Ferrari 456 - - - would you?

[Shropshiremike]

I enjoyed reading David Yu's Auto-journals on running/owning one but it sems too pricey for me

http://www.auto-journals.com/journals/Ferrari?mode...

http://www.auto-journals.com/journals/Ferrari?mode...

[Hooty]

Pesty said:

There have been quite a few threads about running costs on the ferrai section.

IIRC steering racks can be a problem and are horrendously expensive

Thank you. I just had a look at all of them. I hope he doesn't mind me posting the link to his blog but there's a chap in the Ferrari section who has set out his costs over the period of ownership. Check this out.... http://www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?car...

[scorcher]

kambites said:

Skylinecrazy said:

So, does anyone else think they are fking ugly?

Erm, nooo, I think you're on your own there.

Erm,No he isn't! Most Ferraris just leave me cold. But this is just ugly beyond belief. Ferrari have become the "Ford" of Supercars. Even if I had the money to be able to afford a Ferrari, I wouldn't.

[kambites]

scorcher said:

Erm,No he isn't! Most Ferraris just leave me cold. But this is just ugly beyond belief. Ferrari have become the "Ford" of Supercars. Even if I had the money to be able to afford a Ferrari, I wouldn't.

Interesting, this is the only Ferrari since the 328 that I actually do like.

[Hooty]

I think it's elegant and understated. Not in-yer-face like a lot of other Ferraris.

[Lagerlout]

Gearboxes can go bang and when they do.. ouch.

[Nickyboy]

kambites said:

Skylinecrazy said:

So, does anyone else think they are fking ugly?

Erm, nooo, I think you're on your own there.

He's not, pig ugly

[CampDavid]

Some people don't like the way that the 456 looks in the same way that some people think that the Nissan Skyline is stylish.

Awesome looking car but the running costs are apparently awesome

[derin100]

I've always really liked the look of those cars but those running costs are just simple extortion!

I've just looked at that very helpful and enlightening summary over 103 months of ownership but only 17K miles i.e £36000 or £2.10/mile.

Let's have a reality check here for a sec:

I don't know what everyone else's income is here?...Maybe everyone is mega-rich? I wouldn't class myself as such but I earn (without wishing to go into specifics) a six figure sum annually and the first figure isn't a "1" and I don't have a mortgage.

For me to drive to work and back, for example (actually on roads where such a car could be enjoyed!), is a mere 10 miles and takes less than 15 mins each way. That half hour round trip is apparently going to cost me £42...each time?!

Sorry...but on my meagre earnings...that's just way too much!

So in answer to the OP: "Would I?"

"Not without a huge increase in my income!"

Edited by derin100 on Sunday 24th January 21:00

[LHD]

derin100 said:

I've always really like the look of those cars but those running costs are just simple extortion!

I just looked at that very helpful and enlightening summary over 103 months of ownership but only 17K miles i.e £36000 or £2.10/mile.

Let's have a reality check here for a sec:

I don't know what everyone else's income is here?...Maybe everyone is mega-rich? I wouldn't class myself as such but I earn (without wishing to go into specifics) a six figure sum annually and the first figure isn't a "1" and I don't have a mortgage.

For me to drive to work and back, for example (actually on roads where such a car could be enjoyed!), is a mere 10 miles and takes less than 15 mins each way. That half hour round trip is apparently going to cost me £42...each time?!

Sorry...but on my meagre earnings...that's just way too much!

So in answer to the OP: "Would I?"

"Not without a huge increase in my income!"

I think that puts the lid on a 456GT being run on the cheap.

[AndrewW-G]

Lagerlout said:

Gearboxes can go bang and when they do.. ouch.

That would be the GTA box theres a Bod doing recons now for "only" £6k'ish

[paul0843]

kbird said:

paul0843 said:

if you dont need back seats,then 550 a much better buy imo

If you don't need rear seats get a 575M, great car much better than a 550. Don't believe the 550 hype, usually from dealers that can't shift them. Had two 575M's both manual, both brilliant! Running costs the same as a 456....

would not argue that 575 is better than 550...i have had both...550 however nearer to 456 budget...but not by much..

[reg_slr]

paul0843 said:

kbird said:

paul0843 said:

if you dont need back seats,then 550 a much better buy imo

If you don't need rear seats get a 575M, great car much better than a 550. Don't believe the 550 hype, usually from dealers that can't shift them. Had two 575M's both manual, both brilliant! Running costs the same as a 456....

would not argue that 575 is better than 550...i have had both...550 however nearer to 456 budget...but not by much..

I remember seeing some of the bills Lord Metcalfe had when he ran his 550. Wasn't it circa 10K for a gearbox which went pop, certainly never less than 1-2K every time it went in? Either way they are both stunning cars and if you have worry about spending 3-4K a year on maintenance I would say that anyone considering purchasing just because it within their disposable lump sum income are kidding themselves and would be better served by looking at more mainstream cars. If not it will be become a rather nice garage ornament

[RS200E]

Skylinecrazy said:

So, does anyone else think they are fking ugly?

Very informative commment Dan.

[Schermerhorn]

bananapieface said:

I read on here that a bonnet can cost 12k, can anyone shed truth on that?

For an 'M' GT models (1998 onwards) yes it does because it is a single piece of carbon fibre. Infact, I think it was the largest single piece of carbon fibre on a production car for 10 years.

[derin100]

LHD said:

derin100 said:

I've always really like the look of those cars but those running costs are just simple extortion!

I just looked at that very helpful and enlightening summary over 103 months of ownership but only 17K miles i.e £36000 or £2.10/mile.

Let's have a reality check here for a sec:

I don't know what everyone else's income is here?...Maybe everyone is mega-rich? I wouldn't class myself as such but I earn (without wishing to go into specifics) a six figure sum annually and the first figure isn't a "1" and I don't have a mortgage.

For me to drive to work and back, for example (actually on roads where such a car could be enjoyed!), is a mere 10 miles and takes less than 15 mins each way. That half hour round trip is apparently going to cost me £42...each time?!

Sorry...but on my meagre earnings...that's just way too much!

So in answer to the OP: "Would I?"

"Not without a huge increase in my income!"

I think that puts the lid on a 456GT being run on the cheap.

Sorry to pour even more fuel on to the fire...but the Blog makes for even more laughable reading...these people are (sorry, a more eloquent phrase eludes me):"Taking the piss"!

Read it! If these cars...actually if this marque...is so shoddily made as to have required all those repairs at sub-28K mileages then they're just not a very good car maker by today's standards...are they?

We've already replaced the rear shock absorbers once under warranty...then we're replacing all 4 again..for £3000? LOL!...They're only flipping shock absorbers...Who makes them? Faberge? No! Probably Bilstein...and as fitted to a Volvo T5 or something.

I know someone well who is well known and respected in BMW race-car build circles (DTM E30 M3s from days of yore). He owned a Ferrari road car for a while...bought with his own money. Summary when I suggested I might look at buying one?

"Absolute pile of crap!"

Objectively, the Blog seems to support that.

How long can the hype, curves and exhaust-note continue? We've had half a century now...Enzo's dead...who even heads it now? (Well...FIAT actually) and the game has moved on?

You'll be embarrassed driving one in the U.K because for the most part you'll look like a 'knob head' driving one (apart from a 456 because it's relatively subtle). They came nowhere in F1 last time out (if that actually matters to you?) despite all the FIAT under-writing...and even Schumi has come back to drive for a proper car maker! But I digress.

Sadly, a marque in decline I would venture?

And before anyone cries: "Sour Grapes! You're just saying that because you can't afford one!"

I've just checked...There are 29 pages at 15 cars/page of Ferraris currently advertised on PH that I could easily afford to buy (but choose not to) straight off the classifieds without a loan. Admittedly, those beyond that are beyond my pocket....I work for a living.

Again, to the OP..."Would you?"

"No".

[Schermerhorn]

derin100 said:

LHD said:

derin100 said:

I've always really like the look of those cars but those running costs are just simple extortion!

I just looked at that very helpful and enlightening summary over 103 months of ownership but only 17K miles i.e £36000 or £2.10/mile.

Let's have a reality check here for a sec:

I don't know what everyone else's income is here?...Maybe everyone is mega-rich? I wouldn't class myself as such but I earn (without wishing to go into specifics) a six figure sum annually and the first figure isn't a "1" and I don't have a mortgage.

For me to drive to work and back, for example (actually on roads where such a car could be enjoyed!), is a mere 10 miles and takes less than 15 mins each way. That half hour round trip is apparently going to cost me £42...each time?!

Sorry...but on my meagre earnings...that's just way too much!

So in answer to the OP: "Would I?"

"Not without a huge increase in my income!"

I think that puts the lid on a 456GT being run on the cheap.

Sorry to pour even more fuel on to the fire...but the Blog makes for even more laughable reading...these people are (sorry, a more eloquent phrase eludes me):"Taking the piss"!

Read it! If these cars...actually if this marque...is so shoddily made as to have required all those repairs at sub-28K mileages then they're just not a very good car maker by today's standards...are they?

We've already replaced the rear shock absorbers once under warranty...then we're replacing all 4 again..for £3000? LOL!...They're only flipping shock absorbers...Who makes them? Faberge? No! Probably Bilstein...and as fitted to a Volvo T5 or something.

I know someone well who is well known and respected in BMW race-car build circles (DTM E30 M3s from days of yore). He owned a Ferrari road car for a while...bought with his own money. Summary when I suggested I might look at buying one?

"Absolute pile of crap!"

Objectively, the Blog seems to support that.

How long can the hype, curves and exhaust-note continue? We've had half a century now...Enzo's dead...who even heads it now? (Well...FIAT actually) and the game has moved on?

You'll be embarrassed driving one in the U.K because for the most part you'll look like a 'knob head' driving one (apart from a 456 because it's relatively subtle). They came nowhere in F1 last time out (if that actually matters to you?) despite all the FIAT under-writing...and even Schumi has come back to drive for a proper car maker! But I digress.

Sadly, a marque in decline I would venture?

And before anyone cries: "Sour Grapes! You're just saying that because you can't afford one!"

I've just checked...There are 29 pages at 15 cars/page of Ferraris currently advertised on PH that I could easily afford to buy (but choose not to) straight off the classifieds without a loan. Admittedly, those beyond that are beyond my pocket....I work for a living.

Again, to the OP..."Would you?"

"No".

Ok.

[Shropshiremike]

derin100 said:

[
I know someone well who is well known and respected in BMW race-car build circles (DTM E30 M3s from days of yore). He owned a Ferrari road car for a while...bought with his own money. Summary when I suggested I might look at buying one?

"Absolute pile of crap!"

Nigel?

[derin100]

Shropshiremike said:

derin100 said:

[
I know someone well who is well known and respected in BMW race-car build circles (DTM E30 M3s from days of yore). He owned a Ferrari road car for a while...bought with his own money. Summary when I suggested I might look at buying one?

"Absolute pile of crap!"

Nigel?

Yep Mike...hole in one! And tell me he doesn't know about cars? And that was about a car he still owned! LOL!

[Shropshiremike]

derin100 said:

Shropshiremike said:

derin100 said:

[
I know someone well who is well known and respected in BMW race-car build circles (DTM E30 M3s from days of yore). He owned a Ferrari road car for a while...bought with his own money. Summary when I suggested I might look at buying one?

"Absolute pile of crap!"

Nigel?

Yep Mike...hole in one! And tell me he doesn't know about cars? And that was about a car he still owned! LOL!

He certainly knows his cars - nice chap