Used Ferrari 550 Maranello 1996 - 2002 review

If you were unsure about the definition of a Grand Tourer, you'd only need to look at the 550 to instantly understand - a front-engined, rear-wheel-driven V12 powerhouse with a Ferrari badge on the front.

Granted, this isn't Ferrari's sharpest-handling car. It has massive ability, but lacks the effortless control of a 360 if you try to push on down a twisty road.

However, that isn't the point of a GT. Cruising ability is the key factor here, and that's where the 550 excels. The ride is absorbent over most surfaces, and although there's a bit of tyre noise at speed, refinement is excellent.

The cabin is beautifully made and gives a feeling of luxury worthy of a Ferrari GT. There's also a huge list of standard equipment, but then again, for this sort of money, there should be.

You wouldn't be considering a Ferrari if you were short of a few quid, but the 550 is sensationally expensive. The 550 would have set you back over £150,000 when it was new, and three-year old examples are still worth almost 60% of that figure.

True, this means that used versions will have depreciated by tens of thousands, but getting your hands on one will still cost you a huge wedge of cash. Fuel consumption checks in at the 13mpg mark, and it'll also cost you an absolute packet to insure and service. Low running costs may not be important to Ferrari owners, but the 550 is pricey to run, even by Ferrari standards.

Buyers of the 550 can have the car in two forms, the Maranello coupe, or the Barchetta open-top. There's no contest. The Barchetta is vastly more expensive, and Grand Tourers don't really work when they haven't got a roof.

The coupe body suits the car's character much better, and it's faster, too. The Maranello has a 485bhp 5.5-litre V12 engine, and knocks off the benchmark 0-60mph sprint in 4.3 seconds. The Barchetta takes slightly longer because the extra weight of the roof-folding mechanism makes it a little heavier.