I am thinking of reducing my car collection from 7 to 4, and buying a FF to replace a maserati QPV and a 456. This will means selling my 1995 6 speed 456. I am happy to let the other cars go but I am worried that the FF will not be as engaging as the 6 sp 456. Has anyone on here gone from a 456 or 550 to a FF? Many thanks Robert
I have a 2001 550 since 2014 and put 80,000 Kim’s on it. I bought an 2014 FF in 2020. I love both cars, but after two years and 16,000 Kim’s, I traded the FF for a Boxster GTS 4.0 (I still have the 550). I did very much enjoy the FF, but for daily city driving, I just didn’t get along with the DCT transmission. Too jerky around town. I also felt for most of my driving, I couldn’t use enough of the V12. Sounds awesome when I took it to Mosport, and the DCt was great on the track, but when the speed limit around town is 60 km/h, you’re rarely above 4,000 rpm and so missing the best part, the sound. The 550 will probably be with me forever.
Just want to add that I would not discourage anyone from buying an FF, it is a great car. I love the weirdness of it being a V12 hatchback, and that V12, when you can use it is like nothing else, but after 2 years I felt “been there, done that” and I was ready to move on to something different. With the 550, I never fell like I’m done with it.
I had an FF for about a year. Incredible performance, comfort and usability. Two annoyances though: - Squeaks, rattles and leather shrinking - The transmission was completely spastic while driving casually around town. Sometimes it would be in 7th gear and 35mph. Other times (especially in parking lots or driveways) it would abruptly downshift from second to first causing a very unintended lurch.
Some of those issues with early DCTs can be solved just like they are for F1 by shifting manually with the paddles.
I found the FF very trying in stop start traffic because of the serrated edge throttle response, even in manual mode. although a manual 456 isn’t a dream in traffic either! If the OP doesn’t have to deal with such traffic, then that’s not relevant. FF is a great car, but quite hard edged for a practical car, and a bit big for an impractical car. GTC4 Lusso more sorted.
i have put 40,000 miles on my FF and the auto setting is perfect, ive driven to and in nyc plenty....the rattles usually come from the seatbelt extender so that's easy to fix...no leather shrink on my 2012
I had one for a year after my first 550-loved the drive and the looks but always felt somewhat uneasy that something unexpected could go wrong with it at any time-back in a 550 now and no such anxieties!
