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When the Ferrari 599 first came out it was among the fastest cars money could buy as not that many cars were able to achieve speeds of over 200 mph right out of the factory. But even though the 599 got almost the same engine as the Enzo and that engine was technically in the middle, it still often fell short of true mid-engine supercars in terms of handling. Ferrari would address that problem later on with the HGTE 599 but Ferrari still wanted to do more with the model. And that's where the 599 GTO comes in as the pinnacle of the 599 model range, but also the pinnacle of Ferrari's lineup at the time. For example, the 599 GTO horsepower rating was 670 which is 50 more than the standard 599 GTB and 20 more than the Enzo. Coupled with weight reduction and revised suspension, the 599 GTO was faster than the Enzo around Ferrari's Fiorano test track. Of course, all that extra speed does come at a cost. The 599 GTO cost $450,000 when new back in 2010, while the standard GTB was around $300,000. Today, however, the 599 GTO price is closer to $800,000. We'll find out whether or not it's worth it in this 599 GTO review.
Even people who don't particularly like cars know that Ferrari is all about racing so it's not surprising that all Ferrari and 599 GTO reviews revolve around just that. After all, Enzo Ferrari only began making road cars to help fund the Ferrari racing teams. Still, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the Ferrari 599 and its GTO badge. GTO stands for Gran Turismo Omologato which means it's a badge meant for homologation cars. The first Ferrari with the GTO badge was the 250 GTO which raced in the FIA Grand Touring Car championship. The second was the 288 GTO meant to race in the Group B rally. So, where was the 599 GTO supposed race you might wonder. And the answer is, nowhere which is why many people thought of it as a fake GTO. Still, that doesn't mean the GTO is a bad car. Its current price alone is a testament to how special it is despite the price being driven up by how many 599 GTOs were produced. Ferrari made exactly 599 of these 599 GTOs for the entire world, and each of them was made in Maranello alongside the standard 599 GTBs.
The Ferrari 599 was never supposed to outshine the Ferrari Enzo even though it came out two years after Enzo's production ended. But six years after Enzo went out of production and with no replacement in sight, the 599 made the perfect base for a new flagship Ferrari to keep the fans and customers happy until the LaFerrari came out. Ferrari then took the 599 and pretty much made a 599 GT3 RS or a 599 CSL if you will. The point is, even though the 599 GTO wasn't built for racing, it's still much closer to a race car than the standard 599. The 599 GTO weight for example is rated at 1,605 kg or 3,538 lb. That's 100 kg less than the standard 599 GTB thanks to more carbon fiber, a stripped-down interior, and bucket seats among other changes. Also, the 599 GTO horsepower and torque were the highest of any production Ferrari ever until that time with 670 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to those changes, the Ferrari GTO's 0-60 time was down to 3.1 seconds compared to Enzo's 3.15 and GTB's 3.2 seconds making it the fastest-accelerating Ferrari ever. The 599 GTO's top speed wasn't that impressive at 208 mph (335 km/h) which is only 3 mph faster than the GTB and 13 mph slower than the Enzo. Despite that, the GTO is faster around Fiorano than the Enzo making it the faster car in Ferrari's eyes.
In today's day and age, the interior is one of the fastest aging parts of a car thanks to the exponential development of screens and infotainment systems. And that's the only part where even the standard 599 GTB looks relatively old even when compared to some of the cheapest modern cars. But that's not to say the 599 interior looks bad inside, far from it. The 599 GTB gets seats and the lower part of the dashboard is covered in the finest Italian leather which just screams luxury. At the same time, it gets a multi-function steering wheel with the Manettino dial, and a huge red start button both of which give you a glimpse into what kind of car you are sitting in. The gauge cluster is also extremely fun with a huge rev counter right in the middle, and a screen on the left side for all the board computer functions. However, the center console and passenger side are pretty dull when compared to the Ferraris of the next generation. The 599 GTO interior doesn't differ that much besides having a lot more exposed carbon fiber, Alcantara instead of standard leather and bucket seats. Another notable difference is a small plaque left of the steering wheel telling you the number of F1 titles Ferrari had gotten. But again, the 599 GTO design is largely the same as the 599 GTB.
If it wasn't for the Aston Martin DB9 and DBS, the original Ferrari 599 GTB would by all accounts be the most beautiful GT of the 2000s. The 599 has very subtle lines compared to modern cars but they are still fairly aggressive which made it easy to recognize that the 599 design will be timeless. And today some fifteen years later, we can definitely confirm that. The 599 GTB didn't have huge wheels, unnecessary carbon fiber, or fake air intakes. Everything was as subtle as can be which is why the design is so appealing today. But the same can't be said for the 599 GTO exterior design. The 599 GTO gets bigger and wider black wheels that fill the 599's wheel arches much better. It also gets a noticeably bigger and more aggressive rear diffusor and a more pronounced ducktail spoiler. It also has some extra vents on the rear bumper, bigger vents right in front of the rear wheels, and double hood vents. On the more subtle side, the front bumper is lower and wider than the standard GTB bumper, and it has mesh inserts giving it a more authentic race car look. Lastly, the 599 GTO has a matt black roof regardless of what color the first owner picked, making it easily distinguishable from the standard 599 GTB. Overall, the 599 GTO design is very tasteful and unlike most modern sports track day cars, it's not trying too hard.
The Ferrari 599 GTO doesn't have much technology in regards to creature comforts we are all used to in modern cars. There is no Bluetooth connectivity, no aux port, and no screen besides the small board computer inside the gauge cluster. But considering that the 599 GTO is a track-focused special edition car, the fact that it still has a radio is very generous from Ferrari. The GTO also keeps the AC system, and electric windows and that's about it in terms of interior technology. But the GTO is all about racing after all so nobody will take the lack of screens as a downside. All the money you spend on one goes to that wonderful naturally aspirated V12 engine that traces its roots to F1. The same goes for the automatic gearbox which shifts in less than 30 milliseconds which is fast even by today's standards. And the rest of your money goes to the 599's world-class suspension and carbon ceramic brakes. All in all the 599 GTO technology is nothing ground-breaking, but it takes the existing technology to perfection.
We already mentioned that the original 599 GTB cost around $300,000 when it was new, while the 599 GTO cost $450,000 when it came out in 2010. The 599 GTO then costs 50% more than the standard GTB which is far from neglectable. But how much is a 599 GTO worth today and have the prices evened out ten years later? Absolutely not. Today, the 599 GTB costs around $150,000, or $300,000 if you find one with a manual transmission. But a Ferrari 599 GTO for sale can reach well over $800,000 with a few examples crossing the $1M mark in 2023. If these prices are making you dizzy, reach out to us at Exotic Car Trader so we can help make the process of selling or buying a 599 GTO enjoyable instead of stressful. And even though the 599 GTO price is the highest it's ever been, the GTO is still a solid investment, unlike the standard GTB. As for the 599 GTO trim levels, there really aren't any. There were a few optional extras that didn't impact the resale price making the most notable customization from the factory the color.
The big question in the end is whether or not the GTO is worth the extra $650,000 over the standard GTB. Hopefully, after this Ferrari 599 GTO review, it's clear that it definitely is worth the extra money, but it doesn't attract the same buyers. If you are after the best value for money you can get, the GTB is definitely your choice. But if you are after something special, historically significant, with limited production numbers, and something that was at one point the fastest Ferrari ever made, the GTO is the one to go for. But deciding you want a 599 GTO is only the first and easiest step. The last step is enjoying your new supercar, and Exotic Car Trader will help you with all the steps in between making the buying process as stress-free as possible. In the end, unlike the 599 GTB, the Ferrari 599 GTO is an instant classic that will keep appreciating for as long as internal combustion engines are legal.
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