It's not Italian. Come on, the ONLY reason for buying a Ferrari is beauty. Look at a Cal Spyder. Look at a F40. Look at a Challenge Stradale. Even today, they take your breath away. If it is function you want, buy a Mercedes. If it is form you want, buy a Porsche. It used to be that if you wanted beauty, you brought a Ferrari. Sad to say, that's not true so much any more. Dale
+1 Noise, engine (very nice power delivery), handling, steering feel, power, leather interior, Ferrari lifestyle, somewhat exclusive+++ It's a long list (personally I wouldn't put "heritage" in there, because I don't care, it's a street car). For looks, there are many alternatives. Aston Martin, Zonda, Koenigsegg, Spyker, Lamborghini, NSX, R8++ all great looking cars. But I think it's the total package of a ownership that attracts the Ferrari buyers.
Yes. Beauty comes in many different forms. For me, it is mostly behind the wheel. But I can't deny that looks don't matter, they do. That said, to me, Ferrari equals sports cars. Yes, the Superamerica and Superfast were cool cars, but none of the modern 2+2 cars strike me as beautiful. Opinions, of course, are like rear ends. Moreover, I'm positive that Ferrari doesn't give a rat's behind what I think (or what you think for that matter). But, to me, the only way I can rational paying a premium over what are arguably better cars is beauty. Dale
I was fortunate enough to see the FF in the flesh, before i saw internet photos. So that means i wasn't one of the many who formed an opinion based on internet pics, before seeing the car in person (something i learned never to do with a Ferrari, when I first saw the Enzo in person after being seriously confused by the early pics). That's one big reason, i suppose, why i'm not in the camp of those who were "wrong" about the FF Being an engineer, i'm absolutely in love with the 4WD technology in this machine. And after driving it in Monterey, I became even more impressed with what Ferrari has achieved with this front/mid engine 4-seater. Regarding its looks, in person, i think the phrase used above concerning "form following function" suits it very well. It's certainly not ugly in my eyes ... quite the contrary, in fact. It's beautiful in its purposeful execution. Well done, Ferrari !!
And some say that Ferrari lovers are poseurs... Nonsense!!! Funny that you mention the F40, as that car was a clear example of "form follows function". The best part is that it even looks good!
+1. (painful as it may be to agree with Herr Utah ) Yes, what do you see as similar? I see a different silhouette and different design details (eg headlights, etc).
That's what I came away with...after watching the gearbox/driveline animations at the Intro....and at VERY low weight penalities. Good post.
I'm sure the car looks good in person... they always do. I just don't care for the Mazda Smiley Face Grin/Grill.
Yeah, really. I'm still not a big fan of the FF's looks. . . or the Mazda's either, for that matter. But there's really very little similarity.
The Black One turned me, not so much because I like black (though I do) but because you get sense of how dramatic the surface is. I love curvy Ferrari's of lore, but these angles, creases and sharp turns are something to behold. And I respect Ferrari's risk tolerance. I mean, I love the 911 but Porsche is in permanent retro mode. Lambo basically got married to the Countach, giving her a facelift every 10 years. Aston may be operating at the highest aesthetic level I've ever seen, but they also appear to be fossilizing. I suppose you can't blame 'em when their long term mate still turns heads. But neither can you call them playas anymore. Ferrari is still at the local wine bar scouting new talent. Anyway, the FF at first looked pedestrian. But now it appears deceptively exotic. The Black One reveals just how exotic that skin is. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It a big car thats for sure. But that doesnt mean it cant be attractive. For example, I love the looks of the Evoque and the SRT Cherokee. Both big vehicles but still manage to look athletic and aggressive. Its funny, as I saw the FF pull up I thought it was a 458 because of the headlights and then as it got closer I thought, wow a 599 with 458 headlights. Then I realized it was an FF and frankly, I like it better than the 458 which looks a little too 'melted' for me.
I am late on this thread, but from a European's perspective, I fear the car is a tough sell... Most Ferrari buyers I know wouldn't buy the FF for their Sunday morning blast up the mountains (although I am sure it does it better than most Ferraris). This is a great all around car, but in today's crisis-stricken Europe, most people who can afford it would be embarrassed to be seen in it...as they would be in a Panamera or any other exotic daily driver. I admire it and Ferrari was brave to build it, but I couldn't bring myself to drive one to the office, when lots of people I know are losing their jobs... Perhaps it is easier in the US
maybe that's the difference...you like big curvy women, I like skinny waif-ish women; so I like the 458 and you like the FF, which has substantial junk in its trunk. I'm still holding my final verdict for seeing one in person in a dark color (nero, TdF, one of the dark reds, etc), but from pics and the one (silver) car I've seen in person, me no likey.
I saw my first FF at a dealer event yesterday. It was a Very Pretty Car, but I was really surprised at the height and size of it. For whatever reason, the 612 seems longer and sleeker car in the Ferrari GT tradition. I am quite certain that the FF sat at about the same height as our Mercedes sedan...it sure appeared that way. The car was, again, very appealing, but it lacked the visual sense of occasion the 612 and 456 have for me. Except for the Egg crate grill, which was almost oversized to the point of being a caricature, there was no visual cues to its lineage that I could delineate. I am sure the car rides wonderfully, performs incredibly, and sounds like heaven on earth..but this is a $300K automobile. For that kind of money, it has to really stir the soul. It didn't do it for me, although I liked it alot. In person it reminded me of a extremely well executed marriage of a Subaru WRX and a BMW M Coupe. I don't necessarily mean that in a critical way...after all, I really do love the BMW M Coupe...but those two cars should not have been the first two that sprung to mind when I saw the FF. Ironically, I actually am one of the few who liked it more in pictures than in person. Obviously, this is just my opinion, and I am not offering it to bash on those lucky few who own one, but merely to provide my view on Ferraris newest and most controversial design in a long time having now had the opportunity to see on in the flesh. Who knows if the car will grow on me, I hope it does.
Scary, isn't it? I never thought I'd live to see the day when I had to pretend to be unsuccessful. When someone pays $300-400K for a Ferrari, that money puts food on the table of a lot of Ferrari employees, auto suppliers, others via taxes paid to the Italian government, etc, etc, etc. Why the hate? I'm frankly sick of being politically correct, and have decided to drive what I want, wear what I want, do what I want. I hope to pick up a used FF in a few years.
