[Boxer]

Attached are some more recent pictures of the 456 GT enjoying a bit of sunshine.

 

[Dj Dirk]

1st time that i notice this, but i didn't knew that you had bought a LHD

and you are back in Spain aren't you, no way that that is at the English coast. the wheater is too good :lol:

 

[Boxer]

Yes, it is a LHD. Generally I prefer LHD manuals to RHD. Driving LHD in RHD countries does not bother me but I find the reverse to be difficult. And yes, the pictures definitely were not taken in the UK. Cheers

 

[adlinyusman]

456s are going for a really good price these days. But as always, the question that pops into mind is the maintainence of the V12. Is it reliable? And how much of premium over a V8 would the servicing bill amount to?

I adore the 456 for one reason only - that it can seat four ppl in relative comfort, and still achieve warp speed whenever u put your foot down.
Brilliant.

 

[Dj Dirk]

and the looks, still one of the best looking modern cars around, and she's 10 years old already

 

[Stradale]

456s are going for a really good price these days. But as always, the question that pops into mind is the maintainence of the V12. Is it reliable? And how much of premium over a V8 would the servicing bill amount to?

I adore the 456 for one reason only - that it can seat four ppl in relative comfort, and still achieve warp speed whenever u put your foot down.
Brilliant.

The engine seldom give problem. It's the other things like the windows, the pop-up lights and the rear spoiler (under the bumper) that always give problems. The worse is the windows that can't shut tight, the wind noise and worse the water that seep in when it rains are the most annoying defects of the 456 Series 1. The 456M doesn't have these problems, but then they're more expensive too.

 

[Boxer]

456s are going for a really good price these days. But as always, the question that pops into mind is the maintainence of the V12. Is it reliable? And how much of premium over a V8 would the servicing bill amount to?

I adore the 456 for one reason only - that it can seat four ppl in relative comfort, and still achieve warp speed whenever u put your foot down.
Brilliant.

Prices on currently on the 456 GT's are at or under F355's which for the performance is a great deal. In terms of servicing, I can't really say from 1st hand experience yet, but the pre purchase research I did indicates that over the long haul it will not be a great difference due to the cambelts being an engine out job on the F355 vs engine in on the 456 GT. And yes, it hits warp speed in no time with a little pedal pressure.

 

[Boxer]

456s are going for a really good price these days. But as always, the question that pops into mind is the maintainence of the V12. Is it reliable? And how much of premium over a V8 would the servicing bill amount to?

I adore the 456 for one reason only - that it can seat four ppl in relative comfort, and still achieve warp speed whenever u put your foot down.
Brilliant.

The engine seldom give problem. It's the other things like the windows, the pop-up lights and the rear spoiler (under the bumper) that always give problems. The worse is the windows that can't shut tight, the wind noise and worse the water that seep in when it rains are the most annoying defects of the 456 Series 1. The 456M doesn't have these problems, but then they're more expensive too.

Agree, the engines are pretty bullet proof. As far as I know only one has gone kaput. Windows are the major annoynance. No fix is permenent. On the headlights, it is more an issue that they stick when you don't use them for extended periods. My guess is that the 456 GT is the best value in 12 cylinder Ferrari's right now. Prices are at or lower than 365 GTC4, 365 GT 2+2, 330 GT 2+2, and near half that of the 550.

 

[Granucci]

And Seven Years Later?

Still hold true. Get the best one you can though.

 

[Killer58]

I'm tellin' you, when I get back from cruise, I'll be on a serious 456 hunt !

 

[Boxer]

Still hold true. Get the best one you can though.

+1, one I had turned out to be a real dog.

 

[djbils]

+1, one I had turned out to be a real dog.

What sorts of things went wrong for you on yours that made it a dog??

 

[Boxer]

What sorts of things went wrong for you on yours that made it a dog??

The short list includes:

cambelt jumped a tooth
windows did not close properly
radio died
horn died
clutch needed replacement after only 5k miles
cooling fans failed

etc.

 

[Granucci]

The short list includes:

cambelt jumped a tooth
windows did not close properly
radio died
horn died
clutch needed replacement after only 5k miles
cooling fans failed

etc.

I can think of many more and have posted them. I'll put the link in here later.

However, these older models are approaching some interesting maintenance timelines one did not suspect until they grew 'older'.

- Exhaust manifolds
- CATs
- Motor mounts,
- Shocks
- Valve guids, depending
and those are the list of typical suspects.

IF it werent for the fact I [stupidly] LOVE the looks of the older GT over the M series, I would highly recommend if this is the general 2+2 one is considering to strictly go with the M-series ONLY!

You'll be glad you did.

Now would I do it differently or choose the M: Not. That's how stupid some of us can be. No one said I swam in the deep end of the good gene-pool

 

[djbils]

IF it werent for the fact I [stupidly] LOVE the looks of the older GT over the M series, I would highly recommend if this is the general 2+2 one is considering to strictly go with the M-series ONLY!

You'll be glad you did.

Well I'll just have to cross my fingers since I have just bought a manual GT, just couldn't find a decent manual M (RHD) in my price range and didn't want to wait until one popped up, not many around so didn't know how long that would take.

 

[tazandjan]

Darren- Through 2003, there were only 32 UK RHD M GTs built and 139 M GTAs, so they are pretty rare in RHD form. You made the correct decision on picking up a GT. If you have a 5.2 car, there is really little advantage to an M. The weird M firing order was only used on that car. Ferrari kept the GT firing order on the rest of the V12s through at least the 599.

 

[Mark456M]

If you have a 5.2 car, there is really little advantage to an M.

Other than a nicer dash layout (IMHO), c/f hood, different front bumper, fixed rear spoiler and a host of other small improvements....:thumbsup:

 

[tazandjan]

Mark- Affirmative, no doubt the M was improved, just really hard to find. The M also had Scaglietti options not available on the 456. Like colored brake calipers, Daytona seats, navigation system, gray wheels, titanium wheel caps, etc.

 

[djbils]

Darren- Through 2003, there were only 32 UK RHD M GTs built and 139 M GTAs, so they are pretty rare in RHD form. You made the correct decision on picking up a GT. If you have a 5.2 car, there is really little advantage to an M. The weird M firing order was only used on that car. Ferrari kept the GT firing order on the rest of the V12s through at least the 599.

I'm pretty comfortable with my purchase Terry (fingers crossed anyway), car is a 97 GT, will be sometime before I see it, even longer before I get to drive it.

 

[tazandjan]

Darren- Your 97 is a Motronic 5.2 car, same as the 456M. Early 456s were Motronic 2.7 cars. If you go to this website, you can download owners manuals and workshop manuals for your car. Make sure and download the expanded M electrical section, because it has all the door diagrams, etc, that also apply (mostly) to the 456.

Might as well be an expert before the car gets there.

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