| Author | Message | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 3471 Registered: 6-2001 |
I think thats what a ferrari does by definition. What about an E55, M5 or something like that? | ||
| KCCK (Kenneth)
Member Username: Kenneth Post Number: 660 Registered: 10-2002 |
For personal reasons, I need 2+2 high performance car that does not ram its ostensible image or pretentious superiority down everybody else's throat. The 456 is ideal for me. It is a beautiful car. It is not a street racer, but you have to drive it to get the magical feeling behind it. | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Member Username: Wax Post Number: 557 Registered: 7-2003 |
Perhaps Ferrari should keep one particular model evolving in all but name, instead of producing new models by overhauling the design every so often. After all, it only took half a century of producing the Corvette to get it right. | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 709 Registered: 9-2002 |
Yes the Corvette uses alot of plastic stuff on the inside of the interior. I'm not really talking about that. I'm talking about how the car is put together as a unit. The Corvette has far higher technology in it then the Ferrari does. Hyroformed frame rails, for one has changed the industry for ever, on how to design a frame for any production car. Paint process is another. The drive train in the vette will surely outlast the 456. Fit and finish of the interior needs more then an improvment for sure in the Vette(but they have always been that way it's a g.m. after all!!). Balsa wood sandwitch between the floor for sound reduction and strength..a climate control system that really works, headlights that go up (both at the same time). The Corvette does have alot of quality components in it and it shows in the performance of the car. And the build quality is defenatly on par with any Ferrari(interior aside) | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Intermediate Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 1058 Registered: 6-2002 |
Build quality my pasty white ass. Not so sure about resale value either, C5s are dirt cheap. Though you may have a point in percentage of retention, that still is a close one. Reliability, etc. ok, yeah,  PS: I'm not kidding about that swap. Best! Ben. | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 708 Registered: 9-2002 |
Like was stated earlier,the 456 is a GT car. The Corvette is a 2 seat performance car. The goals of the cars are different. But in most aeras the Corvette does come out on top. Build quality,service costs, reliability,ease of use, options galore, ease of resale,and the realative resale value of the car. I love all things Ferrari and i own a Ferrari and i have owned Corvettes. Nothing is like a Ferrari but there are better quaility products out there for alot less cash. | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Intermediate Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 1055 Registered: 6-2002 |
Tom- I'll trade you a C5 for a 456 RIGHT NOW THIS MINUITE. (I'll even put on pants!) PS 456 0-60 5 seconds flat C5 0-60 4.9 So they're basically the same, which is rather impressive. I can also say I'd be faster in a 456 than any C5, the C5 does not inspire handling confidence in me (not to say that the limits are not high, they are! They just don't feel that way to me. The car is all stick, stick, stick, stick, snap spin into the light pole.) Best! Ben. | ||
| Kendall Kim (Kenny)
Member Username: Kenny Post Number: 559 Registered: 9-2001 |
Tom- the build quality on a 456 is no better or worse than a 348 I rode in, or any other late model Ferrari.. as for the resale value, they seem in line with previous generation GT type 2+2's from the 250GTE, to the 400i series.. I don't think it's only a reflection on Ferrari's part either.. When you see other GT type cars from other makes such as the BMW 850i or Porsche 928 or Jaguar XJS, the resale value is equally bad.. | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Member Username: Wax Post Number: 553 Registered: 7-2003 |
family hauler... only thing that rear seat is good for is small children Agreed, hence "two seats in the rear, but they are best kept for taking the kids on outings" As Ken noted, I too made some other "real non-positive comments on that car." Recalls I think recalls are issued on items where occupant safety and liability may be an issue. Examine the thread on the US auto industry. I think you'll agree that Italian cars and American cars share flaws in construction and/or design which, if corrected, are done at the owner's expense. In an ideal world, such would not be the case, but companies look after the bottom line and expect owners, whether they be the first, second or third... to pick up the pieces. Classic status As I stated, one has to wait until at least 2010 for mid-term indicators to see if and when this could happen. To that end, there are not only Ferraris, but untold numbers of cars which depreciated badly, and are worth far more than they sold for when new, even when adjusted for inflation. Too many cars to mention are testament to that. Will the 456 be worth more? I doubt it. Will a well-sorted 456 deliver satisfaction at a fair market value price for the marque to a second or third owner in desire of a high-performance Gentleman's car? Eventually, I think so. looking at things through fuzzy Ferrari goggles... other cars out there Believe me, I maintain a healthy cynicism. It's what's under the sheetmetal that counts, no matter who the manufacturer or designer is. Since this is the finest of Ferrari forums, I've long considered starting a thread on {Pininfarina design:Ferrari performance} What this would address is percentage of the dollar a person is paying for, as new, or used. Mind you, not what Pininfarina is paid, but rather what percentage of the premium any given caretaker of a Ferrari is paying for goes toward the design, and what percentage goes toward what makes the car go, in their minds eye. The bottom line on the original intent for the discussion is that the 456 goes. Fast enough to eventually pass a Corvette C5. And looks good while doing it with Munchkins in the back seat. | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 707 Registered: 9-2002 |
Thomas..A 456 a family hauler? Unless your family is really small in size,then the only thing that rear seat is good for is small children. I doubt you would beable to get a baby seat propperly mounted back there. The rear seats in that car are useless!! No doubt the 456 is a beautiful car I never diputed that. As far as recalls goes...you know as well as I that Ferrari should have a recall on the window problem. They should have a recall on the shock issues. They should have a recall on the radiators,they should have a recall on the rear windows,they should have a recall on the pop headlights,they should have a recall for the lousy switch frames,should have a recall for lousy engine mounts,Need I go on? G.M. of course will allow for more recalls,because they can afford it!! Ferrari will try to avoid a recall at all costs!! The 456 is the 400i of todays F-car market. No possiable way will that car become a classic. Stop looking at things through fuzzy Ferrari goggles and realize that there are other cars out there!! | ||
| Ken Ghiringhelli (Kenny94945)
Junior Member Username: Kenny94945 Post Number: 82 Registered: 12-2002 |
Thanks Thomas. I was after the dry numbers. Not many choices uh? RX7/8 does not do it. Performance wise it is comparable except for the slalom. That could be difficult to modify to a more performance standard. Shocks, springs, weight bias. However, things could be a lot worse than driving a 456 baring it doesn't steal my wallet. Lastly, wow, some real non-positive comments on that car. | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Member Username: Wax Post Number: 546 Registered: 7-2003 |
Hello? Is this thing on? How many recalls on the '97 Corvette? 4. Wow. How about the '97 Ferrari? 2. Uh, how many does the 'vette seat? 2. Oh. How many does the best looking genuine 2+2 ever seat? 2+2= 4. Duh. Your honor, the lowly 456 shouldn't be compared to 2-seaters. But, since the prosecution insists; Acceleration (0-60 mph): 5.1 seconds Top Speed: 185.2 mph. Braking 60-0: 115 feet. Lateral Acceleration on 720 ft skid pad: 0.87 Slalom (700 ft.}: 62.0 mph The 456 is also the most practical Ferrari. The front seats have lots of legroom and decent headspace. There are two seats in the rear, but they are best kept for taking the kids on outings. The boot, or trunk as Americans call it is a good size and can hold a couple's luggage, although access is not great via the narrow aperture. The electrical height-adjustable driver's seat affords a position which is very good and comfortable, and all controls come easily to hand and the dials are simple to read. Only minor detractions are lots of similar looking buttons and fiddly stereo controls. It is best to wait and see if the 456 will start achieving classic status, which will be reflected in a price going up after 2010. Wouldn't you agree? Let's take a closer look at the highly-praised Corvette C5 Acceleration (0-60 mph): 4.9 sec.(manual), 5.3 sec.(auto) Top speed : 175 mph (coupe) 162 mph(convertible) Braking Distance: 109-125 ft (results vary widely) 600-foot slalom: 67 mph 200 ft skidpad : 0.92 g SUMMARY: The 2-seater beats the family hauler from 0-60 by .2 of a second. But the lowly grocery-getter snuffs the sports car on the open road, with a top speed which is 10.2 mph faster. Braking distance is close between the two. The kids in the back seat also have a great time doing slalom runs without getting whipped around too much. Back in the day, Jeffrey Dahmer might have been able to wedge some body parts behind the 2 seats in the 'vette. | ||
| Me Myself (Kid_enzoz)
Junior Member Username: Kid_enzoz Post Number: 182 Registered: 4-2003 |
The Corvette is a better performance car. Looks? IMHO the 456 is one of the nicest understated Fcars ever, but the C5 curves at dead on, I love those lines. None of the older Vettes did it for me like the C5, and I doubt the C6 will grow on me as fast. | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 706 Registered: 9-2002 |
Yes the 456 is a good looking car and yes It was a GT car. But that is not the question. The question is which one is better. And in all areas the Corvette is. The Ferrari 456 is not a well put toghether car at all. Ferrari seemed to have rushed the car into production, and it shows in the lack of quality in the car. I have never seen a Ferrari with such lousy components in it then the 456. They have so many issues it's not worth the band width to name them off. All you have to do is look at the prices of the cars in the market today. That should explain everything. I have a customer of mine who ownes one..and he's been trying to get rid of the car for the last year...nobody wants it...including the dealer!! The car is beautiful looking but thats about it. The Corvette is a far far superior car in all respects(other then the Ferrari thing) to the 456. No it's not a Ferrari but thats not the question. The question is what is a better car performance wise...Well the Corvette wins hands down. | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Intermediate Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 2176 Registered: 12-2002 |
The 456 wasn't a mistake. It was produced for a certain smaller market of Ferrari owners and it is in that market, that it succeeded. I dont think the 456 was meant to compete with 2 seat sports cars such as a Corvette or even other model Ferraris...It was meant as a Touring car, much like the old 250, and 365 series touring cars from Ferraris past. | ||
| Kendall Kim (Kenny)
Member Username: Kenny Post Number: 557 Registered: 9-2001 |
How was the 456 a mistake?? It's the best looking 2+2 Ferrari I can remember.. | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 705 Registered: 9-2002 |
The Corvette IMHO is the better car of the 2. The 456 was Ferrari's biggest mistake in years. | ||
| Ken Ghiringhelli (Kenny94945)
Junior Member Username: Kenny94945 Post Number: 81 Registered: 12-2002 |
Thought I'd start a discussion. Do these two handle comparably? (Vette .9 + cornering g-forces (456 ?) Do they accelerate and brake the same? (Vette 0 to 60 - 5 seconds and 60 to 0 110 feet) (456 ?) |