Could I use a 456 /550 everday?
Discussion
Welllll. You could use one of these as your everyday car. It would be an expensive and rather stressful business though, unless you're the type who can lock it up and leave it without a backward glance. They're heavy on fuel (10-14mpg), have a poor lock and the mileage would kill residuals. I've toyed with this idea myself, and what's held it back so far is that I couldn't face putting that much wear and tear on the car, and can't get comfortable with the notion of leaving it in a railway station or airport car park. Besides, what do you use at weekends?
I use my 456GT every other day.
It's been my only car for the past 2 months. Yes it is crap for fuel economy, but hey - you don't drive a 5.5 litre V12 for that. I don't particularly like normal corporate cars and am not overly concerned about losing some money using it. I accept that is part of owning any expensive car.
I've previously owned (amongst other things) a TVR Cerbera 4.5, which while was fun to drive, VERY hard work for an every day car. It was also regularly breaking down, admittedly only for small faults, but still stopped me from being where I needed to.
The 456, (so far) has been 100% reliable - and is far easier to use every day. In comparison with the TVR, is as easy to drive as any normal modern car. It has 2 personalities. It can tiddle along slowly in traffic and cruse at 40 mph - but as soon as the opportunity arises, launch itself like a rocket to warp speed, with effortless ease ahead of the conjestion.
A real pleasure. If you're in the position to do it, I say - why not? You only live once.
It's been my only car for the past 2 months. Yes it is crap for fuel economy, but hey - you don't drive a 5.5 litre V12 for that. I don't particularly like normal corporate cars and am not overly concerned about losing some money using it. I accept that is part of owning any expensive car.
I've previously owned (amongst other things) a TVR Cerbera 4.5, which while was fun to drive, VERY hard work for an every day car. It was also regularly breaking down, admittedly only for small faults, but still stopped me from being where I needed to.
The 456, (so far) has been 100% reliable - and is far easier to use every day. In comparison with the TVR, is as easy to drive as any normal modern car. It has 2 personalities. It can tiddle along slowly in traffic and cruse at 40 mph - but as soon as the opportunity arises, launch itself like a rocket to warp speed, with effortless ease ahead of the conjestion.
A real pleasure. If you're in the position to do it, I say - why not? You only live once.
I have a friend that uses his 456 GT 1995 everyday for work. He bought it nearly new with one owner with 10,000 mile on it. The car has covered 180,000 miles. The car has gone through loads of tyres, two radiators and ser of shockers/dampers, set of front discs.
The car runs and runs. That's how you drive a Ferrari, live it everyday.
I had a maserati that I sold that covered 173,000 miles in four years....
The cars are to be driven. Not just to look at.
The Ferraris can handle the miles but need to be serviced at normal intervals.... Lets get driving...
The car runs and runs. That's how you drive a Ferrari, live it everyday.
I had a maserati that I sold that covered 173,000 miles in four years....
The cars are to be driven. Not just to look at.
The Ferraris can handle the miles but need to be serviced at normal intervals.... Lets get driving...
His 456GT has never had the engine rebuilt or the gearbox/diff. The oil services are done at 6,000 miles every time. The car i looked after a sports car specialist now that repairs jags, astons, porsches, ferrari, tvr's etc.. I think the clutch has been replaced twice and he is on his third. He goes to Europe a lot and on his return home to the uk stops off at the Ring for thrash. The head gasket has been replaced a few months ago to the age and miles the gasket has done. I would not call that a engine rebuild as such. My maserati had the head gasket changed as a precautionary measure. I understand the gasket get weak due to temperature changes over long periods and miles...
The smiles always makes up for the depreciation value...
Last year it failed the MOT because the door sills starting rotten through. He had some welding done it under the floor plan. The car is driven in all weather and cleaned only once a week. Usually in the winter the car is always wet.
My Maserati 430 Bi-turbo was the same. The turbos went at 100,000 miles and blow the diff up twice due to 400 bhp from at the rear wheels. Basically the car was great. I really only had to change belts and oil and filter. it only ever han one clutch replaced on it from new.
He will never sell the 456Gt its it his personnel company/private car through his business. Thats cool.
The smiles always makes up for the depreciation value...
Last year it failed the MOT because the door sills starting rotten through. He had some welding done it under the floor plan. The car is driven in all weather and cleaned only once a week. Usually in the winter the car is always wet.
My Maserati 430 Bi-turbo was the same. The turbos went at 100,000 miles and blow the diff up twice due to 400 bhp from at the rear wheels. Basically the car was great. I really only had to change belts and oil and filter. it only ever han one clutch replaced on it from new.
He will never sell the 456Gt its it his personnel company/private car through his business. Thats cool.
kenyon said:
I have a friend that uses his 456 GT 1995 everyday for work. He bought it nearly new with one owner with 10,000 mile on it. The car has covered 180,000 miles. The car has gone through loads of tyres, two radiators and ser of shockers/dampers, set of front discs.
The car runs and runs. That's how you drive a Ferrari, live it everyday.
I had a maserati that I sold that covered 173,000 miles in four years....
The cars are to be driven. Not just to look at.
The Ferraris can handle the miles but need to be serviced at normal intervals.... Lets get driving...
Are you sure about that
Amazing. I'm impressed, as much by the willingness of the owners to do this, as by the durability of the cars. In fact I was dead set on getting a 355B as a daily driver earlier this year, but couldn't make it work in the end because it's a strict 2 seater. My wife suggested I use our 456 as a daily driver instead. 
Still don't think I could do it though, the barrier being mental rather than mechanical.
Still don't think I could do it though, the barrier being mental rather than mechanical. I think to get a sensible and balanced response if you genuinely want to know the issues and reliability of these or any other ferrari together with likely associates costs you best go to www.ferrarichat.com/forum and do a search on there!
Mark am I sure about what ........
I use my 348 Spider a lot during the week, weekends through the year....
I do not use the 348 spider as much as my mate or my maserati because I work on a petrolchemical site and cars are prone to decay due to corrsive elments in the amtomsphere. When I get home I take it for a blast. I try stay away from salty roads.
If you can afford the fuel then use the Ferrari as a daily drive. I know a lot of porsche owners that drive their cars everyday, why not a ferrari...
I use my 348 Spider a lot during the week, weekends through the year....
I do not use the 348 spider as much as my mate or my maserati because I work on a petrolchemical site and cars are prone to decay due to corrsive elments in the amtomsphere. When I get home I take it for a blast. I try stay away from salty roads.
If you can afford the fuel then use the Ferrari as a daily drive. I know a lot of porsche owners that drive their cars everyday, why not a ferrari...
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