Discussion
Well I have just purchased a 456 GTA - see my thread titled "Coping with the wait".
For me it was not worth the extra £8k or so for the M. I got my car from The Ferrari Centre and they have sorted any potential problems. When doing the cambelts etc they did no end of work and asked if I wanted to change the hoses as they are liable to go (this was fixed on the 456M) whilst they had the engine out. I did.
I really don't think you have anything to gain in real terms by having the M apart from a carbon fibre bonnet. The engine is the same and if all the issues have been sorted you are sorted.
It really is a lovely car and very under valued at the moment IMO being a 2+2 V12. I smile every second I drive mine!
For me it was not worth the extra £8k or so for the M. I got my car from The Ferrari Centre and they have sorted any potential problems. When doing the cambelts etc they did no end of work and asked if I wanted to change the hoses as they are liable to go (this was fixed on the 456M) whilst they had the engine out. I did.
I really don't think you have anything to gain in real terms by having the M apart from a carbon fibre bonnet. The engine is the same and if all the issues have been sorted you are sorted.
It really is a lovely car and very under valued at the moment IMO being a 2+2 V12. I smile every second I drive mine!
wineman02 said:
Well I have just purchased a 456 GTA - see my thread titled "Coping with the wait".
For me it was not worth the extra £8k or so for the M. I got my car from The Ferrari Centre and they have sorted any potential problems. When doing the cambelts etc they did no end of work and asked if I wanted to change the hoses as they are liable to go (this was fixed on the 456M) whilst they had the engine out. I did.
I really don't think you have anything to gain in real terms by having the M apart from a carbon fibre bonnet. The engine is the same and if all the issues have been sorted you are sorted.
It really is a lovely car and very under valued at the moment IMO being a 2+2 V12. I smile every second I drive mine!
How do you find the automatic? I test drove a manual one when i was looking for my 355 and liked it, although i didn't get a chance to properly let rip. Even for a 456 which is a GT though, i wouldn't be able to get my head around not having a manual 'box, it somehow seems un-Ferrari! I'm interested to know your thoughts! And I'm certainly not having a dig at your choice, am just genuinely curious For me it was not worth the extra £8k or so for the M. I got my car from The Ferrari Centre and they have sorted any potential problems. When doing the cambelts etc they did no end of work and asked if I wanted to change the hoses as they are liable to go (this was fixed on the 456M) whilst they had the engine out. I did.
I really don't think you have anything to gain in real terms by having the M apart from a carbon fibre bonnet. The engine is the same and if all the issues have been sorted you are sorted.
It really is a lovely car and very under valued at the moment IMO being a 2+2 V12. I smile every second I drive mine!
A manual would be fantastic but at the moment I do not miss it as this is a GT car. If I had a 360 of 430 then a manual (or F1) would be a pre-requisite (did they even do an auto box?) but I am more than happy. It is a gentlemans Ferrari and although I make progress I am not going at hyper speeds - just pretty damn fast! An auto box is in keeping with the car I think. The box seems really fine and is quick enough for me.
The V12 has so much torque that there is hardly ever the need to down change to overtake. When it does though it is fantastic. For example if you floor it at 40 then it stays in the same gear and just accelerates like crazy but in a civilised fashion. If in 70 though it will change down and you are thrown back in the seats and go to warp speed.
For me having an auto as my first Ferrari is fine - I want to keep my eye on the road and not the rev counter! I also like to take my family out (hence the 2+2 and will not drive fast with them on board. It is about the occasion as well as the driving.
It does feel strange at first but I am already really used to it. My aim is to add a manual car later in the year so I have the best of both worlds.
Hope this helps a little.
The V12 has so much torque that there is hardly ever the need to down change to overtake. When it does though it is fantastic. For example if you floor it at 40 then it stays in the same gear and just accelerates like crazy but in a civilised fashion. If in 70 though it will change down and you are thrown back in the seats and go to warp speed.
For me having an auto as my first Ferrari is fine - I want to keep my eye on the road and not the rev counter! I also like to take my family out (hence the 2+2 and will not drive fast with them on board. It is about the occasion as well as the driving.
It does feel strange at first but I am already really used to it. My aim is to add a manual car later in the year so I have the best of both worlds.
Hope this helps a little.
I think that the MGT's had a few issues improved from the GT's but the main reason for going for the MGT when I bought mine was the traction control on the later cars particularly if you are using it all year round. There is plenty of power and without traction control it is easy to loose the back end in the manual cars if you give it some welly in winter conditions. I think its worth the extra for an MGT if you can find one at a decent price. They are brilliant cars and were well built in my opinion. I've had porsches, mercs and a bentley and the 456 seems as well built. Mine has done 65000 miles and in the 3 years I have had it has only needed some HT leads and an alternator. It's a daily driver and consequently everything works as most of the 'problems' with italian cars are from lack of regular use rather than mileage. I am not sure about the GTA's but the MGT is excellent in snow with winter tyres as I discovered over the winter when my wifes 4x4 broke down and I had to use the 456 in all conditions including snow and ice on rough roads and cobbles. Good luck with the GTA wineman, use it as much as you can and I am sure you will enjoy it, especially with a Tubi to unleash the V12 growl. If I was looking for a 456 (or a 550 if I didn't need the extra seats)I would look for as late a car as possible with plenty of service history and not be bothered about the mileage as long as the price was OK.
I think that the MGT's had a few issues improved from the GT's but the main reason for going for the MGT when I bought mine was the traction control on the later cars particularly if you are using it all year round. There is plenty of power and without traction control it is easy to loose the back end in the manual cars if you give it some welly in winter conditions. I think its worth the extra for an MGT if you can find one at a decent price. They are brilliant cars and were well built in my opinion. I've had porsches, mercs and a bentley and the 456 seems as well built. Mine has done 65000 miles and in the 3 years I have had it has only needed some HT leads and an alternator. It's a daily driver and consequently everything works as most of the 'problems' with italian cars are from lack of regular use rather than mileage. I am not sure about the GTA's but the MGT is excellent in snow with winter tyres as I discovered over the winter when my wifes 4x4 broke down and I had to use the 456 in all conditions including snow and ice on rough roads and cobbles. Good luck with the GTA wineman, use it as much as you can and I am sure you will enjoy it, especially with a Tubi to unleash the V12 growl. If I was looking for a 456 (or a 550 if I didn't need the extra seats)I would look for as late a car as possible with plenty of service history and not be bothered about the mileage as long as the price was OK.
I had a 456GT and upgraded several years later to 456M GTA and enjoyed both cars enormously for different reasons. As the thread says this model is an all year round usable gentleman's express rather than some screaming banshee. with a wife and two growing kids it was ideal. When i bought the 456GT second hand it was at a discount to the equivalent auto? key issues were the window regulators (well known expensive problem to fix) failed, i needed a new clutch over time and the power steering unit gave out (unusual but not unknown). i was able to upgrade to a 456M but auto which is at a discount to the rarer manual. key differences where a modernizing change to the internal architecture of the cabin which I liked. however they tweeked engine a little, very subtle extrior changes but did loose the louvres behind the headlights which i had liked. they also fixed the window regulator prob. overall a fantastic car to own but not cheap to run but then no ferrari is! Roger and the guys at The Ferrari Centre are top drawer, smart and well informed. Good luck and enjoy
Yep - the window regulators can be a pain but Roger is getting them all fixed for me as they did not work. I really cannot say enough good things about The Ferrari Centre. Quite refreshing to work with people who actually care and are not just focussed on the bottom line. I amsure they have a customer for life in me.
I have been following the recent topics relating to 456's (c/o Wineman) as I have been contemplating getting one, I have been very fortunate until now in as much I have been able to have some reasonable cars, such as 965 Turbo, 390GT Mustang, New Shelby and non supercharged mustangs (I did say reasonable!!) AM v8 Vantage, BMW M6, M5, AMG 55 CLK, latest Range Rovers and Jaguars etc and a very brief association with a 512TR. Therefore next on my 'Eye-Spy' list of cars to have was obviously a v12 Ferrari, I had previously almost bought a classic 330GT but ultimately they were too old to be practical. Thus the 456; I had concluded from my research that I would be better off getting a later M series (Manual) car. To this end I have looked at and driven a couple, however to my disappointment they haven't really set me alight, I did not find them to be particularly involving, in the way - even the latest 997 is for instance and so I find myself with a conundrum, really like the 'idea' of the 456, but (for me anyway) the reality did not live up to the promise. I will be very honest and admit that the cache of a Ferrari was again one of the major aspects that attracted me, the v12 456 ticked all the requisite box’s without the potential public negativity sometimes associated with the more extrovert rear engined models. Although I am sure the 456 would come into its own on a European jaunt, most of my driving will be limited to local trips out and it is for this reason that I am disappointed to be drawn back to the 911, possibly either a 997 Carrera s2 or a late 996 turbo. Still feel cheated though.
Edited by Balders0uk on Tuesday 3rd May 16:26
Balders0UK
I think you have to take into consideration that the 456 is 16 years old now, so cannot really be compared to a 997 (and 911's being a totally different type of car) which is current. I do think that a 911 will always be more involving though as it is not a GT. My wife finds the rear seats in the 456 far better than in the 911 so that might be worth thinking about.
You do see a zillion 911's on the road but in a 456 you still feel special...
I think you have to take into consideration that the 456 is 16 years old now, so cannot really be compared to a 997 (and 911's being a totally different type of car) which is current. I do think that a 911 will always be more involving though as it is not a GT. My wife finds the rear seats in the 456 far better than in the 911 so that might be worth thinking about.
You do see a zillion 911's on the road but in a 456 you still feel special...
Wineman
Valid points I agree, sense of occasion in the Vantage was all pervading even though the g-box was not great, perhaps I need to admit to myself that I am not a boy racer anymore and a GT is more in keeping with my advancing years (which is also partly why I was attracted to the 456) that and the boot and the four seats as you say. Was at an AMOC event at Silverstone this weekend and there were two 456 competing – was very surprised that even in race trim they did not sound as v12-ish as I had hoped. Perhaps I am expecting too much??
Valid points I agree, sense of occasion in the Vantage was all pervading even though the g-box was not great, perhaps I need to admit to myself that I am not a boy racer anymore and a GT is more in keeping with my advancing years (which is also partly why I was attracted to the 456) that and the boot and the four seats as you say. Was at an AMOC event at Silverstone this weekend and there were two 456 competing – was very surprised that even in race trim they did not sound as v12-ish as I had hoped. Perhaps I am expecting too much??
I agree - the sound is not deafening but I liked that. I think it is in keeping with the car and like it for it. I can leave home early and not wake the close up!
It is a gentlemans Ferrari and if you view it as such will love it for what it is. I also believe that they offer stupid value for money at the moment. If you get a sorted one you will hopefully be fine for quite a while if maintained properly. I actually can't believe you get so much car for the money and with only 202 GTA's (I think) sold in the UK they are pretty rare on the roads.
It is a gentlemans Ferrari and if you view it as such will love it for what it is. I also believe that they offer stupid value for money at the moment. If you get a sorted one you will hopefully be fine for quite a while if maintained properly. I actually can't believe you get so much car for the money and with only 202 GTA's (I think) sold in the UK they are pretty rare on the roads.
I am also astounded at the value that these cars represent, to the point where I feel one should not mention it in public for fear of other people noticing and ruining it!!
I know from experience with Astons however that the cost of ownership of such vehicles (as we all know) can be crippling, even if you can do the work yourself, the cost of parts can be frightening. I will have to give it some more thought and decide what it is that I am really looking for and then go from there, I hope you continue to enjoy your purchase, it looks very good in the pictures – Have Fun.
I know from experience with Astons however that the cost of ownership of such vehicles (as we all know) can be crippling, even if you can do the work yourself, the cost of parts can be frightening. I will have to give it some more thought and decide what it is that I am really looking for and then go from there, I hope you continue to enjoy your purchase, it looks very good in the pictures – Have Fun.
I had been looking for a 456 for several years. I have been a Ferrari owner for around 10 years and still planned on keeping my beloved 355. I wanted something that the family could also climb into. I only wanted a Modificato (mainly due to the looks) in red with black leather and a 6 speed man box. I had looked on PH for 5 years and finally bought one last August. These cars a superb! I have done 7k miles so far and love it! The only change I have made was the wheels as I always felt that the 16 inches never really filled the arches. The kids love it, the boot is big enough for a supermarket run and it is a very nice place to be as a daily driver.
Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff