RE: Spotted: 1996 Ferrari 456 GTA
Discussion
I'm not a fan of the 456, even less so with the slush box and hearing the comedy service and parts cots but that is mighty tempting.
I have never been a Ferrari man, Lambos for passion, Porsche for ownership and assorted for desire, yet few F cars have given me a 'want' feeling.
I am worried though that I keep thinking about the possibility of looking after a red head born in the '80's though, even if just for a few months to get it and the Miami Vice thing out of the system...
I have never been a Ferrari man, Lambos for passion, Porsche for ownership and assorted for desire, yet few F cars have given me a 'want' feeling.
I am worried though that I keep thinking about the possibility of looking after a red head born in the '80's though, even if just for a few months to get it and the Miami Vice thing out of the system...
Wouldn't it be better to buy the 456 and...break it? I guess Ferrari owners don't really go for used parts.
I'd go for the Testarossa. Simply because you'd drive it less and consider it an investment of sorts. The 456 is the sort of car you'd grow to hate because of the running costs.
I'd go for the Testarossa. Simply because you'd drive it less and consider it an investment of sorts. The 456 is the sort of car you'd grow to hate because of the running costs.
Dave_STI said:
...for a car that will never be a collectors favourite
I can forsee a future where the 456 could be covetted as a wonderfully organic and understated design, and highly sought after compared to the later flash & brash designs that succeeded it during the early 21st century days of ostentatious vulgarity .... The 355 is already heading that way.
mat205125 said:
I can forsee a future where the 456 could be covetted as a wonderfully organic and understated design, and highly sought after compared to the later flash & brash designs that succeeded it during the early 21st century days of ostentatious vulgarity .... The 355 is already heading that way.
+1The 355 is the perfect example of a modern Ferrari. Nothing that's followed since has been quite as good IMO. But I do love the 456.... I think they're truly beautiful cars.
I'll add to the mounting praise for the 456 (in TDF blue of course). Beautiful understated design. And nothing like a God-awful Probe btw. Those wheels do look small now though. As for the Testarossa perhaps people need to start finding them attractive cars again before they go up. May take a while...
flatline84 said:
Whats the fun in a meticilous car, you`d be afraid to drive it at all. This is brilliant. Who cares if its a scratch here or there. just drive the bloody thing, across europe perhaps!
Whilst my own car (not a Ferrari, however the sentiment is the same) is by no means neglected, or scruffy, I enjoy it much more than when I first bought it now that it has a couple of scuffs and gravel rash .... I've always struggled to comprehend the kinds of mindset that cocoon performance machines in cotton wool, rather than enjoying their experience and performance at every available occasion
mat205125 said:
flatline84 said:
Whats the fun in a meticilous car, you`d be afraid to drive it at all. This is brilliant. Who cares if its a scratch here or there. just drive the bloody thing, across europe perhaps!
Whilst my own car (not a Ferrari, however the sentiment is the same) is by no means neglected, or scruffy, I enjoy it much more than when I first bought it now that it has a couple of scuffs and gravel rash .... I've always struggled to comprehend the kinds of mindset that cocoon performance machines in cotton wool, rather than enjoying their experience and performance at every available occasion
A great car for road trips from one end of Europe to another or to put in a container and do North America. But only if you can make it reliable.
Not a fan of the 456 either. Maybe it's the 14" wheels? I like the back, but side and front on it just look weak IMO.
But then I like the 458 and others hate that. Ferraris tend to split opinions quite frequently.
It's a £170k Ferrari, so it'll still have the running costs of one, £15k or not.
But then I like the 458 and others hate that. Ferraris tend to split opinions quite frequently.
It's a £170k Ferrari, so it'll still have the running costs of one, £15k or not.
I love the idea of a Category D Ferrari - it encompasses the entire spectrum of automotive ignorance...
At one end you have a badge equal or better than any other and which forgives almost anything.
Say 'Category D' tho and most people see a deathtrap or a nail (which is, ironically, more likely to be true in this case than otherwise but it's also rare because so many are repaired and not recorded).
Seriously tho - let's not overblow the mythos here. They're just cars, they have parts which can be replaced and they can be worked-on by mortals.
They do have a reputation for s
t design making mechanical work complex and thus time consuming and/or expensive and parts aren't exactly commonplace - but they're just cars and using them without washing them and cossetting them isn't going to kill them.
In reality, when people look at a used, slightly tatty and less desirable model, what they're really seeing is how hard it will be to resell - and that's missing the entire point of buying the thing...
At one end you have a badge equal or better than any other and which forgives almost anything.
Say 'Category D' tho and most people see a deathtrap or a nail (which is, ironically, more likely to be true in this case than otherwise but it's also rare because so many are repaired and not recorded).
Seriously tho - let's not overblow the mythos here. They're just cars, they have parts which can be replaced and they can be worked-on by mortals.
They do have a reputation for s
t design making mechanical work complex and thus time consuming and/or expensive and parts aren't exactly commonplace - but they're just cars and using them without washing them and cossetting them isn't going to kill them.In reality, when people look at a used, slightly tatty and less desirable model, what they're really seeing is how hard it will be to resell - and that's missing the entire point of buying the thing...
johnpeat said:
I love the idea of a Category D Ferrari - it encompasses the entire spectrum of automotive ignorance...
At one end you have a badge equal or better than any other and which forgives almost anything.
Say 'Category D' tho and most people see a deathtrap or a nail (which is, ironically, more likely to be true in this case than otherwise but it's also rare because so many are repaired and not recorded).
Seriously tho - let's not overblow the mythos here. They're just cars, they have parts which can be replaced and they can be worked-on by mortals.
They do have a reputation for st design making mechanical work complex and thus time consuming and/or expensive and parts aren't exactly commonplace - but they're just cars and using them without washing them and cossetting them isn't going to kill them.
In reality, when people look at a used, slightly tatty and less desirable model, what they're really seeing is how hard it will be to resell - and that's missing the entire point of buying the thing...
The above reminds me of the tatty black Gallardo that was for sale a while ago, makes sense in a way to buy it cheap use it & not worry too much about it but still gain from the envious looks (ok from a slight distance!) At one end you have a badge equal or better than any other and which forgives almost anything.
Say 'Category D' tho and most people see a deathtrap or a nail (which is, ironically, more likely to be true in this case than otherwise but it's also rare because so many are repaired and not recorded).
Seriously tho - let's not overblow the mythos here. They're just cars, they have parts which can be replaced and they can be worked-on by mortals.
They do have a reputation for s
t design making mechanical work complex and thus time consuming and/or expensive and parts aren't exactly commonplace - but they're just cars and using them without washing them and cossetting them isn't going to kill them.In reality, when people look at a used, slightly tatty and less desirable model, what they're really seeing is how hard it will be to resell - and that's missing the entire point of buying the thing...
How much more involved is it to do a regular service on the 456? If it is down to oil, filters, plugs, coolant, brake maintainance ect, then surely it can be done at home then taken to a specialist for the more involved jobs. At this age, mileage and price would a lack of FSH be a problem when selling it on.
I fully admit to being potentially naive.
I fully admit to being potentially naive.
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