considering an FF

I went through the same situation as you are going through now ( I have a 2014 PTTS) and 4 weeks ago pulled the trigger on a new left over 2016 FF. In the past when I looked at them I tried to ask for comparisons with the PTTS and everyone on this forum told me the FF was in a different league. I never would have believed it, but they are so right.

 

Same question was asked and answered about a month ago as I recall - try scrolling down some

 

No comparison. The FF is SO much better in probably every single way I can think of.

 

Welcome ! Definitely search around. The recent thread Georgemaser mentioned, other threads ... plenty of good info here for a shopper of the mighty FF.

There are people with 20,30,40 and over 50,000 miles on these with no unusual issues. It's a, dare I say, normal car ... that's also a Ferrari bad ass for all weather. Even snow with winter tires ... well, maybe take a SUV in over a foot of snow/blizard. Interior leathers are lovely, infotainment is not at all special. 2015/16 will have Apple CarPlay. Many of us never use the radio (not special) and listen to the engine music, Waze the traffic.

Mostly the FF is about the hand made V12 engine, the chassis and the transmission. Drives smaller than it looks (once you get used to the width) and it will always make you happy as the driving dynamics are all Ferrari. True to marque. A 4200 lb 4 seater with a hatch and 2 gears in front, huh? Compared to your soon to be old car, the FF is a racing machine. Even in Comfort mode and especially in Sport, it feels like a Ferrari. Even better with +4 lbs in all 4 tires and the seat moved up to a near race position, but that's just me, passing you on the 101 North.

2012-2016 are basically the same car, later years had a pano roof option, then the Apple CarPlay mentioned above. Early years have minor bugs that were worked out through factory updates. The very rare bad news lemons should be off the market by now. Just get a dealer report on your car, and get to know your dealer. You buy a car, you marry a service manager. Even when it's barely there. Nothing noticeable was changed in the FF over time that we're aware of in the normal public. Someone here will correct me if that's not right. I've been corrected by a Texas service manager, so there is good info here. Although we are not always in agreement on F12 allotments, and the style of the GTC4!

I was looking first at a 2012 to get a low price, then at a 2013 or newer to make sure it was not a first year car, a personal choice not a mandate. Eventually (after 3 months of spread sheets and investigating a few cars) bought a 2014 in 2015 with under 1000 miles and 2 years of warranty left, for a big discount from new. I paid more but I love the build, it's as I would have done if new.

If you are so inclined, would maybe suggest searching online and building a spreadsheet to get a grasp of the national market. Ferrari dealers all have CPO or consignment cars that can be trusted and trucked in. If not paying cash, Ferrari Financial is great for loans or lease. Obviously other good options are out there too. Get a feel for the pricing by year, miles and build on your spreadsheet. 2012-2016. Miles I would think of in categories like 0-1000, 1001-5000, 5000-10000, 10001-15000, 150001-20000, 20,000-30,000 (some), 30,000-40000 (less), over 40,0001 (rare). Every asking price has a deal making cushion. 5000-10,000. Much more room to negotiate if it's a 2016 or 2015 with low miles. You can also negotiate extended warranty from dealers in lieu of cash.

All Ferrari from 2012 onward have both the 7 years of annual no cost maintenance, and 12 years max of extended warranty at around 6500 a year in the US called New Power, which is 80% of the full warranty. Full warranty is for the first 3 years. A 3 year old car can also have years 4 and 5 get a full warranty via extension (around $13,000) if you do it within 30 days of the 3 years.

There are higher priced cars that are nearly new at the dealers, and they are very negotiable. There are the lowest priced cars often with higher miles and funky color combos at non Ferrari dealers in the under 180 asking range that I would generally avoid, but that's your call. Each build is unique and part of buying a Ferrari is ordering it new. The used buyers, need to "order it used" ... meaning find what you love to look at, check the history with the dealer, and buy that one!

Member RickL had his 2012 after 3 years with 49,000 trouble free miles end up at a non Ferrari dealer for around 160. His was a solid car, but I tend to avoid non Ferrari dealers. Your call there. The "middle" today is many cars in the 180-230 ask range that are great options. Year, miles and the appeal of the build set the ask, assuming a dealer is on point with the market.

Pedigree matters even in a daily driver Ferrari if you ever go to sell it, which you will, so avoid anything that feels like a weird story, because the next guy or girl will not like that.

Some people drive 10,000-15,000 a year. Some 5000-7000 a year. A low mileage FF that is over 2 years old today is under 8,000 miles. A super low 2012, say under 5000 miles, is a slight risk as it's been sitting quite a lot, but not a huge risk. It will just have a little higher ask and maybe not be worth it. I bought a car based on the build that was a year old and under 1000 miles. If I found my build with 3 years and 15,000+ miles that would have been great too, and a lot less. Somewhere over 50,000 or 60,000 or 70,000 miles (we don't know that yet) they will need rotors and that's serious money, so watch out for the high mileage cars if you're keeping it long enough for that to matter. A dealer will give a micron measurement at annual maintenance, track inspection or pay around 350 for an inspection pre purchase.

They figured out production at Ferrari in 2010 or so and the 2012 onward in any Fcar is a very solid thing, allowing for normal issues in the car business. Def no more new car issues than any other brand, less than some luxury brands. In the middle, I would say. A regularly used FF is a good thing because it's been kept going, updates are done, things are lubed up and running. regularly.

Some 2012s had weird electrical issues in a few cars. Nothing to be scared of today. Some cars that sit a long time without the tender have electrical/battery issues, very rare. Pano roof option began in mid/late 2013 if I heard it correctly. Heavy glass but very cool for passengers. Depends on your weather, and personal taste ... I love it. Sounds like you won't let her sit more than a week, but you will get a (cheap but effective) factory tender and cover with the car, books, keys. etc.

Most people assume the Homelink (in the rear view) is on every build sheet, but it was an option, if that matters to you. 2012s can lack it. Carbon/LED wheel is on a majority of the cars, lower prices when it's not. The seats can be styled many ways, including a Daytona seat basis, and can have partial electrics or full heating and vent. Suspension Lifter is optional and in some, although not necessary as the car is no lower than a Mercedes sedan. 7 or 7.5" if I recall. Passenger display is in a few cars, usually not, as it was $4000+ new.

Go drive one at your dealer, make a spreadsheet if you care to dig that deep, and mostly ... enjoy the drive !

 

Well said Brian L.

 

we shld sticky this one at the top - at these prices levels and with the GTC4 hitting the roads I think we are going to see a lot more of these posts.

 

Ferrari over Porsche in the garage

 

Good summary Brian.

 

I'd wait a little bit to try the new Panamera. I believe the Sport Turismo is coming shortly as well.

 

Good summary!

 

The Panamera is a boat, and will never catch up. Never. Around 170-200k the FF is an easy winner.

 

The FF is awesome. It puts a smile on my face every time I drive it but I still can't seem to get rid of my Panamera Turbo S. I am using it as my daily driver. Maybe a little redundant but I just am not ready to trade it in for another Cayenne yet and I just can't drive my FF to work because I need to be more low key so a debaged PTTS works. It's fun but not as awesome as the FF

 

Hmm. A Porsche Panamera is not a cheap car and people know the model. A Ferrari FF is a weird shape and not a well known car. Why not remove the front and rear cavallino and drive it daily as it was intended?

You could even have the badges wrapped. Or black wrap all of them.

 

+1. Indeed not a well known car. Great idea on the wrap. My head has been stuck on using duct tape for silver or gray colored cars.

 

I've narrowed my FF search to a handful of cars ranging from private party, brokers and Ferrari dealerships. Is it recommended to get a PPI for all cars (under warranty or not)?

 

+1

 

All sellers should be willing to submit it for PPI. Any that won't, run don't walk!

Now whether or not you should after asking is a different question. If it's a 2015-2016 with 1,500 you may just be wasting your money. On the other hand if it's a 2012 with 25,000 I would be hard pressed not to do a PPI.

Best of luck and cheers!


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Dude, have you driven the FF and any Panamera in the same month or year?

The chassis and experience of the Porsche will never, ever, ever catch up. It's not the same thing at all.

 

I wonder what the new Panamera driving experience is like.

 

Agree. Love my PTTS but the FF is in a different league

 

2017 Porsche Panamera First Drive Review - Motor Trend

 

In terms of Panamera vs FF

Panamera for me was like aBMW or Benz option

My FF is like a bigger huracan in experience, its supercar before luxury sedan so much so I hop into FF almost 100% of the time over mclaren, superleggera, or whatever I have.

 

Thanks, but I wonder how it compares to the FF. Eventually, I'm sure I'll get to hear from those who have driven both.

 

Have them both. 2014 PTTS and 2016 FF. The PTTS is big and feels big. Until I got my FF I thought it handled the corners decent but nothing like the FF. It's crazy. I was a true Porsche guy and thought the Ferrari guys had to be just "smoke and mirrors" but it is so true. The FF is in a different league. As Chris Harris said in his review of his FF "it just make you feel special.. "