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

IMO do yourself a favor and just do it. I fell in love with the 456 when I first saw it at the Geneva auto show and always wanted it. Later Maranello stole my heart and I search and offered but two fell thru. Then I got totally lucky and a perfect 6k mile 456M fell on me. I'm still thrilled 3 1/2 years later and agree its the best deal of the marque.

The car is fantastic. Good luck and stay in touch with us. Cheers.

 

Ferraris with a rear seat seem to depreciate like a rock.

456's require regular maintenance, which if ignored can be expensive to sort out.

There are several common problems, such as window gaps, stuck spoilers, dodgy electronic suspension, CEL / Slow Down light issues.

I discovered some burnt areas on the fuse box of mine.

They are beautiful cars, and ride well, but lack the "mystique" of a two seater.

 

If you like the 928 then you will love the 456.
IMO opinion you should get the manual transmission and get the wife to learn how to shift it.

 

The 456 IS the most Ferrari you can get for the money, with the 360 a close second. That's why I got a 456 a few months back and am currently shopping for a 360. It's just a long established fact that 2+2 Ferraris depreciate more than the two seaters. Lucky me, I find it more pleasing to the eye than the 550/575M, and it drives like nothing else in the world. An amazing automobile.

I'd get a '99 or newer 456M, and keep in mind that you will probably have to spend some time and money sorting the car out, especially if it is a very low mileage car that has been sitting around a lot, like mine was (It was worth it to me, because I got a very rare color combination). Easiest to get one that has been driven at least 1K miles per year and has service records, but still expect to spend at least $5-7K getting it 100%. You could easily double that amount for a ten year old car with less than 10K miles!

These cars just need constant attention, but if you get them sorted and keep them that way by DRIVING THEM A LOT, they are an absolute joy. Just not cheap to own and operate.

I thought I wanted a gated car, but the first and only Rosso Corsa/Tan Daytona 456M I found had an automatic, so that's what I got. Now, I wouldn't have it any other way. It's just cool and unique to have a car that goes and handles like a Ferrari and is also a great cruiser. There will NEVER be another car like the 456M GTA.

Oh, and pay no mind to all the doom and gloom automatic bashers: The transmission is a modified GMC Torqueflight that went into the HD Chevy pickups and Suburbans of the era, so it's plenty robust.

Cheers,

George

 

I agree. I have a 360 and a 456. The 360 is my toy, the 456 is the driver. Both are amazing bang for the buck in Ferrari dollars. The 456 is a PITA; I have a list of fix it items tat seems to grow longer than I can get to it, but it's all piddly things that don't affect the driving experience. The 360 has been flawless in the past 3 years except for an F1 pump. But it's also 5 years newer.

Colby

 

Colby, don't let a maintenance backlog pile up, fix things as soon as they come up and fix them properly, or you may lose enjoyment of the car or eventually have a backlog too big to fix. PM me privately if you need a fix on some of the small issues, I may know a solution for some of them.
You mentioned the 5 year difference; well yes age has a lot to do with it. Rubber parts especially; prone to aging and likely to give you issues around the 10-20 year mark. Holds true for any classic car; if you want a reliable driver, then look for everything rubber to fail you. I got myself a 1994 456 that needed a lot - all coolant hoses, brake hoses, steering hose, fuel filler hose, vacuum hoses, fuel pump rubbers, fuel pressure regulators (with a rubber membrane in it). Not that they all failed, but some were simply old and brittle and nearing the end of their life. I decided to bite the bullet and go for peace of mind; have not had any issue since, and don't expect for another 15 years. Some of these parts are quite seriously expensive, although there are good alternatives to the Ferrari parts for most of them.

As to the question of cheap:
1) some look cheap but are not, because of a serious backlog;
2) 4 seats is somehow comsidered less sporty;
3) automatics are unloved (the 550 never had an auto, pushing prices down also for manual cars)
3) the 456 is a bit in the shadow of its more powerful brother, the 550.

This has always been the case, the GTE was never very valuable until recent years. It's a blessing for anyone actually liking 4 seats in a Ferrari, really. Always enjoy the surprised comments of people to see more than two exiting a Ferrari.

 

I have had a 1994 Porsche 928S since new and still have it. I just bought a '97 456 GTA and am loving it too.

Sure some sorting out will probably have to be done, but it is absolutely a great car and would make a super DD.

Take advantage of the lower prices and look for a great one. You won't regret it. BTW, the automatic transmission was made by GM. It's pretty much bulletproof.

 

What George says +1
unbelieveable value for money - i've toyed with a change but keep coming back to it - just need to find more time to enjoy - do your research, find the best you can afford, and afford to run, and do it...a truely great GT (A)

 

+1 to all the great comments on how much car a 456 (especially the M) is for the money. I just passed 50,000 miles this week. Maintenance has been expensive, but when factoring in the purchase price of the car 5 years ago and how much I've driven it, the cost/enjoyment per mile equation has definitely made it worth it.

And the times that I miss the involvement of the 6-speed are more than made up for by my gratitude for the automatic when I'm sitting in traffic or stopped on a steep upgrade with some joker right behind my rear bumper.

 

stay away from really cheap ones - they will cost you a fortune in the future.
the best ones (well maintained MGT manual) are not cheap but worth every cent.
buy the best you can afford and you will be happy.

 

Why so inexpensive?...one of the FChat sponsors (parts supplier) says he grins every time a 456 owner calls him for something.

 

The late 12 cylinder cars are going to cost more to maintain than early 308s, but I don't think there is a big difference between a call from a 456 owner and a 550 owner. Each car has it's issues as do 355s and others.

 

I couldn't agree more, but with the Indiana winters I drive them during the summer an fix them during the winter. Mechanically it is sound might as well enjoy it for a few months.

Colby

 

As an example, Ebay has a vendor selling new 456 parts.
RH and LH windshield arms are around $235 each.
Does this make sense?
Of course not.

It's just the way it is.
It's not a chevy after all.

 

I love my 456 as one of the most understated Ferraris I've owend. IMO there are no 'cheap' Ferraris. Won't say what I've sunk into my heart throb, but I'd probably do it all over again.

456's are a bargain, but a completely well sorted one will not be in that price range you see on ebay. I'd expect you would pay well into the mid 50's easily for a nice one if not more.

unfortunately that would only be the downpayment.

 

456mgt is a great car. personally i wouldnt go for the automatic.

but, keep in mind that this car was the most expensive offering from ferrari in 2001-04 and the maintenance and parts prices still reflect that. so get a ppi, and only buy with your eyes fully open.

 

While 456s may be a bit more expensive to maintain than 550s, due to age and some additional complexities, they are definitely cheaper to maintain thanTRs, 348s, 355s and 360s.
Just a look inside of their engine bay will get you an idea of what I am talking about and if you see them on the lift, then the picture is even worse.
According to most independents, the 355 is probably at the top of the list, with the 360 at the bottom.
456s issues are mainly due to nagging CEL related to various ancillary components, definitely annoying, but not expensive or to leave you stranded.

 

There is no such thing as a cheap Ferrari! Keep that in mind.
Buy the best car within your budget, not the cheapest. If it feels too good to be true it usually is. I know these things sound like a cliche, but it is oh so true when buying Ferrari's.

Maintenance on a V12 will always be more expensive compared to a V8. And the driving experience of a V12 is completely different compared to a V8. Once a 12 always a 12.

There is really no way to compare a 308 to a 456.
The 456 is a brilliant GT car. Very powerful and fast.
The 308 is on the other hand a classic fun car. These are a bit underpowered compared to modern cars, but the sound and the feel are fantastic.

Drive them both and see which one you like most.

 

So you're saying that the 360 is the least expensive Ferrari of the 1995-2005 era to maintain?

 

That is what I have taken from reading about all the models over the years. Most seem to agree on that as well as the 550 being the most reliable.

 

I'd say 1989 - 2005 with the 348 being the first one to require an engine out maintenance.

 

Well, then you can go all the way back to 1973 with the introduction of the 365 GT4 BB.