Any 456 owners out there? Help needed

[Schnellmann]

Back in 2008 I seriously considered getting a 456 but bottled out last minute and bought a 997 C2S (prob not a good confession on a Ferrari thread!)

Anyway, trying to convince myself that a 456 does make sense and won't rape my wallet if a buy one.

For those with 456s on here, what is the truth? Also, what are the best 456-specific forums or sites to get advice or info?

Thanks

[johnnyreggae]

There are a few 456 threads & owners here - I think there's a guy called Ross in Geneva who pasts on ferrarichat who has or had one

[burriana]

I'd be interested in this too, as it is a car I can never stay away from for long in the classifieds

[456GD]

I only have mine for just over 2 years and have done around 7k miles in it (total 31k). It is pretty expensive when things go wrong and they will go wrong as it is over 10 years old, but I think this is the same with all ferraris.

I found the electrics that are problematic with old ferraris to be ok in this one as they are mostly german made Bosch.

I was disappointed to experience a gearbox failure (with the reverse gear!) which cost an arm and a leg to fix. But I was probably unlucky.

Otherwise, it is a beautiful to drive, feels lighter than it is, pulls like nothing above 3000rpm and is relatively practical car as you can sit 4 adults (if not all of them are not basketball players).

Check out ferrarichat.com and pistonheads member 456mgt who had his for much longer.

[isda]

I've had a 456gt for six years or so now - it has been used both as an everyday driver and a weekend car and still gives me a kick when you get past 4k revs in second or third (although that happens less often now I've got to fit two child seats in it). The running costs have worked out at 2/3k per year - I've had a catalyst catch fire and a new gearbox and the electrics can be iffy but otherwise (and taking depreciation into account) I can still kid myself that a repmobile bought new would have cost me more overall. I'd say go for it but make sure you get a very thorough ppi done - Emblem did mine and then carried out the necessary remedial work (with photographic records) before I took delivery and every penny was well spent.

[JasonSF]

I have done 9k miles in mine in the last 12 months. A superb reliable daily driver with massive torque. Seats 4 in comfort. My advice would be get a modificato with a manual box if you can find one. Such a pretty car in the flesh. I am sure you can keep on top of things for around £1500 p a The M had many or the earlier issues sorted except for the window gaps. Go for it. I think they have got as low as they will go too so no depreciation!

[Schnellmann]

Thanks for the comments. A bit unsettling that two out of three posters have had fairly serious problems!

I was looking at a modificado with manual gearbox. going to see two next week, one black with beige and the other silver with black.

Are the M's much more reliable than the earlier cars?

Main problem is that my current fun car (993) is really the ideal car for me in that I can use it all year, it is fast without being too fast, looks good, won't lose value, is reliable, maintenance costs are relatively low and although it is mechanically very good as not pristine condition on the outside I don't worry about where I park it. The sensible part of me is telling me not to change but it is my 7th 911 and the non-sensible side has a serious Ferrari itch that needs scratching....

I was hoping for more reports from owners without problems to give my non-sensible side some support!

[JasonSF]

I had a 993, they are a great car as you have said. I use my 456 for everything I used my 993. A daily driver. Cars are designed to be used. Anything with a moving part requires it to be moved. I have personally found that some Ferraris go many months every year without any use at all. Infact there is currently a 456 for sale with just 400 miles from new, averaging just 40 miles per year! I would worry that whoever drives that car may find all sorts of hydraulic failures as there has been no oil round certain parts. There are many 456 cars running about with 70k miles on them that have not had any issues. My 993 was the second most unreliable car I ever owned after my Golf VR6. I bought mine 12 months old from a main dealer and it spent most of its life in and out of there with silly issues. My other 6 911s were all spot on, sometimes people are just unlucky. I find the 456 a whole different class to my old 993 and would never go back. Give one a try, you will not regret it. :-)

[Schnellmann]

My 993 was the second most unreliable car I ever owned after my Golf VR6. I bought mine 12 months old from a main dealer and it spent most of its life in and out of there with silly issues. My other 6 911s were all spot on, sometimes people are just unlucky. I find the 456 a whole different class to my old 993 and would never go back. Give one a try, you will not regret it. :-)
[/quote]

Thanks. That is more encouraging! I am planning to view these two 456s this week so definitely going to give it a go!!


http://www.autoscout24.ch/AS24Web/Detail.aspx?from...

http://www.autoscout24.ch/AS24Web/Detail.aspx?from...

[JasonSF]

Personally, I like the black one. I love them in black. But both look like very nice cars. You are lucky to find Manual cars, many of them are autos. Good luck.

[RoyaleDetailing]

Ive owned a 456 GTA for about a year or two before I sold it. I also previously ran a site called the456.com before i forgot to renew my domain name (ooops!).

I purchased the car out in Saudi and drove it over there for a bit before bringing it back. First thing i did was a major service changing all the filters, oils, belts etc as the car had sat idle for a while. The result was pretty much trouble free motoring for the whole time i had it. Mechanically nothing went wrong. A friend managed to break my door handle on the inside which was a bit of a pain to fix, but i did that myself so it didnt cost anything.

Mechanically the 456 & M are just as reliable as each other. If you can deffo get the 456M and manual if possible. You will hear silly horror stories about £16k replacement auto gearboxes etc. Firstly i dont know anyone who has paid that, and secondly i dont know of a geabox that has completely failed. But what i found with the auto is that i always wanted to be in a lower gear, hence i would go for hte manual.

Compared to the 911 its a very different car. Ive had a few 911's. At the time we had the 456 my wife had a 911 C4 (996). We used to say the 456 was quick, where as the 911 was more point and squirt. The 456 is a much bigger and heavier car and you do feel the size. Saying that I was lucky enough to be involved in one of the Dads day out events and drove for the day round the Top Gear track and loved it on the track! In fact i think my car was used more than any other as i could carry the kids in the back so i hardly had a break the whole day. The car was great, although by the end of the day was the brakes were a bit cooked!

If you use your head you will never buy one, but that will be your loss. The 456 was one of the best cars i've ever had. If you buy right you wont lose a penny.

[Schnellmann]

RoyaleDetailing said:

Ive owned a 456 GTA for about a year or two before I sold it. I also previously ran a site called the456.

If you use your head you will never buy one, but that will be your loss. The 456 was one of the best cars i've ever had. If you buy right you wont lose a penny.

I saw references to your former website but wondered why it didn't have anything on it.

I am only considering a manual. Most of the Ms for sale in Switzerland are manual.

You are right. If I use my head it will be difficult. But I think if I can buy right then i can persuade myself it is a good investment! I am hoping that the current economic uncertainty will help in negotiating a good price.

It is key that I get a decent test drive. Once a car gets under my skin then the heart usually kicks the head into touch!