599 vs 612

My dad has a F-612 and it's definatly a touring car, and not as much of a RACING car. I met someone a few months ago who said he ordered a 599, and that they handle much better. The 612 is more of a cruiser, probably more body role than a 599. And yes the 599's performance is outstanding!

 

Are they going to put the 599's engine in when they update the 612?

 

I have a feeling some varient of the 599's engine will end up in the 612. Speaking of, when IS the 612s replacement coming?

 

The next known replacement for the 612 will be some time next year I think. The only changes will be AWD and different front air intakes.

 

612M?

 

Has this been confirmed?

 

Okay, AWD and the 599 engine, with a manual - sign me up!!!! However, cooler heads at Ferrari will most likely prevail. I'm sure PF will do a one-off AWD, 599 engined 612 for the right price (not in my league).

 

Does anyone know whether the AWD might be optional or is that just too difficult from an engineering point of view?

A 612 with the 599 engine, perhaps tweaked for earlier torque, (I agree - in manual) and with "on-off" AWD, all you would need is the Berlin Phil in the back seats and the pearly gates would need to be avoided for many, many decades.

We would plant trees regularly to offset the emissions, as we could go skiing with it and so many other wonderful things.

 

The 612 will either be optional with AWD or normal, and if opted for AWD you can switch it on or off I think. Here are some links:

news.windingroad.com/auto-news/ spied-4x4-ferrari-612-no-kidding-folks/

www.autoblog.com/2006/11/15/spy-shots-4x4-ferrari-612

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/11/pininfarina-612-scaglietti-k/

It will be aimed for something like the Bentley Continental.

 

Erm, well as a 612 owner I'd hasten to say that while not as fast as the 599 the 612 isn't "a cruiser" alone, I'm quite happy to throw my 612 around twisty roads and it can race with the best of them.

 

agreed im only the passenger.

 

I own a 599 and have driven a 612 HGTC on the track. I can tell you that the 612 is a serious car. The C brakes solve any issues of throwing out the parachute on a relatively heavy car. I would happily own a 612 one day. It is far from a cruiser. C'mon, it is the flagship model Ferrari. Do you think they would build a dog?

 

They should be very similar to drive. The 599 is just a shortened 612 on a few more steriods.There is a much bigger difference beween either one of them and the 430 than there is between the two of them.

 

Not really. The 612 is simply a much bigger car. It is not as sharp on turn in

The 612 doesn't have F1 Superfast, the Enzo engine and the Delphi suspension. These are not steroids. These are fundamental. The 612 is a much older model so it is not entirely fair to compare the technology with the 599. It would have been inconceivable to use an Enzo derived engine at the time that the 612 was launched

True

 

Yes, the 612 is bigger in some areas: It is longer by 10", the wheelbase is longer by 8", and it weighs 200 lbs more. But that is about it; they are the same width and almost the same height. I would agree that with a shorter wheelbase the 599 should handle a little better but not ride quite as smoothly as the 612. However, if you were to sit in one right after the other, you would almost think they were the same car; all the extra 10" are behind you; the feel and look oover the hood is almost the same IMHO.Put a passenger in the 599 and they almost weigh the same!

In the engine department the 599 has 80 more horsepower (no big deal really in daily driving) but has a 170 more ft lbs of torque. You should be able to feel that for sure. I wouldn't get too excited abut the Ferrari hype of an "Enzo derived motor"; my understanding is that no parts are interchangable at all.

I still think the biggest difference between the two is the seating capacity.

 

What are you basing your "thinking" on?
Did you drive them back to back?
How much time did you spend in both of these cars to make the above claim?
Just curious....

 

um, 'thinking' and having driven them extensively are two different matters. just about every single person who has done the actual driving, says the 599 is NOT merely a shorter 612 with two seats. steering, reflexes, etc., being quite different. and no, it's not just about the power difference. ask Alex(410SA) how the 599 drives...

 

are you SURE about 170 more lb feet of torque and not closer to 17?

 

Opps. You are right. The torque difference is only 14 ft lbs. (448 vs. 434) I picked up the European measurement for the 599. Good catch! Just for the record, I have a 2006 612S with HTC and every option but for the F1, drive it almost every day, and love it. I have sat in a couple of 599s but have not been able to drive one yet. I have one on order that should deliver late this year or early next. So while I can't give you my opinion based on actual driving time in each, I have 6 months driving time in the 612 and I have thought alot about what the real differences in these two cars is for someone who uses them as daily drivers. Others certainly can look at it differently based on their own priorities and intended use. In general I think that the 612 is greatly underappreciated by people who have never actually spent alot of time in the car. Those that have owned the car love it. Those that have no use for the back seat aren't going to be buying one, although at the used prices today they are a relative bargain IMHO.