I was reading a post by Goldsax on another thread and decided to start a new thread to discuss. Im in a real dilema. In a few months i'll be in a position to get a 456, probably going for the M. Now my wife wants to drive the car as well, and I have no problem with that at all. In fact I found out the insurance with her on is still pretty reasonable and she is only 26! The dilema is that she wants an auto box so that she can drive it, and I want a manual. Im looking to keep the car for probably 5 years+, maybe never selling it, and intend on using it as a daily driver. So that means traffic as well as motorway etc, so the auto makes more sense from that point of view too. I was wondering what your experiences of the 456 auto are, especially if you have driven both the manual and auto. Are they as enjoyable or is the compromise too much? Also i've read a lot about how the autobox is so expensive to replace, but has anyone ever heard of one failing? Thanks.
hi there, you would be suprised by how smooth the auto boxes are. they are very good unfortunatly the manuals are so much more involving( which i prefer) but my wife uses the car far more then i with the kids ( thats why we opted for a 456M GTA). she loves the car to bits and would not want to change it .. its the only car we have had that she WANTS to be in the driving seat of when we are out together!!!!
ps. lots of scare stories about how expensive the engine is if it broke how expensive the gear box is if it broke how expensive the bonnet is if it broke how expensive it is of the windows wont fit and on and on all car models on occasion have a problem but i do not know of many owners out there that have blown an engine/gearbox.
There is always a way around just about everything. The transmission is NOT made by Ferrari, it's a GM unit. It really depends on if you are willing do your own work, or have a shop that is willing to look out side the "yellow box" for parts.
well, my gal/wife LOVES the GT and prefers it now ....... but, she is a gear head, and rebuilds old American metal from trany to carbs.... you should see her go to work ) anyway, she likes the interaction and ability to control her drive.... I feel the 456 requires more engine and driver interaction than the, say, Mondial T or 348, where the trany is less on your management needs. You can drive about town, say in 1/2nd gear on the later and no problem or go to 3rd, and on the freeway, you don't have to truly worry about revs all that much [well, don't push/blow it] BUT on the GT 456 you will need to manage the engine and transmission selection a lot more if she's with kids, then you'll go with that probably, BUT not a good 'KIDs' car IMO, too much trouble. you'll be messing with the back seats a lot. and the bags will be an issue should you put them in front. POOR selection of 456 with kids. get the GT for yourself.......It'll build her good thighs, gams, legs etc. on that stiff clutch.... also, the automatic will cost you a fortune if it goes 'south', the rear seats with kids will be trashed for relsale, and the front bags will cost you a fortune to switch off for kids: GT
All auto boxes need reconditioning eventually. Not sure how this compares with worn synchro or the like on a manual. I know a few who have had an auto 456 and no problems. One was used as a daily driver. When I got my 456 my wife found out (somehow) that you could get autos and wanted one otherwise she said she wouldn't drive it, so I got the manual - result! If yours is anything like mine you definately don't want her driving your pride and joy! She may not appreciate that it is more than just a car. I gave my wife my Merc and now it's like a skip on wheels. The kids have trashed the rear seats. When I had it it was spotless. I don't really mind because that's what kids (and women) do, but in my Farrari no way.
From what I've heard from various mechanics is to stay away from the autos, when they go bad you have to replace the entire unit, very costly. Also if you're keeping it that long you'll get bored with the auto.
Im surprised you say that, the kids is the reason why I am looking at the 456. I used to have a Mondial t and Im assuming the back of the 456 is better, with a bit more legroom and space all round. You have both, so what do you think? I have not come across an auto that has needed a new box, plus I dont think my mechanic has ever advised me against either. So not sure how big a problem the autoboxes are or if its just a folk tale! In truth my mrs will rarely drive it. If we are driving round europe for example, then it will be good to hand her the wheel once in a while, or on long distant uk drives, but otherwise she will take her own car if she is going out. As for the kids trashing it, I know what you mean, so Im hoping to get a darkish colour as opposed to cream. I was offered a mint RHD 456 GT manual yesterday. TDF blue with cream. 31K miles with full Ferrari SH. The car will come with major service and cambelts from Ferrari for £29K. Not bad price, but I was hoping for an M, plus its the manual and the interior is cream and I wanted darker. Hmmm... I've searched on here and never found anyone say their autobox went tits up. Not saying it doesnt happen, but yes it is extortionate! Also you are right that the manual will be much more fun.
not trying to push you away from the 456. Actually, hope you get one: You'll never go back to that "T" again...but the older classics, well, you'll still want one. here are some considerations since we share 'T' experiences, mine being a cabriolet, don't know if you had a coupe or cab. 1. how old are the kids: are they a. ambulatory or b. needing to be put into a car seat. - if a. then not a problem but see #2 below. - if b. then MAKE sure #2 works below OR be aware the non-M models [don't know about the M types] do not have air-bag deactivation switches....which would be of 'some' concern. 2. MAKE SURE the seat fwding mechanism to get into the back seats work.....Mine go on the blink sometimes and I hear from other owners that they have some issues too. What this means is that to get into the back seat if you are not 6" wide, is almost impossible. I know. There is a top-of-seat leaver that brings the seat fwd and seat back to front to let persons into the back seat. IF this does not work, THEN you will spend too much time pushing slow motorized seat fwd to let persons in back, and then slow motor back again to get seat in correct position: going to market, school, sports, etc. will take a lot of time. also be aware the seats usually are bucket and taking a kid's chair will usually damage the leather: check it out. I LOVE the 456. for looks, not needing a chiropractor after driving [like saying the "T"] a long distance. Fairly quiet, minus the always window issue = character [?!], and the COLD air. <<note to self, need to reroute air to front radiator to cool engine in stop-go-hot-days>> as for the automatic, I cannot attest to that, but have heard/read from qualified [no longer with us consultants] that the auto 'might'/has proven a problem for some: do a search, might want to include rifledriver in that text ;\ the standard is solid...albeit 2nd is tough when fluid in box is cold: 2nd has a small area to let fluid flow when cold. Once warm, the gearing is not an issue. BUT ya' know what, I've heard people NOT ever having an issue with auto AND, although, I've personallly seen, being rebuilt, two 456's with LOW miles just last year as a local dealership, I have heard, seen some that haven't had a major issue for almost 100,000 miles [yup they do exist, and some are on this site.] I believe, the garage queens, have been damaged. Drive them a lot and they will be ok. IF not you risk having 'issues' really/truly believe this now....at work gotta go have the "T" waiting outside...and it's a nice [FRI]day: bosses away, mice will play.....
I've got a Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet. I'm not sure if there is less room in the back seat of the "t" because of the different engine orientation. I've sat in the back of a 456. My impression is there is less room for the rear passengers in the 456 than in the Mondial. You really need to sit in the back of a 456 and compare it to your Mondial. Of course, the 456 may have less room, but you'll get there a lot faster. So it evens out. If I were buying a 456 for use in traffic, I would definitely get the auto. But with the torque of that motor, you really only need third gear, so maybe the GT is OK after all.
The auto box on my 1999 registered (1997 constructed) 456gta failed at 43000mls. The failure was gentle with the first indication being the gearbox warning light illuminating on the dash after the car changed from 1st to 2nd with a slight jolt. After the engine was switched off and then on again the fault cleared for a few hours but then got progressively worse. After about 3 days no gears could be selected and the car was shipped off to Glenvargill Ferrari in Edinburgh, UK. They diagnosed solenoid failure in the box preventing gear selection to take place. Ferrari recommended a new box at my expense totalling up to 25k GBP supplied and fitted, which was never going to happen! As I had just bought the car 3 months earlier from Charles Clinkard Cars in Southampton, they covered the cost of the rebuild in full at a cost of 7500GBP. The gearbox is now perfect but took 3 months to complete the job as parts had to be shipped from the US. I have never driven the manual but I can imagine it will be better driving experience for a competent driver, but as I will never be the next Lewis Hamilton I will stick with the auto for effortless driving and totally obliterating any boy racers at the lights with faultless gear changes and you never stall on hills!
Is it not an option for your wife to learn to drive stick? It can always come in handy once you know how, and the driving experience in a Ferrari is definitely more rewarding with stick shift. If she was up for it, it could even be a nice additional rewarding experience you both share with the new car. You would need to take it slow, though, driving 442 bhp as your first stick shift car is a bit of a scary prospect... Maybe learn in something smaller first. Onno
I absolutely love my car. A couple of thoughts. First You will be able to drive the auto as a daily driver for both you and your wife with no poblems. Tha tis a good thing. If your wife starts to love Ferraris as you do she will be more inclinded to trade up in the future with you. Not a bad thing. Second i also have not personally heard of someone losing a tranny on it. Third with an auto you are in a better place to negotiate a better price on an auto. The trade off is that you can get a later model with less miles on it than a manual. The newer models have had alot of the problems worked out seats,windows etc. Finnally have your F mechanic PPI your purchase completely to know what you are getting. A $240,000 list price car for under $100,000 tha looks and runs amazing is a deal.
I have a 2003 456M GTA with 5k miles and love it. I had a 2001 360 F1, and have found the transmission in the 456M much easier to handle as a daily driver, especially in the stop and go traffic of So. Cal. My 360 only had 3200 miles on it before I had to replace the clutch, I've had no major mechanical issues so far with the 456M. The back seats can get a little snug on long drives, and I wouldn't want to have a car seat back there because it can get tight, especially because they seem to have an issue that the motor on the seats gives out every once and awhile. If you need more space, try the 612- it has more room in the back. As far as the GTA vs the GT, I go on many rallies and am able to keep up with all of the cars without a problem.
Thanks for posting this! This is the very first time I have heard of someone who has actually had a problem. All the rest of the times is was "my friend's, uncle's, cousin's, next door neighbor's, best friends aunt's, sister-in-law's, husband's, high school buddy heard......." It really is nice to finally hear from someone who has had to deal with this in real life, and that you DO NOT need to buy a new unit (just as I suspected). Thanks again for you comments.
i have a 456 gta m 1999 red/ tan...auto. 16k . complete service history.all work done at dealership. the car is superb. had an engine out mega service with valve guides etc...a few months ago.new tires.new timing belt... etc...a real perfect serviced 456.i will sell her cheap. she is parked in miami.... anyone looking for one ? a real good deal can be made here !
Thanks all expecially Ryton on his auto problems. All comments have been great. I've found a 2001 456M GTA which will soon go through the PPI process. Will keep you all updated with progress.
