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Leak from a low-pressure hydraulic hose, easily fixed. Foglighters don't work, memory seats gave up early, but they'll fix it.
Non-German quality inside and all-leather means annoying creaks and squeaks at low speeds. The keys have to be in the ignition to open the filler cap, and the only way to open the boot is with the button from the inside. Other than that it is indeed a quick way of moving self and family around. Full four seats give plenty of space and you can take the ooh ahh mates out in bunches of three. Failrly quiet (much quieter than Ferrari V8s) at moderate speeds, but wind noise with frameless doors a problem above 130. Useable speed climbs easily on foreign motorways to 160. I love it.
Extremely honest. But if there is that many things wrong with the Ferrari that you can think of right off the top of your head you have a problem.
All in all not a bad survey.
Great job in the honest to god truth.
Tara
Owner of a 2000 Ferrari
Who is this Tara person? She seems to comment on everything!
NG.
The 456 is not the performance leader in Ferrari. It is not the cheapest, nor the most expensive. It does not offer a convertible and cannot seat 4 comfortably. It's everyday looks are somewhat uninspiring (I hear it's loved in Europe, no so stateside). Running against 50k cars, for example the BMW M3 and Corvette Z06 (do you have Z06's in Europe?) it loses. The interior, and the exterior (arguably) are more handsome in the M3 coupe and it falls far lower in engine power. Can anyone tell me why would you buy a 456; I would only buy a Ferrari for looks, engine and practicality. It has none.
It's disappointing to see such un-informed comment about the Ferrari 456. The shape is one of Pinninfarina's best and disguises the large size of the car extremely well. It is also a shape that looks good from every angle.
As far as the other points are concerned, the 456 is an amazing car to drive long distances where speed limits are high or non existent. The taut handling is best suited to twisty European roads and German Autobahns like the A45 where long sweeping bends across high talbrucken can be taken at 120 - 130mph in fifth even with a crosswind.
There isn't a better long distance tourer for European roads. The V12 Jaguar XJS is probably better suited to US highways as it is altogether softer.
I know because I have owned and love both.
Chris Sheldrake.
I, ve owned two previous Ferrari, s being F355 spider and Testarossa. The 456gta/m i, ve just purchased is an real bargain double the price new of a 355 gtb!!! but you get 4 seats comfort and still have enormous power surge so why slate a vehicle so well made and admired for what it is A FOUR SEATER GRAND TOURER. It is a real stunner especially in silver sounds great and at 40 yrs old is ideal for me with young kids!!!
I have often seen secondhand 456's for sale under £50,000. I also see them often driven to work in the week so their owners are doing more miles than the lesser Ferraris. However I found out that to replace the automatic transmission costs an eye watering £30,000! Is this true?
I would always go for the manual anyway, hopefully by the time I am 40 used prices will of dipped as I think this is one of the most gorgeous cars on the planet. The 612 looks ugly in comparison.
I own a 456 GTA and after 4 months and 6,000 miles still look forward to getting into it, even if it to go and buy some milk on Saturday morning. I have owned Porches', BMW M's etc etc before and none of them have that special feeling I get from the 456. It is so deceptively fast and if you want to engage in some tail sliding fun I can tell you it is better balanced and easier than in an E39 M5. Reliability has also not been the headache I expected and is so ahead of the BMW on the list front.
The main thing about the car though is the sheer beauty - this is not just me either, I have never owned a car or bike that engenders such admiration for its beauty from young kids to old ladies - two girls the other day, in front of my wife, came up and asked if they could kiss it because it was so beautiful!
The only comments I would make on the downside is watch the window seals, they are a real pain to try and get right and you almost have to just accept that they will only get to a barely acceptable state. The AC is not the most powerful on the planet and there will be niggles with the electrics form time to time.
One tip I would advocate is to get some 550 wheels (they look great and the standard wheels to my mind look a bit too small for the car) and fit smaller tyres on the front (p zero 235's) as it really improves the turn in rate without sacrificing ride.
The other thing that is always in the back of most peoples minds is depreciation. I lost £10 K plus on the Porsche and M5 in less than a year - so far the 456 seems to have leveled out at the mid 40's and has not moved for 5 months and does not look set to go much lower provided its looked after with proper servicing records etc etc. So quids in overall if that is an important consideration for you.
Roger.
PS: This is an everyday car for me and I do about 300 miles a week - it gets better with use, they are not designed to do 2K a year on occasional Sundays and will throw up all sorts of endless problems when you start to actually use them. Your better off with a regularly used car that has been serviced properly.
I see the comments above on the 456, its indeed a beautiful car from all angles... I have just sold my E39 M5 BMW and have owned other German supercars, but the attraction has always remained with the 456. Now that you can get a decent example for £50k I'm sorely tempted, its the just the servicing and reliability that seems to scare me.
I see some people don't have any more problems than a few electrical issues, but then you hear the occasional story where its thrown up a £7-8k garage bill because of poor running (which I hear is common with failing airflow meters) and inlet manifold gaskets which need constant attention??...
If I could be reasonably sure that one of these beauties would not cost the earth it would possibly the best 4 seater GT car in the world for me to buy next.
I am a Tvr v8 (s) owner not a Ferrari owner, however I can't believe some of these comments made on the 456; it's got "no style" and the engine is "not powerful" what! this car has a magnificent v12 race heritage-bred engine and syling is of top draw timeless classification. the car's origins are derived from the Daytona of the 70's if that isn't stylish, swarve, sophisticated & timeless then I don't know what is! as for BMW, they are very well made and are a real drivers car, but compared with a one of the very finest car makers in the world! I don't believe that bmw have superior build quality inside & out than Ferrari and are seen as an alternative car at this level, is a BMW m3 as sylish as a ferrari 456, I don't think so.
P.Murray BEng Hons (Mechanical Engineer)
The only negative comment on this thread has been from someone who believes, quite earnestly it would seem, that a Corvette is a better car than a Ferrari GT. How exactly? Well, we're told its for "practicality" reasons, though I'd wager that patriotism plays a key part. The Corvette is hardly SUV-like in its layout, now is it?
He or she may like to consider that people from all corners of the globe dream about getting a Ferrari some day, whether for its kerb status, exclusivity, power, price, or who knows -- it has absolutely nothing to do with how many people it seats. It also has nothing to do with fuel economy or the labour costs at Ferrari dealerships. And however good a car the Corvette is, and however many people it seats, or however easy it is to service, you simply can't say it's even in the same league as a Ferrari GT.
That's all you need to know.
I have worked with Ferrari and BMW in both road and motosport guises and I would honestly say that a Ferrari V12 or V8, when properly serviiced and used regularly is mechanically more sound than a BMW M3. BMW sixes have a habit of eating camshafts/head gaskets unless very well maintained and if you want horrendous garage costs, go to a german car dealership. In fact, the Italians were far more likely to take on board any comments about their cars and alter them.
The Magneti Marelli electronics used by Ferrari have largely been replaced with the Same Bosch electronics used by the German companies, so the old adage of the electronics on an Itlian car lasting about as long as a pogo-stick tester in a minefield seem to be a thing of the past.
The big mistake a lot of people make when buying a Ferrari secondhand (or an Aston Martin, or any car of that ilk), is that they believe that just because it cost the same as a new Mondeo, or Audi A3, they can treat it in the same way. Ferraris (or any true supercar) require more commitment - you should always (and I do mean, ALWAYS) let both the engine and gearbox warm up before driving hard, you should use the car regularly, not leave it standing for a month then thrash it on a weekend - that's a sure way to see it sitting in a pool of oil. Always make sure the car is well-cared for, even if it means getting a higer mileage car than one with less history. The thing to remember is that a BMW M3 (which is just as likely to go bang and cost megabucks as any other sportscar if not maintained) is probably getting on for 100BHP down on a Ferrari 456. The Corvette (even the z06) is down by about 50BHP on the Italian Stallion, too. This is a car that has four seats (OK, it's a 2+2), but it will get you from London to St Tropez in ultimate comfort at an average speed that would melt your eyeballs. Oh, and it'll have more composure through the turns should you decide to head towards the Alps - Ferrari, like Aston Martin and (to a lesser extent) Jaguar have long since mastered the idea of having a suspension setup that allows you to corner a car and not have it rattle your fillings out. Cheverolet's Corvette, along with TVRs and a few others, can go as fast in a straight line, but have nowhere near the sublime handling and effortless continent-crushing speed of a true thoroughbred GT car. Then again, a TVR will cost £40-50k new, a Corvette around the same and a Ferrari or Aston starts in excess of £100k, so you get what you pays for.
Don't skimp on consumables, servicing and the like, drive it regularly and with respect and there is no reason it won't be around in 30 years as a usable classic - after all, the old "unreliable" Daytonas are still around... as are the 308s, after all. I intend to buy a nice 456 as soon as finances and the right car match up. Then I'll have to get a holiday home in southern Italy so I can justify driving through Europe at 150mph+ once a month or so :D.
I have recently been interested in purchasing a Ferrari and have stumbled across a gem with buying a 456 GT or GTA.
How this car could be criticised for being dull is way beyond me I personally think it is one of the most beautiful Ferraris designed so far.
However I still haven't decided whether to focus my search on a manual or the automatic GTA series or whether a model from around 98/99 for 45-50K will depreciate much more.
I definately think the 456 is a hot car, but I am looking to buy my first Ferrari. I visited my local Ferrari dealer that had just 3 Ferraris for sale. Among them was a 456, but I didn't even notice the car for the first 20 minutes inside the showroom, because next to the rakishly handsome Testarossa and gorgeous little 328 - the 456 becomes nearly invisible. It's really fat and chunky, it's awkward looking really, and my first thought was interesting. I just stood there for a minute really pondering how this could be possible. All I was thinking was, man the 456 just doesn't stand out as anything truly Ferrari.
Everyone in the world, even my 90-year-old grandmother, would know from sight that a 328 just must be something made by Ferrari. Same with the Testarossa. But the 456, eh, it looks like it's obviously exotic, but nothing extrodinary.
I will say it is much more comfortable than any 80s Ferrari. And cosmetics aside, I bet it's an all-round better Ferrari because it is still very hot, oh yeah, and in automatic, I can imagine the 456 is one terrific daily driver.
I am currently looking for a 456 Ferrari. I have read all comments with interest, but would particularly like to hear opinions about the 456GT V 456GTA. What are the good and bad points of both from those of you who own or have owned them?
I've owned a 1997 456GTA for nearly a year, and drive it about 50-75 miles per week. I still get a thrill every time I see it in my garage and anticipate the driving of it. It is one of Pininfarina's classiest designs--understated and exquisite in its flowing lines and proportions.
It is faster than I am capable of driving and very sure-footed on the road. Frankly, I enjoy the admiring looks it gets from other motorists, and the occasional challenge from some other "hot" car (that almost always loses).
My car has 38k miles on it, and some of the hardware (e.g. door locks, window regulators, and seat adjustments) are failing and expensive to fix. I wish I had bought one with low mileage, but couldn't find one I could afford. But I am not sorry and would do it again. There are incalculable psychic rewards to being a Ferrari owner, and the 456GTA is a beautiful example of the breed.