Ferrari 456 - automatic transmission.....Trend ?

Are you suggesting that manuals are becoming rarer, or what trend are you trying to identify?

 

Nothing new; this has been the case in the US for a long time (my search began seven years ago and 456M sticks were very hard to find. There are far more stick 456s (1995-1998) on the market. More automatics were imported into the US, but not such a greater ratio as appear in the market. Stick Ms seem to turn over less frequently. BTW, although I prefer the involvement of driving a 3-pedal car, there are many times that I prefer the auto or it makes no difference, because I use the car as a DD with its traffic or for trips over the coast range to the beach rather than for weekend thrashes in the country. Driving in stop and go traffic or stopped uphill at a traffic light with someone 3 feet behind you aren't much fun with a manual tranny.

 

Especially with the emergency brake buried on the left side of the driver. I must open the door to use the brake. Still, love the car and the 6 speed, also used as daily driver.

Keith

 

What, is your hand the size of a ham?

I'm a big guy, and I need not open the door to activate the parking brake; plenty of room in my '95 456GT.

 

Keith- Takes a bit of practice. I used to have to do the same thing with my 575M, but now have it down so I can use it easily. Probably helped by a bunch of Corvettes in the past, the last 6 of which had the same handbrake set-up.

 

I wasn't trying to be dismissive, or flippant, or rude in my comment, I simply do not understand why anyone would encounter difficulty using the handbrake.

Me, being long-legged, have occasional issues with the door hitting my leg while closing, if I forget to move my leg sufficiently inward.

Pretty tight quarters, no question.

 

Nobody is making manuals. The 456 (and550) are the last of the front engined V12s that were made in numbers. Why sell them? They will slowly appreciate.

 

The issue stems from me being short, 5'6", and short legged. The seat is so far forward that the hand brake is covered by the seat bolster and my small hand will not fit between the door and seat.

Since this is a "major" issue the rest must be OK. It is amazing that car builders can include enough adjustments to make us all comfortble(nearly).

Keith

Keith

 

OK, thanks for clarifying, I understand now.

 

I would like to be clear on what transmission appears in what model. .. when I see the 456 GTA, that’s an automatic (with torque converter). When I see a 550 that is not a manual, that too is an automatic (with torque converter). When I see a 575 that is not a manual, that is an F1 (without torque converter).

To summarize, is it true that 1.) there are no 550’s with F1 and 2.) there are no 575’s with automatics?

Greg

 

Your statement 1.) is true, but there are no 550's with "any" type of automatic. All were 6spd, 3 pedal, manual transmission cars.

Your statement 2.) is also true, if you don't consider the F1 to be an automatic setup.

 

Thank you John. Is the 456 GTA a conventional automatic, with torque converter?

 

Yes, it's based on a GMC unit modified by Ricardo.

 

I’m grateful for the news, and a little embarrassed too. This explains, for months, why I’ve not been able to find any info about a 550 automatic in the WSM, Ricambi America etc. Plus, every time I view a 550 on the web I scroll down to the interior shots to make sure it’s a manual! I never would have guessed there was not an automatic. Thanks again. Greg

 

Everyone here has had to move up the learning curve from zero at some point.

 

I sure started there 6 years ago.

 

...and you are now the guru on the mountaintop whom all seekers of knowledge visit with gratitude. Seriously.

 

You live and learn. I thought some 550's were F1 until I joined this site, and I just recently learned that 550's don't have the same self-leveling rear suspension as the 456's.

No biggie.

Cheers,

George

 

It's not an M. All 1995s were 6-speeds. It's the Ms with manual trannies that come to market less often.