RE: Ferrari FF | PH Used Buying Guide

[PH User]

ExPat2B said:

Yeah, they look similar, but not the same. The Ferrari has better proportions and is sleeker looking.

[Spleen]

CloudStuff said:

Spleen said:

the_hood said:

Watched the Jayemm review yesterday. It's now my dream family car!

Any kind of positive endorsement from that fat greasy idiot would have me running in the opposite direction. Another desperate wannabe Top Gear presenter.

You know he’s on here, don’t you?

So? Doesn't change my opinion of him one bit.

[Spiros115]

Saw one on the road the other day, looked absolutely superb and sounded even better, that is an awful lot of car for the price.

[gizlaroc]

Always loved these, but in all honesty I would take a Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo these days.

[HardtopManual]

We're having one as soon as the kids are both old enough to climb in and out by themselves.

PH said:

variabbetween

Come again?

[Spleen]

gizlaroc said:

Always loved these, but in all honesty I would take a Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo these days.

Good point, think I would too. Whilst it may be churlish to bring up fuel economy, I can’t imagine there wouldn’t be a time where you’d wish for just a teeny bit more than 12mpg if on a long journey.

[Maccmike8]

Spleen said:

CloudStuff said:

Spleen said:

the_hood said:

Watched the Jayemm review yesterday. It's now my dream family car!

Any kind of positive endorsement from that fat greasy idiot would have me running in the opposite direction. Another desperate wannabe Top Gear presenter.

You know he’s on here, don’t you?

So? Doesn't change my opinion of him one bit.

He is trying to be a bit too much Clarkson.

[Esceptico]

Spleen said:

Good point, think I would too. Whilst it may be churlish to bring up fuel economy, I can’t imagine there wouldn’t be a time where you’d wish for just a teeny bit more than 12mpg if on a long journey.

If you have deep enough pockets to buy and run one of these (and suffer the depreciation if bought new), 12 mpg probably not going to bother you too much. Even more so when the average, annual mileage is low.

[GTRene]

Manic Street Sleeper said:

Mysstree said:

SFO said:

Ferrari stealing BMW's clothes

My thought as well.

That's two more of you that need to visit the opticians.

yeah, when they came out I thought, wow great Ferrari, I want (if I had that kind of money) because I owned many BMW M coupe's, the ferrari looked almost the same but with much more power, whats not to like, from this angle you think, lovely proportions...



but then they came with the weight and the length of the car... so disappointed I was, so not such big fan anymore of such FF, I like the more compact M coupe better

[GTRene]

another example.

[PH User]

GTRene said:

Manic Street Sleeper said:

Mysstree said:

SFO said:

Ferrari stealing BMW's clothes

My thought as well.

That's two more of you that need to visit the opticians.

yeah, when they came out I thought, wow great Ferrari, I want (if I had that kind of money) because I owned many BMW M coupe's, the ferrari looked almost the same but with much more power, whats not to like, from this angle you think, lovely proportions...



but then they came with the weight and the length of the car... so disappointed I was, so not such big fan anymore of such FF, I like the more compact M coupe better

The Z3 just looks odd IMO, where as the Ferrari looks a lot sleeker.

[Cold]

[sasha320]

The FF is a largely pointless car at this price point / use case.

Designed for ultra high net worth individuals to get to their ski chalet from mainland Europe in something other than a Range Rover, Cayenne or G63.

Any mid-journey reliability issues and someone is sent to pick them up in the Range Rover and then deal with the car as the owner continues their holiday / trip / journey.

Plebs like us have to be far more involved. Ever broken down in a Ferrari? What a nightmare to picked up (with a low loader that can deal with low ground clearance), get dropped off at a dealer** that is miles away from anywhere you want to be; have parts in stock, have workshop space, fix the car and return it.

Unless you’re prepared to just deal with these situations by throwing money and resource at the problem. You will be baby sitting the Ferrari for days until you’re good to go again.

At which point you’ll vow to just climb into any car that has high reliability and / or a high coverage dealer network. Not to mention the tedium of just always having refuel pretty mich anytime you go out.

• forget your favourite independent Ferrari service centre it’ll be the nearest franchise dealer.

I guess I have a trans continental road trip in mind when I say all this, but 4 up with the family on a UK weekend break could also shatter the dream.

All IMHO of course

[samoht]

GTRene said:

yeah, when they came out I thought, wow great Ferrari,
...
but then they came with the weight and the length of the car... so disappointed I was, so not such big fan anymore of such FF...

Yeah, the pitch is great - Ferrari, all-time great V12, four proper seats, decent boot, 4wd when you need it.
But it's the width of an S-Class, and not far off the length too.

Best to accept that these cars are GTs, not sports cars I guess.

[Chubbyross]

sasha320 said:

The FF is a largely pointless car at this price point / use case.

Designed for ultra high net worth individuals to get to their ski chalet from mainland Europe in something other than a Range Rover, Cayenne or G63.

Any mid-journey reliability issues and someone is sent to pick them up in the Range Rover and then deal with the car as the owner continues their holiday / trip / journey.

Plebs like us have to be far more involved. Ever broken down in a Ferrari? What a nightmare to picked up (with a low loader that can deal with low ground clearance), get dropped off at a dealer** that is miles away from anywhere you want to be; have parts in stock, have workshop space, fix the car and return it.

Unless you’re prepared to just deal with these situations by throwing money and resource at the problem. You will be baby sitting the Ferrari for days until you’re good to go again.

At which point you’ll vow to just climb into any car that has high reliability and / or a high coverage dealer network. Not to mention the tedium of just always having refuel pretty mich anytime you go out.

• forget your favourite independent Ferrari service centre it’ll be the nearest franchise dealer.

I guess I have a trans continental road trip in mind when I say all this, but 4 up with the family on a UK weekend break could also shatter the dream.

All IMHO of course

You make a valid point. I could just about scrape the funds together to buy this but I certainly don’t have the funds to run one or cover emergencies. I’ve had a few nasty shocks over the years with Porsches but nothing in the league of Ferrari shocks.

[HardtopManual]

sasha320 said:

Ever broken down in a Ferrari? What a nightmare to picked up (with a low loader that can deal with low ground clearance), get dropped off at a dealer** that is miles away from anywhere you want to be; have parts in stock, have workshop space, fix the car and return it.

Had a flat rear tyre that the can of foam wouldn't fix while in a 355 on an Italian Autostrade.

Called Nationwide's European breakdown helpline, half expecting to be TTFO, but was then picked up by a chap with a standard low loader, who used various blocks of wood to get the car loaded without damaging the front bumper. He also said, "Pirelli for Ferrari in Italy is difficult", which was amusing, but ominous.

I was taken to a delightful Ferrari dealer in Bologna who made us coffee and fed us sandwiches and cake while the apprentice went out in a van scouring the city for two Michelin PSS in 265/40/18.

A couple of hours later, two new rear tyres were fitted and I lubed myself up for the bill.

Just shy of €500, which was about twenty quid less than Black Circles wanted at the time.

I enquired about servicing and found it a damn sight cheaper than it is over here. Most breakdown insurance covers repatriation of the car and hire of a replacement, if it can't be fixed in a reasonable amount of time, anyway.

TLDR; don't worry about breaking down abroad. Worry about that front transfer box instead!

[clacs2]

HardtopManual said:

Had a flat rear tyre that the can of foam wouldn't fix while in a 355 on an Italian Autostrade.

Called Nationwide's European breakdown helpline, half expecting to be TTFO, but was then picked up by a chap with a standard low loader, who used various blocks of wood to get the car loaded without damaging the front bumper. He also said, "Pirelli for Ferrari in Italy is difficult", which was amusing, but ominous.

I was taken to a delightful Ferrari dealer in Bologna who made us coffee and fed us sandwiches and cake while the apprentice went out in a van scouring the city for two Michelin PSS in 265/40/18.

A couple of hours later, two new rear tyres were fitted and I lubed myself up for the bill.

Just shy of €500, which was about twenty quid less than Black Circles wanted at the time.

I enquired about servicing and found it a damn sight cheaper than it is over here. Most breakdown insurance covers repatriation of the car and hire of a replacement, if it can't be fixed in a reasonable amount of time, anyway.

TLDR; don't worry about breaking down abroad. Worry about that front transfer box instead!

Great story, and it's the stories you remember, it's a big part of being a petrolhead. So yes, don't worry too much, it's all part of the experience.

Otherwise buy a Golf Diesel, but it won't be half as fun.

[BVB]

Absolutely stunning in the flesh. Very low bonnet line which is one the reasons Ferrari designed the 4WD with an extra gearbox at the front. Standard 4WD systems transfer boxes add height.

[chelme]

Esceptico said:

When it came out I thought it looked interesting but since then I’ve oscillated between thinking it good and ugly. Quite colour and angle sensitive.

Ditto, it is without doubt awkward from a number of angles. I prefer the look of the 612 Scaglietti.

[MDL111]

sasha320 said:

The FF is a largely pointless car at this price point / use case.

Designed for ultra high net worth individuals to get to their ski chalet from mainland Europe in something other than a Range Rover, Cayenne or G63.

Any mid-journey reliability issues and someone is sent to pick them up in the Range Rover and then deal with the car as the owner continues their holiday / trip / journey.

Plebs like us have to be far more involved. Ever broken down in a Ferrari? What a nightmare to picked up (with a low loader that can deal with low ground clearance), get dropped off at a dealer** that is miles away from anywhere you want to be; have parts in stock, have workshop space, fix the car and return it.

Unless you’re prepared to just deal with these situations by throwing money and resource at the problem. You will be baby sitting the Ferrari for days until you’re good to go again.

At which point you’ll vow to just climb into any car that has high reliability and / or a high coverage dealer network. Not to mention the tedium of just always having refuel pretty mich anytime you go out.

• forget your favourite independent Ferrari service centre it’ll be the nearest franchise dealer.

I guess I have a trans continental road trip in mind when I say all this, but 4 up with the family on a UK weekend break could also shatter the dream.

All IMHO of course

yeah that sounds exactly like my life ....