Tuesday 6th May 2014

Ferrari FF: PH Fleet

The ups, downs and sideways moments of living with a Ferrari FF, by Chris Harris

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The miles keep piling on in the FF, a car so well suited to my everyday life that it has forced me to abandon a long-standing strategy to only use special machines for special journeys. The FF's trick is making even the most awful trudge down the M4 much more of an event.

These are noisy. A little too noisy in fact

There are issues, however. The first is noise. I live in a sparsely populated area, but when the FF starts on a misty morning, the initial brrrwaaaaaaaapp of exhaust noise is ridonculous. You can hear it for miles and even though it's a noise of sublime texture and quality, it's just too much for people who don't worship at the feet of LDM.

There's a point, exiting my village where the gradient steepens suddenly and all cars with dual-clutch gearboxes consider shifting down. I normally marvel at how smoothly they do this - the FF's dual-clutch 'box is no exception - but if I don't carry quite enough speed (we're talking 23 instead of 25mph) then the 'box actions the most extravagant second to first change, accompanied by a massive electronically controlled BAM of throttle. Right by four houses. It makes me bloody cringe at 5am.

The distribution and use of sound, and the volume and quantity of that substance we all enjoy so much is going to be a fascinating subject over the next five years. Me? I like lots in the cabin, but prefer to leave other people a slightly quieter life.

Not many Ferraris that this can be done in

Once the V12 is warm and you're in space, the first extension beyond 4,000rpm never, ever feels anything other than outrageous. The noise inside the cabin already gives the impression of high crank speed, but it just keeps rising and rising to a demented shriek. I should just rely on the wheel mounted shift lights, but at around 6,500rpm I always glance at the big yellow rev counter just to reassure myself that it still has more to go. It's just a wonderful engine: responsive, endlessly powerful, musical, thirsty and, well, thirsty.

I'm not doing the maths chaps, I just can't face it, but I can do around 240 miles on a tank in normal driving. The fuel tank is the FF's biggest problem, for two reasons. The first - it isn't big enough. At 91 litres, it's 17 smaller than the 612 I used to run, and for me that's a big mistake in car of this type. For the vast shadow it casts on the road, it should have at least a 120-litre tank. The other problem is more minor - the tank placement causes a lump between the boot and the rear seats that stops them folding flat for really large items.

That I'm even saying such things of a Ferrari demonstrates how practical it actually is. Oh, and a Ferrari should have a proper billet fuel filler cap, not one of these easy-fill things. It's hateful.

Steering still a little quick for Chris's taste

I never quite come to terms with how wide it is on our little roads. I spend more time checking my offside mirror for the position of the white line that I would normally. The quick, light steering always takes a few minutes of adjustment, but once you drop into its mode of operation, you find an easy rhythm.

Sitting next to Ferrari test driver Raffaele Simone as he hooned me around Fiorano in LaFerrari the other week (just thought I'd casually drop that in there - actually, has it cost me £50K?), is perhaps the best way to fully understand why Maranello's current cars steer the way they do. You see Raffaele really is a driver of rare skill. The smoothness and economy of inputs are some of the best I've seen. He thrives on precision and accuracy - he wants to move the wheel as little as possible, as demonstrated when a car edges into quite a large slide at 110mph and he just applies an elbow flick of lock and continues at vast speed.

It's a strategy I both admire and find frustrating. For me, on UK roads, a slower rack would make the FF less darty and nervous. And to be clear, this is just about direction changes - with the dampers set to soft, the ride is spot-on for what I want in this type of car.

Is this the official Ferrari luggage set?

Being a Ferrari there have been a few dashboard freak-outs. The first was a full engine-check light, which forced a stop at Dick Lovett Ferrari. Turns out a pipe from the fuel filler had split, causing a slight loss of pressure in the system. It was replaced in 24 hours. Other than that I've had the catalyst temperatures not computing and parking sensors occasionally having a wobble. I'm one of those sad loons that quite likes these random, pointless messages - they remind me that this hunk of technology remains, at its core, staunchly Italian.

I left the car in the short stay car-park at Heathrow Terminal 3 for 48 hours last week. In that time someone scratched the bumper - I don't know if it was a car or a trolley. The chances of anyone leaving a note are slim when it's a normal car, this thing reduces those to somewhere near zero. Pretty sanguine about it really - the panel isn't damaged, it just needs some paint. People now gawk at the scratch and wince at how dirty the car is. I'd be lying if I said I didn't find that quite amusing.

Chris's certainly a diverse fleet!

My next job is to try and fathom how the 4WD system actually works. This will involve a skid pad and some rubber. On the road, the car instinctively feels rear drive, to the extent that the rear will squirm and move before you have the sensation that any drive is reaching the front tyres.

I quite like that, but it does slightly hamper the FF's all-weather speed because you can't just mash the right pedal on a wet road and expect it to launch the way can in the S4. I suppose 660hp plays a part too.

So far it's completed several mountain bike trips, school runs, loads of four-up running and swallowed golf bags. The more I live with it, the more I like it. That I happen to think it looks astoundingly handsome just adds to the appeal.

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FACT SHEET
Car: 2012 Ferrari FF
Bought: February 2014
Mileage: 6,900 last time, probably quite a few more now!
Purchase price: See first report
Last month at a glance: The FF copes admirably as Chris's everyday wheels.

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Previous reports:
Harris makes the man maths work and welcomes Ferrari no.2.

[dukebox9reg]

And people winge when people who drive cars like this park in disabled and child spaces.

I dont agree with the practice mind as I am disabled so the posh car driver would get both barrels but the shear stupidity of others drives me up the wall.

Even before i was put out for the knackers yard, I wouldnt park anywhere near signs of human life in car parks but I still would end up with door dings etc. Yes they weren't 100k cars but it still cost a large percentage of my annual wage.

People just shrug their shoulders and say its only a car and a small dent.

Wife doesn't get it either. Still parks the new car anywhere and wonders why I have a go.

The other day in a car park a woman had her car door and her trolley resting on somebody elses car. I had to stop and have a go and she thought she was doing no wrong and had the cheek to have a go at me.

Rant over.

[V8 FOU]

Way to go Chris!
Love the fact that it is well used and abused - that is what owning any car is about.

[D200]

While I really like Ferrari FFs, great cars and all that I don’t understand why Chris bought an FF.

He already has 2 practical estates – the Audi S4 and RR. So if going moutainbiking then why not take one of these as opposed to the FF? But I suppose it cooler pulling a MTB out of an FF than and RR or S4

Estate cars are great but Chris basically has 3 of them – owning 2 is fine but I think 3 is a bit overkill in my opinion ;-)


Personally, if I was in his position, I would have bought a 458 - a nice dark grey or black one to try to make it slightly more subtle than a red one. They look like much more fun than an FF. Much less practical but as I say he already has 2 every day estate's

Maybe there are other reasons he bought the FF over a 458 [or similar]?

The FF is as loud as the 458 by the sounds of it, and the 458 is a reasonably usable car comfort wise etc

[WokkaWokka]

Awesome choice of car.

Upsetting that someone dinged the bumper. People who do that should be put on the naughty step**

• punched in the face.

[garypotter]

Glad too see an owner using the car for what is was built for, well done Chris. do not worry about putting too many miles on the car as now it has a famous owner that must add some pedigree to your car!!

[smilo996]

"it's just too much for people who don't worship at the feet of LDM." - They will my sone patience, they will.

[Clivey]

I read "I left the car in the short stay car-park at Heathrow Terminal 3 for 48 hours last week." and even before the next sentence, thought to myself "I'd be nervous about leaving my car there". I'm not saying that you shouldn't be able to park it (legally) anywhere you like though...just that there are so many mongs about that you can almost guarantee damage sooner or later. - I won't detail what I'd like to do to people that do this to others' cars and do a runner.

Re. the AWD system: It certainly would be interesting to hear more.

[Davey S2]

No trip to B&Q in it yet?

[rgw2012]

So Chris wants a 120 litre fuel tank but doesn't like the way the 91 litre tank gets in the way in the boot - that's why you don't have a larger fuel tank Chris!

[crostonian]

It is ironic that in these days of more stringent sound restrictions, supercars with their trick programmed exhausts are noisier than they were in the less strict 70s and 80s. Back then exhausts were relatively muted, there was more noise from the engine itself. Personally I preferred it that way.

Edited by crostonian on Tuesday 6th May 13:36

[Zumbruk]

dukebox9reg said:

The other day in a car park a woman had her car door and her trolley resting on somebody elses car. I had to stop and have a go and she thought she was doing no wrong and had the cheek to have a go at me.

Rant over.

I quite agree. There are a large number of parallel scratches on the bonnet of my Disco 3; it is obvious that someone has placed a bag or similar on the bonnet, then dragged it off, doing several hundred pounds worth of damage in the process. They should be dragged in chains behind the vehicle until there is nothing left but the chains.

[Zumbruk]

Davey S2 said:

No trip to B&Q in it yet?

I've been to Wickes in my Westfield, does that count?

[Guffy]

crostonian said:

It is ironic that in these days of more stringent sound restrictions supercars with their trick programmed exhausts are noisier than they were in the less strict 70s and 80s. Back then exhausts were relatively muted, there was more noise from the engine itself, personally I preferred it that way.

[Chris Harris]

Great to see the car being used everyday

[Chicane-UK]

dukebox9reg said:

And people winge when people who drive cars like this park in disabled and child spaces.

I dont agree with the practice mind as I am disabled so the posh car driver would get both barrels but the shear stupidity of others drives me up the wall.

Even before i was put out for the knackers yard, I wouldnt park anywhere near signs of human life in car parks but I still would end up with door dings etc. Yes they weren't 100k cars but it still cost a large percentage of my annual wage.

People just shrug their shoulders and say its only a car and a small dent.

Wife doesn't get it either. Still parks the new car anywhere and wonders why I have a go.

The other day in a car park a woman had her car door and her trolley resting on somebody elses car. I had to stop and have a go and she thought she was doing no wrong and had the cheek to have a go at me.

Rant over.

Thing is it's all relative - person who drives an FF, can probably afford to fix an FF. My car is worth many orders of magnitude less than a Ferrari FF but if someone damages it in a car park (as, of course, has happened many many times now) in terms of the percentage repair cost when salary and value of the car are taken into consideration, it's probably all relative. And I certainly don't want my car being damaged by some Neanderthal any more than a Ferrari driver does with their car. But all that said I'd never dream of parking in a disabled space just because I cared about my car, and I wouldn't expect someone with a Ferrari / Lambo / Bugatti / whatever too either. In fact I think doing that, or parking across two spaces, is more likely to get someone maliciously damaging your car.

Just not taking your pride and joy to the supermarket, or parking it miles from everyone else is your best bet

[Wills2]

Now there is the frightening thing about these cars, a 91 litre fuel tank is considered too small such is the thirst and only good for 240 miles.

I make that 12mpg.

[andyps]

Wills2 said:

Now there is the frightening thing about these cars, a 91 litre fuel tank is considered too small such is the thirst and only good for 240 miles.

I make that 12mpg.

I did that calculation too, not sure Chris wanted it pointed out though!

[pimpchez]

Always thought a GTR would be my lottery DD , its now this .I feel the mpg figure is irrelevant ,its the range thats more important.My car has the same range so im used to visiting tesco/shell.

[crostonian]

Guffy said:

crostonian said:

It is ironic that in these days of more stringent sound restrictions supercars with their trick programmed exhausts are noisier than they were in the less strict 70s and 80s. Back then exhausts were relatively muted, there was more noise from the engine itself, personally I preferred it that way.

'

Nothing wrong with slippers and a Rover V8, however you can shove the pipe where the sun don't shine!

[Limpet]

I applaud CH for using a car like this as a daily, but personally speaking it would be too much for me. The idea of returning to it to find damage would cause me a great deal of personal unhappiness.

I've seen my 2012 F30 3-series acquire a new scuff, scratch or scrape almost monthly since new, and now at 2 years and 41,000 miles old, sports three "door dinks", half a dozen light scratches that cutting compound could probably deal with, one-or-two deeper ones that it almost certainly couldn't, and both front and rear offside bumper corners have been scuffed by careless parkers. While the car does normal supermarket / airport / general public car park duties, we both drive and park carefully, and none of the damage looks to be deliberate or malicious. It's therefore what I would think is "normal" for a car in daily use in my part of the world.

I'm not sure my nerves would stand subjecting anything as special as an FF to such hell.