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Texas Forever · Feb 8, 2005

Tomgor said:

I've now tested both a manual and an auto car though not for great distances. I'm not sure what to say to you really. If you haven't driven a 412 I will say though that they do not feel like they look. That is they don't feel like a big luxurious tight superfast machine. They feel very old fashioned to drive more early 70's than late eighties. The manual is very agricultural and stiff. You really need to be on its case and pushing to get something out of it. The auto on the other hand just feels strangled. The three speed box makes the engine feel rough and unwieldy. It seems that none of the electrics ever work. Every car I've spoken about or tested has been having issues. On the last car which was an FOC concours winner none of the cabin electrics like the seats and windows were working. The bodywork rusts very badly so you've got to be sure on that point. And yes, the service/maintainence history are horrific. At UK prices you've got to budget £3-5,000 per annum on bills assuming nothing goes wrong.
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This is the kind of support that I need! I've been saved!

Actually, I expected a 412 to be like a truck. From what you're saying it is more like a Queen Mary than a Mondidal.

I hadn't heard the bad rap about the electrics. Maybe Ferrari made a special Lucas version for the UK?

While I'm sure that rust can be a problem, didn't Ferrari at least attempt some rust proofing staring around 1983?

One very interesting point about this particular F-Car is that nobody seems to want them. Nearly all the 4 series cars that I've been following for the last three months have either failed to sell or are still on the market. I don't know why but I think that most people will do a quick comparison with a Jaguar XJS which is not a bad looking car and realise that the Jag does the job better for about a third of the money.
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True. In the US, a good 412 trades from $30 to $40 USD. The problem is that the older 2+2s, such as the Queen Mary, are going for $55 to $65 USD. Does this mean that a 412 has more upside than a 365 GT 2+2? I doubt it. We're probably a good 10 years away from that point. However, is a 412 a better driver than a Queen Mary? No doubt about it.

I started to look for a 412 because I thought that they were one of the most beautiful looking 2+2's ever made. That is still without question in my mind. Put one next to an XJS and it's like putting Kate Moss next to Diana Dors! Someone was having a very good day when they drew that car.

I said in an earlier thread that I had no problem with all the gripes about the 412 as long as it went half as well as it looked. Well the bad news is that it dosen't! Do I still want one? Yes, but I just realise I was being greedy. If it goes a quarter as well I'm happy.
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Well, beauty and beholder and all that. (Who is Diana Dors, BTW?) The door stop look was never my favorite. Maybe I need to look at a XJS. Let's see after 40 years of fooling with Brit motorcycles, thinking, thinking, Nah!

Dale

Tomgor · Sep 7, 2017

Well, beauty and beholder and all that. (Who is Diana Dors, BTW?) The door stop look was never my favorite. Maybe I need to look at a XJS. Let's see after 40 years of fooling with Brit motorcycles, thinking, thinking, Nah!

One is Kate Moss the other is the XJS
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Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ BANNED Rossa Subscribed

Tomgor Karting

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