[PacoSaca]

Hi guys,

As you may have already noticed I'm new around here.
I'm no Ferrari owner... just yet

I currently drive a brand new Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa (see avatar image) and I'm deeply in love with it, I've heard it is the closest thing to driving a Ferrari but still... it ain't no Ferrari. I've been getting ready for when the time to buy my Ferrari comes... I do have a few Ferrari polo shirts, a Ferrari carbon fiber ball pen and also all members of my family (including me) allready own a Ferrari hat.

What I really need now is a

Ferrari

and I want you guys to help me get rid of my savings.

I plan on keeping my Maserati so I would not want to spend a whole lot on my first Ferrari, I'm thinking on adopting a "previously owned" one.
Something I really like on my Maserati is the F1 gearbox and I thought of asking you what would be the first or least expensive Ferrari to wear the F1 transmission... and also do you guys know if the F1 gearbox worked good on the earlier models ?

Your advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[eatpasta]

you will be looking at a....

360
or a....

F575
I prefer the latter for a variety of reasons (Front engine V-12 etc)

BUT what you SHOULD get is a....

250GTSWB

My two cents 8)

 

[FunkyJunc]

I agree ... you should get the SWB ... BUT if you dont want to sell your maserati, and your house, and your cloths, and your kids, and your wife, you should probably just stay away from the SWB.

I believe the F355 was the first to sport the F1 transmission. Its a beautiful car. I cant speak of its drive as Ive never had the pleasure

Good luck on the hunt ... maybe Stradale can help you with the reliability of the F1

 

[eatpasta]

you should get the SWB ... BUT if you dont want to sell your maserati, and your house, and your cloths, and your kids, and your wife, you should probably just stay away from the SWB.

Im bypassing the wife and the kids for the SWB. well for now. SWB first. 8)

 

[Andrew]

I plan on keeping my Maserati so I would not want to spend a whole lot on my first Ferrari, I'm thinking on adopting a "previously owned" one.
Something I really like on my Maserati is the F1 gearbox and I thought of asking you what would be the first or least expensive Ferrari to wear the F1 transmission... and also do you guys know if the F1 gearbox worked good on the earlier models ?

Your advice will be greatly appreciated.

Hi Paco,

Welcome to Ferrari Forum! I am "Andrew" on Maserati Forum (I should change my name here).

Here is what I think:

The F355's F1 gearbox was the first time Ferrari put the F1 in a road car, hence the problems. If you don't want high cost of repair don't get the F355 F1.

Having a V8 Ferrari in your Maserati I would say the 360 doesn't make much sense either.

Therefore I would go with either a 550/575 or find yourself a classic Ferrari so you can just enjoy having a Ferrari. By classic I mean: 512BB, Dino 246, 328 or a 512 TR.

Good luck in your search. When do you hope to acquire the car? 6 months? 1 year? 5 years?

 

[Boxer]

Per Andrew's comments, the F355 F1 would be the least expensive option but as the first has some "teething" issues.

Where I do differ (with great respect) is on the 360. Having driven both the Maserati Coupe and the 360, IMHO they are very different cars. Front vs Mid Engine, very different chassis/handling set ups, etc etc etc.

I do agree on the suggestion of looking at someof the older Classic models. These are great, highly involving drivers cars.

 

[stile - alpine]

hello there!

I´m no Ferrari owner, but I suggest a classic Ferrari. And I agree with Andrew, the 512TR would be a great choice

just one thing: here in Brazil, Ferraris are more common then Maseratis

a guy that lives close to my house owns a 3200GT, it looks amazing!

good luck on your search!

 

[PacoSaca]

Thanks for your replies and advice guys and you have confirmed my fear... an 355F1 would not be a good choice because it was the first model out with the F! gearbox.

The Maranello would be a fantastic choice, I really like the looks of it but now I've been giving it a thought to get me an older model and maybe sit on it waiting and hoping it becomes a classic. One model I really like a whole lot is the 456M GT

what can you guys say about it...???

Andrew: I'm ready... I only have to work a bit on the approval from the "higher authorities" :wink:

 

[Dr. Bob]

the 456 was never available with the F1 gearbox, only with manual or automatic gearbox

 

[PacoSaca]

Thanks for you reply Bob... yup sadly it was never offered with the F1 gears.
I was also reading that it is 0.3s slower than my Maserati on the 0 - 100 km/h, but what do you say about the looks...???
I'll say it's bootiful!!!

 

[FunkyJunc]

The 456 was the first Ferrari I ever drove. It was black with cream interior and black piping. It was an automatic. It was actually the first ferrari I was ever introduced to ... on THAT note I have to say it was absolutley stunning in the above color combination. Darker colors are definatley more flattering on the car.

Being that the 456 is a 2+2 (the depreciation is somewhat scary) and its been replaced by the scaglietti, its not too terribly expensive. You're also getting into the realm of 12 cylinders ...

All that said, I say go for the classic ferraris. They'll always be classic and they're very well styled. Its hard to neglect the 246 and other great cars.

 

[PacoSaca]

Being that the 456 is a 2+2 (the depreciation is somewhat scary) and its been replaced by the Scaglietti...

Now I'm wondering if I should wait just a bit for the Scaglietti to depreciate just a little

I visited Monaco just recently and saw a 612 parked next to a F-430 Spider right outside the casino...

I would go for the 612 without a doubt...

 

[FunkyJunc]

YESSSSSS



the 612 ... drooooooooollllll





I think its a great replacement for the 456 and gorgeous to boot. Can we say 540 horse power?!

 

[eatpasta]

Tough to choose..... isnt it?? :green: I wish I had those problems...

 

[stile - alpine]

Tough to choose..... isnt it?? :green: I wish I had those problems...

Me too!! Our friend is driving a Maserati, traveling to Monaco and still wants more!! Do you want to trade your life with me?? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

About the looks of the 456: I don´t think it is a beautiful car. It´s not ugly, that´s for sure. But it´s not impressive as the 550 Maranello or as a 512 TR, for example

And I don´t think the 456 is exactly a classic Ferrari...

But the 12 cylinders under the hood are a very good argument to buy it!!

 

[Dr. Bob]

I like the 456 more than the 612. The 456 looks great in dark colors, aspecially with creme or black interior. The grins of the 612 is ugly and the bonnet is just waaaaaay too long.

 

[PacoSaca]

Our friend is driving a Maserati, traveling to Monaco and still wants more!! Do you want to trade your life with me??

Let me think about your offer, one question... do you have a Ferrari...???

...the 12 cylinders under the hood are a very good argument to buy it!!

...mmm I don't know about that...
...the 8 cylinders on my Maserati are faster than the 12 on the 456...
...although I really doubt I would feel the 0.3s difference from 0 - 100 kmh between the Maserati (4.9s) and the 456 (5.2s)

:roll: I would buy a Ferrari for its looks and for the tradition/history behind.

You are right Bob on the dark colors fitting the 456 nicely only thing is that I've kinda had it with dark colors... they are a pain in the $%#@#$ to keep.

 

[stile - alpine]

No, I don´t own a Ferrari, I´m only 20 years old, and didn´t have time to make all that money!!

And I live in Brazil, the cheapest Ferrari (the 360 Modena) costs here 400 thousand dollars. It´s a lot more expensive than in Europe or USA. It´s harder to own a Ferrari here...


About the engine of the 456: a 12 cylinder engine is not the same as a 8 cylinder engine. It feels different. It feels better. It´s smoother. (I´m going to stop now, I´m sounding like Bart :lol: :lol: :lol: )

And I think that it "feels more like a Ferrari" if it has 12 cylinders!

But if you want if because of the tradition, I tell you again to go for the 512 TR. THAT´S a Ferrari! :wink:

 

[PacoSaca]

...no Ferrari ??? ...no trading lives then :green:

Guilherme, I live in El Salvador and we pay 30% import duties plus 13% VAT, that makes any car here 43% expensier than in the US or Europe... I agree with you, it is harder to own a car like a Ferrari in countries like yours or mine... but there is nothing wrong with dreaming. You are young (not that I'm old I'm only 45) and still have plenty of time to realize your dreams. Dream big, work hard and your dreams will become reality much faster than you think.

You may be right on the engine factor... I've never driven a 12 cylinder car but hopefully one day will no matter if it is a previously owned.

 

[FunkyJunc]

I like the 456 more than the 612. The 456 looks great in dark colors, aspecially with creme or black interior. The grins of the 612 is ugly and the bonnet is just waaaaaay too long.

You know what else has an extremely long hood (bonnet) ... 250 gto ... enough said.


I dont particularly care for the back end of the 456, and the rear of the scaglietti (while still not amazing) is a step in the right direction I think.


I have driven the 12 cylinder 456 ... it is very amazing. Its extremely smooth and the acceleration is persistent. I only got it to highway speeds (the car isnt mine) but it was a blast to drive. Most 8-cylinder cars that Ive driven (I havent driven a v8 ferrari) have more of a peak with respect to power and acceleration is more -in your face- I guess PacoSaca with his maser have the experience to enlighten us on the feel of the motor.