I'll take an auto or CVT. I live in a city. I know you all understand. If you don't then why?
$85k for the conversion and they don't even bother to replace the steering column shroud with a manual one? So much for American quality products and service.
I thought the same but then remembered what he said about finding the oem parts for the rest of the swap. I bet the column and plastics are even harder because how often do those need replacing?
$85K and you can still tell it's actually a conversion because it doesn't have the storage space next to the gear lever, on the right side and the buttons are also placed incorrectly. If you're not buying this vehicle as a collectionist, though... it shouldn't be a problem. That is, of course, unless the seller's asking price is close to the $1M figure an actually original 599GTB manual goes for.
2:38 - _"Ferrari couldn't have [the 599] be making the same amount of power as the mighty Enzo"_ Because that wouldn't have been good for the Enzo's status as 'peak supercar' at Ferrari if the two cars had the same power as each other.
I had a 2009 599 GTB, Manual. A lot like this one, but a very, very dark blue. The car was almost black. The interior was a lot like this one and the build quality on the interior was exceptional -- better than my 458 perhaps just because of how the leather was laid out. I bought it for $162,500, and then it sold very slowly for $175,000. I felt smart, but it appears the cars kept going up in value -- in fact they skyrocketed after I sold mine. It was a great engine, but I think that the one item that Doug may have missed in that the traction control on the car was just horrible. Give it full gas, and it would quickly spin the tires at high speeds, then dovetail left and right until the RPM's got way down and then car again lurched forward. Do that in a Porsche 911, and then car is smarter than you are. Do that in a 458, and the car runs to the limit with a bit of sway on the back while the car leaves you perhaps more in control than it should be leaving someone like me. Full gas in a 599 manual though -- just terrible. The traction control comes on too late, and goes off too late. I guess it was better than no traction control because admittedly I never put the car into the ditch, but somehow I remember older cars I had (with less horsepower, admittedly) before traction control being more predictable than this one. Still, the engine was wonderful -- somewhat better than the 2010 458 that I replaced it with, and you can claim to have one of the last manual transmission cars (mine one was of 2 made in 2009), but the transmission was the worst part of the car. Absurdly slow to shift and on top of that gated so it would delay you from just throwing it into gear to it seems keep the transmission safe. Nothing broke on mine for the say 3 or 4 years that I had it so I guess that did make it a good car, and the ride and look were excellent. But just because it's rare doesn't mean you have any mechanical reasons to get the 599 manual. Unlike say a 2004, 2005, 2006 Lamborghini where manuals were 10% and you want the manual (or at least I liked my manual Gallardo a lot compared to the jerky automatic shifts of that time, and the service intervals are much better), on this one manuals were probably 2%, but it's just not even somewhat the better car in my opinion though it's clearly the more rare vehicle in a HUGE way.
There’s also the 2017 Aston Martin (100 into the US, 30 into Canada) Vantage S naturally aspirated 6 liter V12 with a manual, and not just any manual, a dog leg 7. The Ferrari may be more rare (especially with the factory manual) but the Aston is wonderful. Doug’s right, shifting on your own with a V12 is great.
Ferrari owner: Why are there two steering column holes where the paddle shifters used to be? Transmission conversion guy: Well, for only $85,000, what do you expect?
Doug’s the kinda guy to continue to show us awesome vehicles and we thank you for it
Cringe.
Simp
Not cringe.
You’re all cringe
Vote for me
The 599 was my last favourite "modern" Ferrari silhouette- absolutely mesmerizing. The GTO is an all-time, money-no-object, dream car. Gosh, I adore that era so much.
458 and laferrari are gorgeous also, c'mon!
@@Psych0technic LaF was nice, sure, but 458 never did anything for me personally. I still maintain the 599 was my personal last favourite modern stallion!
After this Ferrari really got into the "look at me!" styling. Their grand tourer cars used to be classy and just subtle enough, now they're going after the "look at my Ferrari!" crowd.
@@whitebuffalo4904 100% agree. I feel the 599 and GTO is waaay underrated. The design is so timeless
Agree on the 599 GTO!
Wouldn’t mind a 458 though. That sound!
Douglas you've been crushing it this week. the E46 and now the 599 6MT videos both show you're authentic love, enthusiasm, and passion for what you're doing and it's a joy to see someone doing what they love.
DOUGLAS😂😂
Everything to promote the cars for sale on his vehicle auction site, go figure
@@JoseRodriguez-ey7ju ong
His name is Douglas?
Douglas La de Muoro 😂😂😂
The shot of Doug taking off from a stop and seeing that silver Ford pickup truck(or one of their similarly sized suvs, it's difficult to tell) immediately disappear from the rear view is a thing of absolute beauty.
What is the time stamp pls?😔
@@benjaminrivera4585 watch video plz
@@benjaminrivera4585 21:19...pay attention to the left side of the screen. You'll see it as soon as he turns the corner.
@@bradley163 lol.. later! 👋
Flying buttresses look so amazing when executed well. The Ford GT looks like an alien spaceship with just how narrow the actual cabin and engine bay get compared to the exterior dimensions, but the flying buttresses give it that incredible silhouette from both the side and rear profiles. Both are simply iconic IMO.
Great to see one of my favorite cars growing up has aged so well! Haven't looked closely at one in a while and it strikes me how much you can see Ferraris past and future in this model - its incredible. You can see back to the 612 and 575 but also forwards in some ways as far as the 812 which I think is so cool.
I remember being intrigued by this car when it came out. Now it has definitely grown on me.
I miss when you would share quirks from inside the owners manual. These were often some of the best ones
I'll Second this!
He needs to sell cars on his auction website now, unfortunately no time for research anymore.
I have always loved driving manual transmission cars and trucks. My current car is a 2016 VW GTI S. Absolutely love it! And the thrill also extends to the engine revving and exhaust sounds. It doesn't matter to me if I am losing precious seconds by shifting myself versus a DCT. A Stage 1 tune is enough for me on the street.
One day, I hope to get behind the wheel of Ferrari with a gated shifter...
I know the feeling too. A dual-clutch may be faster but if I'm driving a sports car, I want the engagement of rowing my own. I want to feel the connection between the engine and the wheels. Flipping a paddle on the back of the wheel isn't the same as coordinating all of your limbs to change and not stall the engine or dump the clutch (unless you want to dump the clutch).
Agreed. I've got a 2013 civic si with a 6 speed. She's not the fastest, but she always brings a smile to my face when I drive her. Going through all of the gears, blipping the throttle to rev-match the down-shift, all of it still makes me smile. I will always own a manual. The fact that 95% of people in the States aren't able to drive a manual makes it even better.
I had a friend who was a Ferrari mechanic for 20 years. He finally got out of the business altogether because it was so frustrating. He said only about one out of five Ferrari owners maintains their cars adequately, and very few maintain them optimally. His observation was that many guys covet Ferraris for years, then when they get to a certain age they finally stretch to a purchase, but then they can't afford the maintenance. So he was always being asked to do minimal work to keep costs down, bring non-operating cars back to operating status but nothing more, apply band-aids without fixing deeper problems, and cut corners wherever possible. He got so sick of it he changed to another business altogether, quit being a mechanic. Just FYI.
He should have been a Volvo mechanic. Volvo customers are generally wealthier than they appear. They are trying to hide their success,not flaunt it.
sounds about right, damn idiots with $$$ and they can't drive nor respect maintaining such performance-spec cars.
Knew a guy that had a shop that worked on nothing but bmws,Mercedes etc...he got burned out and sold the buisness...
@@777jones Yeah I second that. I know a gentleman in my town who run multiple Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant chains and daily drives an old volvo estate. He's definitely a low key wealthy guy.
@@metalpiston1212 i also know a guy with a pontiac Aztek, he doesn't seem rich but i think he is
I think it's important to note the SA Aperta is not "just" a standard 599 convertible model. It was ultra limited, to only 80 units, and they are essentially a 599 GTO (yes GTO drivetrain), and a Targa Top, that requires a good amount of manual removal/disassembly.
They were supposed to build only 80, but in reality they made at least 140 SA Apertas.
I’ve seen 1 Aperta in Blue with the B pillar in silver. It’s so beautiful in person. It been like 10 years ago since I’ve seen it but I won’t forget. Saw here in Redmond, WA (Microsoft HQ is located) There is a car show called Exotics@RTC (Redmond Town Center) on every Saturdays 9am-11am from Spring to early fall and only cancels when it rains. They have special days like Bugatti Day, Ferrari Day and Lamborghini Day etc.
I even got to see 3 Alfa Romeo 8Cs at once and 3 Ford GTX. It’s a crazy show. Should check their website. It’s crazy
My first real toy car was this. It was when Shell had Ferrari toys in their stores and they had sound in them. I still keep it to this day
One of my first hot wheels cars was a yellow one of these
You guys are mindblowingly young!
As I got older I started appreciatting the front engine RWD Ferraris more and more instead of the standard V8 mid engine sporty cars, and I feel I'm not the only one. The 812 Superfast and Competizione are my all time favourite Ferraris now.
exactly, F12 all the way here🙋
Same, the 812 is the only car in Ferraris current line up that interests me. The 458/speciale are the only V8 mid engine ferraris since the F40 that interest me these days. I used to lust after any ferrari but with time I become more discerning in my tastes.
Agree, F12 Tdf for me it's going to be a gem in the future. That car is insane.
812 GTS and Lusso are my favorites lol
550/575M
I love living vicariously through Doug as a car enthusiast. Our dude is seriously one of the best and most well-earned CZcamsrs of all time. Thank you for all the great content Doug!!
The last time I saw a 599 manual was at the old CNC when they were in the original warehouse, long before all the kerfuffle. They had two, one red, one black and they both sold for over 500K. One of them belonged to Nicholas Cage I'm pretty sure. Awesome cars.
These 599 GTBs are really really low in Price right now. Definitely underrated and i've been checkig them out here in Germany/Europe since a while.
Amazing Car and very overlooked
Prost & Cheers from the Bavarian Alps
How's it holding up in Europe/ Germany?
@@rajgami8893 good enough to consider buying Ferraris.
@@rajgami8893 All good here, just a bit too cold but i live in the Alps. Hope all is good for you too!
This car is probably the most beautiful car I've ever seen, instant fan. Everything about it works, I wouldn't change a single detail, even the wacky dashboard dials.
For anyone not sure of the looks (like I was once), they look incredible in person. Absolutely beautiful.
Completely different presence in person for sure. I went to go see one recently and oh my god. It’s a small but beautiful rocket.
There is a thread on Ferrarichat where someone has listed chassis numbers of all known 599's with an original manual gearbox and the total number is somewhere between 50 and 60.
Doug’s face while he was pulling hard while going into gear, “…this is SOO COOOL!!!!…”
I feel like that’s the moment in Doug’s head where he’s seriously contemplating to join in on a bidding war in the auction haha.
Thanks for watching my videos, and congratulations for being my shortlisted winners, Telegram me for your gift🎁📩📩
I really don't like the whole "manual rarity = more value" direction that the market is going. You buy a manual transmission today because you are an enthusiast, and you want to drive, not because you want to stick the car in a garage, brag about how its 1 of 30, and how it has under 2000 miles.
I remember reading about these when they were new. Amazing car made all the better by the manual conversion and low kms.
I know you did a 550 Maranello a long time ago. I would absolutely love a video of one in your current video format!
Doug, almost all the parts for that conversion are NOT factory parts. EAG manufactures almost everything for that conversion as factory parts are basically unobtanium. Look at the Normal Guy Supercar channel to see specifics.
This channel has essentially become a long-form infomercial for cars & bids.
My dream car, perfect styling and awesome engine. I used to waste hours a day at community college trying to justify a way to finance one lol. These days with a finance degree and a career I’d be happy with a Miata 😂
I'd be happy with a loaf of bread
@@Clarkeisawesome You do have some serious life aspirations.
Ull get there
You could really tell Doug enjoyed this one!!! Great review!
I've loved the 599 ever since it came out. Even though many successors have come after it, the 599 (especially the GTO variant) is still my fav V12 Ferrari grand tourer
The centre console Carbon Fibre looks meh, you can tell it’s not from Ferrari (gel coat is thin and fibre texture shows through)
It's turd inside a leather interior of a 1,300 miles Ferrari
who cares??
Shift cables are easier and the owner sought out shift rods? That's not exactly true. The owner did shift rods because that's all that existed at the time. Shift cables for the 599 are only just now becoming available.
Doug is the type of guy to keep his elbows off the dinner table, but insist on resting them on the hood of a Ferrari.
Joke over move on dork
The type of comment that suck
@@alexm1046 Actually no. I was thinking the same, watching the video and seeing him resting on his arms all over the trunk and hood...
@peterkater4292 But the comment still sucks. Nobody eats off a hood...THAT would be poor manners.
@@joelspaulding5964 OK. So you don't get it, because you actually don't want to get it.
Would this GTB be yours, would you like someone (try taking Doug out of the picture, please) to just elbow it and lie over it?
Doug is the type of guy who goes to Boston to see a Kansas concert and Kansas to see a Boston concet.
His favorite song is "More than a feeling is just dust in the wind".
Now THAT is a special car! Man that thing would be a joy to drive on a beautiful day, radio off, windows down, sun shining...so cool.
manual conversion is the ultimate "fine, I'll do it myself" level
Yeah, if you actually do it yourself and not pay 90 grand.. 😂
@@careunit6939 I think what he meant was close to ''Ferrari got this wrong, let me get it right''. If you get the money out of your perspective, then maybe you'll understand better. It's all focused on the desire. The idea of getting the joy of the manual back.
@@careunit6939 you realize only $30k of that was labor, the rest was cost of parts...
@@Melanie16040 not seeing your point. It's still 90,000$ for a conversion. If you think this is chump change then you're delusional/ loaded with a disgusting amount of money.
🏁🏁V12 + manual transmission =🤤 What a gem 💎 of a car …#savethemanuals ❤
you know how many used manuals exist right?
@Blunt they do buy them… people complain that they aren’t available stock in a lot of cars
@Blunt What the hell are you on about? M5 and M6 were only available with a manual in the US, and the last manual sportscars are still american. Camaros, Mustangs and not so long ago the Viper and the C7 Corvette.
@Blunt No, that's not really the case. It's a catch-22. I am a European living in the US now and the ratio of manuals available here is really small. I have never owned anything but a manual, 4 and counting (2 used, 2 new). I bought 2 new manual ones (2018 Accord then traded for 2019 Bullitt).
The catch is, manufacturers offer manuals only in sport cars or strip-down lowest trims, for the most part. So lot of times if you want heated seats, forget about manuals. And then manufacturers say "see, nobody wanted a manual." No, nobody wants cheap plastic interior without features, for the most part. That's why the Accord was awesome, pretty loaded 6spd.
Used market obviously is the way, but that supply will run out eventually.
And importing less than 25yo car from europe is extremely impractical.
@Blunt people buy them depending on the car. No one wants a manual Kia. Anyways, the reason we don’t use them here in America is simple. Our cities are large and the distances we travel are farther than that of other countries. We are also more advanced than countries like South America where long travel is still required. Living in Europe for a year showed me that Europeans are willing to use more environmentally and economically sound options when compared to America. People are lazy here sadly
550 is and always has been my fav, but tbis is a very close second....it is beautiful! Something about those fr ferraris are just so sexy.
This week has been one of the best for iconic review on the channel Doug E46 and a manual 599 in the same week with the same superb raw production quality is why we stay loyal Doug. Happy New Year Brother.
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10:08 I saw the carbon fibre when Doug was discussing the trans swap but it's highlighted even further with the lock/unlock buttons: the finish on the carbon fibre SUCKS badly.....you can see it really bad at 10:09 too. It's completely pebbled.....they needed to add another 2 dozen coats of lacquer with vigorous sanding in between. That surface should be baby butt smooth.
I've made lacquered bathroom vanities smoother than that for about 1/100th the price.
It's 85,000$ hack job on 1,300 miles Ferrari.
@@Tomislav_B. edit: (it's not from the factory) that's from the factory like that....they don't refinish the carbon fibre on the console....they just replace the F1 shifter with the manual.
@@muskokamike127 Nope that's an aftermarket piece that fits terribly. The factory automatic piece is completely different, and even the factory manual cars look nothing like this
@@vipergtsr I don't know that the factory ones look nothing like this, but you are correct: the conversion kit from eag says it includes a custom console.....I stand corrected.
That console sticks out like a sore thumb.
6:25 For $85,000, I would at least expect the screw heads of the shift gate to be aligned
The carbon fiber they used to build the trans center console looks terrible. They didn’t use enough resin or clear when making it and it looks bumpy as hell. Doesn’t look anywhere close to the carbon fiber used in the rest of the trim.
I just made a similar comment above, but you beat me to it. They should also be using something nicer than those disgusting Phillips-head screws.
They used all factory parts. That is how it would be from factory.
@@hughmac13 To be fair, Ferrari used the phillips screws from the factory
Makes you also wonder about other cut corners in the transformation😒
The cost of that manual conversion is enough to genuinely change my life for the better. 🤑🤑🤑
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I love it when Doug is having a fun drive! It's so calming and enjoyable.
Thank you Doug!
was never really a fan of the looks, but damn it looks good in grey!
or red w/ stripes
Same....
Ferraris look classy and sophisticated in dark colors. Red and yellow are overplayed.
Wow. Unbelievable Doug. Nobody gets the opportunity to drive a 599 6 speed V12. Sounds sick. I was waiting for you to let it out bro. Beautiful styling and everything. Cool.🔥🔥♥♥♥😎😃
Automotive journalist Ezra Dyer once said that whenever any of his relatives or friends asks him for car-buying advice, they never take his advice. So, now, no matter what their needs or budget, he always suggests a Ferrari 599.
11:29 Props to Doug for staying up late to film this! Dude's committed!
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For 80k they could have done a cleaner job with the carbon fibre and the paddle delete.
What you need to understand is that this is one of the first 599 cars EAG did many years ago. They are very different now and they now also use a cable system rather than the shitty rod link shift system. This is a bit of a prototype so to speak and not at all indicative of what EAG do now and have done for a quite a few years now.
You should make another video on the 550 Maranello that’s longer than 12 minutes , give it the modern Doug treatment🤝
My all time favourite Ferrari. Art and science collided to give this great thing. Pity its out of my price reach.
Doug is the kind of guy who posts videos about cars being sold on an auction site he owns without disclosing to CZcams they’re paid promotions.
I bet the clutch is a pain in traffic but all things considered well worth the leg strain and effort 😁
I mean there's people that daily drive manual myself being one of them. Not a big deal
you dont drive this car in traffic fam
@@strangeclouds7 My ex Inlaw had a converted 73 Vette, the clutch was a bitch but fun as hell to stomp on the gas 😁
Who's driving a one-of-a-handful manual 599 in bumper to bumper traffic?
We are waiting for a PROPER review of the Enzo Ferrari that Doug hinted about in the Maserati MC12 video.
The 599 is my favorite front engined Ferrari ever. Especially the GTO. They haven't designed a better looking GT car since. Just perfect.
Doug is the kinda guy that continues to show us awesome cars and we thank you for it
I had the pleasure of driving a 599 GTB on a closed course back in 2012. They just told us to put it in 1st gear and go. I swear I got into super legal speeds without shifting, and my main comment afterwards was that I could never own one because I'd never be able to get it out of 2nd gear without getting a ticket.
You got into super legal speeds? What?
You can't get it out of 2nd gear without getting a ticket? How about you take it out of 2nd gear and put it into 1st? Or just keep the revs low and drive it in 4th gear...
@@pistonburner6448 Duh! The comment was meant to say that you couldn't really enjoy it on US roads because you would be going way too fast to actually enjoy the performance of the car on the streets of St Louis. Seriously, if you were doing 100mph in 2nd gear on a regular basis (which is what I'd do if i had that ability I'd do at every stop light) I'd be ridiculous to own the car. On the other hand, the interior, like Doug mentioned, was fantastic. The seats were incredibly comfortable and the quality of the leather on every surface was beyond any other vehicle I've ever been in.
@@pistonburner6448 dont be a pedant. It is unbecoming. You obviously knew what he meant.
Doug have you ever reviewed a Morgan (Plus 4, Plus 8 etc.)? Don’t think so but damn that would be great! Happy New Year to the GOAT 🥳
Doug crusin through Brosta Mesa in the V12 manual coupe like a boss... looooove it! I hope he never runs out of cool cars to find quirks on
I had the opportunity to drive the piss out of a 550 Maranello with a gated manual and it's up there with the best driving experiences of my life.
5:00 i love the way doug is going through the gears in the same order any of us would while driving: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, reverse, 5th
For 80k they should be able to find someone who can make better carbon fiber
Thanks for featuring my car Doug!
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2007 Toyota Avalon Limited came with proximity key and adaptive cruise control! back in 07! wish mine was in better condition to submit to doug to review in my opinion they are absolute bargains.
Not a fan of front engine ferraris, but this 599 is dope, and I love the 812 superfast.
This car is mid-engine
Also heard that Ferrari didn’t make different tachometers/rev counter for the manuals and F1 trannies. So the gear indicator in the tach is just blank/deactivated for manual transmission versions. So it looks weird but this IS how Ferrari did it originally OEM (left the factory). A quirk for Doug to add! :)
Two things honestly suprise me here.
1. Ferrari did not attempt to sue Doug over his negative comments.
2. Ferrari did not attempt to repossess this car after the owner changed the transmission.
Guarantee there both on the 'Do not sell too' Ferrari list.
The 599 GTB is truly amazing and classy. I love the No-Spoiler idea. Absolutely gorgeous and a fine work of art.
And V12 + manual transmission = 💦💦💦🤤👋🏻🔝
@@fra93ilgrande haha yes indeed! ❤️🔥 Best of both worlds
1300 miles? That's unbelievable .. mainly because that manual conversion cost must've been massive.
Yes, I would've enjoyed the hell out of driving it if I spent 85k on a manual swap
This just reminds me of how beautiful the 550 and 575M truly were. 😮💨
The 599 is also equally as beautiful imo
@@TheCarKrazeOfficial Yup, the 599 is amazingly beautiful. Just a slight bit on the large (especially tall) side.
Definitely one of the best ferraris. Just look at it. What a package
one of the legendary Ferraris which was tested from Legend Michael Schumacher!! p.s. like Enzo, FXX, F1355, Maserati Quatroporte,etc...
Michael has contributed so much to this legendary models... Thanks legend and hopefully one day we can see him
How can a 16+ year old GT car only have 1300 miles (a bit over 2000 km)? That's just sad. I drove that in the last two weeks alone just visiting some cities across Europe. Imagine you have a beautiful car like this and it's just sitting somewhere in a garage for more than 16 years. Some people really have more money than brains.
It doesn't. Ferrari dealerships got caught reprogramming the mileage. A MAJOR embarrassment to Ferrari. Can't believe any Ferrari mileage.
Please do a M coupe from 2001
Flying Buttress is a term that's been around for decades. Usually reserved for mid engined cars where the rear window was perpendicular to the engine cover. It wasn't exclusive to mod engined cars though, Jaguar had them on the XJS as, at one point during the design phase, the car was to be mid engined. They kept the butresses as it looked cool.
Beautiful car, but I'm digging the classic Jeep pickup in some of the background pics...
Go through the process and price of converting to a manual and only drive it 1300 miles in 15 years. Shame shame. That “carbon” around the shifter looks terrible
Right?? I wouldve driven the hell out of it, enjoying it!! Never get how rich people can spend so much for a car and let it sit.
Ferrari have actually made a lot more manuals than they have said, I have listed all photographed ones on my page! Great video of #151605 nonetheless!
Insane. I just started researching the 599 last night and watched your GTO video, and now you posted this vid!
I guess it would be much cheaper and easier just to buy a 550 or 575 if you want a manual transmission. Yep, it is older and has less power, but it still has V12 and quite fast
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Doug the kind of guy who can't sleep without a night-light on.
Nah he's the type of guy to take his wife to CNC Motors for their anniversary
Doug, do not promote EAG. They have a shady past. Ask Matt Farah.
I guess Hoovie didn't care about what Matt said about EAG. He sent his car up to them to get it converted.
@@freddaniali Which one?
@@shingoose6197 How many 599s does Hoovie have?
More of a Porsche guy myself, but I can't deny: this is one of the handful of Ferrari's I would consider in lieu. Fabulous machine, made worth it with the addition of a proper transmission 🤤
Doug one of two men who can drive the automatic version of his car and still shift its gears.
That was a GREAT move by the owner to have the transmission changed into a 6-speed manual. People still love a gear lever: it gives you fuller control of the vehicle
Paid $85k so he could shift his own gears for a grand total of 45 minutes.
@@axe2grind244 he may have paid 85k but the car is also worth 100k more now
@@axe2grind244 and those 45 mins were probably more fun than having the F1 trans
That conversion looks terrible. Looks really really cheap - you see a huge difference in the carbon fibre from the factory vs that weird stuck on bit in the middle with the gear shifter.
I really like its design. Even more now, than back when it came out. Today, where all sportscars look like they were designed by a specialist for Honda civic bodykits, this one stands out from the masses with its pure elegancy.
It's one of the last subtle and refined Ferraris. Ferrari's grand tourers used to be classy and just subtle enough, now they're catering to the "look at me! Look at my Ferrari!" crowd.
2:27 Doug is the type of guy to appear in his own stock photos.
Doug, is you serious right now? This is the exact review I needed
Doug the kind of guy who turns his socks inside out midweek.
Joke over move on dork.
I remembered for years people were saying, "Bring the manuals back."
It seems to be a reality now. I like manual transmission on a fun car. On a daily I'll take an auto or CVT. I live in a city.
I know you all understand. If you don't then why?
Still have a scholastic book fair poster of a blue 599! Hung it all through 3rd grade and now it's in my dorm in college
$85k for the conversion and they don't even bother to replace the steering column shroud with a manual one? So much for American quality products and service.
I thought the same but then remembered what he said about finding the oem parts for the rest of the swap. I bet the column and plastics are even harder because how often do those need replacing?
Doug the kind of guy whose ride height is between 6ft 3in to 6ft 4in
$85K and you can still tell it's actually a conversion because it doesn't have the storage space next to the gear lever, on the right side and the buttons are also placed incorrectly.
If you're not buying this vehicle as a collectionist, though... it shouldn't be a problem.
That is, of course, unless the seller's asking price is close to the $1M figure an actually original 599GTB manual goes for.
2:38 - _"Ferrari couldn't have [the 599] be making the same amount of power as the mighty Enzo"_
Because that wouldn't have been good for the Enzo's status as 'peak supercar' at Ferrari if the two cars had the same power as each other.
Doug: This Ferrari 599 has been converted to a 6 speed manual!
* Ferrari Lawyers enter the chat *
Knowing Ferrari that's probably true...........
The Ferrari 599 is basically the definition of "only true enthusiasts will appreciate it"
Doug's the type of guy to see our regular cryout for the OG score breakdown and come up in shorts.
I had a 2009 599 GTB, Manual. A lot like this one, but a very, very dark blue. The car was almost black. The interior was a lot like this one and the build quality on the interior was exceptional -- better than my 458 perhaps just because of how the leather was laid out. I bought it for $162,500, and then it sold very slowly for $175,000. I felt smart, but it appears the cars kept going up in value -- in fact they skyrocketed after I sold mine. It was a great engine, but I think that the one item that Doug may have missed in that the traction control on the car was just horrible. Give it full gas, and it would quickly spin the tires at high speeds, then dovetail left and right until the RPM's got way down and then car again lurched forward. Do that in a Porsche 911, and then car is smarter than you are. Do that in a 458, and the car runs to the limit with a bit of sway on the back while the car leaves you perhaps more in control than it should be leaving someone like me. Full gas in a 599 manual though -- just terrible. The traction control comes on too late, and goes off too late. I guess it was better than no traction control because admittedly I never put the car into the ditch, but somehow I remember older cars I had (with less horsepower, admittedly) before traction control being more predictable than this one. Still, the engine was wonderful -- somewhat better than the 2010 458 that I replaced it with, and you can claim to have one of the last manual transmission cars (mine one was of 2 made in 2009), but the transmission was the worst part of the car. Absurdly slow to shift and on top of that gated so it would delay you from just throwing it into gear to it seems keep the transmission safe. Nothing broke on mine for the say 3 or 4 years that I had it so I guess that did make it a good car, and the ride and look were excellent. But just because it's rare doesn't mean you have any mechanical reasons to get the 599 manual. Unlike say a 2004, 2005, 2006 Lamborghini where manuals were 10% and you want the manual (or at least I liked my manual Gallardo a lot compared to the jerky automatic shifts of that time, and the service intervals are much better), on this one manuals were probably 2%, but it's just not even somewhat the better car in my opinion though it's clearly the more rare vehicle in a HUGE way.
There’s also the 2017 Aston Martin (100 into the US, 30 into Canada) Vantage S naturally aspirated 6 liter V12 with a manual, and not just any manual, a dog leg 7. The Ferrari may be more rare (especially with the factory manual) but the Aston is wonderful. Doug’s right, shifting on your own with a V12 is great.
Ferrari owner: Why are there two steering column holes where the paddle shifters used to be?
Transmission conversion guy: Well, for only $85,000, what do you expect?
The hot new vehicle is the Fisker Ocean, I came here looking for it mhm no go....
I put a gated shift in my Abarth 500 esseesse. I get that Ferrari manual feeling for a small fraction of the price. I am in heaven.