Going from a 991.2 GT3 to an 812

Going from a 991.2 GT3 to an 812

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mc_blue

Original Poster:

2,548 posts

217 months

Monday 27th December 2021
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Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone had owned both of these cars?

I've never driven an 812 but really want to scratch the Prancing Horse itch soon! I work close to home and would genuinely drive the car most days (as my 22k GT3 will attest). Is an 812 a good move from a GT3? Appreciate they're probably very different cars but any opinions would be really appreciated.

Taffy66

5,964 posts

101 months

Monday 27th December 2021
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I had a 991.2GT3 PDK for 18mths and 4k miles and now have an 812SF. AS you say they are totally different cars to drive due to the layout. The 812 sounds much better and is in a different league performance wise. Its the first car I've ever owned which actually scares me when driving in cold wet conditions.
The 812 is also the most exciting car I've ever owned, just needs respect until the tyres have warmed up to operating temps. The biggest difference between driving the two is you sit far back in the 812 as the V12 engine actually sits behind the front axle in a front-mid position. This give a weight distribution of 47% F and 53% rear coupled with very finely tuned Rear axle steering imbues it with the agility and balance more typical of a mid-engined supercar.
I've owned a few Ferraris and countless Porsches and my 812 is my favourite car of all just pipping my RS WP. Please feel free to ask any more specific questions and I'll be more than glad to help as much as I can.

seawise

2,144 posts

205 months

Monday 27th December 2021
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Ownership of both overlapped for 18 moths or so, i still have my GT3....why ?

Both ordered new, 991.2 GT3 touring (manual, no fixed rear wing) delivered April 2018 (when i also had a Ferrari F12 in my garage) and a 812 Superfast delivered January 2019. My touring now has 7,000 miles on the clock and is almost 4 years old, i sold the 812 after 3,000 miles and 20 months. The Ferrari was used exclusively on the road, the GT3 also does a couple of track days a year (including a Euro trip to Spa and the 'ring).

The 812 was my 4th V12 Ferrari, and i have owned several RS and GT Porsche over the years (2.7 RS, 3.2 CS, 964 RS, 993 RS, 996 GT3, 996 GT3 RS, 997 GT3 RS gen1 and 2, Cayman GT4 to name a few). So i suppose i am more of a Porsche man, than Ferrari, although i still own a 575M Maranello.

There are many many reasons to commend the 812 SF, as Taffy says it is a truly wonderful car and sadly one suspects the end of an era (alas that is the case with most ICE cars though). The engine defies belief, it totally and utterly dominates the driving experience. Too much in my opinion, as the whole car can feel hyperactive and never really seems to settle down. I never found this a problem in my F12, which felt to me like a smaller car and one which i found easier to place on the road. I wasn't intimidated by the 812's performance, nor it's handling which is very predictable and the electronics are there to provide a safety net, you the driver decides how much of a safety net you'd like. You'd be mad to turn it all off on the road frankly, as 800hp on the public highway without some form of protection is foolhardy. But the sheer size of car, and it's driving position i felt combined with the sensitivity of throttle and steering ultimately prevented me from feeling truly comfortable when pressing on. And it's such a big car that bumbling around in town extra also can be somewhat nerve wracking.

None of this applies to the GT3, which still feels like a relatively nimble sportscar with a reasonably modest footprint. To me it feels entirely natural at all speeds and even beyond the limit (on track). The engine is also a thing of wonder, but when you extend it i don't have that same feeling of social guilt and anxiety that the 812 seemed to develop in me. It also helps that i have a 'touring' so it doesn't attract a great deal of attention, except from those who know 911's.

Perhaps that is part of the problem for me, in today's climate is that i don't feel entirely comfortable driving such a statement as the 812. Every time i filled it with fuel you feel people were watching and being called 'Mr Ferrari' by the chap working being the counter in the Shell garage got a bit tiresome (especially when i was just filling up the wife's Golf or my Panda). Ferrari ownership is not for those of us who want to come and go quietly, and ultimately for me that's what led to an early bath.

But, what a car...! I am glad i sampled it and at times the sensations were utterly intoxicating, but deep down i don't miss it.

mc_blue

Original Poster:

2,548 posts

217 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
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Taffy66 said:
I've owned a few Ferraris and countless Porsches and my 812 is my favourite car of all just pipping my RS WP. Please feel free to ask any more specific questions and I'll be more than glad to help as much as I can.
Thanks both for your comprehensive replies. @Taffy66 - do you find the interior of the 812 dated? Most don't appear to come with CarPlay - not sure how much I'd miss this but I assume quite a lot.

seawise said:
Perhaps that is part of the problem for me, in today's climate is that i don't feel entirely comfortable driving such a statement as the 812. Every time i filled it with fuel you feel people were watching and being called 'Mr Ferrari' by the chap working being the counter in the Shell garage got a bit tiresome (especially when i was just filling up the wife's Golf or my Panda). Ferrari ownership is not for those of us who want to come and go quietly, and ultimately for me that's what led to an early bath.
@seawise - Fair point - I just feel like I want to scratch the itch sooner rather than later but fully understand it would probably get tiresome after a while!

Edited by mc_blue on Tuesday 28th December 12:49

Taffy66

5,964 posts

101 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
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mc_blue said:
Thanks both for your comprehensive replies. @Taffy66 - do you find the interior of the 812 dated? Most don't appear to come with CarPlay - not sure how much I'd miss this but I assume quite a lot.
After driving the new Roma extensively with its new gen haptic controls I was glad to get back in my 812 with its far more intuitive controls. The best interior I've come across in a new Ferrari is the latest Portofino M which ruined the Roma for me.
Back to the 812 I find at long last Ferrari have mastered the steering wheel controls which are now very easy to use. The horn button is back where it should be, the indicators work with a nice click, same for the light dimming switch in complete contrast the my old 458 which I never got the hang of.
I happen to have Apple Carplay on mine as my kids insisted but requires connection by wire which you get used to. It seems to be a very rare option on 812s but they are out there. Don't really play music in my cars as I prefer listening to the engine.
Its a fantastic car and only gets positive attention from other road users which was a big relief to me. My previous bright coloured GT Porsches always drew the wrong attention.
The 812 is old school in some ways compared to the latest dumbed down, silenced cars and rewards good driving but returns in smiles aplenty.
My advice is to find a friendly dealer who will let you drive one to see if you like it. I thoroughly recommend Dick Lovett Swindon where I got mine but I'm sure there are other equally good Ferrari dealers about. Personally I'd only buy from a Ferrari main dealer as the cars are no more expensive than specialised and you generally get invited to some great Ferrari events.

mc_blue

Original Poster:

2,548 posts

217 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
quotequote all
Taffy66 said:
My advice is to find a friendly dealer who will let you drive one to see if you like it. I thoroughly recommend Dick Lovett Swindon where I got mine but I'm sure there are other equally good Ferrari dealers about. Personally I'd only buy from a Ferrari main dealer as the cars are no more expensive than specialised and you generally get invited to some great Ferrari events.
Thank you again! We've got a working relationship with Graypaul Birmingham so I'm sure they'll let me take one out - that'll definitely help me make a decision one way or the other.

Are you getting a 992 GT3 out of interest?

Taffy66

5,964 posts

101 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
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mc_blue said:
Thank you again! We've got a working relationship with Graypaul Birmingham so I'm sure they'll let me take one out - that'll definitely help me make a decision one way or the other.

Are you getting a 992 GT3 out of interest?
No interest in the 992GT3 whatsoever and never even bothered asking my OPC for one. No doubt its a great car but would never chop my current RS WP in for one. I've seen a few in the metal which didn't alter my prior perception of the way it looks. Having said that a lot of people don't like the 812's aesthetics which I absolutely love, so it must be my eyesight which is at fault.rolleyes

DeejRC

5,712 posts

81 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
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Totally your eyesight Taffy smile

Taffy66

5,964 posts

101 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
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DeejRC said:
Totally your eyesight Taffy smile
Could be as I prefer the look of the F12 to either car.biggrin

blueSL

610 posts

225 months

Tuesday 28th December 2021
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It’s interesting that the 812 is often described as a huge car but it’s actually a fraction narrower than an F8 though 2 or 3 inches longer and a couple of inches taller, all of which make it feel a rather bigger car. The GTS is a little longer than the SF.

FWIW, my 812 GTS will add to a garage which includes other Ferraris and Porsche GT3s and like Taffy, I have no interest in the 992 GT3. For me, the 991.2 with manual shift is the best. The GTS will be my first V12 Ferrari and I expect to keep it for as long as I’m around.

hornbaek

3,670 posts

234 months

Wednesday 29th December 2021
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We all seem to be interested in the same cars. I had order down for a GTS but after having driven the SF for a week end I found the car too big to be an everyday car. I live in Italy for most of the year and despite the fact that in general, super cars and especially Ferraris are admired for what they are and the response you get is positive. However the size of the car makes it completely impractical. It’s ok in the Autostrada (except for the Telepass booths) but as soon as you want to drive a smaller B-road (Liguria / Via Aurelia ) it is very stressful. Also, you don’t fit into any multi-story car park so actually you end up leaving the car in a good spot and jump in a taxi (or the wife’s 500 Abarth) instead. The Roma and the Portofino are a bit smaller and if I am going Ferrari I would choose the Portofino over the Roma based in the nicer interior. The Roma looks a bit low rent in comparison. I just took delivery of a 992 GT3 Touring so will see whether that is a better fir for purpose.

AL001

831 posts

269 months

Wednesday 29th December 2021
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Kept my 812 for just 6 months. It is not much bigger than a GT3 but it feels a lot bigger with such a large expanse of bonnet and poor rear 3/4 visibility so not a great everyday car imo. On the open road, the size feel is fine though.

I found that unless on it, felt quite ordinary with poor steering quality and engine too quiet. Fair to say it is a bit of Jekyll and Hyde as it is does get interesting at 7,000 rpms+. Handles great for front engined car and fantastic brakes.

A special car but not one I would pick over a GT3 for regular daily use or even fun drives. Glad I tried it but doubt I'll be buying another Ferrari anytime soon if this is how their modern day steering is set up.

garystoybox

768 posts

116 months

Wednesday 29th December 2021
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hornbaek said:
The Roma and the Portofino are a bit smaller
Actually the Roma is marginally longer and wider than an 812. I just don’t find the 812 to feel big at all in the uk. Maybe because I’m used to driving bigger cars? Certainly seems no more difficult to mooch about the city in than my previous 488/458’s, but more importantly never had an issue on B road run outs. Wouldn’t want to negotiate too many inner city multi storey car parks though.

Taffy66

5,964 posts

101 months

Wednesday 29th December 2021
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The 812 feels bigger than it actually is because of the long bonnet ahead of you which gives an impression of a bigger car. When it is sat in my garage next to my other cars it actually looks pretty compact and positively tiny next to the Taycan.
Some who are used to driving 911s can't shake that impression as they're polar opposites in engine placement and thus bonnet length. Like Gary I also drive a lot on B roads and don't find the size intimidating.
My sales guy mentioned when I bought mine that a lot of owners never gelled with their 812s due to the extreme power and very fast steering rack. Definitely not a car for the less experienced/skilled driver IMO.

DeejRC

5,712 posts

81 months

Wednesday 29th December 2021
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Taffy66 said:
DeejRC said:
Totally your eyesight Taffy smile
Could be as I prefer the look of the F12 to either car.biggrin
Well obviously, the F12 is a vastly better looking proportioned car. Ive told you that enough times...not my fault you bought the fat boy car smile

Taffy66

5,964 posts

101 months

Wednesday 29th December 2021
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DeejRC said:
Taffy66 said:
DeejRC said:
Totally your eyesight Taffy smile
Could be as I prefer the look of the F12 to either car.biggrin
Well obviously, the F12 is a vastly better looking proportioned car. Ive told you that enough times...not my fault you bought the fat boy car smile
Your concern is very touching blabla Which reminds me to get my eyes tested in the New Year.idearolleyes

DeejRC

5,712 posts

81 months

Wednesday 29th December 2021
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The worrying thing is I think its time for my next appointment with the optician fairly soon.

mc_blue

Original Poster:

2,548 posts

217 months

Tuesday 4th January 2022
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So Graypaul Birmingham has very kindly agreed to let me drive one - will report my findings back.

Also - what do you guys do to get around the lack of CarPlay integration (most don't have this option ticked)?

DeejRC

5,712 posts

81 months

Tuesday 4th January 2022
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Get round the lack of Car Play? Er, I’ve never found a need to use Car Play. The right hand screen has Nav and Radio. I plug my phone into the usb cable and that gives me music. Job jobbed.

mc_blue

Original Poster:

2,548 posts

217 months

Wednesday 5th January 2022
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DeejRC said:
Get round the lack of Car Play? Er, I’ve never found a need to use Car Play. The right hand screen has Nav and Radio. I plug my phone into the usb cable and that gives me music. Job jobbed.
Unfortunately I love my Waze far too much.

Thinking just a decent mount - presumably the nav would then go through the speakers or not sure if there's any retrofit products out there? I know there are adapters but will have to do some digging or find one with the CarPlay option ticked!