456M - surely it makes sense
Discussion
Long time lurker but now could really do with need some help from PH members.. have been meaning to buy a used Ferrari for quite a good few years but never pushed the button for various reasons. But now as a second car it's a possibility been looking at a 456M, they seem to be good value at the moment (I think).
Why a 456, always like the front engined V12, 550, 575 and the 2+2 gives me some limited flexibility, will be used mainly locally with maybe a European trip once a year.
Have seen a few for sale, does anyone know the cars, was looking to spend £40-50k so lower end, I understand maintenance costs can be high but so be it, I've had 911's, Aston's, Maserati etc previously so understand the potential risks here just no Ferrari yet.
So options at the moment appear to all automatics, grey with standard seats, around 30-40k miles, a few with Daytona seats and one blue with cream standard seats with 29k miles.
What a your thoughts, do I go with Daytona seats and the lower miles or the blue with cream as it's more desirable.
I'm based in SE London, so would be great to see one close up if there any local-ish owners about - social distancing permitting.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Incidentally, the alternative purchase was a little left field for now, BMW I8, to help the planet - tell me not to do it
This looks incredible but more than I want to spend - https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Apologies for the long post, any help appreciated - I understand the variances are minimal - Thanks.
Why a 456, always like the front engined V12, 550, 575 and the 2+2 gives me some limited flexibility, will be used mainly locally with maybe a European trip once a year.
Have seen a few for sale, does anyone know the cars, was looking to spend £40-50k so lower end, I understand maintenance costs can be high but so be it, I've had 911's, Aston's, Maserati etc previously so understand the potential risks here just no Ferrari yet.
So options at the moment appear to all automatics, grey with standard seats, around 30-40k miles, a few with Daytona seats and one blue with cream standard seats with 29k miles.
What a your thoughts, do I go with Daytona seats and the lower miles or the blue with cream as it's more desirable.
I'm based in SE London, so would be great to see one close up if there any local-ish owners about - social distancing permitting.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Incidentally, the alternative purchase was a little left field for now, BMW I8, to help the planet - tell me not to do it
This looks incredible but more than I want to spend - https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Apologies for the long post, any help appreciated - I understand the variances are minimal - Thanks.
Edited by sillyboy on Thursday 21st May 10:21
I am probably one of few people given the options you have listed would go for an i8 but that is simply because I have never liked the look of the 456.
Of your two Autotrader cars I would go with the silver car on first sight as it looks better in that colour and the aftermarket head unit doesn't sit right with me on the other car. Realistically if you like both of them, go see them and but the one in the best condition with the best maintenance history.
Of your two Autotrader cars I would go with the silver car on first sight as it looks better in that colour and the aftermarket head unit doesn't sit right with me on the other car. Realistically if you like both of them, go see them and but the one in the best condition with the best maintenance history.
I see there are a lot more pictures of the blue car on their website: https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/ferrari/199...
They show quite a few invoices so you can see what it has cost to run. Strange that they have redacted the registration on most of the invoices (although missed it on at least one) but give the VIN, engine number etc.
Trade Classics obviously operate in a similar way to Collecting Cars.
I know the previous owner of this car but haven't seen it for a long time so can't really help on current condition etc.
It might be a good idea to speak to Mike Wheeler at Rardley Motors. Mike has sold more 456s than anyone. He also has a couple of cars for sale currently although it looks like they are above your price range.
They show quite a few invoices so you can see what it has cost to run. Strange that they have redacted the registration on most of the invoices (although missed it on at least one) but give the VIN, engine number etc.
Trade Classics obviously operate in a similar way to Collecting Cars.
I know the previous owner of this car but haven't seen it for a long time so can't really help on current condition etc.
It might be a good idea to speak to Mike Wheeler at Rardley Motors. Mike has sold more 456s than anyone. He also has a couple of cars for sale currently although it looks like they are above your price range.
Ran a 456M for over 10 years, and it's the only PH blog I've ever kept up to date on. It was my first Ferrari and honestly didn't think I'd ever sell it. Thing is, it really works if you have kids and they live with you. Then it is absolutely epic and it's a very special thing to load the whole family into the car for a trip away. Honestly, it's a different level of pleasure when you can share it with the family.
When the kids grew up and move away though, I was finding I just didn't use it. If it was in the garage right now, it would still go largely unused. It's a GT car above all else, and while it can easily keep up with the pack, that's not its forte so if you want to go for an early morning blast, it's the wrong car.
My car was red over black, not my top choice for a colour scheme, but it was the only manual car in the country at the time and I wanted manual more than any other feature. The engine is so torquey throughout the entire rev range, it really shouldn't be a big issue in use- you can start off in 3rd or 4th and be at really big speeds before you need to change gear.
The thing to remember of course is that the spare parts haven't depreciated so it's worth thinking of the purchase as a down payment. Many of the parts on an M are shared with the 550 Maranello, so availability usually isn't an issue. The cost is another matter.
When the kids grew up and move away though, I was finding I just didn't use it. If it was in the garage right now, it would still go largely unused. It's a GT car above all else, and while it can easily keep up with the pack, that's not its forte so if you want to go for an early morning blast, it's the wrong car.
My car was red over black, not my top choice for a colour scheme, but it was the only manual car in the country at the time and I wanted manual more than any other feature. The engine is so torquey throughout the entire rev range, it really shouldn't be a big issue in use- you can start off in 3rd or 4th and be at really big speeds before you need to change gear.
The thing to remember of course is that the spare parts haven't depreciated so it's worth thinking of the purchase as a down payment. Many of the parts on an M are shared with the 550 Maranello, so availability usually isn't an issue. The cost is another matter.
I’ve long had a soft spot for the 456, especially in M form (mostly for the interior). I looked at a manual car (in the Classic TDF/tan combo) a couple of years ago but opted for a 612 (my second, now gone).
With (unusually, in my case) measured objectivity I think they make for a very niche vehicle choice; they can be expensive to run (plus rear shocks/window issues etc), they’re a GT and not a Sunday morning sports car, their age/reliability makes a Euro tour with kids a slightly riskier proposition (maybe that adds to the experience?) and with an auto you’re left with an old, thirsty cruiser, without one of most engaging elements of Ferrari driving and, which another PHer commented, sounded like Hoover on the standard exhaust. It is however a beautiful V12 Ferrari.
With (unusually, in my case) measured objectivity I think they make for a very niche vehicle choice; they can be expensive to run (plus rear shocks/window issues etc), they’re a GT and not a Sunday morning sports car, their age/reliability makes a Euro tour with kids a slightly riskier proposition (maybe that adds to the experience?) and with an auto you’re left with an old, thirsty cruiser, without one of most engaging elements of Ferrari driving and, which another PHer commented, sounded like Hoover on the standard exhaust. It is however a beautiful V12 Ferrari.
Lee Jones Jnr said:
I am probably one of few people given the options you have listed would go for an i8 but that is simply because I have never liked the look of the 456.....
Each to their own, i think that the 456 is one of the most attractive cars ever made, and the I8 is a mess, hey ho.Thanks guys again, almost there now - there's something about the 456 that keeps pulling me back to it, have been looking at a 911 991 and Maser GT but the Ferrari.. you know...not sure what it is really.
Have had a look at a few more,
This looks nice with Daytona seats..waiting for more information from SCC
https://www.s-s-c.co.uk/ferrari-456m-gta-in-hudder...
then found this on eBay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Ferrari-456M-5-5-G...
anyone know these cars? The SCC car is more interesting because of lower mileage and security of established dealer but the TDF is also very nice.
Please help me make a decision, cheers
Have had a look at a few more,
This looks nice with Daytona seats..waiting for more information from SCC
https://www.s-s-c.co.uk/ferrari-456m-gta-in-hudder...
then found this on eBay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Ferrari-456M-5-5-G...
anyone know these cars? The SCC car is more interesting because of lower mileage and security of established dealer but the TDF is also very nice.
Please help me make a decision, cheers
sillyboy said:
Thanks guys again, almost there now - there's something about the 456 that keeps pulling me back to it, have been looking at a 911 991 and Maser GT but the Ferrari.. you know...not sure what it is really.
Have had a look at a few more,
This looks nice with Daytona seats..waiting for more information from SCC
https://www.s-s-c.co.uk/ferrari-456m-gta-in-hudder...
then found this on eBay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Ferrari-456M-5-5-G...
anyone know these cars? The SCC car is more interesting because of lower mileage and security of established dealer but the TDF is also very nice.
Please help me make a decision, cheers
The Swindon co ship loads of LHD stuff in from the far east. I haven't really seen much of them locally but they do seem to have lots of cars. That being a rhd car is a bit of an oddity for them. Have had a look at a few more,
This looks nice with Daytona seats..waiting for more information from SCC
https://www.s-s-c.co.uk/ferrari-456m-gta-in-hudder...
then found this on eBay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Ferrari-456M-5-5-G...
anyone know these cars? The SCC car is more interesting because of lower mileage and security of established dealer but the TDF is also very nice.
Please help me make a decision, cheers
Sillyboy did you want a manual or auto? Manuals are rarer and cost more.....
Modificato or pre? People are fans of both, personal pref really.... did you want a blue one ? As two of your links were blue
The grey one has got the wrong wheels on, they look like 575 wheels, which are shocking on a 456, I know from personal experience it makes the ride way to hard.
There’s a silver one avail not a million miles away from you, that’s available if you like the idea of silver
Modificato or pre? People are fans of both, personal pref really.... did you want a blue one ? As two of your links were blue
The grey one has got the wrong wheels on, they look like 575 wheels, which are shocking on a 456, I know from personal experience it makes the ride way to hard.
There’s a silver one avail not a million miles away from you, that’s available if you like the idea of silver
Edited by andyleeds on Wednesday 27th May 20:44
daytona seats are nice, but what ever you decide make sure its got good history etc as thats a lot more important and remember manuals and more expensive that autos as a lot rarer.... the sliver one i know about is in kent near you, not where i am i have sent you a pm / email with the details etc
andyleeds said:
daytona seats are nice, but what ever you decide make sure its got good history etc as thats a lot more important and remember manuals and more expensive that autos as a lot rarer.... the sliver one i know about is in kent near you, not where i am i have sent you a pm / email with the details etc
Andy is the silver 456 still for sale. If so can you PM please. MarkGassing Station | Ferrari V12 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff