Ferrari 612 Long Term Report
Discussion
With the 2005/06 cars getting to the 50k mark I thought I might add a few words on my life with a 612 for the last 2.5 years.
Since I bought it the car has been spectacularly reliable, beating even my Quattroporte which I owned for 4 years.
In fact the car has never had a single mechanical fault, the only two issues are an intermittent problem with the Tyre Pressure sensor and very recently the CF (remember those!?!) memory card reader is faulty.
The car has been driven every day, come rain, shine, sleet and snow. During the snowstorms it got me to work without a glitch. I did cheat though, I hooked up a small room heater (with thermostat) to an extension and had it running overnight (my car sleeps outside). This meant a very toastie interior and clear windows from the first moment. Well worth the 30 quid for a ceramic heater.
The car has to tackle speed bumps and the potholed cycling route hell which is the east end daily and never complained once. I regularly carry 4 people although most of the time it is two children.
Managed to get a baby seat which has a narrow enough to fit in the rear seats, but I have absolutely no idea where the famous "isofix" fittings are. They mention them in the documentation but even the main dealers have no idea where they are or how to get to them.
The car benefited hugely by fitting smaller section tires, the previous ones were simply too wide. The previous owner fitted 335s at the rear which were swapped for 315s. This makes the car more agile and at the next opportunity I will change the fronts from 275 to 265 or 255s depending on what will fit at the time. The lower size also opens up all the Porsche fitting range which all have winter tire equivalents.
I could not recommend the car more, and whilst I still think the Quattroporte was the best car I ever owned the 612 is getting very close. Servicing and repair cost have been kept to below Audi level (use wife's petrol Q7 as a comparison) and insurance is 1500 for a 43yr old with max no claims parked on a drive in E18.
From a dynamic standpoint the car is very impressive, as it passes the 100 mark the car simply squats and 165 in 5th (max to date) is possible in reasonably short spaces. Granted there are faster cars, and certainly quieter cars at speed. Brakes are not hugely impressive, especially for an ex-biker but they do the job. Its very easy to change the radius of turn even at 9/10ths, which for such a big vehicle is quite impressive, and when it does let go it does so predictably (especially with the smaller section tires).
For such a small outlay (nowadays) you get a Ferrari V12, which ultimately is the most famous engine line ever made. As Von Karajan said, its sounds better than the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
FF is going to be the next car, although in 1.5 years as prices are not falling fast enough.
Since I bought it the car has been spectacularly reliable, beating even my Quattroporte which I owned for 4 years.
In fact the car has never had a single mechanical fault, the only two issues are an intermittent problem with the Tyre Pressure sensor and very recently the CF (remember those!?!) memory card reader is faulty.
The car has been driven every day, come rain, shine, sleet and snow. During the snowstorms it got me to work without a glitch. I did cheat though, I hooked up a small room heater (with thermostat) to an extension and had it running overnight (my car sleeps outside). This meant a very toastie interior and clear windows from the first moment. Well worth the 30 quid for a ceramic heater.
The car has to tackle speed bumps and the potholed cycling route hell which is the east end daily and never complained once. I regularly carry 4 people although most of the time it is two children.
Managed to get a baby seat which has a narrow enough to fit in the rear seats, but I have absolutely no idea where the famous "isofix" fittings are. They mention them in the documentation but even the main dealers have no idea where they are or how to get to them.
The car benefited hugely by fitting smaller section tires, the previous ones were simply too wide. The previous owner fitted 335s at the rear which were swapped for 315s. This makes the car more agile and at the next opportunity I will change the fronts from 275 to 265 or 255s depending on what will fit at the time. The lower size also opens up all the Porsche fitting range which all have winter tire equivalents.
I could not recommend the car more, and whilst I still think the Quattroporte was the best car I ever owned the 612 is getting very close. Servicing and repair cost have been kept to below Audi level (use wife's petrol Q7 as a comparison) and insurance is 1500 for a 43yr old with max no claims parked on a drive in E18.
From a dynamic standpoint the car is very impressive, as it passes the 100 mark the car simply squats and 165 in 5th (max to date) is possible in reasonably short spaces. Granted there are faster cars, and certainly quieter cars at speed. Brakes are not hugely impressive, especially for an ex-biker but they do the job. Its very easy to change the radius of turn even at 9/10ths, which for such a big vehicle is quite impressive, and when it does let go it does so predictably (especially with the smaller section tires).
For such a small outlay (nowadays) you get a Ferrari V12, which ultimately is the most famous engine line ever made. As Von Karajan said, its sounds better than the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
FF is going to be the next car, although in 1.5 years as prices are not falling fast enough.
Petrus1983 said:
I can certainly see the 612 being my first proper venture into F cars.
May I suggest that you largely ignore low mileage cars or cars that have not been used much, these cars need to be run regularly. Ideally for a 2006 you need a minimum of 30-40k miles and no more than 2 owners.kith said:
Is yours a manual or F1? If the latter, how have you found it in everyday stop-start traffic?
F1 box, have driven it for 2.5 years almost exclusively in traffic, mornings I leave early from E18 (about 06:10) so there is only modest traffic but on the way back its daily gridlock. The car is absolutely fine, to the great astonishment of the mechanic as the clutch wear is very low.Had an F1 box in the Quattroporte as well, same journey and the clutch was changed just after I bought it and never been changed again (4 years). Sold the car to a very good friend of mine 2.5 years ago who still has it and still has not changed the clutch.
Obviously I don't do standing start races with 320d pimped-up to look like M3s, but I am not shy. The QP did Vezlay to Ferrara in 9 hours including pit stops, that is an average speed of 100mph, with my wife in the passenger seat.
AJSG said:
F1 box, have driven it for 2.5 years almost exclusively in traffic, mornings I leave early from E18 (about 06:10) so there is only modest traffic but on the way back its daily gridlock. The car is absolutely fine, to the great astonishment of the mechanic as the clutch wear is very low.
That's good to hear. I've always been of the impression that the F1 boxes, whilst great on the open road, are jerky in town with the underlying odour of clutch.Hmm, there's a Cat D one in the classifieds which is temptingly priced (full inspection permitting)
kith said:
I've always been of the impression that the F1 boxes, whilst great on the open road, are jerky in town with the underlying odour of clutch.
They are as you learn how to use them, but you soon figure out how to lift the gas slightly as you hear the clutch engage for a gear change. All I can say is that the ones I have had worked and continue to work absolutely fine.Also the beauty of the 612 is that it is built by people not by machines which means you can do a lot of stuff yourself should you choose to.
AJSG said:
I wish, mine is black on black, would have much preferred a grey/black one. I park at Petticoat Lane.
Was thinking of having it wrapped in dark gray but I never did anything about it.
At the top of Middlesex St I guess..might wander over for a nose. I regretted not buying the P1 car at £39k 5 yers ago. They clearly can cover the miles after all....Was thinking of having it wrapped in dark gray but I never did anything about it.
kith said:
A car that it definitely on my 'want' list and so much more desireable than its replacement.
if the aesthetic appeals to you, then perhaps. I initially preferred the 612 look over the FF but it's growing on me.....much like when I first bought the 612. It takes time.By any other measure, however, the FF is in a wholly different realm to the 612. I've owned both and whilst I loved the Scaglietti for what it was, it's not a touch on its replacement. Not even close in fact.
London John said:
if the aesthetic appeals to you, then perhaps. I initially preferred the 612 look over the FF but it's growing on me.....much like when I first bought the 612. It takes time.
I love the FF, never driven it but absolutely agree with the shooting brake look. This time when/if I buy one I will definitely wait for a grey/black one.It can be a nightmare finding the isofix, you have to poke through with your finger to see where the metal bars are (as mine dont seem to be level!) and then guide her in so to speak.
I always sit the car seats on towels so as to stop marking the seats and it also means you can use a seat with a slightly wider back.
Happy with mine so far and the f1 gearbox is ok although I would've preferred a manual.
I always sit the car seats on towels so as to stop marking the seats and it also means you can use a seat with a slightly wider back.
Happy with mine so far and the f1 gearbox is ok although I would've preferred a manual.
mirage5512 said:
It can be a nightmare finding the isofix, you have to poke through with your finger to see where the metal bars are (as mine dont seem to be level!) and then guide her in so to speak.
I always sit the car seats on towels so as to stop marking the seats and it also means you can use a seat with a slightly wider back.
Happy with mine so far and the f1 gearbox is ok although I would've preferred a manual.
Very timely thread. I have just bought a 612 manual having been looking for 6 months. I collect it tomorrow morning. I always sit the car seats on towels so as to stop marking the seats and it also means you can use a seat with a slightly wider back.
Happy with mine so far and the f1 gearbox is ok although I would've preferred a manual.
I will have a look for the isofix after I've spent an hour or two coming the long way home. Very exciting.
jimmyslr said:
mirage5512 said:
It can be a nightmare finding the isofix, you have to poke through with your finger to see where the metal bars are (as mine dont seem to be level!) and then guide her in so to speak.
I always sit the car seats on towels so as to stop marking the seats and it also means you can use a seat with a slightly wider back.
Happy with mine so far and the f1 gearbox is ok although I would've preferred a manual.
Very timely thread. I have just bought a 612 manual having been looking for 6 months. I collect it tomorrow morning. I always sit the car seats on towels so as to stop marking the seats and it also means you can use a seat with a slightly wider back.
Happy with mine so far and the f1 gearbox is ok although I would've preferred a manual.
I will have a look for the isofix after I've spent an hour or two coming the long way home. Very exciting.
Which one did you get in the end?
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