812 to the south of France

[seawise]

I would also add that it’s not a car that you feel immediately comfortable with. The sheer reach of that engine, the sharpness of the throttle, steering and chassis does initially question whether it might be a bit like too much of a good thing (or several good things). Full on sensory overload when you find the chance to open up the taps, which does take some getting used. On the flip side it’s not a car you’ll grow bored of, it takes time to learn, and i rafher like that side of it’s character.

[Taffy66]

seawise said:

I’ve done London to Le Mans in mine and it was absolutely fine, and London to Davos in my old F12 which was also perfectly comfortable. Trick is to use the cruise when on the empty French autoroutes, the throttle is as you say a little too sharp, especially considering the gearing. Width i have never found to be too restrictive. It’s not as wide as the Aston’s or 488 i think, in fact it’s not as wide as a Range Rover. You do still low and far back behind an endless bonnet, so it does initially feel a bit intimidating, but you soon get used to it.

I didn’t find the large cf race buckets comfortable in a 488 i ran in the past, i found the Daytona style seats more suitable for its non track remit.

Can you give me a quick summary of the pros/cons between your old F12 and current 812 please..More interested in the effect the lower gearing has and the ride comfort between the two..Which do you prefer ignoring the difference in values..?
What are 'must haves' in your opinion..Is JBL, Suspension lift needed as examples.?

[seawise]

Taffy66 said:

Can you give me a quick summary of the pros/cons between your old F12 and current 812 please..More interested in the effect the lower gearing has and the ride comfort between the two..Which do you prefer ignoring the difference in values..?
What are 'must haves' in your opinion..Is JBL, Suspension lift needed as examples.?

the pro's of the 812 over the F12 -

1. the chassis feels more alert, nimble with electric turn-in. i guess we have the FWS (virtual short wheelbase) to thank for that. the electronic chassis systems also inspire more confidence, the F12 bit once or twice when i wasn't expecting it, and the 812 is a step up so feels a tad more trustworthy (but still scary as it does have 800ps and only two tyres to deploy it with). the noise is also more intense in the newer car, although whether much of that is lost with the 2020 onwards exhaust filter equipped cars, i couldn't say.
2. almost unbelievably the performance is even stronger, hyper car type pace. the engine feels even more unhinged, which i am sure is mainly down to the lower gearing. it really is all about the engine as Harry said, it is an absolute masterpiece and thing of wonder. to compare any other marques V12 is utterly laughable, they simply aren't even close to Ferrari's effort here.
3. the interior is a nice place to spend time, the quality feels a small step up from the F12, and the tech is at least a generation onwards (TFT screens, nav, phone pairing, etc) - much sharper.

the con's

1. looks - subjective i appreciate, but the F12 is a cleaner design and a bit of a classic i think - much nicer than went beore (599, 575 etc) and same after (which is a bit of a pity Ferrari, but the darker colours definitely play to the 812s more aggressive design, whereas i prefer the F12 in a lighter shade).
2. errrr, looks....

I suppose you might argue that the F12 rode a little less harshly and was a tad more refined, but there is very little in it i would say. For the performance on offer, both these cars are amazingly adaptable.

'Must haves'...god i hate that expression, it's just not fitting. Seats are a matter of what you find comfortable i think, don't choose them by looks alone. Lift i suppose is a sensible option, practically speaking. I seldom listen to music in mine (why would u with that engine up front?) so not sure the hi-fi upgrade can be considered an essential. the passenger display is a total gimmick, but my kids find it amusing (and the odd adult utterly terrifying - also don't let them record it on their i-phone and then post it, as that could get tricky with the law...). The shields the dealers basically force you to spec, i think the painted ones look ridiculous, but appreciate many dig them. Interior carbon, another bloody stupid tax, but you try ordering one without the CF driving zone and the dealer goes white. So i did order a fair amount of the interior CF trim, but i do do wonder why as it's not like the structure of the car is CF, so it's a bit like speccing it in your daily driver Audi or Merc, which irks me a bit. AFS (adaptive lights) i think are still an option, but most will have ticked that box, as also the front+rear cameras, actually those should be standard also. A lot of the expense with options is trim and pain, which again subjective.

Of course the above takes no consideration into values, the F12 is the cheaper car and i would argue offers stronger value. However two years down the line who knows. I have a sneaky feeling that this is the last normally aspirated Ferrari we'll see ever, bar the VS/GTO/TDF variant when it appears and it does have the feeling of being the last of it's line. Still, might as well rage against the dying light as Wales best poet put it...

Edited by seawise on Sunday 12th July 16:38