Any Ferrari 612 owners out there?
Discussion
I'm thinking about selling the 997 TT and getting a 612 as I'm finding the 997 a bit small with 2 children and a pushchair. I previously had a 456M about six years ago which I never really liked (and which I had to spend a fortune on in a very short space of time despite having only done 14k and been fully serviced by Ferrari) so I'm quite wary about this purchase. Can anyone help me with a few questions?
1) When did they launch the handling pack and does it make much difference?
2) I found the 456 a bit too much of a GT. Is the 612 a bit more sporty?
3) I'm guessing £5k a year running costs (incl warranty and servicing) if I buy a 2006 car - is that about right?
4) I think I would go for Grigio Silverstone. Does anyone know if that colour was available from launch or later?
Thanks in advance...
1) When did they launch the handling pack and does it make much difference?
2) I found the 456 a bit too much of a GT. Is the 612 a bit more sporty?
3) I'm guessing £5k a year running costs (incl warranty and servicing) if I buy a 2006 car - is that about right?
4) I think I would go for Grigio Silverstone. Does anyone know if that colour was available from launch or later?
Thanks in advance...
jquin said:
I'm thinking about selling the 997 TT and getting a 612 as I'm finding the 997 a bit small with 2 children and a pushchair. I previously had a 456M about six years ago which I never really liked (and which I had to spend a fortune on in a very short space of time despite having only done 14k and been fully serviced by Ferrari) so I'm quite wary about this purchase. Can anyone help me with a few questions?
1) When did they launch the handling pack and does it make much difference?
2) I found the 456 a bit too much of a GT. Is the 612 a bit more sporty?
3) I'm guessing £5k a year running costs (incl warranty and servicing) if I buy a 2006 car - is that about right?
4) I think I would go for Grigio Silverstone. Does anyone know if that colour was available from launch or later?
Thanks in advance...
We just bought a 612 but its nothing like theturbo. It has good back seats but the room in the boot is still quite small if you have a pushchair ) have you bought a quinny zapp? smallest on market and fits in the turbo).1) When did they launch the handling pack and does it make much difference?
2) I found the 456 a bit too much of a GT. Is the 612 a bit more sporty?
3) I'm guessing £5k a year running costs (incl warranty and servicing) if I buy a 2006 car - is that about right?
4) I think I would go for Grigio Silverstone. Does anyone know if that colour was available from launch or later?
Thanks in advance...
I can't really comment about the handling package as only driven them with it. Alot more sporty that the 456, F1 box makes it feel like proper supercar. You forget the size of it when pushing on. Got to remember the cars you should compare it to ie Bentley, Maserati not the 911. We bought the maserati 2 years ago as it looked so good but think its looks better than it drives, 612 now alot more affordable so picked one up last month.
Too soon to know running cost but doubt £5k is needed. We never warranty our cars and serving is quite good.
I have a 2007 612 HGTS which I bought last April when my son was born - the F430 which I had previously clearly wasn't going to get a lot of use after that, so I part exchanged it for the 612. It is a fantastic car: relatively practical and extremely comfortable for long journeys but still capable of astonishing cross-country speed (both on motorways and the twistier stuff). I miss the sharpness of the 430 (the 612 steering can feel overpowered until you are really pressing on) and I also miss the ceramic brakes (despite Ferrari's efforts it is a big car and you really feel the extra weight on braking) but I have yet to come across a better car to get my wife and son around while still managing to keep a smile on my face.
I test drove cars with and without the handling pack: it definitely makes a big difference if you engage Sport mode (sharper throttle response, tighter ride, more aggressive gear change) so it is more fun when you are driving it like you stole it and I would definitely make the same decision again. However, the reality is I only use the Sport mode when I am in it on my own (it is less comfortable for passengers!) so you need to make the judgement how much you are really going to use it. However, if you are worried that the 456 was too much like a GT then it makes sense to choose it as it gives you more of a sportscar feel when you want it. I would have loved an HGTC car (which have the ceramic brakes) but there aren't many around.
I haven't had mine long enough to figure out real running costs but £5k per year sounds reasonable. I have driven mine 7,000 miles in the last 9 months (it now has 12,000 miles on it) on all sorts of roads and in all conditions and haven't had any issues at all, but I would guess £2,500 for servicing and £2,500 for tires, clutches etc). I don't know when they launched Grigio Silverstone - I have certainly seen 2004 cars in that colour scheme and it looks great (ours is TdF Blue and equally understated - until you start it!).
Quick word on the practicality front: the boot is small (because the gearbox is mounted behind the back seats to balance the weight distribution). The boot is a more user friendly shape than the Porsche (it is designed to fit a set of golf clubs) and it is fine with one child: we managed a 2 week holiday in the Dordogne with no problem including taking the buggy (a Bugaboo Bee - anything bigger would be a stretch), but we did put soft bags on the spare back seat. You would need to pack very efficiently to take 2 children away in it for that period of time! Weekends away would be no problem though and the seats in the back are very comfortable because you sit right down into them and they are very supportive.
Apologies for the essay - I hope it helps!
I test drove cars with and without the handling pack: it definitely makes a big difference if you engage Sport mode (sharper throttle response, tighter ride, more aggressive gear change) so it is more fun when you are driving it like you stole it and I would definitely make the same decision again. However, the reality is I only use the Sport mode when I am in it on my own (it is less comfortable for passengers!) so you need to make the judgement how much you are really going to use it. However, if you are worried that the 456 was too much like a GT then it makes sense to choose it as it gives you more of a sportscar feel when you want it. I would have loved an HGTC car (which have the ceramic brakes) but there aren't many around.
I haven't had mine long enough to figure out real running costs but £5k per year sounds reasonable. I have driven mine 7,000 miles in the last 9 months (it now has 12,000 miles on it) on all sorts of roads and in all conditions and haven't had any issues at all, but I would guess £2,500 for servicing and £2,500 for tires, clutches etc). I don't know when they launched Grigio Silverstone - I have certainly seen 2004 cars in that colour scheme and it looks great (ours is TdF Blue and equally understated - until you start it!).
Quick word on the practicality front: the boot is small (because the gearbox is mounted behind the back seats to balance the weight distribution). The boot is a more user friendly shape than the Porsche (it is designed to fit a set of golf clubs) and it is fine with one child: we managed a 2 week holiday in the Dordogne with no problem including taking the buggy (a Bugaboo Bee - anything bigger would be a stretch), but we did put soft bags on the spare back seat. You would need to pack very efficiently to take 2 children away in it for that period of time! Weekends away would be no problem though and the seats in the back are very comfortable because you sit right down into them and they are very supportive.
Apologies for the essay - I hope it helps!
I don't own one, but my business parter does - and it is a fabulous car. Effortless GT - with real purpose.
I, like many other, was unsure about the appearance - until I saw a few in the flesh. They are colour sensative - and red doesn't work. I was also lucky enough to drive one for a few weeks, where I fell in love with it. I even took one around goodwood in the pouring rain, and it was astonishing.
What a fabulous car - and I really fancy one with the panoramic roof, with HGTS package - although I'm hearing that the Estoque has a more than fair chance of making into production - so I'll hang my hat on that one (if it's not too ling in the making)..
I, like many other, was unsure about the appearance - until I saw a few in the flesh. They are colour sensative - and red doesn't work. I was also lucky enough to drive one for a few weeks, where I fell in love with it. I even took one around goodwood in the pouring rain, and it was astonishing.
What a fabulous car - and I really fancy one with the panoramic roof, with HGTS package - although I'm hearing that the Estoque has a more than fair chance of making into production - so I'll hang my hat on that one (if it's not too ling in the making)..
jquin said:
Andy - Thanks for your comments. I'm still undecided about this. The car I was going to test drive at Joe Macari was sold before I got a chance to drive it. I see you've put yours up for sale - was that because you didn't like it?
Think it's great but decided to sell a few things and get a new toy!andy74b said:
jquin said:
Andy - Thanks for your comments. I'm still undecided about this. The car I was going to test drive at Joe Macari was sold before I got a chance to drive it. I see you've put yours up for sale - was that because you didn't like it?
Think it's great but decided to sell a few things and get a new toy!MaxAndRuby said:
andy74b said:
jquin said:
Andy - Thanks for your comments. I'm still undecided about this. The car I was going to test drive at Joe Macari was sold before I got a chance to drive it. I see you've put yours up for sale - was that because you didn't like it?
Think it's great but decided to sell a few things and get a new toy!andy74b said:
MaxAndRuby said:
andy74b said:
jquin said:
Andy - Thanks for your comments. I'm still undecided about this. The car I was going to test drive at Joe Macari was sold before I got a chance to drive it. I see you've put yours up for sale - was that because you didn't like it?
Think it's great but decided to sell a few things and get a new toy!What's the new toy, a BIG boat in Puerto Banus?
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