Thinking of first Ferrari. Why are 456's so cheap?

[G. Pepper]

Originally Posted by oss117

George, with all due respect, the mechanical complications you are talking about never give any problem: the elctrically operated spoiler works flawlessly and if it does not, no one will ever notice it.
Most cars, including my Kia Sorento have the same convenient feature that allows you to turn the engine off first and then close the windows (or open them as well).
The shock actuators do have a weak point in the plastic gears that eventually will require fixing, but having the ability to change the suspension settings on the fly is a nice thing to have and in 1992 how many cars could match that?
What is missing, IMO, is cruise control (mainly to keep your speed from creeping up without you noticing it until you see the blue lights) and traction control, to keep the front end in the front and the rear end in the back.

Again, as the poster I was responding to said, these are things we have heard from the guys who work on our cars.

However, I went over to check on my car today, and Jim had the interior door panels off and showed me how the window mechanicals work. My God, it's artfully designed, but it looks like what an artist would come up with in a Rube Goldberg Design Competition. Just a gajillion little fragile moving parts that look like a door slam could bend them.

Seriously, I just wish Ferrari would let Chrysler do their window mechanisms. My nine-year-old RAM 1500 has 105K miles on it, and I've never even had a switch fail. Same with my mom's Grand Caravan, and it has a power sliding door added to the mix.

Why should the windows in my $40K truck be more reliable than with my $230K GT? These are the kinds of circles you have to square to rationalize owning a Ferrari.

Cheers,

George

[b-mak]

Originally Posted by 166&456

In track driving, the difference in skill is now often seen in who needs to change tires and brake pads sooner.

Not in my world.

[open roads]

... just your good fortune to have such great taste and be so astute as to realize such a ravingly great value.


Honestly I was thinking about getting another one. I was thinking of twins.

[SonomaRik]

Originally Posted by Sweet928

I was thinking mid 50's for a 456 IS cheap. That's A LOT of car for the money IMHO. I mean well loved/old 3X8's are @40k and they are 20+ years older. I know it's apples and oranges but I have a weekend toy that I love (928). I've just been itching for an F car...well for my whole life. I started thinking why another (additional) weekend car. Why not a GT and drive it, every single day.

So the real question still is what's the average annual cost to drive as a DD? A few grand a year? 5? 10? 15?

caught this response just now:

I agree that mid 50s 'seems' a cheap bargain and honestly that's what it is, as my final quote states that'll be just the down payment. I will not post the numerous objects needing constant attention but you'll be sorting the items for as much as $5k/year as these get even older. I've seen everything from exhaust manifolds going toasty, to shocks needing the rebuild to radiators [rebuild] to replacement along with their heater cores, and if not sorted the hoses, bearings and motor mounts and seat problems windows [older GTs of course] etc. etc. Then the wiring upgrades for SR which makes things so much better etc etc. Lets not forget the crinkly HVAC or sticky parts Leaking cam bearings, spoiler fun gremlins, even valve guides [small percentage] etc.

Would I refuse to buy one knowing this, hmmm, I'm thinking. Mine will be around for a long time, expecting, but I would most definetly state there are no bargains and this oldest GT will need more love and care than most. If it weren't for the more desired hood, I'd go with the M series easily and have a ton less issues.

$50k...just the start. On a side note: IF you find one that is NOT a garage queen and has healthy miles, I'd say that over the very low mile one.

[tajaro]

Wonderful post! Great points.

[mcypert]

Dear Sweet 928:

Took delivery last Monday on my 95 456, 6 spd, 16k miles. Years ago and over the years, I put 125k miles on my 928S, 5 spd of course, and still miss it. It had some mod's and was as quick as an S4.

If you like the 928, you're gonna love the 456. It is light speed quick compared to the 928 but has that same solid feel as the 928 at speed. Also, I like the back seat, just like the Porsche.

What is scary though is repair costs. Just 500 miles ago, last summer, the previous owner of the 456 spent $28,000 on repairs and service at an independent shop. Seems something broke inside the transaxle and the only option was a total overhaul.

I had had my 928 only 2 days when something similar happened to it. The spline out of the transaxle stripped and I had to split the cases to repair it and replace the driveshaft. This was back in 1988 and the bill was $3300, which also scared me as an omen of things to come. I spent a few bucks here and there on the Porsche over the next 125,000 miles, but nothing major. It was still clean and solid when I sold it.

I'm hoping I have similar luck with the 456, and I highly recommend it.

Regards.....Mark in Houston

[deanhalter]

I have owned my 95 for just over three years and put just under 22K miles on it; it is close to 60K now.

I have gone though the car and it is getting due for another major so we will see how the first time has held up. I do almost all my own work (excepting paint, leather, and shocks).

So far I have done:

Cam Belts, tensioners, etc
All new cam seals, cover gaskets, etc
Valve adjustment (needed 35 new shims!)
Injectors cleaned
Coolant hoses (including the dreaded "valley" ones)
Intake manifold gasket - done with coolant hoses
Radiator repaired
Sparkplugs - twice
New set of plug wires - driver's side
Motor mounts - a right pain that job is...
New hoses for power steering system
New oil thermostat

Brake pads - twice (Porterfields squeal - bad...)
Front rotors turned

Rear shocks rebuilt at Delta Vee

Both window regulators - able to adjust one, other bought new
Driver window computer replaced - these are rare and $$$$
Driver door harness replaced - many wires corroded - probably what killed the computer...

Removed and recovered the headliner, dashboard (all), rear package shelf
New windshield
Painted front bumper and rear of car

I can say that under these conditions, I am under $5K per year, but that is by taking the car off the road from mid November to early March and working on it 10 hours per week on average...

YMMV

[mcypert]

Dean:

That's what I plan to do, that is, service it myself when I can. If you don't mind, I might send you a private message when I get stuck. Although, we'll see if I even average 2K miles a year. I work from home so this is just a toy, but we do plan to make some trips. Dallas and the Casinos in Louisiana later this week. All my service is up to date, so shouldn't have much for a while.

Regards......Mark in Houston

[tmario]

are the back seats usable by adults? say the 5.5 foot variety?

Mario

[SonomaRik]

Originally Posted by tmario

are the back seats usable by adults? say the 5.5 foot variety?

Mario

yes, even up to 6.2

[Tassie]

Sounded like a good idea so I just did it.
He who hesitates comes second.

[G. Pepper]

Originally Posted by SonomaRik

yes, even up to 6.2

If the driver is 6'2", as I am, there is zero legroom in the back of a 456: With the seat all the way back, you could barely even squeak a sneaker between the seats. IOW, A 5'5" adult would have to be a double-amputee to sit behind me. lol.

Now, if the DRIVER is 5'5", that's another story, but I sure as heck wouldn't want to be back there for any length of time.

IMHO, best to consider the back seats for kids 12 and under and leave it at that.

Cheers,

George

[tmario]

Thanks for the info!

M

[deanhalter]

The rear seats are more for a child - no question.

However - I have sat in the back for a 30 min ride with a similarly sized adult sitting in the front (~5'10") and it is not bad. This is exactly why the four seater is key. For that rare time when you need the extra seat - you have it...

[G. Pepper]

Originally Posted by deanhalter

The rear seats are more for a child - no question.

However - I have sat in the back for a 30 min ride with a similarly sized adult sitting in the front (~5'10") and it is not bad. This is exactly why the four seater is key. For that rare time when you need the extra seat - you have it...

Fair point. I guess the way I would put it is that, IN A PINCH you could have an adult back there.

Cheers,

George

[Playframe King]

Originally Posted by G. Pepper

Fair point. I guess the way I would put it is that, IN A PINCH you could have an adult back there.

Cheers,

George

My son is 6ft 2 at 15 - and he sits in the back with his feet between the front seats - I am not exactly tall but he also has size 12 feet which will not fit (sneakers or not) under/between his seat in rear and mine.. Which reminds me my milkman was quite tall 16 yrs ago.........

[SonomaRik]

Originally Posted by G. Pepper

If the driver is 6'2", as I am, there is zero legroom in the back of a 456: With the seat all the way back, you could barely even squeak a sneaker between the seats. IOW, A 5'5" adult would have to be a double-amputee to sit behind me. lol.

Now, if the DRIVER is 5'5", that's another story, but I sure as heck wouldn't want to be back there for any length of time.

IMHO, best to consider the back seats for kids 12 and under and leave it at that.

Cheers,

George

he was asking about the back seat person's height. No mention of the driver or passenger front
but yes, I'm 6' and stuffing someone in the back 6' or over [BEHIND me] is tight, and I would move fwd a bit. With a stick this is a problem so I usually have the wife move fwd and stuff them in the passenger's side back.

As for comfort in front or back the seats are suitable for long drives.

[2000 456M]

Originally Posted by SonomaRik

As for comfort in front or back the seats are suitable for long drives.

+1 I drove from San Francisco to Portland in one day (about 635 miles). I arrived comfortable and refreshed.

[oss117]

I am 5' 10", my wife is 5' 8" and our kids aged 17 and 14 are almost as tall as we are, but with bigger feet.
We just slide our seats forward a bit and we get no complaints.