Good time to buy a 456?

Good time to buy a 456?

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Discussion

medieval

Original Poster:

1,499 posts

210 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
Probably a daft question really but is now the time to buy as prices do seem to be escalating and I dont want to miss the boat (as I have already done with the 308, 308GT4 and the 348 it would seem...tut)

Any advice will be welcomed, kind regards

355Chris355

134 posts

112 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
Save yourself a fortune and buy a 406 coupe.

All the style without the bills.

Okay it's missing 6 cylinders and isn't rear wheel drive but you can't have anything.


Edited by 355Chris355 on Thursday 12th February 17:54

456mgt

2,504 posts

265 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
The question is do you really want one? Or do you want one because you can't have the others. Plenty of info on the site as it's been one of the cheapest Ferraris for some time now. It will cost you money to maintain it. Unless you plan on locking it away that is..

medieval

Original Poster:

1,499 posts

210 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
Knew I should not have asked.........


355chris - somewhat confused by your response

Edited by medieval on Monday 9th February 18:44

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
456mgt said:
The question is do you really want one? Or do you want one because you can't have the others. Plenty of info on the site as it's been one of the cheapest Ferraris for some time now. It will cost you money to maintain it. Unless you plan on locking it away that is..
This pretty much sums it up. if you're buying it solely because you think it'll rise in value then ask yourself whether you'd still love it if it shed half of that value.

A good 456 is the same money as a good 348. One is a GT, the other a sportscar. Which type of car do you want?

medieval

Original Poster:

1,499 posts

210 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
Yes fair question and I think that probably does need more thought as both appeal but for different reasons and if I am honest either would do.

Is it considered bad form to purchase for investment as well as enjoyment ? The car would be used but I would hope to not loose huge amounts over time although as said, they are not cheap to run properly.

It of interest, would the 348 and the 456 have similar running costs, excluding fuel?

Regards

456mgt

2,504 posts

265 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
Nobody's trying to give you a hard time mate, your original post had the whiff of getting on the Ferrari ladder in any way possible. I kept a record of exactly what it cost me to run a 456 for a decade- it's in my 'garage'.

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

247 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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Great GT car, a bit subtle by fezza standards and already £10k up on eighteen months ago. I'm not sure it would be my first choice as to where to sink £30-40k but it's got to be a better bet than a mk11 Ford Escort rs2000.

medieval

Original Poster:

1,499 posts

210 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
Understand what you are saying and not aimed at you and will certainly have a look at your costings.

Not that there is any harm in trying to get on the ladder mind but I am already on the first rung with a carb engined 400 so have some understanding of the combined joy and horrors of the prancing horse marque

It was more a look at what else might be available but there does seem in some quarters to be a degree of sniffiness on this forum for any interest expressed

Kind regards

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
medieval said:
Understand what you are saying and not aimed at you and will certainly have a look at your costings.

Not that there is any harm in trying to get on the ladder mind but I am already on the first rung with a carb engined 400 so have some understanding of the combined joy and horrors of the prancing horse marque

It was more a look at what else might be available but there does seem in some quarters to be a degree of sniffiness on this forum for any interest expressed

Kind regards
Surely if you already own a 4 seat V12 front-engined Ferrari, you'd look to buy a V8 mid-engined car to go with it? Don't discount a Mondial QV if it's the experience you're after. The engines are bullet-proof and they make a nice noise.


medieval

Original Poster:

1,499 posts

210 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Rubystone and impressive car history sir

Was wondering if the V8 would be a better companion but the other half only really likes the look of the 456 and you know at it is like, once you get a green light from management which is rare, you tend to act on it.

Kind regards

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
medieval said:
Thanks Rubystone and impressive car history sir

Was wondering if the V8 would be a better companion but the other half only really likes the look of the 456 and you know at it is like, once you get a green light from management which is rare, you tend to act on it.

Kind regards
I found that divorce was the answer to that one...did rather make a dent in the toy fund though...I think that if you explain to her that the 456 is actually a re bodied 400 (now there's a car that ought to hold its money) and thus there's no point in buying it, she should come round to the logic in buying a V8.

Davo456gt

695 posts

148 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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This is a strange thread.

I've owned a 456GT since 2006, and mentioned to her indoors about selling it in 2013 to buy something else - I didn't, we kept it - as she liked driving it too much (I still got a Diablo mind you).

They are a very nice car, very quick when you want it to be, very smooth when you want it to be.
They are unlikely to increase much because of the 4 seats, (see also 400, Mondial).
All supercars are rising now, and so is the 456GT, but in the big picture its not significant - £30k a few years ago for a good one to £40k now. But they were stagnant around £30k for a long time.

Buy the bet you can afford (less bills in future), maintain it well (I have spent about £2k/year on average doing 3-4k miles/year), and it won't lose a lot of money.

The main thing you need to do is - use the thing! that's what cars are for - driving enjoyment (this forum seems to be losing the plot on that one lately).
They also run a lot better than cars that are not used too, and have less issues.



Modificata

531 posts

245 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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Medieval – Don’t let the negative comments put you off. The 456 is a great car. If you follow 355Chris355’s logic he should be driving an MR2.

I purchased my current 456M GTA in Jan 2014 (previously owned a 97 456 GTA, and my 4th Ferrari). I was in quite a poor mechanical state, nothing wrong with it (drove it home from Manchester to London), but it had hardly been driven in 3 years and less than 50 miles in the past year. I made sure the price I paid reflected this and set about mechanically restoring the car.

From the outset I will say do not purchase this car to make a profit. You may make some, but you are more likely to come out cost neutral. My car value went up 33% this year so im ahead, but it will not do the same next year. Im pretty sure though that compared to driving a regular car it wont depreciate.

Maintenance wise these cars are not cheap. I would estimate that in 1 year I have spent £5-6k on parts alone with all work being done at home my myself (with help from a friend). That probably includes all the tools I purchased too. Sounds a lot but these go beyond what you would spend on a service. From memory jobs done:
Replaced filters: Oil/Air/Pollen/Fuel/
Replaced Oil
Cambelts + Hill Engineering Bearings
Complete overhaul of cooling system including reconditioning radiator, changed all hoses, replaced coolant (not a small job I tell you!)
New AC belt and Water pump belts
New bearings
New Thermostat
New Bridgstone tyres all round (£840)
Flushed brake fluid
2nd hand AC condenser
New front under bonnet panel
And probably many other things besides.

As the car was off the road for months while I was working on this I only managed 3K miles last year. This is despite using the car for every opportunity including shopping and the school run. Only long run I managed was in December to Manchester and North Wales.

In April Im planning a trip to Maranello and Monaco and plan to do 2,300 miles in 7-10 days. Before I go these are the jobs im planning:
Replace the coolant header tank + Coolant
Oil Service (may wait till im back as not due for miles or distance yet)
Replace brake hose (precaution) and brake fluid
Replace handbrake shoes and cable (cable already purchased)
Replace waterproof linings in doors
Check rear window demister
Check rear number plate lights
Check passenger door lock wiring

Cost wise for this will be around £6-700 including tools. Labour my own.

Beyond that Im looking to do the following jobs:
Fit AC condenser (already purchased)
Gearbox Service (parts £450)
Replace steering fluid (£35)
New Throttle Cable (£80)
Repair LCD display (£100)
New Washer tank (£80)
Tubi Exhaust (£1-2K)
New floor mats (I think they are out of stock)
Respray (maybe)

As you can imagine I have saved a lot of money by working on the car myself. I am not mechanically minded and learnt as I went along, but will say it is very easy compared my Cayenne Turbo. That was a pain in the… I have made a series of video and are available on youtube to view.

Hope that gives you a flavour of what owning a Ferrari might look like. Mine was probably extreme and out of most people’s means. Mine too probably! But I know that my car will pay me back every penny I have put into it, unlike my cayenne.

Hope that helps.

benters

1,459 posts

133 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
i don't have one of these, so have zero experience, so that's useful isn't it !!! however, what a good looking car, i have always liked these as much for there understated looks as anything. So, do go right ahead and make a purchase, if only to keep me happy. . . but not green....saw one in Cookham, Berkshire (i think) in green. . .Yuk.
The blue suits it well in my 100% no experience opinion smile

medieval

Original Poster:

1,499 posts

210 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the positive and useful comments chaps

Have of confess 355chris's comments were somewhat off at a tangent and of little use

Many thanks Mod for a good and sensible insight and thanks to Rubystone , I like your thinking on the V8 approach - she is prepared to part fund it hence the need to tread with care!

I am with you on the green thing as well Benters - all personal taste of course

Modificata

531 posts

245 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
medieval said:
Thanks for the positive and useful comments chaps

Have of confess 355chris's comments were somewhat off at a tangent and of little use

Many thanks Mod for a good and sensible insight and thanks to Rubystone , I like your thinking on the V8 approach - she is prepared to part fund it hence the need to tread with care!

I am with you on the green thing as well Benters - all personal taste of course
A V8 will be more sporty for sure. Also cheaper to run as moving from an 8 to 12 you have 50% more cylinders!

gmarsh

98 posts

145 months

Saturday 21st February 2015
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Maybe the price paid today at the Silverstone Auction for the 1999 manual RHD 456M with 400 miles from new, might stimulate more interest and influence future values on perhaps an underrated Ferrari?

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

247 months

Saturday 21st February 2015
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What did it reach, I know they where expecting £75+k?

355Chris355

134 posts

112 months

Saturday 21st February 2015
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IanMorewood said:
What did it reach, I know they where expecting £75+k?
105,000 !