living with a 456
Discussion
I sold my beautiful red 456m gt to get a 612. When I went to test drive one with kids. Was horrified to find that they could not fit in the back. The 456m has much more leg room for the rear passengers. I concluded that if the kids can't fit in the back no point having 4 seats. I also think te 456 is one of the prettiest cars ever made. 612 has an ugly rear end.
Had mine for more than 4x years now and other than routine servicing i've never had a problem........................ until i got it out to go to FOS.
'smoke' came from under the bonnet and smell of burning paper!
When i had a look it was coming from below the LH exhaust manifold but so little space i couldn't really see anything.
What i did see was one of the spark plug leads shorting to the cylinder head but that was a separate issue.
Car has now gone in to be checked over, 'smoke' was in fact steam. A pin-prick hole in one of the hoses was spraying a fine jet of water onto the manifold and the anti-freeze gives off a burning paper smell (I never knew that!). Fortunately not too expensive to fix unlike the spark plug leads.
OVER A GRAND FOR A SET! WTF!
I had considered changing it for a 612 but an equivalent mileage car would cost 2 1/2 times as much, but isn't 2 1/2 times as good IMO. (plus the kids didn't enjoy being in the back of the 612 because the windows are higher up making it feel more cramped)
Funnily enough had same smoke issue with my 456GT - was coolant return hose clips had all broken, and pipe feel on exhaust manifold.
Big worries, but all fixes for less than 2 quid of pipe!
re. the spark plug cables, you may want to get some custom ones made by magnecor for instance...
http://www.magnecor.co.uk/
I had 8 made for a previous Alfa 164 I had, and far cheaper than the dealer stuff.
You can use your existing ones as the template.
Big worries, but all fixes for less than 2 quid of pipe!
re. the spark plug cables, you may want to get some custom ones made by magnecor for instance...
http://www.magnecor.co.uk/
I had 8 made for a previous Alfa 164 I had, and far cheaper than the dealer stuff.
You can use your existing ones as the template.
I had the same problem with my 456, the water return hose from the rad to the catch tank had a pin hole in it, of course only started pissing water when fully warmed-up!!!! drops onto manifold and instantly vaporised, anti-freeze makes it smell odd. Don't buy the Ferrari hose as it is loads of money, you just need standard water hose, although the size was a bit of a challenge for me to get, ended up getting it from a very helpful little hydraulic hose place. I think some of the hoses on my car (94) may be getting old!!!
One factor I always research is how easy is a car to sell on. Is there a wide market for the 456, or do they hang around unsold for months?
And if I didn't need 4 seats, would I be better off buying a 550 from a dynamic and resale perspective (yes, I know they are generally more expensive...)
And if I didn't need 4 seats, would I be better off buying a 550 from a dynamic and resale perspective (yes, I know they are generally more expensive...)
Manual's are rarely for sale, if you check out the classifieds.
prices vary a lot - due to condition, service history etc - my personal advice would be go of the best you can afford, and get it checked out by a specialist beforehand.
They can be expensive if they go wrong, but actually not that bad if you get a good car.
Typical spend for me over the last 6 years has been probably been less than £2k per annum for service, and other parts.
It's all relative really, you are buying a car that was in excess of £160k when new.
prices vary a lot - due to condition, service history etc - my personal advice would be go of the best you can afford, and get it checked out by a specialist beforehand.
They can be expensive if they go wrong, but actually not that bad if you get a good car.
Typical spend for me over the last 6 years has been probably been less than £2k per annum for service, and other parts.
It's all relative really, you are buying a car that was in excess of £160k when new.
rubystone said:
One factor I always research is how easy is a car to sell on. Is there a wide market for the 456, or do they hang around unsold for months?
From my experince they sell very easy. I sold my average condition yellow exterior with blue interior (Ikea colours, kid you not) 456 GTA to a buyer from Austria who flew in, paid cash, and drove it away. Easiest sale i ever had!On the other extreame i just sold my Cayenne Turbo in mint condition and 60K miles for a mere £12,500. I had to reduce from £15K to get a sale plus it took me 2 months to sell it. I only purchased it a year ago for £16.5K!
I think most issues have been covered here. The earlier cars also had a movable rear diffuser/spoiler type thing under the rear bumper. I don't think mine worked... Other than that, don't pay too much for it and from what I've seen, the market is pretty slow for them. And it's pretty difficult to find the perfect colour/transmission combo!
Estimate: £18,000 - £25,000
Registration Number: R371 CJN
Chassis Number: ZFFSE44C70100461
The Pininfarina designed original 456 was available in GT and (from 1996) GTA forms. The difference in name signifies the transmission: the former has a six-speed manual and the latter has a four-speed automatic developed in partnership with FF Developments. The 5.5 litre V12 engine was derived from the DinoV6 rather than the more conventional V12s used in the 412 and Daytona. It could push the 1690 kg car and four passengers to 188 mph making it the world's fastest production four-seater.
The name 456 is derived from the fact that each cylinder displaces 456 cubic centimeters. This was the last Ferrari to use this naming convention. It is essentially a detuned version of the engine that appears in the 550 and 575. Despite its supercar performance, the 456 has a relatively unstressed engine which has proven to be a very reliable unit.
Finished in blue metallic with a complementary beige interior, R371 CJN is a desirable manual example and described to be in very good overall condition. The current vendor has covered a mere 5,000 miles in his 5 year tenure.
We are informed it is fitted with a new clutch, new tyres and R371 CJN was the subject of a recent service at Silverstone and is subsequently fitted with new cam belts.
Interested parties should note the car was classified cat C- as it had a frontal impact. The insurance company classified it economically repairable and therefore it was professionally repaired. Offered with a realistic reserve.
For further information or to arrange a viewing, please contact our sales department.
« Back to Auction Lot List
For many that would be the perfect colour and gearbox combo, doesn't say what the total mileage is. Being a Cat C would put off 99% of potential buyers.
Cat D cars are generally worth 25-30% less than an equivalent car without accident history so being more serious Cat C would potentially (?) have a greater adverse effect on its value.
Coys website is not yet showing results for yesterdays auction.........have to wait a day or 2.
Anyone know what the car's total mileage was?
Registration Number: R371 CJN
Chassis Number: ZFFSE44C70100461
The Pininfarina designed original 456 was available in GT and (from 1996) GTA forms. The difference in name signifies the transmission: the former has a six-speed manual and the latter has a four-speed automatic developed in partnership with FF Developments. The 5.5 litre V12 engine was derived from the DinoV6 rather than the more conventional V12s used in the 412 and Daytona. It could push the 1690 kg car and four passengers to 188 mph making it the world's fastest production four-seater.
The name 456 is derived from the fact that each cylinder displaces 456 cubic centimeters. This was the last Ferrari to use this naming convention. It is essentially a detuned version of the engine that appears in the 550 and 575. Despite its supercar performance, the 456 has a relatively unstressed engine which has proven to be a very reliable unit.
Finished in blue metallic with a complementary beige interior, R371 CJN is a desirable manual example and described to be in very good overall condition. The current vendor has covered a mere 5,000 miles in his 5 year tenure.
We are informed it is fitted with a new clutch, new tyres and R371 CJN was the subject of a recent service at Silverstone and is subsequently fitted with new cam belts.
Interested parties should note the car was classified cat C- as it had a frontal impact. The insurance company classified it economically repairable and therefore it was professionally repaired. Offered with a realistic reserve.
For further information or to arrange a viewing, please contact our sales department.
« Back to Auction Lot List
For many that would be the perfect colour and gearbox combo, doesn't say what the total mileage is. Being a Cat C would put off 99% of potential buyers.
Cat D cars are generally worth 25-30% less than an equivalent car without accident history so being more serious Cat C would potentially (?) have a greater adverse effect on its value.
Coys website is not yet showing results for yesterdays auction.........have to wait a day or 2.
Anyone know what the car's total mileage was?
yellowtr said:
Elderly said:
There was a blue, manual, cat c, sold today at Coy's auction for about £12K.
It was a bit more than that, about £16k and wasn't that nice and had some interesting looking bonnet "belts" hold the front nose down.also bearing in mind that the auctioneers announced that warning lights had come on and remained on during its drive to the sale.
Buy well and they are fantastic. Watch for auto box issues, they cost many thousands to put right. Check the windows line up, if it's a pre-m car even the newer type regulators eventually fail due to issues with the b-post, these were addressed on the "m". Check there's no coolant/water on the floor, the a/c drain pipes get blocked, and if a heater matrix fails the whole dash has to come out. You can't buy the matrix seperately from the whole a/c assembly from Ferrari, but a good specialist can strip it for a custom single-piece replacement(original matrix was two-piece and designed on the back of a fag-box by a blind monkey with no arms!) original tyres are pricey and can be hard to get, many upgrade to 550/575 rims. Coolant leaks in the "v" of the engine can occur fro
The silicon hose, make sure there's evidence of the upgraded part being fitted, it's costly to do as the manifold has to come off. Listen for whining or clunking from the middle of the car on over-run; a sign of torque tube bearing failure, expensive job as the gearbox has to be pulled back to remove it. Slow down lights can occur, usually down to cat ecu's, a few hundred quid a side. Later cat ecu's were improved and are green in colour, so if looking at a pre-m ask if the earlier black coloured units have been replaced. Aftermarket stereo fitment is all but impossible on pre-m's as its modular and unavailable, but repair is possible, so check it works! Check the coolant level is ok, leaks are rife; cheap batteries can cause rainwater to flush acid out of the caps, which runs down and rots through hoses to the secondary water pump, and radiator leaks are common, so look underneath the front bumper for signs of coolant loss. Steer clear of cars with abs lights on, corrosion inside the abs unit due to its location is common. Suspension warning lights can be down to seized shock internals or actuator faults. Non-functioning cooling fans can be caused by burned fuse box contacts, so check they BOTH come on when the car is hot. One switches on around two seconds after the other.Think that's it......!
The silicon hose, make sure there's evidence of the upgraded part being fitted, it's costly to do as the manifold has to come off. Listen for whining or clunking from the middle of the car on over-run; a sign of torque tube bearing failure, expensive job as the gearbox has to be pulled back to remove it. Slow down lights can occur, usually down to cat ecu's, a few hundred quid a side. Later cat ecu's were improved and are green in colour, so if looking at a pre-m ask if the earlier black coloured units have been replaced. Aftermarket stereo fitment is all but impossible on pre-m's as its modular and unavailable, but repair is possible, so check it works! Check the coolant level is ok, leaks are rife; cheap batteries can cause rainwater to flush acid out of the caps, which runs down and rots through hoses to the secondary water pump, and radiator leaks are common, so look underneath the front bumper for signs of coolant loss. Steer clear of cars with abs lights on, corrosion inside the abs unit due to its location is common. Suspension warning lights can be down to seized shock internals or actuator faults. Non-functioning cooling fans can be caused by burned fuse box contacts, so check they BOTH come on when the car is hot. One switches on around two seconds after the other.Think that's it......!
Edited by Cerbieherts on Wednesday 18th July 18:12
Cerbieherts said:
Buy well and they are fantastic. Watch for auto box issues, they cost many thousands to put right. Check the windows line up, if it's a pre-m car even the newer type regulators eventually fail due to issues with the b-post, these were addressed on the "m". Check there's no coolant/water on the floor, the a/c drain pipes get blocked, and if a heater matrix fails the whole dash has to come out. You can't buy the matrix seperately from the whole a/c assembly from Ferrari, but a good specialist can strip it for a custom single-piece replacement(original matrix was two-piece and designed on the back of a fag-box by a blind monkey with no arms!) original tyres are pricey and can be hard to get, many upgrade to 550/575 rims. Coolant leaks in the "v" of the engine can occur fro
The silicon hose, make sure there's evidence of the upgraded part being fitted, it's costly to do as the manifold has to come off. Listen for whining or clunking from the middle of the car on over-run; a sign of torque tube bearing failure, expensive job as the gearbox has to be pulled back to remove it. Slow down lights can occur, usually down to cat ecu's, a few hundred quid a side. Later cat ecu's were improved and are green in colour, so if looking at a pre-m ask if the earlier black coloured units have been replaced. Aftermarket stereo fitment is all but impossible on pre-m's as its modular and unavailable, but repair is possible, so check it works! Check the coolant level is ok, leaks are rife; cheap batteries can cause rainwater to flush acid out of the caps, which runs down and rots through hoses to the secondary water pump, and radiator leaks are common, so look underneath the front bumper for signs of coolant loss. Steer clear of cars with abs lights on, corrosion inside the abs unit due to its location is common. Suspension warning lights can be down to seized shock internals or actuator faults. Non-functioning cooling fans can be caused by burned fuse box contacts, so check they BOTH come on when the car is hot. One switches on around two seconds after the other.Think that's it......!
I'd ask you to do a common faults one for the F355 but I'm not sure Haymarket has enough space on its servers The silicon hose, make sure there's evidence of the upgraded part being fitted, it's costly to do as the manifold has to come off. Listen for whining or clunking from the middle of the car on over-run; a sign of torque tube bearing failure, expensive job as the gearbox has to be pulled back to remove it. Slow down lights can occur, usually down to cat ecu's, a few hundred quid a side. Later cat ecu's were improved and are green in colour, so if looking at a pre-m ask if the earlier black coloured units have been replaced. Aftermarket stereo fitment is all but impossible on pre-m's as its modular and unavailable, but repair is possible, so check it works! Check the coolant level is ok, leaks are rife; cheap batteries can cause rainwater to flush acid out of the caps, which runs down and rots through hoses to the secondary water pump, and radiator leaks are common, so look underneath the front bumper for signs of coolant loss. Steer clear of cars with abs lights on, corrosion inside the abs unit due to its location is common. Suspension warning lights can be down to seized shock internals or actuator faults. Non-functioning cooling fans can be caused by burned fuse box contacts, so check they BOTH come on when the car is hot. One switches on around two seconds after the other.Think that's it......!
Edited by Cerbieherts on Wednesday 18th July 18:12
(and yes, I'm allowed to say that as I have one 
)On a serious note though, there aren't that many Fcar mechanic types who post on here (at least that I've noticed) so it might be v helpful to many people if you convert the above to maybe a slightly more formally formatted "buying checkpoints" post and post it up, hopefully the mods can make it a sticky. If you ever felt the inclination to write similar posts regarding other Fcars/Lambos you have experience of, I'm sure many would be very grateful.
Edited by Mario149 on Wednesday 18th July 19:31
Edited by Mario149 on Wednesday 18th July 19:32
100 IAN said:
Estimate: £18,000 - £25,000
Registration Number: R371 CJN
Chassis Number: ZFFSE44C70100461
The Pininfarina designed original 456 was available in GT and (from 1996) GTA forms. The difference in name signifies the transmission: the former has a six-speed manual and the latter has a four-speed automatic developed in partnership with FF Developments. The 5.5 litre V12 engine was derived from the DinoV6 rather than the more conventional V12s used in the 412 and Daytona. It could push the 1690 kg car and four passengers to 188 mph making it the world's fastest production four-seater.
The name 456 is derived from the fact that each cylinder displaces 456 cubic centimeters. This was the last Ferrari to use this naming convention. It is essentially a detuned version of the engine that appears in the 550 and 575. Despite its supercar performance, the 456 has a relatively unstressed engine which has proven to be a very reliable unit.
Finished in blue metallic with a complementary beige interior, R371 CJN is a desirable manual example and described to be in very good overall condition. The current vendor has covered a mere 5,000 miles in his 5 year tenure.
We are informed it is fitted with a new clutch, new tyres and R371 CJN was the subject of a recent service at Silverstone and is subsequently fitted with new cam belts.
Interested parties should note the car was classified cat C- as it had a frontal impact. The insurance company classified it economically repairable and therefore it was professionally repaired. Offered with a realistic reserve.
For further information or to arrange a viewing, please contact our sales department.
« Back to Auction Lot List
For many that would be the perfect colour and gearbox combo, doesn't say what the total mileage is. Being a Cat C would put off 99% of potential buyers.
Cat D cars are generally worth 25-30% less than an equivalent car without accident history so being more serious Cat C would potentially (?) have a greater adverse effect on its value.
Coys website is not yet showing results for yesterdays auction.........have to wait a day or 2.
Anyone know what the car's total mileage was?
£16,000 + fees which come in at 17.5% inc VATRegistration Number: R371 CJN
Chassis Number: ZFFSE44C70100461
The Pininfarina designed original 456 was available in GT and (from 1996) GTA forms. The difference in name signifies the transmission: the former has a six-speed manual and the latter has a four-speed automatic developed in partnership with FF Developments. The 5.5 litre V12 engine was derived from the DinoV6 rather than the more conventional V12s used in the 412 and Daytona. It could push the 1690 kg car and four passengers to 188 mph making it the world's fastest production four-seater.
The name 456 is derived from the fact that each cylinder displaces 456 cubic centimeters. This was the last Ferrari to use this naming convention. It is essentially a detuned version of the engine that appears in the 550 and 575. Despite its supercar performance, the 456 has a relatively unstressed engine which has proven to be a very reliable unit.
Finished in blue metallic with a complementary beige interior, R371 CJN is a desirable manual example and described to be in very good overall condition. The current vendor has covered a mere 5,000 miles in his 5 year tenure.
We are informed it is fitted with a new clutch, new tyres and R371 CJN was the subject of a recent service at Silverstone and is subsequently fitted with new cam belts.
Interested parties should note the car was classified cat C- as it had a frontal impact. The insurance company classified it economically repairable and therefore it was professionally repaired. Offered with a realistic reserve.
For further information or to arrange a viewing, please contact our sales department.
« Back to Auction Lot List
For many that would be the perfect colour and gearbox combo, doesn't say what the total mileage is. Being a Cat C would put off 99% of potential buyers.
Cat D cars are generally worth 25-30% less than an equivalent car without accident history so being more serious Cat C would potentially (?) have a greater adverse effect on its value.
Coys website is not yet showing results for yesterdays auction.........have to wait a day or 2.
Anyone know what the car's total mileage was?
It was horrible. Really nasty and had Halfords badges on the wings. It looked really, really sad. Shame really. I expected it to make £10k ish but someone really went too high
RoyaleDetailing said:
From my experince they sell very easy. I sold my average condition yellow exterior with blue interior (Ikea colours, kid you not) 456 GTA to a buyer from Austria who flew in, paid cash, and drove it away. Easiest sale i ever had!
On the other extreame i just sold my Cayenne Turbo in mint condition and 60K miles for a mere £12,500. I had to reduce from £15K to get a sale plus it took me 2 months to sell it. I only purchased it a year ago for £16.5K!
That might be market specific. When I was thinking about getting a 456 in Switzerland I noticed that there were a lot of 456s for sale - always the same stock. A good number of the cars I saw (must be over a year ago now) are still for sale....On the other extreame i just sold my Cayenne Turbo in mint condition and 60K miles for a mere £12,500. I had to reduce from £15K to get a sale plus it took me 2 months to sell it. I only purchased it a year ago for £16.5K!
Schnellmann said:
That might be market specific. When I was thinking about getting a 456 in Switzerland I noticed that there were a lot of 456s for sale - always the same stock. A good number of the cars I saw (must be over a year ago now) are still for sale....
Almost all were/are GTA's ?manuals come up quite rarely I have always found in the last 6 years.
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