Which v12 should I buy?

Over the years I have had a 330 GTC, 512 BB. 550, 575F1, the SuperAmerica, a 599, an F12 and a 812 GTS. Of all these V-12s I only kept the 330 and the SuperAmerica. My favorite is the GTC with a close second the SA. For some reason the newer cars have not been as much fun as the two I kept.

 

The 599 going down my driveway 3 years ago for the last time. This car is on BaT now. Auction ends tomorrow.
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Never meant to say the 550 had an Enzo derived engine. Typo. Sorry I meant the 599.

 

At one point I had both the 599 and the 512TR in my garage. And I must say, that I would not even think of buying a 599 over a 512TR by any means. It is obviously much more modern and fast, but the driving experience sucks, mainly because of the F1 gearbox of course. Also if you try to drive it fast, the car is a little bit heavy and jerky around corners. And the fact, that you can't drive it with the TC off or even drive on RACE mode and with the soft suspension setting in the same time makes the driving experience even worse. Gear changes are too slow anyway and if the roads in your area are not good, you will need to drive the car on SPORT, which will obviously make them even slower.

The 550 is a great car, but definitely not as special as a BB or a TR, in my opinion. But the BB is too hard to drive and not really fast. Also for me if you drive the car often you should definitely go for the BBi to avoid any carb problems if you don't have a good mechanic, that knows this stuff in your area.

The 512TR is much, much easier to drive than a BBi or even a Testarossa and it is actually fast enough even for modern standards.

I still have my 512TR next to my F12 and I have no intention selling it anytime soon.

 

Yeah, I would definitely want to add a yellow first gen. Diablo in the collection in the future. Awesome car.

 

My heart and eyes say BB but my brain says 550.

 

Heart, eyes and brain says 550

 

512 BBi, or the Testarossa, but any of the machines that you listed would be a definite choice for my 2nd Ferrari . I for sure gravitate to the Enzo era cars . The BBi and 308 are the 2 Ferraris that I fell head over heels for when I first saw them.

 

Ciao Lorenz80,
last month I was at Ruote da Sogno in Reggio Emilia, exhibiting all the cars you listed.
In my opinion the most beautiful car of all is just… your Turbo (but I am biased, owning a 328!).
Looking at the cars in person, the BB to my eyes is less perfect than a 308/328/etc. but it really feels coming from a very romantic, metallic, era.
The 512TR to me is simply breath taking, it looks fantastic (but again maybe I am a bit biased because her designer, or restyler, was my friend Piero C.), very emotional, a spaceship that you can compare just with a Countach (imo).
Few months ago there was a red one next to a grey 550 like these ones at Stefauto and she definitely was the queen of the stage.
The 599… I never liked her proportions and style: she’s nice, sure, but it looks too comfortable and modern to me.
The 550 is my strange animal: I never liked it, yet I am just starting to look at it now because of her late price increase and the voices that one day it might be worth a million.
If I was in your situation I’d possibly go with the 550 now but then if in few years time the prices don’t move up I’d trade it with a BB - or add a BB if you can!
Because yes, the 512 TR is breath taking but a BB is pure magic… the one you can find most easily at a Ferrari exhibition too!
One way or the other, if you are Italian and want to buy any of these cars you can send me a message.
Best regards, ciao!
Nic

 

The one to buy is the one with the door up

 

Thank you for the wonderful pictures!!!

 

I have a 512TR and a Diablo SV so admittedly am biased, but whatever you liked most is best to get (and its very personal). The cars you mentioned are all deeply flawed in different ways (512BB will drive like a very old car, 512TR is a handful to drive quickly and bridges classic old school supercar with modern cars, 550 is boring to look at, and 599 is way too big in every dimension and the F1 gearbox is best forgotten). None of them are objectively "good" by todays standard, so it has to tug at your heartstrings to be a keeper.

 

While the 550 doesn’t have the flamboyance of the Diablo or TR it’s imho one one the last timeless Ferrari designs.

 

I wouldn't buy a post-Enzo V12, with the possible exception of the 550/575. Most will be priced out of the market for Enzo-era V12s, but the 2+2 models are still available at relatively reasonable prices.

 

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OTO…one of the best sorted “modern” Ferrari’s, and you can drive it everday!!