Comparison: front clearance of FF vs other cars...

if you can narrow down your routine you dont need one - if you cant be surgical about which parking garage you use then get it. in general FF has plenty of clearance. ive never had to use the lift in the city

 

You've really done your homework. I would recommend getting a car with the lifter.

 

I never once had such an issue with my FF (no lifter). We also have lots of speed humps in the UK and again never an issue.

Can you not do a test drive and try in a car park you are familiar with?

 

The lift makes my life easier. I don't have to be "that guy" going 0.05 mph into a garage with 20 people behind him. When I first got the car, I didn't use it and that resulted in a few minor scrapes (which I likely could have avoided with more patience).

I use it all the time now and don't have to stress about it. It works quite well and is quick to lift or lower.

 

Hi...I also live in Manhttan and I won a 2013 FF since 2014 and even despite most of my driving is on the 495 going to the beach house , I also drive esporadicallyin the city and I can tell you : the lift is mandatory ! Impossible to not have it unless you love to suffer and pain

Cheers

 

Try to get one with pano roof *and* lift; buyers market.

You are right to measure based on lift lowered: I very dutifully use the lift (particularly around youthful car enthusiasts to play up the car's absurdity) but at least once I have approached a gnarly angle/kink and, having used the lifter night before to ford the danger, the car still had the lift on next morning. Your pilot then pressed the lift, lowering the auto for crossing...all to great aural effect.

 

If you have it lifted when you turn car off it will raise on restart unless you turn off or hit 25 mph. At least in mine.

 

I'm from NY and use to drive my slammed ruf gt2 in city with no problems, Lambo etc

I don't have my ff in the city I'm in Florida however could t see ever needing to use it in NYC given my past experiences

 

Based on where you live, it seems having a lifter will definitely make your life easier. The choice for me would have been easy since I prefer non-pano.

Great overlay with various cars! Those definitely give a good perspective on the exterior dimension and proportion with various cars. You definitely have done your homework!

 

Get the options you want - all of them.

And lifter is mandatory, otherwise you can not lower it enough

 

Absolutely, I'd keep looking until you find what you want.

On the lifter, our first had one, and we skipped it on the second FF.

As for NYC, I'd imagine it depends a lot of where you have to park and navigate. Our office parking facility in midtown has a huge hump and a big dip down to the street - like many places. My old urban assault vehicle (Fiat Abarth) and even my new Golf R will scrape unless I take it at a sharp angle....which is sometimes hard given cars parked.

Locally up/around CT we've gotten good at being able to look at approaches and know if we'll make it, or not....

Personally if I was driving a lot in NYC, I'd opt for it.

 

Clearance is the same as a M-B CLS 550. They don't offer a lifer.

Never had a problem but only you know your routes.

 

After 15 months of ownership I have used it both for car park ramps (quite a bit) and in the winter when it has snowed a lot and the snowplough has not been past in a while or when you are not sure what is lurking in the fresh snow / ice (less often).
just generally it gives you peace of mind, in Europe at least it not difficult to find an FF with a good spec incl lifter.
Good luck with the search

 

ive never had to use the lifter in nyc - i always park in the same spots

 

Its all about how you approach angles/maneuver

I don't have any cars in NYC anymore however last car was my mclaren without lifter last summer, around corner from my condo in battery park is a garage i parked in that was pretty steep... didn't even have an issue with that however I'm sure it was close

Some people just don't know how to approach driveways/angles and aren't use to driving low/even lower cars

Everyone is diff which is a given, but I stand by me saying id never need a lift in NYC even though car has it

 

Totally makes sense

 

I had a similar question when I was ordering my 991 gt3. I also work in NYC and often park my gt3 in a local garage. Definitely need the lift for that car. I understand the FF has better clearance, but have had scraping issues with other sports cars I've owned in the past as well.
Good Luck. Let us know what you decide!