Ferrari 456 Manual vs FF for Euro road trip

[belfry]

My wife and I have a 3-week trip coming up, UK, Provence, Costa Brava, Pyrenees then home via Santander ferry.

I have the option of a LHD 1995 456 manual or a 2012 RHD FF. We've done several similar trips in the 456 before and it is very comfortable for this purpose, while still feeling special. The FF is new to us, so untested. My choice is only between these 2 cars.

The grunt work of getting from the UK to Provence is tiresome and boring with a steady 130kph on the autoroute. Neither car wins for this section, as a diesel Discovery would be better at this dull part of the trip.

My question is more about taking a FF (or maybe any other low, wide recent Ferrari with carbon fibre exterior parts) to these regions. How would a modern Fezza (with a dual clutch 7 speed gearbox and front spoiler) cope with the steep entrances, difficult pavements and narrow streets of those medieval villages? Is this a world of frustration or am I missing something?

The 456 has some battle scars while the FF is still pristine.

Does anyone have experience with this scenario please? I know that I am lucky to have this choice, and I am a petrolhead romantic so our Eurotrip IS going to happen in a V12 Ferrari, more for the experience than the practicality.

Many thanks in advance.

[Dinoboy]

I'd probably take the FF for the superior AC alone.

[belfry]

Dinoboy said:

I'd probably take the FF for the superior AC alone.

Interesting. Thank you. With our current UK temperatures, I'd not thought about that aspect. Although, I did fit a new AC compressor to the 456 last year and it does a decent job.

[Fast Eddie]

belfry said:

My wife and I have a 3-week trip coming up, UK, Provence, Costa Brava, Pyrenees then home via Santander ferry.

I have the option of a LHD 1995 456 manual or a 2012 RHD FF. We've done several similar trips in the 456 before and it is very comfortable for this purpose, while still feeling special. The FF is new to us, so untested. My choice is only between these 2 cars.

The grunt work of getting from the UK to Provence is tiresome and boring with a steady 130kph on the autoroute. Neither car wins for this section, as a diesel Discovery would be better at this dull part of the trip.

My question is more about taking a FF (or maybe any other low, wide recent Ferrari with carbon fibre exterior parts) to these regions. How would a modern Fezza (with a dual clutch 7 speed gearbox and front spoiler) cope with the steep entrances, difficult pavements and narrow streets of those medieval villages? Is this a world of frustration or am I missing something?

The 456 has some battle scars while the FF is still pristine.

Does anyone have experience with this scenario please? I know that I am lucky to have this choice, and I am a petrolhead romantic so our Eurotrip IS going to happen in a V12 Ferrari, more for the experience than the practicality.

Many thanks in advance.

First of all, what a choice to have to make and I like the a/c consideration.
I have no answer other than to ask why you are staying on the autoroutes?
I haven't looked at a map but there must be some lovely pit stops to be had in those wonderful little French villages off the beaten track where the locals are imbibing at an impossible early hour?

Enjoy the journey however you get there in whatever car you choose

[willy wombat]

I’ve never owned an FF but I have done plenty European road trips in 599/California/458/Portofino and have never had problems with villages, ramps etc. interestingly, we’ve always done France and Italy but it might make a nice change to turn right at the French Mediterranean coast and go to Spain instead.

[DMZ]

The Pyrenees should be special in an FF, assuming your passenger will put up with hard driving. The autoroute slog you can do in anything obviously, that's just transport.

[belfry]

Fast Eddie said:

I have no answer other than to ask why you are staying on the autoroutes?

We have a week with friends in provence then a week in a villa on the Costa Brava, so we are keen to get down to the South of France as soon as possible. I have a finite amount of holiday so we're focussing on these elements.

That said, the journey from Barcelona to Santander over a couple of days will be new ground for us and we will be more able to explore the smaller roads along the Pyrenees.

[Fast Eddie]

belfry said:

We have a week with friends in provence then a week in a villa on the Costa Brava, so we are keen to get down to the South of France as soon as possible. I have a finite amount of holiday so we're focussing on these elements.

That said, the journey from Barcelona to Santander over a couple of days will be new ground for us and we will be more able to explore the smaller roads along the Pyrenees.

[johnnyreggae]

Surely the trip you describe is the perfect opportunity to try the overall capabilities of the car and discover how much everything has moved on in twenty years

[markiii]

both and swap over during trip for comparison

[belfry]

Here’s a picture of the 456 from this afternoon for context.

[ANOpax]

Does your FF have lift? If so, ground clearance definitely won’t be a problem. Even without it, I think you’ll be okay. I have no experience of the 456 but of the F355 (same era). The FF is a continent swallower and I’m sure you’ll be doing more than 130kph on the autoroutes. Given that it’s RHD, buy the electronic toll pass in advance. Not only does it save time at the booths but you don’t need to worry about being on the ‘right’ side of the car.

We’ve taken the FF to Modena via Austria and the Italian lakes as well as Northern Germany, Switzerland, Central France, Provence, Alpes Maritimes, Monaco and Ventimiglia.


Of all those places, the memorably ‘tight’ ones were;
Ventimiglia where the residential roads leading to our hotel were narrow but passable.

And the one place where we came unstuck was the underground parking ramp at our hotel in Klosters. I wasn’t expecting to ground out but we did due to the long wheelbase, lower profile winter tyres, ice deposits on the ramp and the sharp ramp angle. Lift saved the day.

One other question. Does your FF have ventilated seats? They are fantastic in hot weather.

Edited by ANOpax on Sunday 7th May 11:48

[belfry]

Thanks for the real world experience in your reply. I do have ventilated seats, although in the month since I’ve had the car I haven’t needed to se this function.

[MDL111]

It sure what happened but my reply from yesterday didn’t make it.
The main issue is parking garages with steep angles as it will bottom out in the middle and get you stuck (at least without lift). Mine has some scratches from stones / bushes on tight roads and if you are precious about it, then that might stress you. Usually only a couple of centimetres to spare on southern European roads, so takes some getting used to .
Overall it does the job very well, only thing missing is a manual transmission

[Bispal]

Though not Ferrrai based I often find myself in a similar dilemma chosing between my supercar or an older car. We do a big euro trip every year and for the past 3 years we have taken an older, cheap 986 Boxster over a supercar, which is what we used to take. Many reasons why but mostly we visit little villages, beaches, mountain car parks and small hotels and the constant worry about the supercar began to distract from the holiday. So pleased we did last year as there is no way we would have parked our McLaren at the villa we rented in St Paul de Vence. Secondly the autoroutes are dull and it's probably no place to 'waste' Miles in a supercar, although I still do this in the UK. A manual gearbox allows fun when you do reach a twisty road, even at slower speeds. Slow speeds in an autobox are almost always dull on the autoroutes. You should try and vary your route, even if on limited time at least break the route up by taking the D996 just south of Troyes to Dijon, you will lose no time and even if you use Route Napoleon only a few hours but well worth it. Not sure which car I would take, if you do go all autoroute then whatever is comfiest and uses the least fuel (can't imagine there is much in that) if you haven't used the FF on a tour yet then could be a good bonding trip but make sure all your destinations, routes, parking are known as its a big car and requires frequent stops at the petrol station. Also the FF may be met with some resentment in France but who doesn't love a classic Ferrari? Nice dilemma to have.

Edited by Bispal on Tuesday 9th May 07:52

[belfry]

Bispal said:

Also the FF may be met with some resentment in France

Is this still a thing?

20 years ago we had 2 stereos stolen and one entire car over the course of 3 years in the South of France. I thought that the days of jealousy and resentment towards expensive cars had largely gone. But I might be out of touch?

[DRZ]

belfry said:

Is this still a thing?

20 years ago we had 2 stereos stolen and one entire car over the course of 3 years in the South of France. I thought that the days of jealousy and resentment towards expensive cars had largely gone. But I might be out of touch?

I wasn't in a Ferrari, instead in a bright orange McLaren but I had nothing but smiles, friendly waves and excitement from locals when passing through France last year. Certainly nothing even remotely approaching unpleasantness or jealousy.

[Bispal]

DRZ said:

belfry said:

Is this still a thing?

20 years ago we had 2 stereos stolen and one entire car over the course of 3 years in the South of France. I thought that the days of jealousy and resentment towards expensive cars had largely gone. But I might be out of touch?

I wasn't in a Ferrari, instead in a bright orange McLaren but I had nothing but smiles, friendly waves and excitement from locals when passing through France last year. Certainly nothing even remotely approaching unpleasantness or jealousy.

I am talking about parking in town / village centres, not just 'passing through'. Perhaps I am the only one that parks on street in the South of France and visits small hill top towns and hard to reach beaches? Just one small element of a whole host of things to consider, its not the main one.

[belfry]

Bispal
Your post was exactly what got me thinking. If I was in Italy or Germany I'd take the FF.
I used to play a game with my kids when they were younger; "who can spot a French car without any damage?"
I am probably way too precious but I do get stressed when someone dents the door of my car in a supermarket carpark.
I'm not worried about miles or stonechips, but I do mind paying to repair the damage caused by others.

[Bispal]

belfry said:

Bispal
Your post was exactly what got me thinking. If I was in Italy or Germany I'd take the FF.
I used to play a game with my kids when they were younger; "who can spot a French car without any damage?"
I am probably way too precious but I do get stressed when someone dents the door of my car in a supermarket carpark.
I'm not worried about miles or stonechips, but I do mind paying to repair the damage caused by others.

The vast majority of cars in France are dented, scratched and littered in parking battle scars. When we go to the supermarket its literally like a scrap yard. For 99% of people in France cars seem to be just means of getting from A-B as cheaply as possible and they don't seem to care. So we gave up taking the McLaren and take an old Boxster (on our third). If you're passing through on route to Switzerland or Monaco then fine but if staying in France for a few weeks I would not take my pride and Joy. I've been thinking about an FF myself. A friend just bought one and took it on a large Euro tour (he might be along to comment soon when he sees your thread) he says he enjoyed it more than his 812 GTS (luggage wouldn't fit) either. he did say it felt big but was very comfy and luxurious and sounded epic but was 2k miles of range anxiety however he arrived home with a big grin :-)