My 456M GTA from BaT ... time moves on

Hi folks,

I bought this car https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-ferrari-456m-gta-4/ some time back. It sat a few months in Oregon before I was able to collect it, after which I drove it back to Indiana.

Last I looked, I had put 6000+ miles on the car. I was planning to write a list of things that I've done that were essential.

0: New battery due to storage error before I collected the car
1: Oil change after 5000 miles
2: Fixed a puncture that the car came with (nail).
3: Straightened out and tie-wired a bent auto transmission cooler input vent holder.

Well, that's it, sort of.

I did put a small BT receiver I got on eBay in the radio https://www.ebay.com/itm/353977006750 , so I can stream from any BT device and I dropped a bottle of Sea Foam in the fuel recently.

So there you have it, not a lot really. I'll probably put another 1500 miles or more on it in August as I have a longer trip coming up.

I drive this daily when I am in the USA and I am not seeing any reason to change that behaviour. The car is stored correctly in an AC controlled garage while I am in other places.

FWIW, the "sticky" buttons and bits were quite poorly rectified by the original seller. They are tolerable, but a better job is called for, so I might put some effort into that.

I also acquired a luggage set, which I'll try and transport to the USA soon.

And finally, for those obsessed with manual gearboxes, I don't miss one at all in this car, not one little bit!

 

LOVE the darker red on this one.
I always appreciate the stories and enjoy it when guys create a thread for their cars.
Thanks so much for sharing and keep it coming!

 

Very pretty and that transmission really matches the torque curve of the V12. Plus, most service on the transmission uses standard GM parts.

 

I could not agree more! Got mine on BaT too: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2002-ferrari-456m-2/
I do those trips down the coast to the LA area and am extremely happy when I hit traffic. And when you put it in 3rd gear it seems to actually have more character and take it to the redline.
Downhill I manually shift down and that works as a breeze and I do not notice that I break significantly more than the manual car in front of me, it has become a bit of a fun driving game.

But yeah, extremely happy with my GTA! Would not want it any other way!

 

Same color as my 456M GT

 

Spotted these (one customer, one for sale) at The Throttle Shop back in March. A nice "pair"
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My 456 and another deep red one at Road America
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Are you in Indiana? Aerosurfer + you + me should have a 456 meetup!

I have over 20k in mods in my 456m since purchasing in April of 2023 because in contrast with you, I make poor life decisions

 

Heck yeah we should! Omar is 4 hours from me. Plus don't forget @mominayal he is up in northern Indiana.

 

If anyone wants to come to Indy for a meet up.. next month this is a huge show in the north side of Indianapolis ill be at. Says registration closed yesterday, bit I imagine they can find room for more Ferraris

https://www.artomobilia.org/artomobilia?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=66b0b6de7c571b3f8fcf33df&ss_email_id=66b0ca1d0574606425c19ba2&ss_campaign_name=We%E2%80%99re+at+the+end%E2%80%A6+But+that%E2%80%99s+just+the+beginning+of+Artomobilia+Weekend%E2%80%A6+&ss_campaign_sent_date=2024-08-05T12%3A48%3A46Z

 

Back in Indianapolis in about a week's time ... passing through for a bit.

 

Aha, sadly I'll be at the Goodwood Revival that week ... retirement sux donkey balls, I know

Sadly, I do not yet own a pre-qualified car for the event, but it's on my list

 

456 was very well suited for an automatic and unlike all previous Ferraris with automatics that one is very well suited to a 456. I love them.

 

Its hard to really understand just how much car these are for so little money. Well bought to all of you!

Its really interesting that I am such a "manual-only" guy, but there are a few cars that do just seem to work with an auto - and the 456 is one for sure!

 

You guys are crazy. The GTA is a great car: affordable, easy to work on, comfortable, holds 3-4 people, useable as a daily driver, beautiful inside and out. And the GM auto is probably more reliable than the ferrari 6sp. But, I think you have to be used to driving an automatic to prefer the GTA. On the non-M it's a bit dangerous when it decides to downshift 2 gears under acceleration and let the rear end go. It also doesn't always know what to do during hard acceleration(sometimes it gets off the line quickly, other times it pauses). In the GT if you want to hear the V12 or be prepared to accelerate, you just drive in a lower gear. This isn't possible in most cases in the GTA.

 

Nothing wrong with the GTA.... just get out and enjoy it

 

A 1500+ mile trip coming up next week ... bold I know ... but it's what needs to be done ... extra luggage sorted.
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You rascal!

that was us as kids in the 80s sneaking extras into the drive in!

 

Eric- Did the same thing in the 60s at Clemson.

 

Fortunately, the local drive-in was a customer of the family business, so it was free whenever we wanted. Haven't been to a drive in since 1988, maybe I should give one a try again, for nostalgia sake?

 

Man that red is a pretty color on the 456m. If I could have found a late M GTA in that exact color (Rosso Rubio ?) that’s what I would have bought, sight unseen. 2 years and NONE came up during my search.

I found one GTA in that color sold out of La Jolla, So-Cal with Daytona seats, I called the dealer to see if they could track it down for an offer (as mentioned the GTA is a phenomenal value to take advantage of if you are in the automatic space) and the dealer told me he would never sell another one to a customer based on the ongoing issues.

I look back now and understand where he was coming from but it only made me want one even more.

I rank Daytona seats > a shifter — I know I am in the minority here but they are so choice, love mine with the black piping. Even the rears are cool. Just THAT much different plus the cool late 2003 door cards. Ridiculous family truckster.


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How are the door cards different?

 

Not carpeted on the lower section.

 

Due to the recent, and sadly permanent departure of the "woman in the trunk" (see above), my 456M GTA will be back on the market this summer.

The car has about 21,000 on it of which 10,000 are mine - faultlessly.
The oil will be changed again. GB oil will be done as well. I will get the belts changed if I can find someone to do them nearby.
The "sticky" instrument issue is there, but has been fixed to some extent and not a brutal problem.
The windows are OK, but not exactly perfect. There is very little noise inside.

Now my partner left, the car can go too. It's all a bit painful at them moment.

This is a great car without a partner to enjoy with

 

Condolences about your change of status, whatever the reasons..

They only made 3200 456s overall with only about 1100 GTA cars. Last time I checked there were plenty more women that came off the assembly line. Even now-a-days you can get a modified women from the other assembly line to further increase your odds. Don't let a good car get away