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One of the world’s most famous brands and an integral part of the Formula 1 grid since the first championship in 1950, Ferrari fully lives up to its exalted reputation, producing some of the best sports cars money can buy.

Its entry-level model (although that term hardly seems appropriate) is the Portofino convertible, which is powered by a twin-turbo V8 and capable of blasting from 0-62mph in 3.5sec.

Then further up the range you find the mid-engined 488s, in coupé and Spider forms, and two GT cars: the GTC4 Lusso and the appropriately named 812 Superfast, a V12 monster that can hit 211mph.

FERRARI

575M

More a superfast tourer than a sports car

Used Ferrari 575 2002 - 2006

You wouldn't be considering a Ferrari if you were short of a few quid, but the 575 is sensationally expensive.

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. If your heart is set on a Superamerica, you'll pay the most. Even if you can find one, the price tag on the 2005 car was almost £200,000.

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 575 is pricey to run, even by Ferrari standards.

More a superfast tourer than a sports car


The 575 was derived from the 550, but unlike that car, the 575 came only as a coupe for most of its life. Mind you, that's no bad thing. The 550 Barchetta soft-top was 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 perfectly, and it's faster than the soft-top, which is heavier because of the extra weight of its roof-folding mechanism.

The 575 uses a 5.7-litre V12 with 508bhp, and even more performance than the 550 it replaced. Refinement was also improved, along with cabin trim, and the F1-style paddleshift gearbox also became available.

A drop-top 575, the Superamerica, with a flip-top Targa-style hood, did come along, but only just before the car was replaced by the 599 GTB.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

The Mazda MX-5 embodies sports-car spirit without wearing an exotic price tag, and has deservedly gained a strong following over the years. Much newer to the scene is the mid-engined Alpine A110. It may carry a name from the past, but this potent, mid-engined sports car was designed with the very latest lightweight thinking.&nbsp;

Rounding off our shortlist, though, is a name that'll be familiar to even those to whom sports cars hold little interest. The Porsche 911 was born an icon in 1964, and the latest generation bridges the gap between sports car and supercar. Yet, somehow, it manages to preserve a distinctly civilised character.

Sports

Our reliability surveys are as comprehensive as they can be, but cars this expensive are a bit thin on the ground, so building up an accurate picture of reliability is tough due to a lack of data.

However, what we can say is that the widely held belief that Ferrari ownership is one long reliability nightmare doesn't appear to be true any more. Ferrari build quality has improved immeasurably in recent years, and according to the limited data we've seen, this seems to have carried through to the mechanical parts.

As long as you have the car maintained properly, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

If you were unsure about the definition of a Grand Tourer, you'd only need to look at the 575 (which was derived from 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 through a bend.

However, this isn't the point of a GT. Cruising ability is the key factor here, and that's where the 575 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, so there should be.

Used Ferrari 575 2002 - 2006 review

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The 575 was derived from the 550, but unlike that car, the 575 came only as a coupe for most of its life. Mind you, that's no bad thing. The 550 Barchetta soft-top was 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 perfectly, and it's faster than the soft-top, which is heavier because of the extra weight of its roof-folding mechanism.,The 575 uses a 5.7-litre V12 with 508bhp, and even more performance than the 550 it replaced. Refinement was also improved, along with cabin trim, and the F1-style paddleshift gearbox also became available.A drop-top 575, the Superamerica, with a flip-top Targa-style hood, did come along, but only just before the car was replaced by the 599 GTB.

Wondering what the best used Ferrari 575M 2002 - 2006 is for your money? The expert What Car? review team can help you out.

Used Ferrari 575 2002 - 2006 review

Ferrari 575M 5.8 Maranello F1 2dr

Ferrari 575M F1

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