The 456 is a huge car!

I bought a 456 earlier this year but since I bought it I have not had a chance to drive it. I think in total I have driven it a few hundred miles only. Anyway drove the car into work today (my first time in London) and Id forgotton how wide the car is! Squeezing through gaps and tight spaces is a new challenge. Normally I wizz through but in the Ferrari Im finding that Im not at all used to the size yet.

I cant imagine what the 612 is like to drive through a city like London!

I should also mention that I drive a Merc G Class as a daily driver so im used to fairly large cars. The Ferrari is longer and wider than the Merc!

 

I wouldnt have guessed it would be such a large car. maybe your G is just a little less wide. But I know what you mean, I have been to London several times and noticed the streets are NARROW!

love the color on your 456!

 

I drove the 612 in many cities in Italy this summer. The front parking sensors are key!

 

I agree....the 456 is a big ride. It's tough to get in and out of my garage.

 

try driving a 512tr around london ! cant even get through the bollards on those roads that have them, you literally have to turn around...not fun.

 

Thanks Jason!

The good thing I've got to say about the 456 is its not hard to see out of it, as visibility is very good. I would consider parking sensors on the rear if I was to use it everyday.

Ross I do sympathise with you s the TR is even bigger than the 456. But I bet I know which you prefer to drive! Must be the TR.

 

I think the 612 is longer than the LWB G's ? That said, I find the G's by far the easiest car to maneuver & park in built-up areas. You know exactly where you are with its classic straight vertical lines. Ultimate car for cities (minus the large fuel slugs) and doesn't matter if you get the odd knock as they are made of nice sturdy metal !

 

The 456 is bigger than the G. When I parked it in the container I could open the door of the G to get out, but I had to squeeze out of the door of the 456 (probably since the 456 doors are quite long. The straight lines of the G is a definate plus helped by the parking sensors i've got on mine. Fuel wise im getting 32mpg from my G, but unlike most its a 2.7 CDi! Perfect everyday car.

 

Parking sensors in a G ? What a waste of voltage. The metal bumpers work a treat !

 

AR- A perfect combination is a Mercedes SUV and a Ferrari. We have a 575M and a GL 550, but even accounting for the much larger English gallon, the 5.5 liter V-8 in the GL gets nowhere near that kind of gas mileage (~20 mpg US on the highway). It is a bit quicker, though, and gasoline prices have dropped like a rock here recently to ~$2.50/US gallon for regular and ~$2.70 for premium. Diesel here is more expensive than gasoline.

Your G is much better off-road, however, and I stuck the GL in deep snow this March on an early fly fishing trip at 8000' in Colorado. Your G would have been fine.

Great colors on both your cars and our GL is the same color.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Not when they are colour coded!

Terry

Thanks for the comments! The GL is also a huge car. We dont see many on the road in the UK as its probably too big and dwarfs my G. Good luck with both cars!

 

Drove the 550 in London last August. Can be a bit of a challenge, definitely. Mind you, I saw a Countach doing the same thing and suddenly I thought I was driving a Mini...


Onno

 

Shame. G's were built to brush with rocks & lamposts

 

Salaam Adnaan,

Yup, the 456 is a big car to drive around in London and more kudos to you for being able to 'navigate' the car around since I believe it's a LHD car innit? I once drove a LHD car in Malaysia and even though it's much smaller, i.e 190E Cossie..it is a PITA for toll booths/ underground parking tickets etc....

 

Salaam Tifosi.

Two of my cars are LHD, and I've had about 6 cars previously. TBH the only adjustment that is needed is a bit on the driving style but I actually prefer driving LHD. But its definately a pain in car parks!

 

AR- Agree on driving left hand drive cars in the UK, practiced during my two tours at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk flying F-111Fs. I drove a 1970 Fiat Dino 2.4 liter coupe, a 1978 308GTS, and a 1987 Corvette at various times. LHD makes it easy to place the car near the edge of the very narrow lanes in Suffolk. There were very few car parks to worry about in the sticks in Suffolk and we had a VW for trips where one would be encountered. All three of those cars were huge on 1980s UK roads but nothing compared to a 456 or G/GL.

GLs are very difficult to find in Europe since they were built in Alabama for the US market. I had to sign an agreement not to export mine to Europe for a period of two years after I bought it.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Oh no...I've been wanting a 456. Won't be able to test drive one for awhile though. It seems like it would be a lot smaller though. Hmmm. Oh well. I don't live in London or anything though so I guess I'd be alright. I could not imagine driving ANY car in London! I love the UK & Ireland but I'd be terrified to drive there. Narrow roads and you crazy drivers! ( ...kidding )

Also, I'm sure I've told you this before but the yellow looks so awesome on your 456! I normally do not like yellow cars at all but it works so well on the 456.

 

Great looking car!

 

I believe the width of the 456 is 75.6 inches? Plus you have the mirrors. That is wider than my BMW 850...which is about 73 inches.

 

I used to have two Mondial t coupes and now have the 456. Its superior in every way.
The figures I have foir the width are:
1890mm folded mirrors (6ft 3 inch)
1920mm open mirrors. (6ft 4 inch)

I've seen figures as high as 6ft 9 inch so when I get home I'll have a look at a 456 book I've got to confirm.

Dont let the size put you off. I took the car out for a a nice long drive on Saturday though London from West to East and back again. The car shrinks around you once you get used to it, and now Im very confident on the motorway or around town. I think the bigger issue is controlling the power and its so much more powerful than my Mondial I used to have! I drove it in to work this morning and did not at any point feel the size was an issue.

Like any busy city you get used to driving there, and London is a great place to drive. The backdrop is amazing and generally people are really appreciative of seeing a Ferrari. I had someone come up to me the other day telling me the 456 was by far his favourite Ferrari. I was suprised he knew the model!

Regarding the yellow, it so works on this car. What I have found with darker colours is that they hide the lines of the car where as Yellow enhances them. The 456 is such a beautiful shape (one of Maranellos best) that yellow looks amazing on it. I bought the car without seeing it but I couldnt be happier! Thanks!

Thanks AM!