My first Ferrari V-12 (2012 FF) | FerrariChat

My first Ferrari V-12 (2012 FF)

Discussion in 'FF/Lusso' started by IDriveM5, Mar 31, 2021.

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  1. IDriveM5

    IDriveM5 F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2012
    2,675
    Central Ohio
    Full Name:
    Raj
    Hello folks,
    I'm pleased to announce that I've welcomed into my home a 2012 Grigio FF / Cuoio Toscano FF. This car came to me with about 27k miles, and is highly optioned, ticking almost every single one of my boxes. Options include factory rear-seat DVD entertainment (for my 2 daughters), cruise control, passenger display, AFS, front lifter, upgraded leather interior with leather lined boot, front end PPF, and built-in/concealed Escort Passport 9500ci radar detector / laser jammer. There are too many more features to list - the sticker price was $399k (and I have the sticker to prove it). :)
    I really enjoy the lovely sounds the engine makes, the power and responsiveness of the massive V-12 engine, and the agility of the double clutch gearbox. Everything works together really well (engine/gearbox), and it's easy to achieve BIG speeds before you're even out of 2nd gear. Also, the car functions well, everything works nicely, apart from the seatbelt extenders which get confused sometimes. But, hey, it's a Ferrari.
    Actually, my last Ferrari was an '01 360 Spider, which felt like it was a ticking timebomb of repair needs. Comparatively, the FF presents itself like a rocket ship - Ferrari cars have come a very long way over the past 20 years!
    I'm looking forward to a number of family road trips this Spring and Summer in the United States. I suppose the best thing about the car is that I can use it in far more circumstances than I could with my 360 Spider. I love being able to take my kids to school or soccer practice in this hilariously overpowered family car. It's the right equipment for this time in my life. Maybe some day I'll sell it and move into an F12 B. The V-12 line has really made an impact on me!;)
     

    Attached Files:

    otakki, Lupo, ANOpax and 7 others like this.
  2. Natkingcolebasket69

    Natkingcolebasket69 F1 World Champ

    Enjoy. Don’t worry the FF can also be a time bomb for repairs ;)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    vraa likes this.
  3. Akhil

    Akhil Rookie

    Feb 19, 2019
    32
    Medina Washington
    Full Name:
    Tom T
    Congrats! Looked at that particular FF over the summer last year when it was for sale in California. I believe it had the PTU replaced or repaired!
     
    Natkingcolebasket69 likes this.
  4. knocker

    knocker F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 10, 2017
    11,783
    Sydney Aus
    Full Name:
    Adrian
    Funnily i have a 360 spider and have been looking at an ff but i got plenty of “dont bother 2 clutches”! ect, or are they reliable ,have any owners experienced major failures of any kind or are they infact fantastic value and extremely well made cars?
    Regards Adrian
     
  5. Akhil

    Akhil Rookie

    Feb 19, 2019
    32
    Medina Washington
    Full Name:
    Tom T
    The day my FF came off the truck lift pump and DCT went bad. Both are 5 digit number in terms of dealer replacement cost.
     
    vraa likes this.
  6. haroonok

    haroonok Formula 3

    Sep 5, 2007
    1,152
    england
    Full Name:
    haroon
    Congratulations on your new FF-you will love it!
     
  7. ANOpax

    ANOpax Formula 3

    Jul 1, 2015
    1,124
    The Netherlands
    That's really bad luck but at least the problems appeared before you accepted the car.
    The lift pump can normally be fixed for a few $$ as it is usually just a blown gasket in the pump housing. Unfortunately, the official fix is to replace the entire pump with an updated design which also requires a new wiring loom and recoding of the car - hence the $10,000 bill.
     
  8. knocker

    knocker F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 10, 2017
    11,783
    Sydney Aus
    Full Name:
    Adrian
    Forget it i,ll get a 328 instead
     
  9. IDriveM5

    IDriveM5 F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2012
    2,675
    Central Ohio
    Full Name:
    Raj
    Hey, thanks for your post. How can I find out more about this repair? Can you tell me where you think it took place? I’ll call the shop.
    The car came with only some service records, and I know the history is incomplete, so I’m trying to track down as many records as I can.

    I like the car quite a bit. I just had a fluid service performed this week and my Indie mechanic told me that the water pump will need to be replaced due to leakage. Odd part is that this wasn’t caught on the PPI.
    But, other than that, things check out pretty well. Of course, it’s a used Ferrari, so there could be anything could happen at any moment.
     
  10. IDriveM5

    IDriveM5 F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2012
    2,675
    Central Ohio
    Full Name:
    Raj
    I think these are all very fair points. I’m too new into this FF journey to comment with any experience. My research indicates the two or three major weak points which have been documented well on this forum. But those aren’t guaranteed to happen on each car. So, like any used Ferrari, it’s a roll of the dice.
    What I can say with confidence is that the FF is a good bet for me personally. This is due to having two young daughters and wanting to share the Ferrari experience with them. There’s plenty of room in the rear seats and my car has factory rear seat entertainment when they get bored. Plus it fits within my budget, if I had more $, I probably would have gotten a V-12 Lusso. But I sold a 360 Spider F1, not a Challenge Stradale!
     
    plastique999 likes this.
  11. FerRrari

    FerRrari Formula 3

    Jan 11, 2009
    1,169
    WA
    Full Name:
    Fernando
    Congrats! I’m keeping my gated 360 Spider as a complement to my incoming FF. Let’s see if I manage to hold on to the 360 long-term. I’m excited for the FF precisely because I’ll get to share it with my 2 young kids.
     
    IDriveM5 likes this.
  12. Dfmontaz

    Dfmontaz Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 16, 2016
    53
    South Florida
    Congrats - I’m just getting familiar with mine. It’s overwhelmingly powerful coming from the everything but v12 world. I love this thing!


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
     
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  13. Akhil

    Akhil Rookie

    Feb 19, 2019
    32
    Medina Washington
    Full Name:
    Tom T

    I don't know exactly where the PTU was replaced but I do remember Subaru of Oakland " original dealer " listed the car in June for $98,500 and it had the Mannetino failure light as well as the 4WD system failure light on the dash. Also saw it listed at Mainheim auction during the summer with the same lights on the dash. Im guessing that the dealer who purchased it wholesale did some work on it before they sold it to you.
     
  14. ANOpax

    ANOpax Formula 3

    Jul 1, 2015
    1,124
    The Netherlands
    Hi Raj, welcome to FF ownership. I sent you a PM about the water pump.
     
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  15. IDriveM5

    IDriveM5 F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2012
    2,675
    Central Ohio
    Full Name:
    Raj
    #15 IDriveM5, Apr 5, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2021
    Really interesting. You’re certain it’s this car? I ask because there is no Subaru dealership on my car’s CarFax report. I realize CarFax isn’t the gospel, but it would be a bit of a stretch to miss one of the dealers that tried to sell the car. There’s also no Mannheim auction record (indeed no auction record at all) on the CarFax.
    Edit: No warning lights whatsoever on the car, no permanent codes when scanned with the Ferrari diagnostic tools either. 2 Indie Ferrari mechanics have told me they think it’s a really great example of the FF. Feel free to PM if you like, I’m happy to say more and share the CarFax. It would help me to reveal as much as I can about the car!
     
  16. IDriveM5

    IDriveM5 F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2012
    2,675
    Central Ohio
    Full Name:
    Raj
    Thanks very much, I have replied and appreciate learning.
     
  17. Akhil

    Akhil Rookie

    Feb 19, 2019
    32
    Medina Washington
    Full Name:
    Tom T
    When I was looking to purchase the car last summer I noted the car was listed for sale some time ago from a dealer that I've done many deals in the past " Park Place LTD". Im sure Doug Taylor from service could fill you in on some past service records. On CarFax the Subaru dealer is listed as " Downtown Auto Center". Attached below is the original listing from Park Place LTD and the Mainheim listing!

    https://www.parkplaceltd.com/used-cars/detail/2012-Ferrari-FF/995/ZFF73SKA9C0183606

    https://plc.ua/en/auctions/lot/ferrari-ff-2012-vin-zff73ska9c0183606-mh-zff73ska9c0183606/
     
  18. IDriveM5

    IDriveM5 F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2012
    2,675
    Central Ohio
    Full Name:
    Raj
    #18 IDriveM5, Apr 7, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2021
    Thanks! Will review. The internet is forever, isn’t it?
    With knowing how finicky the FF is with its battery voltage, I wonder if the error lights (Mannetino / 4WD) were phantom errors. I have obtained the service records from Park Place, those were quite some time ago. Something else which is interesting is that the Park Place page lists this car as having a $372k sticker whereas I have the actual sticker and it clearly shows $398k. Hmm...
    The Manheim post is kind of spooky, seeing my own car on their site like that. I did a couple of Google searches for this VIN before I bought the car but I didn’t see that page.
    Thanks again!
     
  19. Natkingcolebasket69

    Natkingcolebasket69 F1 World Champ

    U should find at a minimum all the records from the 7 year maintenance at the Ferrari dealer.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  20. Akhil

    Akhil Rookie

    Feb 19, 2019
    32
    Medina Washington
    Full Name:
    Tom T
    No problem! Knowing the car was in delivered thru Ferrari of Seattle I would give them a call and ask If they can at minimum list what they have done to the car throughout the years. I know they won't release official service records for privacy but won't hurt to ask.
     

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