Hello, In may 2024 when the 12C was launched, I fell in love with the design of the model. As a result immediately after launch I placed a deposit for a 12C spider. As a lifelong Ferrari fan I always dreamt of one day having a v12 Berlinetta. Having owned a 458 speciale and currently owning a 296 gts. I was massively look forward to own a ferrari with the legendary v12 engine at its heart. Today, the dream has been crushed. After doing a demo with the car I felt incredibly disappointed. I know that this is due to laws outside the control of Ferrari, and they are trying making the best out of a ****ty situation, but if this car is a forecast of the future… automotive future seems even worst than expected in the short term. The car doesn’t have any exhaust noise and as a result no emotion. From the moment the engine was ignited, it felt very quiet in comparison to the 296. While cruising at normal speeds the car was almost inaudible. I’m absolutely not exaggerating. The car starting coming alive starting at 6k rpm. But as the car is so fast it’s almost impossible to get to emotional part of the engine without losing your drivers license. Also when pushing the pedal a bit more (not even a lot) the car felt a lot less stable in straight lines that the 296. Making the car feel more dangerous well being less engaging and exciting. Very bad combination. In short, I’m sadly cancelling my purchase. I was considering tuning the exhaust, but to be honest I don’t want to take risk voiding my warranty on a 600k car, just to make it tolerable to own. After it I drove the purosangue and that felt 10x more exciting. What a car! Sorry to share this negative experience, but be warned. The future looks very bleak.
Thanks - do you feel any of the stability issues were caused by cold tires and the ambient which I guess was 40 F in Belgium this morning ?
Well I drove to the dealership with my 296 gts and there I didn’t feel anything. But surely it didn’t help. I’d like state that I drove relatively slow during the whole test drive.
Damn…more quiet than a 296…ouch. Curious, how much previous seat time have you had in the previous V12 iterations…F12, 812, etc?
And not to discount your opinion, but it does underscore how differently people can experience the same car. Here’s another FChat review. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/150031911/
Just looked at that post and i’m very surprised how we can have had such a difference experiences. Let’s say that the purosangue sounded like a m5 and the 12c as a bmw 530i. In relative terms.
I have not driven the 12C, 296 or SF90. I do drive the 812 and F8. It seems to me that the F8 feels more “planted” than the 812. It is better now having replaced the Pirelli tires with Michelins. But the 812 always seems a bit more “dangerous”. No comments on the sound since it is pre GPF and amazing. I don’t know if that is a common difference between mid-rear and mid-front configurations? Or if it is somewhat a perception due to driving position (sitting on rear axle vs. front)
The 12C is no quieter than the 296. What gives the 296 this "screamer" impression when driving is a mechanism that Ferrari created that directs the sound into the cabin. As for the difference in the cars behavior, the rear engine configuration and lower body will always give you a "go-kart" feeling. Since the rear is heavier, the body is lower, and the seat is further forward, you feel like the car is an arrow that you can easily steer, and you feel more confident. In the front V12, you know that the weight of the engine is further forward, you sit higher, the rear is lighter, and this is easily noticeable. Did you take the Purosangue to the same dynamic limits as you did the 12C/296? Or was it a more moderate drive? Thank you for posting your impressions, and I wish you luck and happiness in your future acquisitions.
I spoke to a friend who knows Chris Harris today. Following CH’s effusive review of the 12C, he reportedly told him it might be the best car he ever drove and he absolutely loved it. So there’s that. You can’t ever get a true impression of a V12 unless you are pushing the car in the upper register - something all the press seemed to be able to do on the recent spider drive in portugal. The sound of the car seemed fantastic from inside the car, especially with the hood down. And the gear-changes seem out-of-this-world! The front V12s have a very different feeling from the mid V8/V6’s. You have to understand how they want to move their (heavier) weight. It takes time to adjust and develop a style that allows you to drive the car in a way that it wants to dish out its fun to you. They are more lairy, less planted, more sonorous and with more ICE power than the mid cars. I think that’s what CH and others love about them. They need to be driven with care and thought. And if you persevere, they will reward. That said, if I could only have one platform, it would probably be a mid. But if I could have only two, one would be a Ferrari front/mid 12.
I have the same experience with 458 v F12. I think the F12 feels more dangerous (and is) because of the massive torque. However, the seating position does have a lot to do with it as the 458 seems to turn at your knees or toes and the F12 seems to turn your whole body. I've tracked both and felt they were both very well balanced - just a little more weight to deal with the F12.
perfectly said in my opinion. I've always felt i had to work a little harder to get the emotion of the v12 but it is there for sure
My driving impression of the 12C is very positive - a significant step forward in almost all dimensions.... The engine feels more composed with a mix of power and smoothness at the same time, the suspension is soft and firm when needed and last but not least the chassis is stiff. All wrapped up in a very nice cabin with a build quality beyond the 812. The sound is acceptable, although you might be tempted to rev up the engine to hear it...if only F would fix it !
The 812SF and GTS always felt more docile at lower speeds than the 458/88/F8 but pick up the pace and that reverses very quickly. Sounds like the change to hair raising for the 12C is much much higher. The 812 steering (light to begin with) becomes telepathic(and too sensitive for some) and the sound is unmatched. The 488/F8 would bite at low speeds if you applied throttle too quickly and turbo boost kicked even with the electronic Nannies.The 458 was and is wonderful with its linear feel and direct to brain wiring and NA engine but the horsepower war has moved on. I have not driven the 296 so not sure how linear the response is with its complex propulsion system. In summary the 812/F12 puts hair on your chest(if you like that sort of thing) while the rear mid Ferraris make you a GP hero
First, a big thank you for your review. I have a question regarding the wheel/rim choice. Did the car you drove have standard or the larger and heavier rims? I am reconsidering the rim choice for my spec the 12 C spider. The larger rims machined out of a solid metal block are also heavier which is why it is recommended that they be paired with titanium lug nuts, to compensate. Are the slightly smaller but lighter standard wheels compatible with Titanium bolts. A question asked before but no answer back from the sales dept since the Factory was silent on this. Also does anyone know if the standard rim offered at no charge ?
The 21" alloy wheels are standard, however if you want to change there is a cost for any finish outside of the standard finish.
Do you know if the standard rim color is silver or Grigio light grey silver? And are the standard rims forged or casr
The 21" standard rims are cast aluminium and painted in Liquid Silver lucido (glossy). Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thank you! The other color is Matt Grigio? I suspect this rim is the one which all the press spiders have. Probably lightest rim of all the choices. But cannot be paired with titanium lug bolts. Maybe because it is cast and not forged. Maybe cast rims flex more which has some conflict with titanium bolts
You are lucky to have gotten to test drive the car How did this happen? Factory visit or at your dealership? Was it the spider or the coupe?
So what is the plan? Which new car do you buy? Another Ferrari or a different brand? I might find myself in the same position if I don’t like the new 12 C spider
I was at the challenge races yesterday and my dealer said they have a 12 coupe this week and I can come down and drive it. I have owned and heavily used an f12, 812 pre gpf and 812 gts so will share my comparison after for any that are interested. Clearly just one additional perspective but sound is important to me too.
The need for a gasoline car GPF is questionable Electric vehicles are much heavier and generate a lot more particulate pollution due the tire and pavement interaction. Maybe our CA state will lift some of these costly regulations and allow owners and manufacturers to let their cars breathe without GPF. There are the costs for replacing clogged GPF and filling up the landfills with them. Some have blamed the ever higher emissions and gas mileage standards for producing engines with shorter lives dies to engine designs which allow for mixing of the oil and combustion cilinders to reduce internal friction. This might lead to oil contamination, piston skirt wear, spun bearing and pre-mature engine failures. Is having to add a quart of oil every 500 miles progress? These unintended consequences also harm the world. (Please don’t ban me again )
I drove the coupe last week and loved it. Very excited to get mine which should be here in June. It's much easier to drive than the 812, more stable, feels smaller especially the bonnet. The front looks awesome in person, I don't care for the back of it. The new interior is miles better than the 812, center screen with CarPlay is awesome. Shifts are quicker and sound different (I like the old sound better). Doesn't sound that great, Puro sounds better. I have some loud cars so this doesn't bother me. Feels much faster than a 812. Really enjoyable to drive, you can relax driving it, not as twitchy as the 812.
I agree here. I drove it this past weekend and while the interior is amazing, it seems to lack some of the emotion that came with the 812 GTS. It’s a car that can be driven every day with how well refined it is but not sure it’s the right car for me moving forward now. I’d take the interior of the 12 cilindri couple with the look and feel of the 812 and be very happy. Will be curious how different the spider feels when that gets to the dealership.
