£55k on a 550 or a 612? Vote before reading the thread!

£55k on a 550 or a 612? Vote before reading the thread!

Poll: £55k on a 550 or a 612? Vote before reading the thread!

Total Members Polled: 415

612 (Manual): 20%
612 (F1): 18%
612 (Not fussed either way): 14%
550 (Only manual available): 48%
Author
Discussion

Mario149

Original Poster:

7,749 posts

177 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
I got back to my favourite past time of browsing for my new Fcar to be bought early in the New Year. Have been looking at 550 prices which automatically meant looking at 612s as they've now dropped int the same bracket. My current musings on choice are below, but vote before reading smile
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Okay, so as much as I love the idea of a 550, a 612 seems to *possibly* make more sense:

1) Buy cheap sell cheap: at last look there is at least two 612s under £55k, by early next year they (or rather similar ones) may have dropped a bit more. When their predecessors the 456Ms are £35k to £45k for a manual one, *if* you can find a manual rather than the slushbox, how much farther can cheap 612s really drop from £50k or so given that they are a much more modern, reliable and more potent vehicle? I know 4 seater Ferraris don't get an awful lot of love, but would your £45k honestly go here rather than here assuming there were no hidden gremlins on either? 550s, and likely cheap 612s now are all basically depreciating on mileage alone if kept in good condition surely?

2) Performance: there's no getting away from the fact that the 612 is a faster car objectively on paper. People praise the handling of the 550, but fundamentally, the 612 is the same engine/drive configuration and if it's not quite to your liking you could no doubt have the suspension and geometry set up to what you like for not too many notes. And while rare, you could wait and find a manual 612 if it was essential.

3) Servicing/reliability: fundamentally, the fixed price servicing (as a comparison) seems to be basically identical. BUT, modern Ferraris are built better than their predecessors and on average the 612 will be several years younger. Parts may cost a bit more but really it should have less going wrong with it to start with, so cheaper and less hassle.

4) Fuel economy: I know some people think it's a bit naff to mention ("if you're worried about fuel cost you can't afford the car") but that's not the point. The 612 seems to do (on paper at least) about 15% more mpg than the 550, so if you're getting through £4k's worth of fuel in the 612 per year (7 or 8k miles at current prices), you're probably saving £500-£600 p.a. compared to what you'd be getting in the 550.

5) It has 4 seats: personally, half the jollies I get from my Fcar now are when I take other people out in it. Being able to jump in the car with my gf *and* a couple of mates/a couple to do a road trip/day out would be pretty awesome, more the merrier! Can also get them to chip in for fuel then and all wink

Okay, even after all that I think the 550 is still edging ahead in my mind (if only as it's just a bit prettier!), but playing devil's advocate against it really does make me think! scratchchin

ETA: just noticed the cheapest 612 is LHD, but rough price bracket still stands

Bebs

2,910 posts

280 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
612 Mario, I rather like them actually yes What a bargain they are as well!
Guess you need to drive both really mate..

Pork

9,453 posts

233 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
612 still to depreciated, 550 is a modern classic, probably heading north from here on.

I like both but if I didn't *need* four seats, a 550 would be the front runner.

Mario149

Original Poster:

7,749 posts

177 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
If Cerbieherts is floating round, I'd be curious to know what he thought on the comparative servicing/maintenance costs and reliability between them smile

wineman02

397 posts

198 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
I would be torn too. I voted for the 550 purely for its usability in the end as 612's are pretty big cars for UK roads. Apart from that I really like them!

Cheib

23,067 posts

174 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
If you get a 612 got to be manual in my book.

Both very good cars. The 612 is not a looker but a hugely capable car.

I think over time the manual derivative will be worth much more. These cars over the next few years will become owned by enthusiasts....now it's a mix of enthusaiast and people that own them as status symbol. Then there are what I assume are the extra complications for maintenance on an F1 gearbox.

Bluebottle911

811 posts

194 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
Yes, I did vote before reading the thread. Twice actually: earlier today I voted withh my wallet and bought a 550. It never crossed my mind to buy a 612 - I already have a Bentley, so I didn't need another barge wink

Mario149

Original Poster:

7,749 posts

177 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
Bluebottle911 said:
Yes, I did vote before reading the thread. Twice actually: earlier today I voted withh my wallet and bought a 550. It never crossed my mind to buy a 612 - I already have a Bentley, so I didn't need another barge wink
Worst I have lots of expensive cars ever post wink

Mario149

Original Poster:

7,749 posts

177 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
I'm genuinely intrigued by the responses to the poll (and also loving my newly acquired power to actually post a poll...mwah ha ha ha ha!)

I would have expected it to be running about 2:1 in favour of the 550. Would have been interesting to do a split as above, but with twice as many options, say a set for those who had owned/currently own an Fcar and those who don't.....would have been interesting to see the difference smile

jimmyslr

797 posts

272 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
Very interesting. I am in exactly the same spot as the OP (in fact I started the v12 running cost thread as I can't see why a 612 is more than a 550).

I have driven a few 550s now, but went through same logic re 4 seats. I need to go out in a 612 and work it out for myself.

How many manual 612s are there? I have only seen one for sale recently. Certainly a rare beast and obviously not popular with original owners who specced the cars new. Is there any compromise in a 612 manual that somehow makes it a poor manual driver? Can't imagine what, but interested in views.

LukeyLikey

855 posts

146 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
I voted for the 612 F1 - I like F1, and in a big car like the 612 I'm not sure manual suits as well. 612 v 550 is a bit harder. I think I went 612 because whenever I've seen them they look surprisingly good compared with photos.

I'm not sure the 550 would be for me though - rather have a 360 at similar money.

mirage5512

312 posts

202 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
I voted manual 612 even though I just bought an f1. My problem was I wanted a hgt car and I don't think I've ever seen one for sale and I've looked periodically over the last two years or so, so they must be very rare. If I hadn't been dead set on a hgt car then I could have been seriously interested in the black manual one for sale up in Edinburgh.

Never driven a 550 but I am liking the 612 so far, and the noise from the sports exhaust on full throttle upshifts is making the f1 gearbox easier to live with.

Cerbieherts

1,651 posts

140 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
Mario149 said:
If Cerbieherts is floating round, I'd be curious to know what he thought on the comparative servicing/maintenance costs and reliability between them smile
Happy too.. smile
The 612 is far more useable from a reliability point of view. 550's have gearbox issues (mainshaft bearings) as well as suspension actuators, torque tube bearings, suspension bushes, engine mounts, cooling system issues....Not saying they are unreliable, these are worst case scenarios, but should be considered none the less. Obviously the tech In the 612 is later generation, hugely expensive failures haven't come to light, but the car isn't very old yet...
If you want to pile miles on it is say go for the 612, the 550 is quite mileage sensitive...
Personally...I love the 550, that would be my choice just based on the fact that I'm a sucker for the older f-cars!

Mario149

Original Poster:

7,749 posts

177 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Cerbieherts said:
appy too.. smile
The 612 is far more useable from a reliability point of view. 550's have gearbox issues (mainshaft bearings) as well as suspension actuators, torque tube bearings, suspension bushes, engine mounts, cooling system issues....Not saying they are unreliable, these are worst case scenarios, but should be considered none the less. Obviously the tech In the 612 is later generation, hugely expensive failures haven't come to light, but the car isn't very old yet...
If you want to pile miles on it is say go for the 612, the 550 is quite mileage sensitive...
Personally...I love the 550, that would be my choice just based on the fact that I'm a sucker for the older f-cars!
Very interesting, thanks smile And for slight O/T comparison, how would you compare 550 reliability on the whole to 355 reliability? i.e. which ones would you see in for unscheduled work more, bearing in mind that (judging by number of cars for sale on PH) there seem to be about twice as many 355s as 550s floating about?

supermanraf

271 posts

180 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
I think the 550 is a gorgeous looking car, but you don't see many 612's on the road, and It's got to be a corker to drive, I have had a drive in a 550, a manual car, and it was very nice, but methinks the overall quality of the 612 would be better too?

bertie

8,545 posts

283 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
I'm in a very similar boat, torn between either keeping my 599, or a 550 or a 612 to sit next to my 458 spider due early next year.

Someone earlier in this thread mentioned Bentley, and a Conti GTC was also on my list, 4 seats and a convertible adds yet another dimension, the kids love going out with no roof, but I decided against as they seem to be still depreciating heavily with no signd of stopping until they reach £4.99!

I guess that's the danger of being such a success, Conti to 612 must be about 50:1

I'm leaning very heavily towards 612 as the 4 seats adds another dimension to its uses, plus the look epic value righ now.

Edited by bertie on Saturday 6th October 10:50

Camlet

1,131 posts

148 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
550: Driven. Sublime. An absolute gem. A classic.

612: Driven. Impressive for its size. Nice. But destined to be just one of many others.



Bluebottle911

811 posts

194 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Mario149 said:
Worst I have lots of expensive cars ever post wink
Oh dear, has someone stolen your saucer of milk? I was simply saying that, as well as voting in your poll, I had actually made the decision to buy a 550 and, by a curious coincidence, I did so on the same day that I read your thread; and that a 612 had not figured in the decision process that led to my purchase. I then made a tongue in cheek gibe about 612s, because of their size, which I did not expect anyone to take seriously, let alone as a boast about my car ownership: the fact that I do own more than one car is hardly anything about which to boast in a form where many people do exactly the same, and in many cases far more expensive ones than mine.

bqf

2,223 posts

170 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
I drove a manual 612 recently (which is still for sale at £65k). Frankly, I found it a bit dull. Inside, it has all the usual flimsy ferrari trim problems, and while it's fast, comfortable, and quite pretty for a 4-seater Ferrari, it's not a patch on the 550.

My problem is - I have one child, and a wife. If I bought a two-seater, I'd never, ever use it. I couldn't drive to Italy on holiday, I couldn't have weekends away, I couldn't even go down to revival without taking an extra car.

As much as I think the 550 is a classic, it's short weekend burst use only, and for me, that makes it unusable.

You must try the 612 first though, and I suspect it's more of a grower than the 550 (a show-er). It might have grown on me, but it didn't feel like something I could happily drop £65,000 on.

Bluebottle911

811 posts

194 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
The 612 did not figure, because I was not looking for a 4-seater. And now that you have your Turbo R in which to take the wife and kids, you, too, can have a two seater Ferrari. Better go to another auction!